Hi! BLITZ May 2013 by Amed

VOLUME VOLUME 22 •• ISSUE ISSUE 39 46 •• SEPTEMBER MAY 2013 •2012 AED •15 AED 15

RIGHTING THE INDIAN SCREEN Mira Nair Gauri Shinde Farah Khan Reema Kagti Zoya Akhtar

SPOOKY HOLIDAYS

Sleeping With The Ghost Pubbing With The Poltergeist Searching For Dracula

LOOM LUMINARIES

They Saved The Ancient Cloth

FASHION FORWARD

The Region’s Definitive Fashion Platform

SUMMER BEAUTY GUIDE

Essentials for the Season

SHIKHAR DHAWAN Gets His Big Break Styled In Arrow

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MAY 2013

COMING OF AGE

In cricket, scoring the fastest Test century most definitely puts one at the top of the gentleman’s game. Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s batting against Australia at Mohali did just that and brought him newfound confidence and maturity in his game. In a candid interview with Hi! Blitz, he talks about the ups and downs of his career and shares his love story where the internet played matchmaker.

DIOR MAISON DE PARFUMS One Year Anniversary at Harvey Nichols, Dubai

DIRECTOR’S CUT

They are the women who hold the reins on their sets. Hi! Blitz captures the essence of these women directors who have created famed magic on the big screen with their unique vision.

NICOLE RODRIGUES LARSEN

FFWD

Founder and Managing Director of Diva Modelling & Holdings and member of Middle East's Tag Heuer Celebrity Club

Hi! Report on the Middle East's First Definitive Fashion Platform.

TALES FROM THE CRYPT Looking for some spine-chilling thrills on your vacation? Hi! Blitz finds ghost sighting destinations where dead tales come alive. Time to get deliciously spooked.

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DAMAS The leading jeweller's newly launched Akshaya Tritiya 2013 Collection

Hi! BLITZ 4 MAY 2013

THE RED CARPET

Catch the chic, sleek and creative flair that these chosen fashionistas display on the social ramp. It is a gorgeous fashion jungle out there and Hi! Blitz snaps the glamouristas at their stylish best.

BREATHING THE FABRIC

India’s heritage in the textile industry dates back centuries. Bringing back those forgotten wefts and weaves has been a passion with some revivalists.

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SUMMER BEAUTY GUIDE

Paint your lips pink, highlight those cheekbones, straighten that hair... Hi! Blitz puts together a comprehensive guide of beauty essentials for the season.

PATIALA

Tantalizing review of Dubai's latest authentic fine dining restaurant in Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai.

K AT I N E S C H E R

No. 23577 LEGACY HALE Y SATCHEL

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This issue, we have so much in store for you. Let’s start with an event that has made its mark on the fashion scene – Fashion Forward. The inaugural event took place on the 26th of April and ran for three days. Until now, almost every other fashion event aimed at displaying the region’s growing fashion talent has failed which is clearly a surprise as Dubai truly is the fashion Mecca of the Middle East. We are very excited that Fashion Forward will be a bi-annual event and we cannot wait till its next season. This issue holds within its folds a report on what we saw and loved at the glamorous and well-organized event! It is IPL season and Hi! Blitz bowls a few questions to Shikhar Dhawan, who scored the fastest century in a Test match by a debutant. He’s lean of muscle, flamboyantly moustached and naturally stylish. And though he looks dangerous, he talks of being an evolved spiritual soul. In this interview, the cricketer talks candidly about how he deals with his fluctuating fortunes and how true love has made him a better man. We also celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema interacting with India’s leading women directors. And what a feisty, fabulous bunch they are! They make Hindi movies look good by being behind the camera, not in front of it. Discerning, courageous, confident and incredibly hardworking—Mira Nair, Farah Khan, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Gauri Shinde don the boss’ role without making too much of an issue about it. For them, being in charge comes naturally and in this issue they tell you how. The revival of the Indian textile heritage has always been a subject close to my heart. With the sari and kurta making a huge comeback in the contemporary style narrative, revivalists of the Indian cloth are now experiencing a renaissance. Hi! Blitz reaches out to some of these saviours of the sub-continental loom. This issue, we introduce our local reviews section where you will be up to date on the finest dining, hotels and spas that the UAE has to offer! First up is Patiala - a fine dining restaurant serving authentic North Indian Cuisine. It is one that you don’t want to miss! The summer makes us women a tad more self-critical, so we offer up our Hi! Guide to summer beauty in this issue. It is full of incredible information to create a fresh ‘you’ with the latest must haves available on the shelves! Happy Reading The Hi! Blitz Team

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Hi! BLITZ 6 MAY 2013

Hi! BRAND

Dior

Maison de Parfums One Year Anniversary at Harvey Nichols, Dubai

Christian Dior grew up surrounded by the scents of the garden at his family home in Granville, a floral oasis that formed the couturier’s olfactory background and was a constant source of inspiration. For him a Couture dress was unimaginable without the finishing touch of femininity…fragrance. This passion was embodied by his first collection in 1947, when his “New Look” was unveiled alongside his first fragrance, the iconic Miss Dior. From this point on he dedicated himself to creating fragrances that evoked the beauty of his Couture dresses emerging from the bottle one by one.

In May 2012 Parfums Christian Dior was proud to open the doors to its new home of perfumery, a regional exclusive boutique at Harvey Nichols, Dubai: The “Maison de Parfums.” The Maison de Parfums is an ode to expertise and know how where clients have been able to embrace the rich heritage of Dior’s fragrances. With expertly-trained specialists, clients have also been able to find their signature fragrance and discover Dior’s exclusive perfumes and accessories, most notably La Collection Privée Christian Dior.

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Design & Decor The unique design of this space combines cutting edge technology with luxury down to the finest detail. On entering, clients are transported to the elegant and enchanting world of Dior. Soft hues of the iconic Dior grey blend with the emblematic “Cannage” design, and guests will be able to sit amongst the breathtaking Gardens of Dior as they are surrounded by floorto-ceiling plasma screens displaying the gardens in full bloom in the exclusive consultation area.

