Not only is Kangana's letter to Saif - exclusively published by mid-day - beautifully articulated, it also epitomizes grace under pressure
Kangana Ranaut
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Not only is Kangana's letter to Saif - exclusively published by mid-day - beautifully articulated, it also epitomizes grace under pressure. Written only a few days after the actress survived a major accident during a shoot, which required 15 stitches on her forehead, Ranaut's high-minded epistle effortlessly lifted the 'n' word debate into the sphere of ideas and principles.
To cheer the actress as she recovers in a hospital in Hyderabad, we had texted her the famous couplet from Rumi (later made even more famous by Leonard Cohen), 'There is a crack in every thing, that's how the light gets in.'
Prompt came her reply: "For sure. This is my fifth major accident in which I've lost blood and required stitching. Haha!" Yep. That explains a lot!
A whole lotta' whistlin'
Friday night saw a screening of the Tiger Shroff – Nidhi Agerwal starrer Munna Michael, hosted by Ayesha and Jackie Shroff at a Juhu multiplex, accompanied by a lot of excitement, popcorn and what appears to be the Tiger liet motif — whistling. The audience comprised the core Shroff inner circle and so, when long-time family friend and confidante designer, Ana Singh, distributed whistles to members of the audience, there were many takers.
Tiger Shroff, (R) Nidhi Agerwal
We spotted producer Ali Morani with wife Yasmine, Danny Denzongpa with wife Gava and family, actor Sooraj Pancholi amongst others, whistling, clapping and generally having a good time watching the action on screen, while Tiger sat in the last row with Nidhi, basking in the combined love and attention on the first evening show of his fifth outing.
As for the film, having attended the first screening of his first film in similar circumstances, what can we say? The boy has an astonishing physicality that reaches out and grabs audiences, no matter what he does. The whistling follows quite naturally.
Something in the air
Some of the most discerning men we know swear by one perfumer – Jo Malone – known as the Rolls Royce of fragrances and created by Joanne Lesley Malone MBE, the founder of Jo Malone London. Its renown comes not only from the fact that it's seen as a cut above but that Malone herself had grown up in a council house and had gone on to create the niche luxury brand available only in its own dedicated stores and in ultra luxe precincts.
Joanne Lesley Malone MBE. Pic\Twitter
And it is a measure of the brand's India ambitions, that despite an alleged economic slow down and GST woes, next month Mumbai will see its first Jo Malone store. The label had announced their India launch by setting up a two-day makeshift fragrance bar at Jaipur's Amanbagh earlier this year. Which means a lot of discerning men in our acquaintance need not have to purchase their Malones from abroad.
Corporate skullduggery
It's been described as the unkindest cut of all. When one of the country's most respected corporate groups sent a criminal defamation notice seeking '500 crore in damages and an unconditional apology from its former Chairman, who is from a highly respectable family, the viciousness of the move took many an insider's breath away.
But the nature of the notice (after all gentlemen are supposed to keep fair distance from each other and any thing 'criminal') was not the whole of it. Apparently, the savage intent could be recognised because the notice had been served on the day, when the ex-Chairman would have desired some peace and quiet after what had been a tumultuous year. It was by any standards his birthday. Who says skulls and daggers are not part of India Inc? Chilling.
Will the table turn?
Word comes in that Alex Sanchez, Executive Chef of 'The Table', has allegedly put in his papers at Gauri Devidayal's cozy Colaba eatery, which he helped popularise. The alumnus of America's Culinary Institute, who'd been synonymous with San Francisco's Bay Area cosine, is said to be spreading his wings in Mumbai possibly helming his own eatery with backing from investors.
Alex Sanchez and Gauri Devidayal
This is a syndrome which has had precedence in Mumbai, where chefs like Kelvin Cheung, originally with Ellipses, have gone on to launch their own restaurants once they've achieved celebrity status of their own. The only way to prevent talent from leaving is to practise what AD Singh has done with the talented Manu Chandra. Give chefs their due by making them partners in the enterprise. Will Gauri Devidayal comply and turn the tables on his move? Watch this space.
A new happy hour
Chayya Momaya's afternoon soiree to bring in her birthday this weekend saw an eclectic group of women gather at the Oberoi's sun kissed bar. From Nita Ambani to Saryu Doshi, Pheroza Godrej, Radhikaraje Gaikwad, Rashmi Thakur, Pallavi Jaikishan, Ananya Goenka, Reshma Merchant, Sushma Jain and Simmone Arora, they were all there for the birthday girl, whose resemblance on her special day to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, elicited much comment.
(L-R) Bansri Shah, Madhu Ruia, Pheroza Godrej and Tanaaz Doshi at the celebrations
Momaya's choice of hosting the party between 2-5pm on Friday too came in for commendation. "It's such a refined hour to have a ladies get-together," a formidable society hostess remarked. "You have the whole morning to attend to your work. You can even finish an early luncheon with your family if you wish. Then 'aram se' you can get ready (even get your hair done) and arrive in style," she added.
Nita Ambani and Chayya Momaya
And towards the end, Momaya had ensured that even the cuisine served was a mix of lunch and teatime delicacies – quinoa bhel, gluten-free wada pao, flutes of bubbly and the hotel's excellent English breakfast tea! A new happy hour in Mumbai? We like!
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