'The Meera Gandhi Show' is about health, happiness and joyfulness

Meera GandhiFrom her perch as one of Mumbais leading socialites to her similar role in New York philanthropist entrepreneur and intrepid traveller Meera Gandhi appears never to let the dust settle under her restless feet This weekend saw the erstwhile Mumbai chi mulgi launch The Meera Gandhi Show her new talk show on TV TheMeeraGandhiShow on health happiness and joyfulness Enjoy my joyful and wellpaced talk show Wishing you abundant joy she said by way of introducing itAbhay MaskaraArt for countrys sakeA most significant and hushhush meeting was held last week when Delhibased Neha Kirpal the dynamic founder of the India Art Summit flew down to meet some of Mumbais leading gallerists for addressing the issue of the impending GST Bill and how it would impact the already beleaguered art world Present at the discussion were Abhay Maskara Usha Mirchandani Mortimer Chatterjee Khorshed Pundole Arshiya Lokhandwala Shanti and Sangita Chopra amongst others with conference inputs from Dadiba Pundole and Aparajita JainUsha MirchandaniIt was decided that the art community should make a pitch for the 4 slot as there was a very small percentage of artistsgalleries who earn top dollar and a tax that was any higher that what is being charged currently between 125 and 135 would kill the industry said a sourceWhat is more significant is that there was a discussion to set up of an association working title National Visual Arts Association NVAA which would take a representation to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to emphasise the importance of supporting the art community in IndiaArshiya LokhandwalaWith approximately 56 million Indians involved in the art and crafts sectors and the positive impact of Kochi Muziris Biennale and India Art Fair on tourism culture education outreach and engagement art ought not to be viewed as a luxury but as every Indians right to enlightenment said the sourceAparajita Jain PicTwitterA vibrant art climate in a country is indicative of a nations health Art heals inspires and adds unqualifiable richness to our lives Isnt art as important as branded paneer frozen vegetables and broomsticks mdash items to be taxed at 5 on the list approved by the GST Council One hopes that the answer to that is selfevident to the powers that beNazia and Zoheb HassanNazias niecesIn the eighties and early nineties the brothersister duo of Nazia and Zoheb Hassan was a runaway success selling more than 75 million records worldwide with hits Disco Deewane Star and Hotline and a fanfollowing that extended from the Indian Subcontinent to South America But with the untimely death of Nazia in 2000 mdash she succumbed to cancer mdash and her griefstricken brothers reluctance to carry on their fans were left bereft of the happy upbeat music from of the goodlooking Pakistani siblings But talent never dies and word comes in that the legacy continues through the Londonbased Zohebs talented schoolgoing daughters Allyana and Mia HassanThey are presently working with a top British music producer on their new single Hold On Tight that the younger sibling Mia has composed says their proud fatherAnd yes while the girls love to sing their father and aunts hit pop tracks they want to make an album of their own says Zoheb adding Of course right now they are busy studying for their upcoming midterm examsAD SinghIts playtime folksIts a big week ahead for us said restaurateur AD Singh when we caught up with him over the weekend Two of our best and hippest restaurant brands are set to open in Mumbai added the consummate man about town while enjoying some Sunday afternoon time with his daughter the feisty Zoe Tara Singh was referring to the launch of Toast and Tonic an outpost of his hugely successful offering in Bengaluru which will open its doors at BKC and Hello Guppy next door to itSingh spoke even as Zoe Tara mounted an attempt to sabotage his restaurant spiel Oww Shes jumping on my head now said Singh delightedly cutting short the telephone call as Zoe Tara was all ready to be taken for a play date to the club Because as one of the countrys most successful restaurateurs knows nothing is as important as playtime with a fiveyearoldPritish NandyA Sunday with the trollsWe arent sure Pritish Nandy had a relaxing Sunday yesterday as he was the latest victim to be trolled for his seemingly innocuous and on the whole sensible social media posts Large sections of Twitterati took offence at his tweets on various issues such as GST censorship and nationalism Those were days when everyone was free to have their own say Not like today when 70 of India has taped its mouth shut was one of the tweets that had triggered the backlash And it is a measure of how wearying the whole business is that after diligently responding to all the trollers by the late afternoon the consummate wordsmith Pritish decided to call it a day and throw in the towel Ok guys the troll shift is over Go home now And dont forget to collect your wages from those who hire you Will meet again another day he postedNice