A contract that says models must mingle with guests after the show. a designer who was dropped because he demanded money to show his line. A model still waiting to meet Sachin -- and everything you didn't know about the IPL parties
A contract that says models must mingle with guests after the show. a designer who was dropped because he demanded money to show his line.u00a0A model still waiting to meet Sachin -- and everything you didn't know about theu00a0IPL parties
There's a clear winner here. Some of India's top models including Sonalika Sahay, Candice Pinto, Laxmi Rana and Mridula Chandrashekhar skipped the just concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week that touts itself to be "Asia's biggest trade fair" to be part of a "55 fashion shows and 55 parties" extravaganza instead. "It would have been difficult to say no to 28 shows at the IPL, when Fashion Week had just 14 shows. I got done with the Chivas fashion tour and Mumbai's Lakme Fashion Week. So, I thought why not do IPL instead, and make more money!" says a candid Candice. 
This year's IPL season made sure there was as much off the field action as on it, letting ex-supermodel Mehr Jessia Rampal take charge of organising post-match parties, throwing in a bit of fashion, with some of India's best known designers showcasing their collections every night in cities across India.
Models must mingle
Top rung models charge as much as Rs 35,000 per show. Even with a 30% discount for IPL, they end up making close to Rs 24,000 every night. That's Rs 6,86,000 over 28 days. Monetary perks aside, all of them travel first class, stay at 5-stars and are allowed to party in a different city each night.
The models' contract reveals partying is mandatory, with a clause stating that they must mingle with the guests after they are done walking the ramp. While this may have caused some apprehension among the model brigade at first, Mridula says they knew what they were signing up for.u00a0"We all signed the contract. Models help build a good-looking crowd. IPL shows are nothing like fashion weeks. It's entertainment, why get upset?"
Mehr Jessia Rampal, whose company Chasing Ganesha (run in partnership with actor-husband Arjun Rampal) is organising these glitzy dos, says the arrangement only works for models, who are free to bring along friends and family to party with some of India's biggest cricketers and faces from glamour.u00a0
Those left smiling
For Mumbai designer James Ferreira, the show in Chennai worked perfectly to help him land new buyers since he was showcasing for the first time in South India's capital. He ended up striking a 120-piece deal with Evolutionize fashion store. Veteran Mumbai designer Monisha Jaising and Mehr started their careers around the same time, 25 years ago, making her an obvious part of the designer line-up. "I knew this wasn't a trade event, but a celebration. And with Mumbai winning that night, my show became special." Being an ardent cricket fan was enough of an incentive for Ahmedabad-based Anuj Sharma to jump at the opportunity of introducing his designs to cricketers, although he sheepishly admits how his grand plan to meet Sachin Tendulkar went kaput.
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No serious fashion
India can boast of only a handful of designers like Arjun Saluja, Abraham & Thakore, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Saviojon Fernandes and Kallol, whose strong-themed clothes need an environment to take their design story forward, created via sets, music, hair and make-up. While the rest stayed away from the event, Kallol and Saviojon couldn't resist the temptation, with a veteran like Mehr spearheading the event. "I didn't know what to expect but I didn't think my clothes would be paraded by models walking casually, smiling, and even dancing to club music on the runway. It was a bit of a shock, and I didn't feel worthy enough to take a bow," admits Kallol. 
In fact, SRK noticed Kallol's hesitation and was overheard asking his friends, "Why is he so shy?"
The fiercely reticent Goa-based Saviojon Fernandes' show in Chennai began at an unearthly 2.30 am. He admits it was a "culture shock". "I don't know anything about cricket, and neither are my clothes testrosome-friendly.
For me, fashion is only about clothes. Even if it's a commercial event like the IPL show, I start panicking about the hair, make-up, music, one month in advance."
Anuj says IPL is based on a money-making model and fashion is being used to add glamour to the event. James Ferreira wonders what the hullabaloo is about anyway. "Who takes fashion seriously in this country? It's all about who is your showstopper, and who's doing the finalu00c3u00a9. How does FDCI plan to tackle this issue, I want to ask? Let's not blame IPL for starting the trend of associating fashion with entertainment. Indian Fashion Weeks have been treating fashion just as casually for years now."u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Lighten up, guys
Mehr, who was one of Indian fashion's best known faces in the 80s, says the problem lies with everyone taking fashion way too seriously. "It wasn't this grim 20 years ago. We used to have a ball, guests would be screaming, hooting at the models. Fashion Weeks are serious trade events meant for buyers. This is different," she stresses.u00a0u00a0
That some of the designers were a bit miffed at the fact that they weren't being paid to showcase their collections, is rubbished by Mehr. "Yes, no one was paid, not even a big name like Tarun (Tahiliani, who is doing the finalu00c3u00a9)," she admits. Manish Arora, who is now an influential name after being a regular at Paris Fashion Week, is believed to have demanded a 7-figure fee to show his clothes after the forthcoming semi-finals. "We turned him down. He's not doing it now. I can't pay one, and not pay the others," Mehr clarifies.u00a0
Plan foru00a0 finale
The man who is showcasing his line at the final fashion show on April 23, Tarun Tahiliani is currently enjoying a detox spa holiday in Thailand. He says over SMS: Well, it's not a finalu00c3u00a9 per se because it's two days before the final match. Lalit (Modi) is a whiz, and Mehr will pull no stops, so I'm flying in that day just for the show.
