From all accounts, the celebrations for Modi patriarch, KK Modi's 75th birthday were spectacular by any standards
From all accounts, the celebrations for Modi patriarch, KK Modi's 75th birthday were spectacular by any standards. As first reported on this page, the party held in Taipei, Taiwan, this weekend saw the industrialist's friends and family gather from around the world and was outstanding in its extravagance and attention to detail.
The Obama lookalike with a guest
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But of course, amidst all the performances, fireworks and non-stop dancing (with the likes of Modi's niece — his sister's daughter Sangita and Sajjan Jindal — on the dance floor), an animated tribute to the birthday boy created by his grandchildren and an Obama lookalike who regaled the guests with his antics, what stood out was the exuberant love displayed by IPL founder and high-profile exile Lalit Modi for his dad.
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“He has been a great father, a teacher, a critic and a mentor to me. He taught me everything that I know today. It was his confidence that allowed me to be the person I am today,” he posted from the venue. Interestingly his commendation of his father included accolades such as 'vanguard good looks,' 'refuses to age,' and 'knows how to party like a rockstar.'As they say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree...
Jain back in saddle
Even as racing enthusiasts appear to have won some reprieve from the Sena's plans of converting their beloved racecourse, word comes in, of trouble within the ranks of the RWITC.
Zavaray Poonawalla, Jaydev Mody and Vivek Jain
“Vivek Jain is all set to be back at the helm of affairs from mid September,” says a source, adding, “There had been dissent this year from him about Zavaray Poonawalla's stewardship, particularly on the issue of night racing and Poonwalla's tough stand against erring professionals.”
“Finally Cyrus Poonawalla's younger brother called it a day ostensibly due to health reasons, but the grapevine has it that Zavaray and his pals Geoffry Nagpal and Gulam Vahanvati did not take kindly to what they saw as Jain's 'interference,'” he says.
The source also informs that opposition to Jain from Khushroo Dhunjibhoy and Jaydev Mody has died down. “They feel Jain's attitude is unsustainable and so they are biding their time.” Over to Jain for his side of the story now.
Assembly line of stars
According to a veteran film journalist, a lady known for her deep connections to the industry and her personal equations with many of its leading families, spin-doctors and celebrity managers have squeezed the juice out of the industry. “Earlier stars were accessible and shared their lives and loves with us,” she says.
Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor
“And we on our part used our judgment on what could and could not be shared with the public,” she rued. “Today it's completely changed: companies like Kwan (Ranbir Kapoor) and Matrix (Salman Khan) and Spice (Aamir Khan) have completely isolated the media from the stars, only allowing them to issue statements that are commercially advantageous and as a result we have an assembly line of products,” she says.
“Gone are the days when a star like SRK would conduct himself freely using his managers to only execute his dictat. He never had masterminds telling him what to do,” she says, adding in sotto voice, “I guess that's because SRK actually had a mind unlike today's lot.” Oh dear.
Putting the ghoda
Noted artist Brinda Miller, the impassioned honorary director of Kala Ghoda's annual festival brought us up to speed about next year's jamboree. “Our festival team has begun working on several new programmes.
Brinda Miller (right) the original Kala Ghoda statue
A big highlight has been added in each of the 12 festival verticals with a new food section planned at the Cross Maidan, which will draw crowds from Rampart Row to this large venue,” she says adding, “And for the first time we have taken the entire Jehangir Art Gallery too for the Visual Arts.”
But the piece de resistance next year will undoubtedly be the installation of a statue of a horse by architect Alfaz Miller in the parking lot. Old timers will recall the magnificent original stallion, which had given the area its name, and which had galloped away a few decades ago.
This year will see the horse reinstated in a new avatar and location. “The theme for this festival is 'Ride The Wave' and a lot of the programming will be based on this theme,” says the lady who takes at least three months off to oversee the artsy carnival that has become a great favourite of Mumbaikars over the years.
Show me the money
For those who imagine that this madly in love star couple currently ruling the box office stakes in the country, puts love before money, here's something to think about:
Word comes in that for their next much talked about venture with the same director who gave them a recent hit, the actress has demanded a whopping Rs 12-crore as remuneration, a figure said to be more than what her famous beau gets.
How will this go down with her alpha male partner is what people are wondering. Will his great love for her allow him to take a back seat in the price stakes? What's evident is that when it comes to money, it's each to his own...
Not that Akira
Writer Khalid Mohamed, whose arsenic lined reviews of Bollywood movies have made him something of a cult figure, was at his wittiest best with this put down of Sonakshi Sinha's latest: 'Hope n pray that the Sonakshi Sinha movie Akira doesn't have anything to do with the legendary Akira Kurosawa...' he said about the upcoming action film that sees the brawny actress pulping heavies with her bare fists.
Khalid Mohamed, Sonakshi Sinha and Akira Kurosawa. Pic/AFP
And as if that were not a put down enough, fellow wordsmith Rahul DaCunha responded with a 'If that's the case Khalid, they'll say, 'Did you see him Rash o man from the movie theatre!'' Note to newbies and philistines: google Akira Kurosawa to know just how funny the comparison really is.
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