Hands-free affection ko no

Updated On: 28 July, 2009 10:01 AM IST | | Shweta Shiware

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In the interest of saving international pop star Kylie Minogue's Meticulous make-up, friend and designer Jean Paul Gaultier touched her finger tips and blew kiss faces. the mwah-mwah ritual might be on its way out in paris, but back home, the Indian fashion frat prefer a tight squeeze, peck and gale milna

Stubble on a gaunt jaw looks fetching, but hardly feels as good when you lean forward for the ceremonious air kiss. And let's not even venture into the particulars of a sentiment when make-up you've toiled over grazes against cacti-like fuzz. The act of greeting (or sometimes saying ta-ta) by blowing a kiss into thin air, cheeks brushing, or nearly missing, often accompanied by a noisy "mwah", is called air kissing.

It isn't a bummer though. Most designers hold hygiene in high esteem, want their facials to last long, and smell divine. I lost my air kissing virginity to Tarun Tahiliani, while I was a rookie a decade ago. What I didn't know until then was that air kissing is a conversation starter, and fashion's famous don't indulge in it unless you are special or important.

(Clockwise from left)
>>Narendra Kumar gives model Mugdha Godse
a tight kiss while taking a bow at the end of his show at Lakme Fashion Week.
>>Rohit Bal and event manager Devika Bhojwani go mwah-mwah.
>>Rahul Khanna and model Joey Mathews are stitched at the cheek.
>>Manish Malhotrau00a0 who finds air kissing shallow, lets actress Celina Jaitley
give him a python hug.
pics/ Rane Ashish, Shadab Khan, Rajeev Tyagi, Pradeep Dhivar, Subhash Barolia,
Bipin Kokate

Mumbai designer James Ferreira, who celebrated his 53rd birthday this Saturday, is a passionate man. So, when he grabs you to greet you, it's heartfelt, often accompanied by loud giggles (from you and him). Delhi duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna's diva-ish aura crumbles when they catch a glimpse of someone they like. A bear hug is in order, and you don't mind it since they both have great taste in cologne.

Raghavendra Rathore's royal lineage doesn't let him slip away from the commandment of perfect manners, gently holding a lady by her shoulder to say a warm hello. Ditto with Ashish N Soni.u00a0

When Kolkata boy Sabyasachi Mukherjee holds your hand, swinging it like friends getting into a school bus on a day trip do, you know he likes your writing, or whatever else it is that you do. Boisterous Bollywood actress Kajol taught Manish Malhotra, the introvert, how to hug. "I am not comfortable with displaying affection. And if it's air kissing, I withdraw. I think it's shallow, stupid," he had once confessed.

Gaurav Gupta will spot you, and run a mile to give you a kiss, and won't let go of your hand while he chats. The unpredictable Arjun Saluja will talk, smile, kiss, even hug depending on whether he feels like "being social". It helps if you are wearing his design when you meet the reticent Saviojon. Suneet Varma, the boy-at-heart, is a delight to bump into if you are in the mood for a flamboyant embrace.