Heir to the $750million hotel chain, Indian-born American hotelier Vikram Chatwal is bringing a 26/11 charity fashion show to Mumbai, and a luxury 'hautel' to Cochin

For someone born in the US, educated at Wharton School, employed at Morgan Stanley, to finally take over his father NRI hotel entrepreneur Sant Chatwal's business, returning to India to launch his first hotel, is coming a full circle. Once famed as the New York playboy, Vikram Chatwal comes from a family of some of the most high profile Sikhs in the US. India is on his mind once again, with the launch of Dream, his first Indian hotel scheduled to open in Cochin next week.

Before he whisks off Mumbai's glitterati to the backwaters of Kerala, for a weekend of unapologetic partying, he gets down to some serious business with Mai Mumbai, an initiative that will see Indian and international designers come together for a charity show at Lakmu00e9 Fashion Week. Supermodel Naomi Campbell, his partner in this initiative, is slated to walk the ramp.

How did you and Naomi Campbell come together for Mai Mumbai?
Naomi and I have been friends for long. She approached me with the suggestion at New York Fashion Week, and my response was an immediate yes. Fern Mallis from IMG New York has a soft spot for India, and helped glue the project together.

I know a different Naomi, not the one the media usually portrays. She's caring and passionate, using her notoriety to help raise awareness about causes dear to her.