When we caught up with designer Manish Malhotra on the verge of flying to Delhi for a fashion week, where he would be showing at the grand finale, he was buoyant as ever
A glimpse from Manish Malhotra's collection for the fashion week
When we caught up with designer Manish Malhotra on the verge of flying to Delhi for a fashion week, where he would be showing at the grand finale, he was buoyant as ever. "It's called Sensual Affair," said the man who'd put pastel into the YRF-KJO palette with his artful designs for Bollywood biggies.
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Anushka Sharma and Shah Rukh Khan in Malhotra's creations, with him at an earlier show.
"I've recreated a bygone era: luxuriant volume and noble fabrics that add a sensuous feel to the garments. I've used fine antique threads and vintage motifs to accentuate the subtle elegance of each outfit," he said. And then he whatsapped us the first peak of his much awaited collection which we have duly shared with you gentle reader. Incidentally this will be Malhotra's fourth finale for the fashion week.
Bulletins from the melting pot
Now that everyone and their cousin has launched their eatery in Mumbai (pan-Asian, local Mumbai, West Village or extreme molecular, take your pick), the question has been where and when will Rahul Akerkar, who had kicked off the stand alone restaurant phenomena with his cozy, fine-dining Indigo in Colaba almost two decades ago, launch his much awaited come-back restaurant? After all, having sold his holding company to investors a few years ago, Akerkar has completed his period of non-competition, and is ready to begin anew.
Rahul Akerkar and Manish Mehrotra
And now, word comes in that the restaurateur has zeroed in on a location at the Lodha World One Tower at Lower Parel. "He's got backers and funding sorted," said an F&B insider, adding, "But he's still not sure of the concept." Meanwhile chef Manish Mehrotra's acclaimed Delhi eatery Indian Accent, which had been adversely affected by the no alcohol near highway ban, is said to be relocating to the Lodhi Hotel in Delhi.
TT talk
This week saw quite an impressive line up to cheer the Ultimate Table Tennis tournament in Mumbai. Amongst those seated in the first row were none other than Sachin Tendulkar, Abhishek Bachchan, and industrialists Jalaj Dani and Harsh Goenka, whose interest in the fast paced sport is said to be more than theoretical.
Harsh Goenka, Abhishek Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar at the UTT
Tendulkar is known to be quite adept at table tennis, using the sport to keep his hand and eye coordination up to scratch, and friends of Goenka reveal that he too was quite a skilled player during his college days in Kolkata, where he'd often be found in the TT room, winning accolades for his speed and response. And with such an impressive turnout, it appears that Chairman & MD Mukand, Niraj Bajaj's dreams of popularising table tennis, which we had written about last week, have indeed come to fruition.
B'day bumps for Bose
"Actually I'm spending it at the foundation office with the volunteers, workers, and actors from 'Poorna'," said our friend, the actor-producer and philanthropist Rahul Bose, when we called to wish him on his big birthday yesterday. "Just celebrating the day quietly, catching up on our work so far and the plans ahead," he said, adding, "And we're calling in for some food later."
AD Singh, Ravi Krishnan, Rahul Bose
Meanwhile his long-time buddies AD Singh and Ravi Krishnan insisted on reminding the actor of their shared party-hearty days. "Rahul Bose, 50 not out," said Krishnan about the occasion. As for us, we've planned a pajama party with plenty of bubbly with Bose, to evoke the good old days!
RIP Babu Choudhary
From our singing days (yes, we fronted a band that attempted to do Cohen and Dylan covers in our salad days), we know that some of the sweetest, most generous and caring folk are musicians. Especially those of a certain ilk who'd cut their teeth on the Beatles and the Stones, and had bought their first guitars at Furtados.
Babu Choudhary
And so, this week when noted guitarist, mentor to many and brother-in-law of guitarist and music composer Ehsaan Noorani, Babu Choudhary passed away after a brief illness, there was a virtual chorus of heartfelt lament from his peers and fellow musicians. Choudhary had fast won acclaim in the '80s in Mumbai's thriving rock scene as a rock and blues guitar player, when he'd been part of People, along with Ronnie Desai and Ranjit Barot, amongst others.
Ranjit Barot, Louiz Banks and Ehsaan Noorani
But more than his music it had been his quiet charm, great humour and humility that had contributed to his legend. Jazz pianist and music director Louiz Banks spoke for many when he commented, "Babu was the epitome of humility and graciousness. An excellent musician and a dear friend to everyone. May his soul rest in eternal peace."
Extreme yoga
When we had met former model and actress Pooja Batra at our friend Akbar Khan's Id-ul-Fitr lunch last year (she had acted in his 'Taj Mahal: The Eternal Love Story' in which she essayed the role of Noor Jehan), we had no idea that the soft-spoken and lissome talent management executive, who has relocated to LA, was into extreme anything, leave alone sport.
Pooja Batra shows her skills
But now, after seeing pictures of her practicing yogic asanas on the world famous Kjeragbolten boulder on the mountain Kjerag in Norway, we have had to do a retake. The 5-cubic-metre rock she chose is a glacial deposit wedged in the mountain's crevasse, and suspended above a 984-metre deep abyss.
Also at the Kjeragbolten boulder
As someone who saw her daredevilry asked, "But shy???" We're guessing the answer to that is: for some thrills (and attention?).
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