“You can’t ima gine how muc h k nowhow and prec ision i t ta ke s to c rea te a f ra g rance. T he c rea t ive p roce s s is so consuming, so d ema nd ing t ha t I feel a s muc h a Per f um er a s a Cou t ur ier.” Christian Dior Expertise and Service All the fragrance specialists working in the Maison share a common passion & knowledge for fragrance. Clients can discover their perfect fragrance in the exclusive consultation area through exploring 6o different phials of raw ingredients, essences and fragrances in the exclusive “Orgue à Parfums.” Events In celebration of the Maison de Parfum’s first year anniversary at Harvey Nichols, in May 2013, clients will be able to enjoy a unique experience in Dior’s world of fragrance and a bespoke complimentary service of personalized engraving upon the purchase of a Dior fragrance.

Hi! BLITZ 9 MAY 2013

Hi! BRAND

Police

Celebrates 30 Years Police â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the house brand of the De Rigo Group that is a worldwide leader in the production and distribution of high range glasses celebrated its 30th anniversary at Pavilion Downtown, Dubai last month with Look Beyond, a great initiative that features a unique, refined special edition sunglass. The special edition sunglass model features unique and sophisticated details which marks the iconic 1980s lifestyle. It is enhanced with special gold plating and precious details such as leather inserts and the iconic winged Police logo. The sunglasses are available in all leading sunglass retailers including Al Jaber Optical, Al Yateem Opticians and Paris Gallery.

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Hi! EVENT

Style Arabia

at Studio 8 Dubai Mall Studio 8 at Dubai Mall will be a hub of activities on May 8th featuring the latest collections from some of the most celebrated Arab designers in the region including Summaya, Dinz, Mariam Al Mazro, 1001 Abayas by Maryam and Safa, Julea Domani and jewellery designer Nayrie Estepanian. This not-to-be-missed event will start from 6pm till 8pm at the Dubai Mall store located on the first floor opposite Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The designers will also be present to interact with Studio 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VIP customers.

1001 Abayas

Sumaya

Attamant Diamonds

Julea Domani by Zina Zaki

Mimi by Maryam Mazro

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Dinz

Hi! NEWS

The TAG Heuer Celebrity Club Menbers for 2013 along with Luc Decroix- General Manager of TAG Heuer Middle East

The Tag Heuer Celebrity Club

Launches In The Middle East TAG Heuer, the worldwide leader in luxury, high-precision watches and chronographs is excited to announce the launch of the prestigious TAG Heuer Celebrity Club in the Middle East. The exclusive TAG Heuer Celebrity Club is composed of a select group of intelligent, talented and trendy men & women who excel in their respective fields, and see every day as an opportunity to create history. They have used their avant-garde approach along with their strong personality & panache to play by their own rules and redefine class and standards. They are the individuals who never rest and never take “no” for an answer. They have all walked that extra mile to make things happen and take pride in looking at success as a journey and not a destination. The select members of the club are also men and women who

capitalize on their success and fame to defend noble causes, working to make this world a better place. “I am thrilled about the new TAG Heuer Celebrity Club and so proud of its first group of members from the Middle East” said Luc Decroix, General Manager for TAG Heuer in the Middle East. “TAG Heuer has always cherished and saluted individuals who have strong personalities, charisma and mindset. Those individuals are not just survivors, but winners in their own right who have challenged the established and redefined rules to build a future. When you look at the history of TAG Heuer, most of the the individuals who have actually reinvented their respected fields have been fans of our brand. It’s so true with heads of the States including President Eisenhower and more recently President Barack Obama, it is true with Sportsmen

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including Ayrton Senna or Tiger Woods, it’s true with the glamour and glitz of the entertainment industry icons such as Steve Mc Queen, Leonardo Di Caprio, Shahrukh Khan and Cameron Diaz. What all of the above icons have in common? It’s that one word “impossible” that does not exist in their vocabulary just as the word is absent from the TAG Heuer dictionary.” The TAG Heuer Celebrity Club 2013 in the region includes prominet and succesful persons such as Ajaz Sheikh, Hadia Sinno, Hatem Alakeel, Jamal Al Sharif, Lea Sednaoui, Mahmoud Tannir, Nicolas Shammas, Nayla Al Khaja, Omar and Dina Butti, Shawn Stephens, Uma Ghosh Deshpande, Zeina El Danna. Last but definitely not least, Nicole Rodrigues Larsen who we have interviewed here about her career and being a part of the esteemed celebrity club.

Hi! INTERVIEW

Nicole Rodrigues Larsen- Founder and Managing Director of DIVA Modeling & Holdings

Hi! Blitz Interviews

Nicole Rodrigues Larsen Founder and Managing Director of Diva Modelling & Holdings Launching multiple businesses in the cut-throat world of global fashion and beauty, the fast-moving international investment sector and highly-demanding dry cleaning industry, the 39-year-old Indian, Nicole has an uncanny flair for finding lucrative business opportunities in niche sectors. Drawing from her yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience as an haute couture model in India, Bahrain and Denmark, Nicole set up Diva Modelling & Events in 2003 that has today been recognized regionally and internationally. Nicole was shrewd enough to ride the crest of the real estate boom, capitalizing on the incredible Dubai property sector of 2004-

Firstly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; can you start by telling our Hi! Readers a bit more about yourself?

Hi readers! Well, I am known as a serial entrepreneur with a long lasting track record of conceiving, developing, and growing commercially outstanding 2008 and today Diva Holdings owns and businesses that harness substantial manages over 22 assets in prime locations value creation. A seasoned international in Dubai, London, Copenhagen and commercial executive, practitioner, the United States. Nicole also launched and investor with over 18 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; NM Investments, an accountancy and experience as an haute couture model, financial advisory firm that owns assets booker, manager, agency founder and worth Dhs100 million and is ambitious to partnership maker. I am known for expand into other markets in the region strong track record of forging strategic including Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha, Oman alliances with top industry players and India. Nicole and her organization and sourcing and managing angel, has been recognized and won many mezzanine, and tertiary investment awards including the GR8 women awards capital from global investors. I have 2013, one of the 50 most influential conceived, developed, and managed Indians in 2012, SME top 100 by the sustainable business plans as a platform Dubai Government and fastest growing for multi-million dollar enterprises in company in the ME by Arabia 500. diverse sectors. I am told to have an

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Hi! INTERVIEW

What is the best thing about being part of such a club? The associations and platform it offers on a very international level is excellent. It’s like an Ivy League club of some sort amongst the most renowned clubs worldwide. How were you approached by Tag Heuer? I was travelling in Brazil on business in the middle of a plot deal when received the call of invitation- initially I was a bit confused as I didn’t know much about it, but once I got my head around it I realised – Life was never going to be the same again. It was a dream come true.

