Scene and heard

Marcellus Baptista

What's happening in Mumbai’s hotels? A peek into the party circuit and events in the city...

Haute stuff

Simone Singh, Sabina Singh and Akansha Nanda at The Red Carpet at Olive

If it's Thursday it must be Olive, more so if it happens to be a fashion night. This was the case at The Red Carpet, presented by Ishna, showcasing the creations of young designer Rick Roy. The designer's muse, Malaika Arora Khan, was one of the stunning attendees. She was there with her husband Arbaaz Khan and sister Amrita Arora. They were there to catch the Thursday night buzz and the designer's tribute to women. There was much shimmer and shine, glitter and glamour as models strutted their stuff on the white ramp. Of course, there were those who had walked in hoping for a quiet dinner but that was just not possible with the posse of photographers and the fashion show. Spotted in the packed place were Kim Sharma, Rahul Bose, Simone Singh, Fahad Samar, Neelam Kothari, Nandita Mahtani, Kanchi Kaul, Arzoo Govitrikar, Reshma Bombaywala, Nina Manuel, Nethra Raghuraman, Ash Chandler, Shruti Sharma, Dipti Gujral, Akanksha Nanda, Gautam Singhania, Himesh Reshammiya, Shaheen Abbas and Viren Shah. All dressed at their fashionable best.

Women's whirl

Dipannita Sharma and Nethra Raghuraman at the 'Marie Claire' launch at Taj Lands End

Song-and-dance sequences seem to be a must at any launch and so it was at the India launch of 'Marie Claire' at Taj Lands End. However, there was a refreshing change in the sense that there were motorbike male riders zooming in with female pillion dancers. There were the mandatory speeches and images of the international women's magazine down the years flashing across the big screen. This 26th edition of the popular magazine has Bollywood star Preity Zinta on the cover. Inside, you learnt that she was among many others who were endorsing a campaign to stop moral policing. She was not present at the launch, but making their presence felt were TV host and actress Mandira Bedi, models Dipannita Sharma and Nethra Raghuraman, the magazine's India editor Shefalee Vasudev, fashion designers Priya Awasty, Nisha Jamvwal, Rocky S, Wendell Rodricks and Narendra Kumar, Anil Chopra of Lakme, Laurence Hembert, executive director, international editions, Group Marie Claire, and editor-in-chief Vinod Mehta of the Outlook Group, who was busy packaging the India edition of 'Marie Claire.'

Bombay belly

Ishita Arun and Sheetal Mallar at The Hafla Lounge at Zenzi

To further popularise the Lipstick Nights, Zenzi has created the Hafla Lounge where women can learn the art of belly dancing. On the inaugural night you were transported to the mystical land of Arabia with tarot card reading and Magnolia's latest collection of clothes thrown in. The lounge section took on the garb of Morocco with a low seating area, Arabic music wafting in the air, and tea and sweets from the enchanted land. An interactive session by the half-Peruvian, half Brazilian dancer Veronica included the basics of belly dancing and even some advanced moves for those so inclined. Enjoying the experience were guests like model Sheetal Mallar, fitness expert Leena Mogre, photographer Verna Leslie Loy, Ishita Arun, Sushma Puri and Alison Kanuga. The Hafla Lounge is open to ladies only and is ticketed at Rs 250 per head which includes an interactive session on belly dancing and being treated like a princess.

Show and tell

Kavita Kharayat, Mridula Chandrashekhar and Neha Kapur at the Provogue show at Rock Bottom

The much-awaited Provogue fashion show slated to be held at Hilton Towers but was postponed, was finally staged at Rock Bottom. This time, the popular fashion label teamed up with international men's magazine Maxim. On view was Provogue's spring-summer collection which seemed unseasonal now that the rains are here. Everyone expected Fardeen Khan, who endorses the brand, to walk the ramp, but there were in for a disappointment. But on stage were the TV serial 'Left Right Left' cast of Rajeev Khandelwal and Shveta Salve. Also some foreign girls dancing 'Coyote Ugly' style and even doing the pole dance and dancing within cages. The main show, of course, were the fashion sequences with summer shades and sleek styles modeled by Ujjwala Raut among others. Bikram and Schauna Saluja, Ken Ghosh, Mink Brar, Salil Ankola, Riva Babbar, Vikram Bawa, Gauri Babbar, Neha Kapur, Neelam Kothari, Nandita Mahtani, VJ Ramona, VJ Tina Thadani, and singers Mika and Faakhir were some of the guests who turned up. And the party continued.