Boys night out

It was a heady gathering of celebrity testosterone at a five-star on Wednesday night, when some of the city's most ardent football fans settled a wager.

"Best boys dinner crew ever. Bought and paid for by the Chelsea fan," posted TV anchor Gaurav Kapur about the meal, and seen looking pleased as punch were the likes of Farhan Akhtar, Atul Kasbekar, Abhishek Bachchan and Rohit Sippy amongst others, mostly sporting football jerseys of their favourite English Premier League teams.

Farhan Akhtar, Abhishek Bachchan, Gaurav Kapur and Atul Kasbekar with friends

"It was our annual boys night out," says lens man Kasbekar when we asked him about the gathering. "We support various teams in the English Premier League and the wager is that the person whose team came last in the finals has to buy dinner for everyone else." And who bought dinner this time we enquired. "Abhishek Bachchan," he guffawed. Well, come to think of it, his smile does look a tad strained in the picture. Dinner for eight at the Wasabi? Ouch!

Viva Assam
"I was so happy to see the beautiful creations," said Subbalakshmi, wife of sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, about her visit to Ogaan, where she was witness to the output of three of her fellow compatriots from Assam, which would be shown at a forthcoming fashion week in Mumbai.

Subbalakshmi Khan with a creation

"I recalled what Gandhiji had said when he had visited Assam; that its women dream beautiful dreams through their looms," she said. "I felt so happy that the neglected state which has so much to offer: its famous oils tea, timber and distinct handlooms was getting the recognition it deserved."

The work of designer Anuradha Pogo was especially breathtaking, says the graceful lady, who though she left Assam for boarding school at eight, never misses a chance to go back home or keep up with its traditions. "My mother lives in Shivsagar but the family home is in Gauhati and I visit as often as I can," she said.

Cool Showing
Photographer Jatin Kampani called in with the news of his newest enterprise. Called 'Merchants of Cool,' it is an installation of selected works of Fine Art Photography Prints by 14 photographers.

Jatin Kampani

"It's the second installment of our enterprise which aims to blur the lines between art and photography, and is part of the Appa Art Assembly, to be held at KCA Hall, Bandra next week," he said. "It's time photography was given its due." Merchants of Cool?

How cool is that!

Bollywood birthday
A slew of Bollywood personalities gathered at Bandra's Korner House on Tuesday night to bring in the birthday of Rohini Iyer, who is with one of the industry's leading reputation management agencies.

Shilpa Shetty, Farah Khan, Emraan Hashmi and Rohini Iyer. Pic/Twitter

Amongst the first to arrive were Farah Khan and Emraan Hashmi. Others seen were Sanjay Leela Bhansali with sister Bela, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff along with their daughters Rhea Kapoor and Krishna Shroff. Tabu and Pooja Batra were also there.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Raveena Tandon and Sonali Bendre added to the glamour as did Kanika Kapoor, Krishika Lulla, Bipasha Basu, Karan Singh Grover and R Madhavan. "Vicky Ratnani - Dabboo Ratnani's brother - whipped up customised delicacies for the guests, which included a salad bar, paella, his famous Thai curry among others," says Iyer. "It was a night to remember."

Scurrilous attack
Friends of this top Delhi-based TV anchor were aghast recently, when she became the target of some very public and scurrilous character assassination from the former wife of the man she's currently dating. The attacker used social media outlets to post vicious remarks about the anchor, singling her out for 'walking off with her husband.' "We all knew that the anchor was dating this person, the father of two and he had even moved cities to be closer to her, on her part she had made no attempt to hide him from the public either, but given that they were two consenting adults and that she had a right to her private life, no one in the media had written about the new love in her life. Many were genuinely happy for her as she looked so contented and at peace finally," says a friend. "So naturally when this unwarranted attack came, we were all shocked - not only at the meanness of it all, but also at the level it's stooped to," says the source, adding, "Of course, the lady at the receiving end, is wisely ignoring it all - at least publicly."

Grapes of work
Word comes in that Mumbai-based Sonal Holland, wife of high profile investment banker Andrew, who until recently was Divisional Head, Wines and Beverages of ITC Hotels, has put in her papers.

Sonal Holland

"I've decided to give my entrepreneurial skills and spirit full lead," she said when we spoke to her in Delhi. "Wine education, consulting, travels to overseas wineries and writing, are all on the agenda."

Sonal had launched the Sonal Holland Wine Academy conducting wine appreciation classes for India's growing number of wine aficionados.

As for her next big plans she said, "I am now in a position to take on advisory roles with other luxury hotels and restaurants."

"I am most excited to announce Delwine Excellence Awards and India Wine Awards in collaboration with Indian Wine Academy and Indian Restaurant Spy. These awards aim to recognise the best in class wines and wine programmes across the hospitality industry. We are gearing for national presence as we launch these awards across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore," she said.