Nicole with Luc Decroix- General Manager of TAG Heuer Middle East

uncanny flair for finding lucrative business opportunities in niche sectors that other, less astute entrepreneurs overlook or fail to perceive.

succeed for my family and for my first business Diva Modelling & Events.

Tell us more on why you decided to set up Diva Modelling & Events? What drove you to do so?

A typical day would be waking up in the wee hours of the morning with my kids jumping all over me at 6 am for a quick hug and chat. Once they are off to school I try very hard to get myself to the gym and then speed of to my sanctuary – my office. Once there, it is a rocking day of mostly juggling between my model agency, salon, laundry, holdings and finance firm. Often I look at my watch and its way past 9 pm. I always find myself rushing myself back home where I whip myself for a fine evening out or end up cuddling myself on the sofa with the family. We enjoy travelling often and have many holidays as often as possible.

Drawing upon many years of experience as an haute couture model in India, Bahrain and Denmark, I was initially appalled by the amateurish nature of the fashion and modelling industry in the Middle East. Lacking transparency, accountability and integrity, the sector was riddled with corrupt practices when I decided to begin my first enterprise. I have always been very entrepreneurial and launching multiple businesses in the cut-throat world of global fashion and beauty, the fast-moving international investment sector and highlydemanding dry cleaning industry is second nature to me. How do you maintain a balance between your personal and career life? Arriving in Dubai in 2003 accompanied by my six-month-old baby and a Danish husband, I had to summon all my strength and determination in order to

What is a typical day like for you?

You are a part of the Tag Heuer Celebrity Club 2013. What is it like to be a part of the esteemed club? This is a great honour and privilege to be part of such an esteemed club. It’s extremely difficult to even compare it to anything else, as it’s such a phenomenal concept. The club members are absolutely a great network for winners from very diverse fields of life. The brand association is so overwhelming.

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What are your thoughts on the Tag Heuer brand and how would you describe the brand in simply one word? Preeminence. Do you have a favourite Tag timepiece? If yes, which is it? Lady’s Tag Heuer Steel and Ceramic Pavee is definitely my favourite. Its gorgeously feminine and smooth bracelet is an eye-catching combination of deep black ceramic and polished stainless steel which is held secure by the stainless steel “butterfly” folding clasp – designed to be effortlessly opened and closed for women on-the-go. What is luxury to you and what is a luxury that you cannot live without? Luxury means cutting-edge. I would definitely say my jewels would be the luxury I cannot live without. What is your recipe for success? In my mind there are just four essential ingredients: “Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.” - Benjamin Franklin

Hi! STORE

BCBGMAXAZRIA Opens In The Dubai Mall BCBGMAXARIA one of the top names in the fashion industry has opened its doors in The Dubai Mall with an evening of haute fashion held at the chic new store located on the ground floor of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest shopping mall. In an evening embodying style, members of the media and VIP consumers were invited to preview the latest SS13 collections from the BCBGMAXAZRIA brand, synonymous across the globe for their chic sensibility, quality and seamless fit with the dynamic lifestyle of the modern woman.

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Hi! SHOE

ECCO

Celebrates its 50th Anniversary Ecco pays tribute to five decades of innovative shoemaking in celebration of its 50th milestone. The company also turns to its Scandinavian heritage in order to meet the demands of tomorrow. The Anniversary Collection is available across ECCO stores in the UAE.

Nimal Perera, Allan Rosenberg & Manohar Jeswani

Ecco anniversary collection shoes

Ecco Models

Aija Karklina & Shaida

Nimal Perera, Vimmi Mendonca, Faisal Shabbir & Neda Esbah

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Ecco Models

Hi! LINGERIE

Nayomiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer 2013 Fashion Show Wows Cyrine Abdelnour and Guests In March 2013, Nayomi hosted a captivating fashion show to showcase their Summer 2013 collection. The collection was inspired by the opulence of 18th century France and their most famous queen- Marie Antoinette. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading lingerie and nightwear brand unveiled the much-anticipated collection at the beautiful Magnolia, in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Among the invited guests was the talented and beautiful actress and singer, Cyrine Abdelnour, who was recently appointed as the brand ambassadress to Nayomi and is considered the absolute personification of a Nayomi woman. This summer, enjoy looking like royalty and indulge in the little luxuries that Nayomi has to offer.

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Hi! POLO

Victory For

Julius Baer Team

in Dubai’s Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup 2013 The Julius Baer team won a thrilling 6-3 match over Maradiva team to secure the inaugural Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup, Dubai, 2013 at Mina A’Salam towards the end of April. The final was watched by a sell-out audience on the beautiful stretch of beach transformed into a beach polo field by mamemo productions. With the sun quickly setting on a stunning weekend of action, the pulsating grand finals was a fitting finale to Dubai’s exciting sporting event. A charity auction was held prior to the closing ceremony, showcasing modeled replicas of white horses which were built during the 2 day event and painted beautifully by attending children. All four horses were sold at the total price of AED 130,000. In

Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup 2013

addition, the Julius Baer management pledged a cheque of AED 50,000 bringing the total to AED180,000. All proceeds were donated to the Noor Dubai Foundation.

