Scene and Heard

Marcellus Baptista

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

Living daylight

Neeta Lulla, Dia Mirza and Hrithik Roshan at Seijo and the Soul Dish

Night and day - that was what you experienced at Seijo and the Soul Dish. It was a brunch to celebrate the second anniversary of couturier Neeta Lulla's store and it was bright and beautiful in the dining area with the sunlight filtering through the skylight. Meanwhile, in the bar area it was very dark and the lights were flashing as though it was a night out. A good way to showcase both times of the day at the same time, though the general verdict was that Seijo looks better in the day. Instead of shadowy figures you could see people in a new light.

Host Neeta Lulla, dressed in casual chic with a white top, broad belt and blue jeans with boots, was accompanied by husband Shyam Lulla, daughter Nishka and son Siddharth. In keeping with the time of the day models Candice Pinto and Dipti Gujral wore white, while actors Hrishitta Bhatt and Dia Mirza were in cool blue. Other guests included Isha Koppikar, Pooja Batra, Celina Jaitley, Juhi Chawla, Aishwarya Rai, Isha Sharvani, Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan, Poonam Dhillon, Madhoo, Anaida, Suresh and Preeti Hiranandani, Anil Chopra and Kishore Bajaj. There were also fashion designers Poonam Soni, Anita Dongre, Arshiya Fakih, Lascelles Symons and Umesh Jivnani and models Mridula Chandrashekhar, Kavita Kharayat, Viveka Babaji, Tapur and Tupur Chatterji.

Women's whirl

Mona Singh at the Women Achievers show at InterContinental The Grand

Designer Shaina NC's Women Achievers fashion show in association with Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) has always been a much-awaited show. This time it was held at InterContinental The Grand and, as usual, included a fair sprinkling of women from all walks of life, some of whom were walking the ramp for the very first time but appearing like they were professional models.

This year's Women Achievers charity event teamed up with Hobby Ideas, India's first craft and hobby store promoted by Pidilite. The show, directed by Hemant Trevedi and compered by Rakshanda Khan dressed in a Shaina NC creation, began with calligraphy artist Achyut Palav painting on canvas to the beats of a tabla, while simultaneously Himanshu Agarwal and Arthur Rodriguez put together an origami creation. Next, it was showtime with the women on the catwalk that drew tremendous applause. Present were ghazal singers Pankaj Udhas and wife Farida, YK Sapru, chairman of CPAA and Apurva Parekh, director of Pidilite Industries.

Essence of the year

Sushma Puri and Vipasha Agarwal for the Elite calendar launch at Olive

The essence of attraction, temptation, allure, bewitchment, fascination, lust, desire, enticement, seduction, passion, hypnosis and charm were showcased at Olive with the launch of the Elite calendar. The courtyard area with its white pebbled path was the chosen place for the unveiling of the calendar with some stark and sensuous images staring at you. You learnt that the pictures were clicked by Vishesh Verma and models styled by Wendell Rodricks assisted by Adele Noronha Michael. Host Sushma Puri, director and CEO, Elite Model Management, welcomed both well-known models as well as fresh faces like Vipasha Agarwal and Vibhinita Verma. Others who stood out in the crowd were Neha Kapur, Mona Singh and Karan Oberoi, Pooja Bedi and Hanif Hilal, sisters Sucheta and Urvashi Sharma, Nikasha Tawadey, Lubna Adam, Bhawna Sharma, Dalip Tahil, Suneet Verma and Ash Chandler. And with 'essence' captured in the calendar it seemed appropriate to sample the scent of Essenzia di Wills for women and men.

Good hair night

Neha Dhupia and Neena Gupta at the Toni&Guy show at ITC Grand Maratha.

It was a celebration of styling with international hairdressing brand Toni&Guy staging a fashion show at ITC Grand Maratha. The models showed off the hairstyles and outfits by Varun Bahl. Hosted by Kapil Kumar, CEO of Brushman India, the party saw the flow of Dewar's Scotch and Bombay Sapphire martinis. Stylish guests included Simi Garewal in her usual white, Neena Gupta with daughter Masaba, and Neha Dhupia. Hairstylists Savio and Slash, Adhuna Akhtar, Avan Contractor and Peri Patel were there along with Randeep Hooda, Arshiya Fakih and Rij Eappen, Niharika Khan, Nikhil and Leena Mogre, Mitali and Prahlad Kakkar, Abu Jani, Parmita Katkar, Sharbani Mukherjee, Samir Soni, Sudanshu Pandey, Rohit Roy, Aarohi Mishra, Binal Trivedi, Alison Kanuga, Mona and Sadiq Meherally, Anita Arora and Toni&Guy artistic directors Grace Inzalaco, Eamonn Boreham and Bill Watson. Showcased were the three product ranges with a promise of a glow of health and shine to your hair: Red & White Signature, Insights and Men Only.