The best and the brightest

Deepika Padukone and Shaina NC at the event. Pic/Mangesh Kamble

By all accounts it was something of a star turn out when Giants International honoured 12 outstanding personalities of India at a five-star this Saturday.

From Chief Guest, the affable HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, to awardees Niranjan Hiranandani, Rana Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor; Giants' moving spirit Nana Chudasama and daughter, BJP leader Shaina NC, had managed to assemble a roll call of some of India's prime movers, shakers and opinion leaders.

Prakash Javadekar

However, one name stood out in the gathering, that of our old friend, the ‘Highway Love Charger' Sant Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who was bestowed recognition for his work in social reform in Punjab especially in the eradication of drug addiction.

We have attended the awards functions in the past (like on the occasion when Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani was an awardee), and found them to reflect a sensibility of an earlier Mumbai, steeped in old values and principles.

How did His Spangled Highness, the Religo-rock star in his neon pajamas fare with the cities best and brightest? From all accounts: he was perfectly at ease rubbing shoulders with the hoi polloi at the dinner that followed, and quite the star of the occasion. Except of course, in comparison to the lovely Deepika Padukone, who, according to those present was at her luminous best.

Come back Linda Goodman...
Regular readers of this column will know of our fascination with people born on the same day and what it tells us about the science of astrology. From Aishwarya Rai and Nita Ambani, women who epitomize strength and beauty being born on the same day (November 1), to Indira Gandhi and Zeenat Aman, both women of considerable power and influence in their own fields sharing a birthday (19 November), we have often dwelt on the topic.

MFâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Husain and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

This Friday's haul of eminent birthdays was particular fascinating. September 17 happened to be the birthdate of not only PM Narendra Modi, but also of Padma Vibhushan MF Husain, and one of the country's most eminent doctors, ENT surgeon, Padma Bhushan LH Hiranandani.

Three men who were undoubtedly very successful but in such different fields and ways. Yes all three are hardworking and dedicated their lives to their chosen fields. Dr Hiranandani Mumbai's quintessential doctor, having operated on the tonsils of a whole generation (including this writer's), was a man of unrivalled charm and kindness. Husain was essentially a free spirit, the poster boy of India's modern art movement and an iconoclast, and Modi's personality looms large over the entire nation.

Perhaps what connects all three are the larger than life proportions their lives took. As for our amateur attempts at astrological reportage - here's one example sure to debunk all myths on the power of sun signs. Two of media's most successful icons, Rupert Murdoch and Samir Jain share a birthdate with the writer of this column. Just saying.

Work, work, work
Is there anything Amitabh Bachchan cannot do? We say this after watching Big B tirelessly promote his newest film, Pink, a courtroom drama where he plays a lawyer suffering from bi-polar disorder, defending a bunch of young girls against powerful patriarchal opposition, and we chanced upon a video of Bachchan during a promotional interview, where an online media publication presented him with the lyrics of International star Rihanna's hit track ‘Work.'

Amitabh Bachchan and Rihanna

Despite the obvious generational gap, Amitabh (who we presume hadn't even heard the song before) played ball, and recited the lyrics in his trademark tone, with the enthusiasm of a teenager. And after his hectic promotion schedule, word comes in that the actor will be in Dubai next month for a popular women's shopping extravaganza. All in a day's ‘work, work, work, work, work'.

BFFs, blondes and Blahniks
It appears to have been a vintage Mumbai party (BFFs, bottle blondes, Blahniks and selfies) over the weekend at Bhavana and Chunky Pandey's, from the flurry of social reportings from happy (and most likely hung over) guests the next day.

The party revellers

"We had a few friends over as we'd recently moved back home after having the house redone. We plan many more small gatherings," said the hostess the evening after. And from the looks of it, Queenie Singh and Rishi Sethia, Surily Goel, Nandita Mahtani, Dino Morea, Malaika Arora Khan and Kalyani Chawla amongst others, bonded over some prime Beluga, peerless tequila, much laughter and undoubtedly over the fact that they all appear to favour the same hairstylist.

Hair and its forms also made an appearance elsewhere: Chunky Pandey has grown a beard and it has come out rather fetching - which when you think about it, could just have been the reason for the party too.

The sad, restless paintbrush
One of the most exquisite lines on the death of the late great MF Husain, India's greatest artist, treated so shabbily in his later years by the government of India, and buried abroad was penned by his close friend, pharma giant Cipla's Chairman, Yusuf K Hamied, the billionaire scientist and philanthropist who was with him a few days prior to his demise. And this Friday on what would have been the artist's 101 birthday, Hamied shared with us the following lines that he'd written for his friend's obit.

Yusuf Hamied

"Somewhere today a lone paintbrush lies sad, restless and thirsty, grieving in the knowledge that the set of fingers that yielded it to create many a masterpiece will never hold it again." A sad restless and thirsty paintbrush… could there be any more poignant imagery to describe the creative genius of India's leading artist?