Scene and Heard

Marcellus Baptista

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

Swim and trim

Preity Zinta, Dr Vijay Mallya, Atul Kasbekar and models at the Kingfisher calendar launch

The launch of the Kingfisher swimsuit special is a much-awaited event in the calendar year. Usually held in the first week of January, this time there was a surprise for guests as they received an invite for the first week of December. The venue was the latest luxury yacht of Dr Vijay Mallya, docked in the Mumbai harbour. It turned out to be a scorcher of a Sunday but once you boarded the Indian Empress it was a chilled out experience. Shot against the breathtaking backdrop of the French Riviera, the calendar was a visual treat. And there was double the excitement since instead of the usual 12 photographs there were 24 with each month divided in half. As usual, Atul Kasbekar was the chosen photographer. The models: Deepti Gujral, Shamita Singha, Nikii Daas, Mia Udeya, Bruna Abdalah and Selma Lasrado (who is also a flight attendant on Kingfisher Airlines.) The calendar featured creations by Anamika Khanna, Malini Ramani, Namrata Joshipura, Nandita Basu, Pankaj Ahuja, Rina Dhaka, Ranna Gill, Shantanu Goenka and Varun Bahl. Unveiling the calendar with Dr Vijay Mallya was Preity Zinta who was accompanied by Ness Wadia. Other guests included Gautam Singhania, Prahlad Kakkar, Sabina Chopra, Upen Patel, Ashmit Patel, Soni Razdan, Neena Gupta, Chottu and Sabira Merchant, Simone Singh and Farhad Samar, Poonam Dhillon, Vikram Phadnis, Malini Ramani, Deepika Padukone, Marc Robinson and wife Waluscha. Besides the drinks from the UB Group, there was a buffet spread from Joss. Music was spun by DJ Ivan while compere Cyrus Broacha was at his inimitable best.

Cosmic couture

Models at the Gayatri show at Taj Lands End.

This is the season for outdoor and open-air locations for events. The seaside lawn of Taj Lands End seemed perfect for a fashion show. The pre-show area took on the appearance of a lounge with low black sofas, barstools and a long black bar offering Black Dog and Sula wines. Post-cocktails, it was time for the show introducing Gayatri, a spring-summer 2007 cosmic collection, showcasing women's and men's lounge and evening wear from Gayatri Khanna, who has worked with international designers like Versace, Armani and Anna Sui. Mesmerising music coupled with electrifying images on two screens added to the action with models walking down the long, shiny black ramp. What you witnessed was a cosmic theme intelligently integrated into stylish silhouettes with silk jersey, metallic knits, stretch chiffons and satins. Auras, chakras and energy fields were translated into vibrant energetic prints. Celestial bodies were transformed into chic silhouettes of bold colours with gold and silver fabric and Swarovski highlights. Sheetal Mallar was the showstopper followed by a trail of girls in violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Guests included Suchitra Pillai and husband Lars, Tara Sharma with Roopak Saluja, and Upen Patel. And the cocktails continued after the show, accompanied by a delightful dinner.

Six pack

AD Singh with Jaideep and Seema Mehrotra at Olive

Olive bar & kitchen has become quite a brand with a presence not only in Mumbai but also in Delhi and Bangalore. The cheer was on at the Mumbai outlet that celebrated its sixth anniversary. Hosts AD Singh, Martin D'Costa and Henry Tham made their presence felt along with their wives, Sabina, Saagarika and Ashita. Also very much in attendance was master chef, Massimiliano Orlati, popularly known as Chef Max. It was time for bubbly, beer, wine, spirits and cocktails along with a lavish and luxurious buffet spread comprising soups, salads, cold meats, cheese, clams and oysters, live grill, paella, pasta and some sinful desserts. A live jazz act, a serenading guitarist and also a DJ added to the sound of music in the air punctuated by cocktail chatter. The guest list went on and on and included the likes of Sangeeta Bijlani with Mohammed Azharuddin, Rahul Bose, Narendra Kumar Ahmed and Kadambari Lakhani, Ashish Raheja with Shonali Nagrani. And everyone said three cheers twice.

Choc on the block

Diana Penty at the Fantasie Chocolates show at World Trade Centre

Chocolates are meant to be eaten but they can also be worn. This novel concept was executed at the Fantasie Chocolates fashion show at the Upper Crust Show 2006 at World Trade Centre. It was innovation at its best as the models sported chocolate creations designed by Lascelles Symons. It was an exciting way to present Luxor, a line of handmade premium chocolates. The slick and chic show choreographed by Marc Robinson featured some mouthwatering molten chocolate shown off by models like Tapur and Tupur Chatterji and Diana Penty. On view were chocolate bustiers, corsets, corsages, jewellery and accessories. The showstopper was actor and TV personality, Simone Singh, dressed in a vibrant yellow ensemble adorned with chocolates. Hosts Farzana Contractor and Zeba Kohli looked very happy indeed as did guests Nisha Jhaveri, Manu and Indu Mahtani, Chhaya Momaya, Deepika Gehani, Tasneem Mehta, Vanita Bhandari, AD Singh, Samir and Palak Sheth, Sabina Chopra, Fahad Samar, Bina and Talat Aziz, Sameena and Azeem Khan, Aarti Surendranath and Pooja Misra. Post-show, guests were treated to chocolates and champagne.