Sam & Gaby Katiela with Lionel Richie

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Rashid Al Habtoor

Hi! FASHION

Dubai Gets Stylish with Fashion Forward (FFWD) Reco g nizing t he need fo r a dyna mic, sustainab le p la t fo r m to d evelo p t he reg ion’s fa shion indust r y, t he en t rep reneurs b ehind B ra g, the lead ing exp er ien t ia l live mar keting and even t ma na g em en t a g enc y, have c rea ted F a shio n F o r wa rd (FF WD). The inaugural Fashion Forward (FFWD) took place on the 26th till 29th April 2013 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Fashion Forward (FFWD) aims to be the definitive fashion platform for Dubai & the Middle East - a fashion movement which provides a platform and a progressive direction for fashion. Key components of FFWD include catwalk presentations by established and emerging designers in the Middle East, the Fashion Forum – an educational module to foster industry discussion, and an awards programme to recognize regional pioneers. The event was the ultimate style event with catwalk glamour, pop-up shops, fashion galleries, fashion avenues and social events. Hi! Blitz was present at the glam event and witnessed amazing and fresh collections by Amira Haroon, Ayesha Depala, Dina Jsr, Dima Ayad, Emperor 1688, Essa, Ezra, Furne One, Golkar Couture, KAGE, Michael Cinco, Rami Kadi, Rani Zakhem, Tahir Sultan, Toujouri, WHYESSE and Zayan amongst others. Here’s our report on what we saw and loved!

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Emperor 1688 An innovative luxury menswear brand that prides itself on using the finest fibers and frabrics.

Essa UAE-based ready-to-wear designer gracing the limbs of the Middle Eastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most elegant women.

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Hi! FASHION Rani Zakhem Luxury collection for the fashion conscious woman. The Rani Zakhem brand has diversified into several lines to include Ready to Wear, Couture and exquisite Bridal gowns.

Whyesse Designer Yokut Schmid is Uzbekistani, but based in Dubai. Whyesse is a contemporary fashion house which uses the finest quality of material and craftsmanship to produce exquisite and beautiful womenswear pieces inspired by nature.

Tahir Sultan Kuwaiti womenswear designer whose luxurious pieces are stocked in Dubai, India, the UK and worldwide.

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Dima Ayad Stylish and sophisticated evening wear with a ‘wear-and-go’ philosophy that accentuate and celebrate women’s bodies, no matter what shape or size.

Ezra Dubai-based atelier creating dreamy, extravagant couture for an international clientele.

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Hi! FASHION

Kage A contemporary womenswear fashion label, whose designs embody effortless chic and a playful way of life.

Michael Cinco Dubai-based designer best known for his fabulous gowns, demonstrating innate creativity and masterful technique.

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Rami Kadi The former STARCH designer launched his impeccably crafted couture designs at his flagship boutique and atelier in Beirut in 2011. Kadi offers a luxurious selection of ready to wear, couture, accessories and bridal wear.

Toujouri Qatari label for the modern woman, with an international outlook. Dresses in each collection translate effortlessly for any glamorous occasion whether the need is for evening, cocktail or red carpet and resort wear.

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Hi! FASHION

Amira Haroon Amira Haroon Sheikh is a Dubaibased designer who launched her ready-to-wear label for women in 2009. The brand is currently retailing through multiple locations in the UAE, Beirut, Riyadh, London and most notably through the commission of Blossom, UK in Harrods, London. Ancestrally Pakistani, Amira has spent most of her life in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In her own words her time spent in Paris, both as a fashion student and a devotee of fine arts and

design, was the most inspirational and directional period in her life. Her design philosophy is to produce clothes which have a story to tell: the cuts are simple and sharp, the lines flow in liquid harmony, and the layers of embellishment celebrate femininity. She remains true to her culture by employing luxe fabrics, laces and detailed hand-embellishments utilizing fine and age-old craftsmanship from the region. The result is a part vintage and part luxebohemian silhouette.

Five Minutes with Amira Haroon Backstage at FFWD When did you realize that fashion was such a big part of your life? When did you realize that you wanted to make a career out of it? I made a career out of it when my husband pushed me into it three years ago. But I can firmly say I’ve had a passion for it since I was born! I made it a career because I have the most amazing, supportive husband and he pushed me to do what I loved

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by being next to me every step of the way! Tell me more about your experience at Fashion Forward’s first season? It’s been lovely so far. It’s been a very well organized event. They have done everything so well and our shows have been very properly programmed and styled. It’s been fabulous! I am personally really

She is very care-free, feminine, happy and self-confident. I design for that woman. What can our readers except from you next?

happy with my models and the choreography and everything! Tell me more about the collection that was previewed at the event. It was the Autumn/Winter ’13-14 wasn’t it? What was the inspiration and general theme behind it? I noticed that there was a whole lot of lace! There was indeed a lot of lace! I breathe and love lace. Lace is bohemian and very luxe. That is what my brand is. It is from wonderland as it takes you away from reality which can sometimes be a bit too painful and this is

everything which is bohemian, dreamy, pretty and utopian! I can’t really put my finger on what was my inspiration when I started the creative process. I think I was in my head. That’s me. Whatever you saw is a part of me and this is what I would do again. You would just see another part of me for Spring/Summer 2014. There is not one particular thing that inspires me – it could be anything like my trip to France in the winters, my trip to Europe in the summers or a trip to Pakistan over the weekend to see my family. Who is the Amira Haroon woman? How would you describe her?

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I think we are geared up to go international in an even bigger way. We are now in four countries and planning to be in even more. We are planning to go into the six and seven digit numbers very soon. Hi! Readers should expect a bigger brand, maybe all encompassing. This will either be this year or early next year. We will go into a younger line as well. Right now you are a ready-to-wear brand. Do you plan on doing an accessories or bridal line? No. There are many other designers doing such lines, especially bridal in Dubai & the Middle East and they are doing a fabulous job. It’s just been three and a half years and we are very happy with where we are. We have a maternity line as well. If you could describe your brand in one word, what would it be? Utopia.

Hi! FASHION

Furne One (Amato) Dubai-based designer and celebrity favourite on the global fashion stage.

Ayesha Depala Ready-to-wear, couture and bridal designer whose quality, detailed designs appeal to modern women.

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Dina JSR Cocktail and evening gowns from a Lebanese designer celebrating elegant women and their fashion choices.

Tresors Sauvages A vibrant young concept with creations that represent a unique interpretation of organic growth. The pieces dare to be bold, and are artistic treasures of their own.

Zayan Multifaceted designer whose ready-to-wear collection is dangerously flirtatious and determinedly girly.

