And more juice on Sandeep Khosla, Abu Jani, Anaya Bangar and entrepreneur Vanita Bhandari
Pic/Satej Shinde
Concrete catwalk
Parineeti Chopra turns an unassuming Andheri sidewalk into a high-fashion runway, while an appearance by Imran Khan adds a splash of pink to the paparazzi frenzy on Monday.
And the award goes to...
The India story at the Oscars on March 15 was headlined, expectedly, by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who played presenter alongside a dishy Javier Bardem. But it was the bevy of beauties kitted out by Nita Ambani’s Swadesh — between the awards and the after-party — that stole the style stakes.
Zanna Roberts Rassi
American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile wore a brooch by the brand, Minnie Driver wore their diamonds, and in a collaborative coup, Isha Ambani wore a bespoke Banarasi brocade fashioned into a frock by Turkish designer Dilara Findikoglu.
An unexpected fashionista was the focus of our attention though: British born, New York-based journalist-entrepreneur Zanna Roberts Rassi, who wore a brilliant, beaded couture creation by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, also under the Swadesh umbrella. So stunning was the ensemble, we had to give it a second glance — and in doing so, déjà vu was delivered. We’ve seen that ikat-inspired beaded bodice paraded to perfection by Natasha Poonawalla some years ago — matching skirt et al.
Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani
Of course, it isn’t the echo of the past, but the brilliance of now that matters, and this collaboration for the Oscars captures that. “We have always believed that Indian textiles and craftsmanship deserve a global stage. This collaboration celebrates the extraordinary depth of India’s textile traditions while allowing us, as designers, to reinterpret these fabrics through a contemporary lens,” Sandeep Khosla tells yours truly, adding that there’s a “subtlety” to Zanna and the way she wore the outfit that was very endearing to Abu. Clearly, while fashion may recall what’s come before, ensembles like these are their own moment — refined, radiant, and internationally resonant.
Mourning Marce
An outpouring of grief marked the passing of celebrity hairstylist Marcelo Pedrozo on Monday, with everyone from Janhvi Kapoor to Varun Dhawan sharing heartfelt messages in his memory. The Buenos Aires-born artist and ace hair tech had almost 20 years of experience in the industry — close to half of those spent working with some of India’s biggest and brightest stars.
Marcelo Pedrozo
From others in the HMU world, we hear Marce was warm, kind, and perennially fun. From his list of loyal clients, praise comes in waves. “Today I lost a very very dear friend, a brother, a confidant,” wrote a devastated Nora Fatehi, while Disha Patani shared an equally moving note: “Thank you for all your kindness and softness… Wish we had more time.”
Amid an ocean of condolence messages, there’s precious little being said to explain why this bright light was lost so soon. Even those who visited him in hospital on Sunday remain tight-lipped about the circumstances. For now, the silence around his passing only deepens the sense of loss. What remains certain is the mark Marce left on the people and projects he touched — a legacy of kindness, creativity, and friendship that won’t soon be forgotten.
Treasures of the heart
The people we love leave imprints that show up in the treasures we collect — and the tributes we create. Last week, we shared the story of designer Farah Khan Ali’s heartfelt homage to her late mother, Zarine Khan — a lovingly crafted jewellery collection that will be unveiled at a show this Saturday.
Vanita Bhandari
Following that beautiful thread, entrepreneur Vanita Bhandari pays tribute to her own mother, Perveez Aggarwal. Today, she launches Forever Gara — a book celebrating the legacy of Parsi embroidery, and more than that, a love for a craft passed down through generations.
With Ghazalah Moloobhoy, Parizaad Kolah, and Aarti Surendranath slated to wear Pegara pieces to the launch, the event becomes a toast to traditions, talent, and the timeless bond between mothers and daughters. Etched in gold, embroidered in thread, and eternally enduring.
Courage has no gender
Over the past weekend, Anaya Bangar reached a major milestone in her male-to-female gender transition, successfully completing a skin graft vaginoplasty surgery in Bangkok. “This has been a long journey and today feels like a very important step in it,” the transgender woman and daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar shared on social media.
Anaya Bangar
The procedure itself is challenging, but being so open about it requires even greater strength. Beyond her personal journey, Anaya has become a vocal advocate for transgender inclusion in sports, urging cricket bodies to support transgender athletes and speaking out on gender identity. Her courage, empathy, and resilience continue to inspire, demonstrating that kindness, love, and bravery truly know no gender.
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