Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

Will it be another shalimar, zeenat?
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman takes a close look at the pieces on display at a jewellery awards show she judged in Goregaon yesterday. Pic/Satej Shinde

A medium shift
Nidhi Singh, best known for her role in the hugely popular web series Permanent Roommates, is all set to make her Bollywood debut with the dark comedy, Brij Mohan Amar Rahe. The film revolves around a man who gets sentenced for his own murder. "It happened one night in December last year, when I got a call for this role. I met the director soon, it sounded like a fun narration, and I was on board," the actress, who'd been wanting to transition to films, told this diarist. Does this mean web takes a back seat for now? "The web will always remain very special to me. It makes me feel truly connected with the audience, where I can interact with them instantly," said Singh. "The medium doesn't matter. It's all about being part of a good story."

Manish Malhotra's NYU lessons
"I find it amazing when I have to speak at institutes because Iâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088haven't studied at all. I have spent my childhood in a theatre watching movies," were Manish Malhotra's opening remarks in his recent address to the students of New York University. The well-known designer spoke about his love for films and his talent for sketching, and how he married the two to create a niche for himself at a time when fashion designers did not consider a career in Bollywood. The 45-minute candid talk was peppered with interesting anecdotes from his three decades in the industry. Malhotra also spoke at Harvard Business School earlier this year.

Just another reminder that merit triumphs over everything else.

Writer, director, and now actor
Gandhi - A Musical, a production based on the life of the Father of the Nation, is all set to return to the city next month with its third season. The play, which premiered in August last year, has been written and directed by Danesh Khambata, and looks at Gandhi's life from a more realistic perspective, rather than glorifying him. We're fully expecting the third run to be as exciting as the past shows, but we are told there's a surprise thrown in this time around. Turns out Khambata, who has acted in several plays, himself will be essaying the role of the aged Gandhi in the musical. We'd love to see how he depicts his own creation on stage. The play, which will have a continuous 12-day run in the city, will fittingly wrap up for this season on Independence Day.

Peaceful tunes
Sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan's music sphere is ever-evolving. The 71-year-old is also admired for his experiments beyond the purview of the Indian classical music textbook. The legend, along with his wards Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, recently collaborated with American violinist Elmira Darvarova for a seven-track album titled, Peace Worshipers, which is set to release today. "This recording emerges out of our family's commitment to peace and tolerance in the larger world as well as in the smaller communities. We have shared our respective traditions and genres with each other while keeping the integrity and character intact. The album also covers the regional folk traditions in India and Europe," Ayaan told this diarist. There are tunes like Enchanted River, inspired by the boat songs of Bengal and Assam, and Romantic Ecstacy, a Rajasthani folk song in raga Maand.

It's time to flaunt some fur
Most restaurants in the city have a no-pets policy, but going by some recent events they've played host to, it seems that things might be changing for pet parents, after all. From parties with curated menus for pets to grooming sessions, you might be able to put away the guilt of having to leave behind your pet while you have some good time. The latest addition to pet dos? A fashion show for stylish pooches and felines at a Thane cafe. Three woofs for the news!