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May 2013 144 Hi! Blitz

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visit: www.hiblitz.in

The Red Carpet

May 2013 145 Hi! Blitz

Hi! BLITZ 31 MAY 2013

visit: www.hiblitz.in

hi! white hi! white

Photos: Yogen Photos:Shah Yogen Shah

The only rule in fashion today is that there is none. Catch the daytime colour go red carpet heavy and yet continue to retain only charm. rule inLike fashion today that its The leisurely we said, noisrules! there is none. Catch the daytime colour go red carpet heavy and yet continue to retain its leisurely charm. Like we said, no rules!

HASEENA JETHMALANI designer: Helmut Lang at: derby event HASEENA JETHMALANI designer: Helmut Lang at: derby event

May 2013 146 Hi! Blitz

SIMoNE SINgH designer: Zara jacket: Sportsgirl at: Lakmé Fashion SIMoNE SINgHWeek Summer/Resort 2013 designer: Zara jacket: Sportsgirl at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

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NATASHA PooNAWALLA designer: Azzedine Alaia at: Christian Louboutin store launch NATASHA PooNAWALLA designer: Azzedine Alaia at: Christian Louboutin store launch

visit: www.hiblitz.in

Hi! spring Hi! spring

Photos: Yogen Photos: Shah Yogen Shah

Take a hint fellas at just how much the ladies love flowers. They even have them on their wickedly chic ensembles. Take a hint fellas at just how much the ladies love flowers. They even have them on their wickedly chic ensembles.

RAMONA NARANG designer: Ramona Narang at: Christian Louboutin store launch

BIPASHA BASU designer: Preeti S Kapoor at: movie promotion

SONAM KAPOOR designer: Atsu at: women awards event

RAMONA NARANG designer: Ramona Narang at: Christian Louboutin store launch

BIPASHA BASU designer: Preeti S Kapoor at: movie promotion

SONAM KAPOOR designer: Atsu at: women awards event

May 2013 147 Hi! Blitz

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visit: www.hiblitz.in

hi! shimmer hi! shimmer

On the red carpet if you shimmer and shine, all is fine.

Photos: Yogen Photos: ShahYogen Shah

On the red carpet if you shimmer and shine, all is fine.

ZARINE KHAN designer: Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna at: MTV Video Music Awards 2013

SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA designer: Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna at: Nach Baliye Shriman Vs Shrimati launch

NATASHA POONAWALLA designer: Marc Jacobs at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

ZARINE KHAN designer: Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna at: MTV Video Music Awards 2013

SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA designer: Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna at: Nach Baliye Shriman Vs Shrimati launch

NATASHA POONAWALLA designer: Marc Jacobs at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

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hi! ethnic hi! ethnic

Photos: Yogen Photos: Shah Yogen Shah

Sporting a myriad range of eclectic tones, these daughters of the soil are totally working the Mother Sporting a myriad eclectic India subtlety with range oodlesofof Miss tones, these daughters of the soil India glamour. are totally working the Mother India subtlety with oodles of Miss India glamour.

KIRAN RAO designer: Vikram Phadnis at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

KALYANI CHAWLA designer: Komal Sood at: birthday party

SIMONE SINGH Gift from aunt at: women awards event

KIRAN RAO designer: Vikram Phadnis at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

KALYANI CHAWLA designer: Komal Sood at: birthday party

SIMONE SINGH Gift from aunt at: women awards event

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Hi! drapes Hi! drapes

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Drape, cowl or indigenous dhotistyle—call it what you may, but this trend is currently hot even on the Paris ramps. Comfort rules! Drape, cowl or indigenous dhotistyle—call it what you may, but this trend is currently hot even on the Paris ramps. Comfort rules!

KIRAN RAO designer: Savio Jon shirt: Gaurav Gupta belt: Maison Martin Margiela at: NikhilRAO Advani’s party KIRAN designer: Savio Jon shirt: Gaurav Gupta belt: Maison Martin Margiela at: Nikhil Advani’s party

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SUSHMITA SEN designer: Jean Paul Gaultier at: Farah Khan Ali’s boutique launch

KRISHIKA LULLA designer: Malini Ramani at: Kangna Ranaut’s party

SUSHMITA SEN designer: Jean Paul Gaultier at: Farah Khan Ali’s boutique launch

KRISHIKA LULLA designer: Malini Ramani at: Kangna Ranaut’s party

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Hi! gown Hi! gown

Photos: Yogen Photos:Shah Yogen Shah

The fairytales just got a little more interesting since Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella have broadened Thecolour fairytales justThe gotpaparazzi a little more their palette. are interesting since Rapunzel, Sleeping loving and applauding it. Beauty and Cinderella have broadened their colour palette. The paparazzi are loving and applauding it.

ASIN THOTTUMKAL designer: Gauri & Nainika at: awards event ASIN THOTTUMKAL designer: Gauri & Nainika at: awards event

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DEEPIKA PADUKONE designer: Naeem Khan at: fashion awards event DEEPIKA PADUKONE designer: Naeem Khan at: fashion awards event

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BIPASHA BASU designer: Shantanu & Nikhil at: LakmĂŠ Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013 BIPASHA BASU designer: Shantanu & Nikhil at: LakmĂŠ Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

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Hi! gown Hi! gown

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It was their dream and they are living and loving it. And with so much gown reinvention, we too are loving every bit It was dream and they are living of this redtheir carpet watch. and loving it. And with so much gown reinvention, we too are loving every bit of this red carpet watch.

SUSHMITA SEN designer: Cacharel Paris at: Zoya jewellery boutique opening

EVELYN SHARMA designer: Ramona Narang at: MTV Video Music Awards 2013

PRIA KATAARIA PURI designer: Dior at: women awards event

SUSHMITA SEN designer: Cacharel Paris at: Zoya jewellery boutique opening

EVELYN SHARMA designer: Ramona Narang at: MTV Video Music Awards 2013

PRIA KATAARIA PURI designer: Dior at: women awards event

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Photos: Yogen Photos:Shah Yogen Shah

Fashionistas are jumping with joy in favour of these suits. As childlike as it may sound, the adult rompers do bring are jumping in outFashionistas a certain cherubic elementwith in thisjoy very favour of these suits. As childlike as it serious dress-up business. may sound, the adult rompers do bring out a certain cherubic element in this very serious dress-up business.

