Football first

Word comes in that two major Btown stars Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan who are known football fans and even own their own football teams in the Indian Super League were spotted at the Stamford Bridge stadium the home stadium of the Chelsea football club in London last weekThe story goes that Ranbir who is in London for the shooting of Karan Joharrsquos upcoming Ae Dil Hai Mushkil took time off from the shoot schedule and went to watch the Chelsea vs M TelAviv game along with a few buddiesRanbir Kapoor and Abhishek BachchanA source informed ldquoRanbir who was at the match only realized post half time that Abhishek was in another part of the stadium at which point the hunks managed to link up and sit together for the remainder of the gamerdquoApparently Bachchan junior who is in London for the filming of his next Housefull 3 and is the global ambassador of Chelsea FC was surprised to see Ranbir at the match knowing what a celebrated fan RK is of FC Barcelona But it all ended well as Chelsea won the game resoundingly and the fraternity boys got to catch up over banter and footieSerendipitous coincidencesWhereas much has been written about lsquoGates of the Lord The Tradition of Krishna Paintingsrsquo the exhibition of rare drawings pichwais paintings and historic photographs sponsored by the Reliance Foundation at the Art Institute Museum of Chicago few have reported on the serendipity of the dates surrounding itIsha and Nita AmbaniThe opening of the exhibition was preceded by an inaugural dinner attended by Nita Ambani and daughter Isha along with distinguished museologists including Douglas Druick President of the Art Institute of Chicago and curators from the Smithsonian and the Met academicians and high priests from Nathdwara temple amongst othersAnd though no one alluded to it the fact that this dinner to mark the opening of and the exhibition dedicated to Krishna the God of Love was held on 911 appeared more than a happy coincidenceAnd if that were not a happenstance enough the date also marked the 152nd anniversary of Swami Vivekanandrsquos famous speech which he delivered to the Parliament of World Religions coincidentally in the same buildingNot without my entourageFor all those who rile about Indiarsquos ubiquitous VIP culture and yearn for a time when our politicians behave like ordinary citizens bereft of convoys and security details this will come as an eyeopenerManohar Parrikar presenting the Giants Award for Social Service to Usha KakadeAt the recent Giantsrsquo award ceremony which saw the likes of Star CEO Uday Shankar musician Shaan and educationist Dr Zahir Kazi receive their citations from Chairman of Giants International Nana Chudasama the Chief Guest Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar shared an interesting experience in his speechCommended by Shaina NC about his austerity and penchant for simplicity Parrikar narrated on how when hersquod been appointed as Chief Minister of Goa he had accepted the invitation of one of his political workers to have tea at his homeldquoSince it meant so much to the man I took the time to travel to his village and meet his familyrdquo said the IIT alumni ldquobut while I was leaving my host took me aside and looking very dejected reproached me for showing up without an entourage or cavalcadeldquolsquoThis way only I know of your visit sirrsquo he said lsquobut without the accompanying entourage mdash how will people from my village know that you camersquordquo narrated Parrikar commenting that his choice of simplicity was not always appreciatedHonouring a martyrldquoHow does one deal with being a martyrrsquos sonrdquo said an emotional Ashwin Deo founder of Turning Point Wines who this week marked the 50th death anniversary of his father the late Major Surendra Deo who had died in action on September 16 in Sialkot fighting in the IndoPak war of 1965Remembering Major Surendra DeoldquoRespect to the soldier and scores of soldiers whorsquove given up their lsquotodayrsquo for our lsquotomorrowrsquordquo said the proud son who was no more than a child when he was left fatherlessAshwin DeoldquoItrsquos been a week of discovery for merdquo he said ldquoAnd when the bugler and trumpeter from his regiment did their thing I felt very little as tears got the better of my sightrdquo he said adding ldquoMy father my role model my pride Jai HindrdquoPostevent celebrationsAfter her walltowall celebrity packed book launch last week debutant author Sakshi Salve daughter of leading Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve chose to celebrate her success by letting her hair down at Mumbairsquos popular midcity nightclub Exo run by Rishi Acharya Indiarsquos answer to Flavio BriatoreSakshi Salve PicTwitter and Kanika KapoorldquoTheyrsquod booked all the tables and seen enjoying the occasion were the likes of Kanika Kapoor Suhel Seth and designer Varun Bal along with many Delhi friendsrdquo said a source adding ldquoand the party wound up in the wee hours of the morningrdquo