War of words: Sunil Sethiu00a0vs Mehr Jessia
IPL should stick to cricket... having random fashion shows brings down the credibility of designers who need to be appreciated byu00a0 connoisseurs, not voyeurs
Sunil Sethi, president FDCI told a national daily
u00a0u00a0u00a0 
I want to ask him (Sethi) why then does he run around, trying to get Bollywood stars, paying them to attend India Fashion Week?
Mehr Jessia Rampal
IPLu00a0party diary: When Ness Wadia was told, sir, we are out of vodka
For those of you who believe IPL post-match parties are about Sachin shimmying under shiny disco balls, there's bad news. Apparently, the master blaster rarely turns up for nocturnal indulgences. But that was hardly enough to dent our enthusiasm. The venue: Regal Room, The Trident, Nariman Point. Post 26/11, they won't let your car drive in, so you've got to teeter on impossibly high heels, right up a slope before you are siphoned off behind a hand-painted wooden partition for some 5-star frisking. 
No vodka for Ness Wadia. Jonty Rhodes with a guest. Mumbai Indians Fielding
Coach Jonty Rhodes (right) and Kieron Pollard with Kings XI Punjab's Brett Lee
at the IPL party on March 31. Pics/Bipin Kokate, Atul Kamble
An arrival desk that stood one floor above the Regal Room was manned by a bunch of bored but attentive young guys from IMG, the global management firm handling the event. We had to wait, stroll down the marble corridors, and wait some more before our names were found on the guest lists. A hot pink ribbon around our wrists, and we were off, down a staircase into a world that we believed a privileged few had access to that night.
Mumbai Indians were still playing against Kings XI Punjab, reason enough for some of cricket crazy models to stand before a giant LCD, their hair still up in glamorous hot iron curls, their faces freshly painted. 11.30 pm and no sign of a crowd. Good time to grab a drink before the bar runs out of booze. A large Pinky Vodka (it's not weird like it sounds, deliciously intoxicating, in fact) with ice, and some Chicken Nuggets kept us company while we witnessed the carpeted room slowly fill up, with just a stark white dance floor bang in the middle of all the action, empty.
That wasn't a happy sight for DJ Whosane. Clad in weathered jeansu00a0 and a purple tee that read, Die Tonight. Live Forever, he pumped up the volume a bit, complaining into the mike in truncated Hindi, "Standing around dance floor, just not dancing. Dance floor nahin maloom?" That got a couple of expats laughing, and excited enough to take the lead. White skin was bait enough for plump uncles to follow, and by the time hip remixes of Hindi numbers rolled out (Laila, may, laila), the place was rocking.
Once beauty queen Diana Hayden, wearing funky painted sneakers, chatted with model Muzammil Ibrahim.
Starlet and Bigg Boss participant Payal Rohatgi was spotted floating around in a synthetic peach ankle-length dress, we suspect picked up from an a small-time Oshiwara boutique (no, the faux string of pearls didn't help), glass in hand, chatting with all including Ravi Krishnan of IMG and an unidentified bald gentleman who insisted on following her for the rest of the night.
Midnight. No cricketers in sight yet. No signs of the fashion show kicking off either. Television actor Ronit Roy (the man who drove a whole generation of female TV viewers crazy, as Mihir in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) was roaming around, looking vigilant. No glass in hand, wearing the I'm-watching-you look. "What's with him?" someone wondered. Nothing. He's put his Balaji earnings to good use and started a private security agency. His boys were manning the party that night, trying to look we-are-dangerous-don't-mess-with-us.
Beyond the dance floor stood the ramp, the shortest we've seen, not more than 30 feet long, surrounded by large circular tables, each bearing the name of an IPL team. Occasionally, the velvet barrier to the exclusive inner area would give way, and someone would slip in. Socialite Ayesha Thapar and Ekta Raheja (from the builder family) were followed by actor Arjun Rampal and one-time supermodel, now entrepreneur Mehr Jessia. A baseball cap-sporting guy, who we were told is a young producer from the Morani family, sipped on something that looked like water but wasn't.u00a0
Some talk of the fashion show not allowed to kick off until a cricketer or two arrives, did the rounds. The smoke machines went off, and the crowd knew it was time to stop gyrating and grab a spot to start ogling. Mumbai designer Monisha Jaising was showing her collection that night; a line of printed silk tunics and dresses, sprinkled with chic embellishments. Glamourous as always. The models walked in, the crowds hooted, we tried taking a video, and Rohit's boys blocked our camera viewfinder. Spoilsports. Seven minutes, and it was over.u00a0
Back to the bar, which like we'd predicted was VT station platform-esque. People spilling in, demanding booze.
Wearing a cool blue ghingham shirt, Brett Lee roamed with a glass in hand, a grin on his face. Jonty Rhodes posed for pictures with nobodys. Mahela Jayawardene said his hellos. Amiable men. Sachin? Not arrived yet.
Kings XI Punjab owner and Bombay Dyeing scion Ness Wadia trooped in at 1.30 am. Polite conversations lasted till he got to the bar, piercing the potbellied uncle battalion. Vodka is what he wanted. Five minutes of waiting, haggling with bartenders later he was told, "Sorry sir, we've run out of vodka". Some equality, we say. The IPL owner gets turned down for his first vodka, and we for our third.
Sachin? Nahin aaya.
Model Candice Pinto
I'm really looking forward to meeting Sachin Tendulkar, since I've never met him before, and it's tough to catch him at a party.
Model Sonalika Sahay on whyu00a0IPL wants models to stay back for parties
Models have a glam factor attached to them, that becomes a selling point. Without us, there's not as much fun (at a party) I am guessing.
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