TARA SHARMA SALUJA designer: Pia Pauro at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013 TARA SHARMA SALUJA designer: Pia Pauro at: Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

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ADITI RAO HYDARI designer: Namrata Joshipura at: Jolly LLB premiere ADITI RAO HYDARI designer: Namrata Joshipura at: Jolly LLB premiere

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AMRITA ARORA LADAK designer: Malini Ramani at: Nazakat store launch AMRITA ARORA LADAK designer: Malini Ramani at: Nazakat store launch

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What is it about these times that everyone enjoys the lopsided? Asymmetrical cuts, whether at the hemline or an oblique lapel, does lend off-beat but interesting touch What isan it about these times that everyone to the garb. enjoys the lopsided? Asymmetrical cuts, whether at the hemline or an oblique lapel, does lend an off-beat but interesting touch to the garb.

SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA designer: Anand Kabra at: Nach Baliye 5 TV show

ADITI RAO HYDARI designer: Anand Kabra at: women awards event

CHITRANGDA SINGH designer: Nupur Kanoi at: derby event

SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA designer: Anand Kabra at: Nach Baliye 5 TV show

ADITI RAO HYDARI designer: Anand Kabra at: women awards event

CHITRANGDA SINGH designer: Nupur Kanoi at: derby event

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Enjoy a Headache Free Driving During Your Vacation

Apply now for your International Driving License Very easy to apply and it is valid for 1 year

Please visit www.atcuae.ae

or call 04-2961122

( NOT VALID IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES )

Photo: Porus Vimadalal

Breathing The Fabric Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing more fashionable today than wearing heritage on your sleeve. And thankfully, a small clutch of Indian brands have been working with passion and commitment to revive and deliver Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasured old heritage textiles, weaves and crafts. Hi! Blitz reaches out to these revivalists of the cloth.

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Hand In Hand For Loom It is the charming coming together of revivalists from different parts of the country under one banner, Vaya. Mumbaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mira Sagar brings to the table two decades of reviving the maheshwari and chanderi weaves; Gaurang Shah is the handloom sari king of Hyderabad; Bappaditya and Rumi Biswas are the contemporary fabric revivalists from Kolkata. What they share is an unabashed love for the Indian handloom sari.

May 2013 46 Hi! Blitz

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The comeback of the sari as a fashion statement has worked wonders for this industry; “five years back, it was all about embroidery or Swarovski, but now saris are literally flying off the shelves,” recalls Mira

Each partner has their own forte and expertise. And they have willingly pooled their resources to sell under the same banner, Vaya. Initially, Mira Sagar, Gaurang Shah and Bappaditya (Bappa) Biswas, along with his wife Rumi, sold at exhibitions, but the wild success of their joint endeavour coaxed them to enter Mumbai under the assurance that Mira Sagar would take care of the logistics, which she has. There is a store at Santacruz and another one at Gamdevi in Mumbai that the lady nurtures with loving care and impeccable aesthetics. Both Gaurang and Bappa also run their own stores in their respective cities. Though their brand has been under the radar when it comes to publicity, some of the personalities spotted in their creations have been Kirron Kher (their most passionate advocate), Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra, Kiran Rao, Aparna Sen, Tabu, Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar and MPs Priya Dutt, Supriya Sule and Derek O’Brien to state but a few. “We sell quietly through word of mouth publicity and we sell well. So yes, we have not pushed our labels aggressively,” agrees Bappa. Gaurang smiles, “We don’t do ‘short’ clothes so fashion magazines would probably not be comfortable covering us.” Bappa, a graduate from NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology), has created the famous bailou range of saris. Sabyasachi Mukherjee is an avid user of Bappa’s bailou saris, which he embellishes with his famous embroidered borders. Anamika Khanna too shops from him for her collections. Today,

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bailou has come to symbolise quality and style. Bappa admits, “There are sari vendors who go from house to house in Kolkata selling fake bailou saris.” Bappa entered the business when Bengal was awash with embroidery and printing. “My wife and I felt that weaving was so much more versatile. We worked on contemporising old weaves like jamdani, tangail, double and triple cloth. It was difficult as there is a minimum quantity you have to put up to set up a loom and weavers don’t like to experiment. We started with two looms. We now have 1,500.” Gaurang is the savvy businessman of the group who runs a successful sari outlet in Hyderabad called Indian Emporium. He specialises in kota, kanchipuram, banarasi and uppada saris and has set up numerous looms across the country. “I am constantly travelling to meet my master weavers. Now I have bought all of them computers and we video conference.” Gaurang has an eye for old textiles and the business acumen to revive them. When he stumbled on the uppada weave, there was only one loom in the village working on it. Today, he has set up 900 looms there. The partners derive maximum satisfaction in stating that each of them handles every stage that the cloth goes through. Says Mira, “We create the design, decide on the yarn, set up the loom, supervise the weaving, do the final quality check and even sell the wares ourselves.”

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Though their brand Vaya has been under the radar when it comes to publicity, some of the personalities spotted in their creations have been Kirron Kher (their most passionate advocate), Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra, Kiran Rao, Aparna Sen, Tabu, Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar and MPs Priya Dutt, Supriya Sule and Derek O’Brien to state but a few.

behind each piece so that the buyer realises that they are indeed buying something special.” Bappa and Mira prefer to work more with the mainstream market and enjoy the fact that a younger generation seems to be picking up their wares. Clearly, the comeback of the sari as a fashion statement has worked wonders for this industry. Mira recalls, “Five years ago, it was all about embroidery or Swarovski. We were mainly catering to the foreign stores, but now the demand in India is so huge, saris are literally flying off the shelves.” Their venture has worked wonderfully right down to the weaver community that’s reaping the benefits of such a trend.

