Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier

Pic/Atul Kamble

Ekdum first class

We love the colourful lungis these commuters are sporting while riding a local train in Matunga

Baking memories

Chef Heena Punwani at work

Chef Heena Punwani embarks on a new journey, more than a decade after she did a 180-degree-shift, and changed her designation from software engineer to chef. This ‘second plunge', as she dubs it, will offer the city a new bakery in either central or western Mumbai. Set to launch next month, chef Punwani shared, "Bakeries have been an important part [of my life] when growing up. I want to use my skill and bring people the joy and comfort that neighbourhood bakeries brought me." As preparation, Punwani spent a year travelling, eating and interning at bakeries across India. "It was time to get out of this COVID-19 bubble, meet the people I met virtually and whose work I admire and to gather new experiences and think about what I wanted for my own bakery," she concluded.

Educating rainbow parents

The Humsafar Trust is organising a two-day workshop called Prabal on October 7 and 8, for the parents of the children who are from LGBTQiA+ community. Supported by TRANScend, BMC Software India Pvt. Ltd. and in collaboration with Sweekar The Rainbow Parents; it aims to deepen the parents' understanding and acceptance. The workshop will include sessions on comprehending sexuality and gender identities; tackling social challenges of rainbow parents; understanding HIV and STIs; legal landscape of the community, among other topics. "The parents will also be given a lowdown of the legal acceptance in India, mental health challenges that parents face; ways in which they can be supportive after their child comes out; how acceptance translates into support and being there for them," shared Dhruv Goenka (in pic), advocacy officer at the trust.

Also read: Mumbai: 7 dead, 51 injured as massive fire breaks out in Goregaon

Urban art tales

The mural by Shaikh features local and storied elements

In a city where space is constantly shrinking, a new art space has opened up within a suburban mall. Created in collaboration with multimedia artist Sajid Wajid Shaikh, the Creators Zone seeks to encourage the city's artists with a space to show off their skills. The first mural by Shaikh highlights inspirations from the familiar icons such as the Gateway of India to the local elements of the Kurli crab and Holy Cross Church in Kurla to express the journey of the city.

"Creating this mural was the longest endeavour I've embarked on, being part of the Creators Zone initiative is an exciting journey. I feel great that I get to dive deeper into the history of my city and create a representation of it in the form of a mural," the artist said.

Look who's styling for Selena!

Selena Gomez at the benefit. Pic Courtesy/Getty Images

Designer Rahul Mishra is on a roll. The couturier had a moment in the limelight when singer Selena Gomez wore a custom hand-embroidered Iris dress, whose design originates from his Couture Fall 2023 Collection, to the Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles earlier this week.

Illustrated motif of Ahmed on the dress

While all eyes were on Gomez, the dress carried an intricate tribute by the Delhi-based designer to the atelier's tailor, Munir Ahmed, a decade-long associate. The collection - We, The People - is an ode to our fashion workers who articulate the looks of our atelier, Mishra said, adding, "To have dressed Selena [Gomez] for such a meaningful event, is an honour for us."

Stage is set for a new avenue

Rasika Agashe and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub during a play reading

Theatre makers and actors Rasika Agashe and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub will mark the fifth year of their platform, Sanhita Manch, with their annual theatre festival from October 20 to 22. "It started because we were sitting and discussing that we wanted to do theatre, but couldn't find any good new scripts. There was no fun in doing the same old plays," shared Agashe. The search, which began on Facebook, has now culminated in a collection of 400 plays from across the country. The best plays in English, Hindi and Marathi, adjudicated by a panel that includes Sapan Saran, Keval Arora among others, will be staged at the festival.