New clans on the Bollywood block

Fascinating to see how new clans emerge in Bollywood. This week saw the trailer launch of Akshay Kumar's next production 'Fugly'

Fascinating to see how new clans emerge in Bollywood. This week saw the trailer launch of Akshay Kumar's next production 'Fugly'. The movie marks the debut of Anil Kapoor's nephew Mohit Marwah, who seems to have inherited his uncle's looks.

Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor

Interestingly, with Anil’s own son Harsh soon to be launched by Rakeysh Omprakesh Mehra, a new generation of cousins, namely Ranveer Singh, Sonam Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Harsh Kapoor and Mohit Marwah will soon be all over the industry as the new power brigade.

Mohit Marwah

And for a family that was once described as being related to the Prithviraj Kapoor clan ‘by satellite’ (Daboo Kapoor’s immortal words), this current blossoming of filmdom’s other Kapoors comes as an interesting interlude in Bollywood’s evolution.

Akshay Kumar

Stand out cultural evening
There are some events that we are truly loath to miss. And the discussion this evening around a selection of Richard Bartholomew’s writing on art from the 50s to the early 80s at Max Mueller Bhavan, culled from the book, ‘Richard Bartholomew - The Art Critic’ is one such.

Gieve Patel, Ranjit Hoskote, Rosalyn D’mello, Sakina Mehta

We have been following the book’s journey through the posts of his son, our friend the ace (and highly decorated) photographer Pablo, and feel a genuine twinge of sadness that we will be out of town and away while the likes of Ranjit Hoskote and Gieve Patel will be in conversation with Rosalyn D’mello to discuss, ‘The Art Critic and the Modernist Moment’.

What is even more special is that the graceful Sakina Mehta, wife of the legendary late artist, Tyeb Mehta, will release the book

Ah well, until they find an app that allows you to be in two places at the same time, we will just have to soldier on.

Indian caravan in Riyadh
And while members of his extended family like Malvinder Singh are in the news for the recent takeover of Ranbaxy, Mozez Singh, the breakaway cousin who left his comfortable perch in Delhi to forge a new path in Mumbai’s film and show biz circles is also creating waves of his own. The lifestyle and content portal ‘Mohawk’ that he founded with his partner, our friend from our TV days, Anita Horam has been signed on to curate the best of contemporary ‘India cool’ is at Harvey Nichols Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Anita Horam

Called “Caravan 2014”, and kicked off on mid June to coincide with the start of the Ramadan season, Caravan 2014 is conceptualised as a two-month long exclusive retail experience of an unprecedented selection of 80 Indian brands which have been curated across fashion apparel, furniture, home décor, beauty products, jewellery and urban contemporary design.

Mozez Singh

“This special collaboration has been created by the initiative of the HNR CEO Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, and Mr Mozez Singh and Ms Anita Horam of Mohawk. Mohawk is in charge of taking over and transforming the three-storey, 90,000 square foot luxury store in Riyadh into an Indian extravaganza,” says the marketing bumf accompanying the announcement.

But obviously his decades of Delhi breeding at Prithviraj Road has shaped his taste. A list of some of the products Caravan 2014 will feature happen to be our favourites too: Forest Essentials, Good Earth, Anamika Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Nachiket Barve.

An officer and a gentleman
And even as ugly controversies break out and politicians plumb unimagined depths as they try to politicise the army, we rue the fact that Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, one of India’s greatest generals’ hundredth birthday went unsung last week on April 3.

Sam Manekshaw

We remember him from the days when radio was the only source of news and his characteristic clipped voice was often heard as he inspired his soldiers during the Bangladesh liberation struggle of 1971.

“You will not have wealth, you will not be rich but you will have respect, you will be the soldier of this great Army,” he had once famously told them.

Perhaps it is only better that this great patriot and soldier is not around to witness the state of his beloved country as it struggles to live up to the legacy of those that gave their lives for it.

Foodie coming to town
Following our report on Amaya, Camellia Panjabi and Namita and Ranjit Mathrani’s London eatery making it to the prestigious Elite Traveler’s 100 best restaurants of the world list, we received a message from our friend Namita. 

“It’s very good news, Amaya has been on as the only Indian restaurant for three years now. What’s nice about the list is its voted by the Elite group of travellers,” said the foodie, adding that she’d be visiting our neck of the woods soon for a catch up.

Which new Mumbai restaurants shall we line up for our internationally celebrated foodie friend to try out?
All suggestions welcome!

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