The price range at Vaya is as low as R800 to a more expensive R2 lakhs

Any creative or commercial differences in such a fragile partnership of three people located in different parts of the country? Mira feels their strength is that between them they offer the consumer every possible type of weave under one roof. More importantly, even though they are in a way competition to each other as they all deal in handloom, neither is threatened by the other. Mira, in fact, reveals, “We are an inspiration for each other, advising one another on how to explore a new design language and often shopping from one another too! It helps that all three of us have very different and distinctive signature styles, so nobody clashes.” Gaurang agrees, “It is a very collaborative environment we share here and that’s what makes us survive and thrive.” Adds Bappa touchingly, “We enhance each other.” So what makes Vaya special? Bappa feels it is Mira who makes the difference. “When clients walk in, Mira will go out of her way to explain the complicated process of weaving and the history

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Bappa guffaws, “My master weaver came to meet me the other day in an SUV and suggested that I should upgrade my car!” Gaurang recalls that when he first stumbled on the Uppada village, there was not even a pucca road there. Today, all the weavers have two storey homes with cars and air conditioners, with some even facing income tax raids! Mira recounts how after working in Maheshwari for 19 years at her last meeting with the weaver community, “most who turned up were the younger generation. When sons want to take over their father’s business you know the economics have worked at the most essential level, the grassroots.” And that for us was the best part of this wonderful enterprise.

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Text: Shalini Sharma Photograph: Porus Vimadalal

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From Banaras With Love Ekaya, the swanky boutique in Delhi, pays ode to the heritage of banarasi weaves. Its textiles, fabrics and saris are enriched with tradition and history. Hi! Blitz steps into the world where Banaras is being brought to your doorstep.

May 2013 50 Hi! Blitz

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Bharat Shah’s family have been wholesalers of stunning banarasi fabrics & saris for decades

Palak Shah, CEO of Ekaya, maintains that every piece they sell in their chic boutique in Delhi is an ode to the rich weaving traditions of the holy city of Banaras. She hails from one of the most renowned families of Banaras; her father Bharat Shah and the family have been in the sari business for many, many years. “My forefathers have been wholesalers of stunning banarasi fabrics and saris. It is time we brought an arm of our trade to Delhi, where women know the worth of heritage handlooms and appreciate the efforts that these talented weavers put into the swathes of rich fabric,” says Palak, who is an ardent lover of saris herself. This aspiration brought her to Delhi about a year ago to set up Ekaya, a luxury Indian brand, which works at promoting and popularising heritage textile weaves. She now takes pride in presenting sari lovers in Delhi with a veritable treasure trove of nine-yard garments, each of which is a statement piece. The USP of Ekaya is that it houses saris and textiles that are hand-woven, handcrafted and hand-embroidered. While the weaving is completely done by the weavers in Banaras (the Shah family has about 10,000 weavers working for them and they function without any support from the government), the embroidery is fashioned by indigenous artisans in Kashmir. “Every single sari is hand-woven or hand-embroidered and this makes them even more luxurious. Women with a yen for

heritage weaves are willing to cough up the right price for them. In fact, handcrafted embroidered saris and banarasi lehengas are disappearing off the shelves. Rich silk saris are also selling aplenty at our store,” says Bharat Shah. Ekaya strives to recreate the old-world aura of Banaras where customers are shown the wares on low gaddas, reminiscent of the sari sellers of yore. Pretty red sindooras adorn the shelves, signifying purity and femininity. “No sari has a duplicate. So you own a one-off piece—this is one of the reasons why Delhi’s ladies come flocking to us. Nyna Mittal, entrepreneur Sunil Mittal’s wife, has bought a lot of saris from us and so has socialite Cherene Nayar,” says Palak. “We give traditional saris a contemporary twist with the help of innovative colour combinations. This is what makes them appealing to the younger generation who sadly are not

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While the weaving for Ekaya is completely done by the weavers in Banaras, the embroidery is fashioned by indigenous artisans in Kashmir May 2013 52 Hi! Blitz

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“We give traditional saris a contemporary twist with the help of innovative colour combinations. This is what makes them appealing to the younger generation who sadly are not motivated enough to drape saris. I’d recommend a khadi silk georgette sari in a vibrant hue for a young girl getting ready for a cocktail do. She can pair it with a stylishly cut banarasi brocade blouse.” —Palak Shah motivated enough to drape saris. If you were to ask me, I’d recommend a khadi silk georgette sari in a vibrant hue for a young girl getting ready for a cocktail do. She can pair it with a stylishly cut banarasi brocade blouse,” says Palak. Ekaya also has silks in different varieties such as satin, moonga, organza and real zari, linen, cotton, tussar, net and chiffon are combined with weaves and patterns of tanchoi, uppada, uchint, jamdani, khadi, kardva, cutwork, kadiyal, jangla, neelambari, shikargarh, meenakari and booti. “Each product is curated and exclusive, as well as light and easy to drape. It is an attempt to revive the art of the weavers, whose sons and daughters are gradually moving away from the tradition of weaving because of a lack of appreciation. It is high time we give them their due for an art form that is so detailed and resplendent,” says Bharat, adding, “Customers recognise the traditions we are striving hard to revive. For instance, the khadi saris are appreciated because they are a result of weaving and dyeing traditions that are old and time-consuming. This makes them even more luxurious.” A few months ago, the Shahs produced Ehsaas, a collection of rich silks and tussars printed to emulate paintings created by famous artists such as Alka Raghuvanshi, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Niren Sengupta, Shridhar Iyer and Manisha Gawade. “The saris from Ehsaas just flew off the shelves. It was a great feeling. We are happy that Ekaya’s weavers are creating timeless, pure and dazzling pieces for us. Every sale we think is a triumph of their dedication and craft,” says Palak with a smile. Text: Sharmi Ghosh Dastidar

Palak Shah produced Ehsaas, a collection of rich silks & tussars printed to emulate paintings created by famous artists Hi! BLITZ 49 MAY 2013 May 2013 53 Hi! Blitz

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Saviour Of Silk From reviving the lost art and craft of the banarasi weave to ensuring financial and medical aid to weavers, fashion designer and textile revivalist Jay Ramrakhiani tells Hi! Blitz about his journey in keeping alive the grandeur of the banarasi silk sari and how the Taj Group of Hotels has supported this noble enterprise.

