More Bollywood in Dubai

We have always wondered why Bollywood hasnt done more to monetise its brand quotient Unlike in the West where Hollywood sells as one of the biggest tourist attractions there is not even a Bollywood theme park in Mumbais Film CityAnd now word comes in that Dubai has beaten Mumbai to it and will open doors to its own Bollywood theme park this October An area known as Bollywood Boulevard which will feature various filmy attractions restaurants known as Rock On and MughaleAzam a ride called Sholay The Hunt for Gabbar and even a Ferris wheel and carousel called the Lagaan CornerLeft to right Shah Rukh Khan Aamir Khan and Salman KhanInterestingly the parks promoters flew Aamir Khan in to shoot a promotional video ldquoThe park owns the rights to Lagaan and Aamir recreated his famous scenes and dialogues from the hit filmrdquo says a source ldquoThey have also bought the rights to Salmans Dabangg SRKs RaOne and Hrithiks Krrishrdquo he adds One more reason to visit Dubai soonFashions JuggernautWe are almost embarrassed to confess that when the first Ensemble store opened its doors in 1987 we had been one of the first journos to document its launch At that time Tarun Tahilianis ground breaking paean to Indias nascent fashion awakening had featured designers like Rohit Khosla Neil Bieff Amaya of which Anil Kapoors wife Sunita had been one part and Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla who sold under the label Jashan So it is only fitting that when we spoke to Tina Tahiliani Parikh Taruns enterprising younger sister about the stores imminent relaunch next week there was a whole lot of nostalgia and memories sharedTina Tahiliani Parikh Monisha Jaising Gaurav GuptaThe new bigger better store all 8000 feet of redesigned elegance by architects Bijoy Jain and Krupa Patel is positioned as a onestop multilevel fashion haven that will offer patrons the best of the Indian fashion under one roof says Tahiliani Parikh And keeping in mind the stores fondness for Indian textiles handlooms and edgier silhouettes the store will include new sections ranging from menswear to contemporary Indian and Western fashion saris a curated selection of fabrics and even a larger space dedicated to accessoriesldquoLabels like Tilla Maku Pichu and Eka will feature in the contemporary sectionrdquo says Tina ldquoalong with the stores blue chip roster of Monisha Jaising Savio Jon Varun Bahl Gaurav Gupta and Sabyasachi Mukherjeerdquo Tinas personal design sensibility leans towards Asha Sarabhai the Calico Museum in Ahmedabad and Isse MiyakeWill you sell what is known as red carpet ball gowns we ask former financial analyst who did her the Masters in International Policy at Stanford University ldquoErr yes we will keep ball gownsrdquo she says adding ldquoI suppose nearer to the Seasonrdquo We can almost hear the shudder in her voice We likePresent Day NostalgiaMumbaikers of a certain vintage will know what a significant part of the citys nightlife the Tajs coffee shop Shamiana had been PreTrattoria and the restobar nightclub phenomena the cavernous ground floor eatery had been the goto place for all manner of night owls and revellers post midnightTaljinder SinghOver cappuccinos and prawn curries and fish and chips the citys best and brightest would be seen winding down and gearing up for the next day For reasons mysterious when new brooms swept through the hotel they swept away the iconic coffee shop in whose place came the Zodiac Grill and the Starboard BarNo surprises then that news that the hotel is relaunching the Shamiana has been received with a great deal of excitement and nostalgia The hotels GM the dapper Taljinder Singh has been working round the clock and on site to oversee its launch and next week is hosting a lunch to reintroduce it to the populace ldquoWe invite you to experience the new Shamiana reimagined in every way Brand new everything Same old spotrdquo and fittingly the event is called Present Day NostalgiaThe Good NeighboursThe month will witness a robust instalment of Oval Adda the brainchild of city elder Gerson Da Cunha publisher Padmini Mirchandani and Ayesha Poo Sayani a wondrous phenomena that has gripped residents of SoBos famous Art Deco precinct and involves likeminded neighbours engaging with each other in a congenial and stimulating manner towards mutual stimulationGerson Da Cunha Denzil Smith and Padmini MirchandaniIts latest instalment features a rehearsal reading of Yasmina Rezas Art by theatre veterans DaCunha Vijay Crishna Farid Currim and Denzil Smith And when you consider that two of the actors actually live cheek by jowl in the Oval neighbourhood thats a big thumb up for neighbourly spiritDorji works for national happinessWe have never understood why unlike the Sikkimborn Danny Denzongpa Kelly Dorji the actor and erstwhile model has not got his due in Bollywood Like Denzongpa Dorji has an innate refinement and an interest in many activities besides moviesKelly Dorji being inducted in to the foundation by Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo WangchuckThe actor last seen as drug lord Nayak in Power the 2014 Kannada film has been displaying a growing interest in philanthropy and spirituality and was inducted in to the Tarayana Foundation working to uplift and enhance the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities in Bhutan recentlyEstablished in 2003 by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck it will see the handsome and softspoken actor extend his influence and position to help the vulnerable and the disadvantaged help themselvesAnd with his travel agency being actively involved in making Bhutan the number one biking destination in Asia this alumnus of Xaviers College Mumbai who got his break when Maureen Wadia discovered him at a Glad Rags contest will have more reason to visit his beloved homeland where Gross National Happiness is of primary concern