‘I HAVE CRAVED FOR THIS DAY, WHEN I’M HEAD DOWN IN WORK’

Being on a constant go, actor Raj Arjun says there is no time to sit back as work is happening continuously and this is what he always wanted as an actor. “I always wanted to be busy with business. In my initial days, I have craved for this day, when I am head down in work. Also, the rise of OTT as a dominant medium has surely turned the tide in the favour of artistes who have nothing to fall back on except their talent and grit,” says the Secret Superstar and Dear Comrade actor. Arjun adds, “Today, I am in a position where I can ask for a bound script and not just give a nod to narrations that can be altered in no time. But then, there those projects and makers who have been in my bucket list since long. Like, when Imtiyaz (Ali) offered his upcoming film, with just oneline into the narration I was like I am doing it.” Talking about learning from one’s failures and successes, he adds, “One

PRAJ ARJUN,

Actor needs to take unfavourable outcomes in his or her stride. We are not superhuman and can’t be right with our choices always. The only thing that matter to me is that meri mehnat kam na paadi ho, whether the project was unable to leave a mark in a big way. I want my graph as a performer to rise with each project and that’s the reason you get to see me in widely divergent roles.”

Giving his take on his recently released project, Arjun says, “Thalaivii could have done much better if the third wave hadn’t struck. Single screen release too was an uncertain proposition. Though digitally it was well accepted, I remember telling director AL Vijay, who is a dear friend, that iiska naaam Amma kar do as it’s easy to comprehend in Hindi belt. But, he was like don’t worry this will work. As far as my other OTT releases are concerned, see many a times things are not in your hand. You do your bit and it’s only after the released we get to know how it shaped up.”

Arjun has multiple projects coming up. “Good work is lined-up and maine aapni saari mehnat laga di hai. OTT series Dr Arora, that was extensively shot in my home state MP, will be out soon while next will be Yudhra that is highly anticipated film for me followed by Jhansi and other South projects,” says versatile actor who was last seen in film Love Hostel.

The word addiction to human mind is mostly related to alcohol, tobacco and psychotropic drugs. But sugar now is emerging as a new addiction that we might be ignoring, and passing off as just an innocuous fancy.

Many of us describe ourselves as having a sweet tooth, and indulge our taste buds and liver with excess of sugar.

In a recently concluded

National Conclave on Fatty Liver Disease, doctors described how true addiction to sugar and sugary drinks is emerging as a major cause for concern.

Statistics are worrying. Several Indian hepatologists reported excess fat in the liver of up to 50% of Indians, especially those living in cities. The Body mass Index (BMI) of urban school children have been rising with over 30% being overweight. And what seems to be the common denominator is excess consumption of sugars, sweets and fruit juices. Addiction to sugar is now established. Those suffering from it show all the typical symptoms from regular wants, to increasing demands, to craving. And if one is to go without sweets for a day or two, show anger and irritability (withdrawal) as well.

A special subset of sugar addiction is Fructo-Holism, fructose being the predominant sugar in fruits and juices. Scientists have noticed that fructose sugar causes more accumulation of fat in the liver compared with the regular sucrose.

In a chilling account of what we have always considered innocuous, and perhaps even healthy, excess fructose have been shown to get converted to fat and deposited in the liver, causing fatty liver.

But why should that worry us? It is now clear that those who have extra fat in the liver are at increased risk of developing the Metabolic Syndrome: a conglomeration of excess body weight, diabetes, hypertension, high blood lipids and translating into increased risk of cardio-vascular disease.

Cardiovascular (heart attacks) and metabolic diseases (diabetes) have emerged as the commonest cause (60%) of death and ill health in India. And what might be fuelling them could be our social practice and indulgence in sweets and fruit juices. It’s time we took note and changed our practices and preferences.