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Jay’s new designs for the banarasi saris were done over a period of five years & retailed from Taj’s Khazana line of boutiques

After working in Paris and London under fashion luminaries like Elie Saab, Karl Lagerfeld and Louis Féraud, Jay Ramrakhiani returned to Mumbai ready to instil a certain frisson into the fashion scene. “Many of the first breakthroughs in fashion have come through me,” says Jay, looking back over a career spanning three decades. “I was the first to do western prêt and formal wear; I don’t recall anybody making jackets at that time… Even linens, I was doing before everyone else.” Well-known for his chic and stylish western wear, Jay never thought he’d ever be involved in reviving one of India’s oldest woven legacies—that of the banarasi silk sari. “I was not an Indian wear designer, I used to do westerns only,” says Jay. “In 2000, I did a fashion show with BNP Paribas and that was witnessed by RK Krishnakumar (of the Tata Group) and his wife Ratna, who really liked my cuts and designs, and over the years we developed a good relationship; she would often buy clothes from me.” Alarmed by a documentary she saw on NDTV in 2006 on the terrible plight of the banarasi weavers, Ratna Krishnakumar egged her husband on into doing something for them. “He said that if somebody could take over the fashion part, he would work

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out a sponsorship programme and that’s how I got involved,” explains Jay, on how he began designing uniforms for the Taj Group of Hotels in conjunction with the weavers of Banaras. “It’s quite funny because two years after the project took off, I asked Mrs Krishnakumar why she chose me of all people—she could have taken on any big designer and they would’ve happily come running—and she said, ‘Jay, because you have the human touch. You’re a complete people’s person and you can win people’s hearts. We needed someone with that kind of passion.’” When he reached the villages of Sarai Mohana, Madanpura, Nevada and Gaura in the interiors of Banaras, Jay was startled by the condition of the weavers. “Many were impoverished, their skins were parched, their clothes soiled and dirty, but yet they were smiling. When I went into their houses, I found that they had no food—they were weaving but their hands were totally brittle, some had sunken eyes, malnourished bodies. And that’s when I realised that this was really serious. We decided that we had to do something to sustain them and that’s when the idea of designing handloom saris for the hotel staff came about,” explains Jay, adding that the weavers were provided with food, medical

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“People need to realise that reviving a sari is not just printing a fabric, it’s keeping a legacy alive; it’s like an heirloom that can be passed down from one generation to the next”—Jay Ramrakhiani

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the first saris he designed, worn by Taj’s front office and guest relations executives. The more Jay worked with the weavers, the more passionate he became about keeping alive the lost art and craft of the banarasi weave. Soon 70 weavers of Sarai Mohana were adopted by the Tatas for Project Revival. “People need to realise that reviving a sari is not just printing a fabric, it’s keeping a legacy alive. It’s like an heirloom that can be passed down from one generation to the next,” says Jay of the 60-70 new designs that were done over a period of five years, retailed from Taj’s Khazana line of luxury boutiques. “There’s so much homework that goes into it—people don’t realise that. It is people’s life work that goes into it. You’re paying for an art—it’s like a piece of art.” Ask him about the response, and he says, “The response has been fantastic, but the takers are still very few. Because the girls of today don’t want to wear saris, they prefer kurtis, skirts, jeans, tops.” But he is confident that the trend is changing. As for the one woman he would love to style in a banarasi silk sari, Jay says, “I would love to adorn Jaya Bachchan and Rekha in a sari because I think they really carry off saris beautifully. Also Dimple Kapadia and Kirron Kher carry off saris with panache.”

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Text: Farhad J Dadyburjor

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The Zen Of Fashion Deepika Govind is fashionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s green warrior. She strives to preserve the environment with ecofriendly textiles like eri silk and organic denim. Like a Renaissance artist, she has also worked towards reawakening the fading weaving forms of ikat and patola. Hi! Blitz meets the designer who has stitched her sartorial dreams to tradition and ecology.

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“To me, fabrics are the alpha & omega of fashion,” says Deepika Govind, who is a strong believer of natural fabrics

Bangalore girl Deepika Govind is a maverick when it comes to fashion—her nature is experimental, her ideas are innovative and her style has always been distinctive. A strong believer of natural fabrics, she has always striven to preserve the dying traditions of Indian craft and weaving. “To me, fabrics are the alpha and omega of fashion,” says the designer best known for restoring the fading crafts of ikat and patola. Deepika began her journey as a textile revivalist with khadi, India’s fabric of freedom. Blending the khadi yarn with tencel and modal (both man-made eco-friendly fibres developed from the bark of trees) resulted in the creation of a cosmopolitan cloth—khadi became stronger and more fluid, retained colour better when dyed and was extraordinarily soft and supple. It elevated the humble, rough khadi to a contemporary, fashionable platform, thus giving it a new lease of life. She followed it with her work with eri, softened to feel like a pashmina and imbued with vegetable and organic dyes. Eri, also

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known as endi or errandi, is often referred to as Ahimsa silk or peace silk, since the process does not involve killing the silkworm that spins the yarn. “I designed a collection of stoles and shawls and later went on to create a line of woven eri saris. After that I created the Threads of Gold saris, working as a consultant for Karnataka Silks. For the first time, I introduced pure gold threads on crepe de chine. It was a revival of the renowned Mysore silk, but in a more ornate and exquisite avatar,” she explains. Entwining pop art motifs in the patola weave gave a new dimension to the traditional patola. The result was lively, happy and effervescent, thereby celebrating and reinventing an exotic weave. The designer recalls her reinvention of the ilkal checked saris in vibrant hues and bold graphic chequered weaves to create a collection of flowing tunics, saris and dresses. And also, organic denim—hand-woven pure indigo dyed denim that uses lesser resources (water and electricity) than regular denim. Deepika believes that the only way to keep tradition alive,

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Deepika has experimented with khadi & has entwined pop art motifs in the patola weave

The designer began her journey as a textile revivalist with khadi, blending the khadi yarn with tencel and modal (both manmade eco-friendly fibres developed from the bark of trees), which resulted in the creation of a cosmopolitan cloth.

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especially in the realm of textiles, is to use technology to contemporise it, make it user-friendly and give traditional patterns a modern twist. This way, one revives and recreates the best of the past and carves a new path for it to follow. “My approach to design has always been a fine balance of Indian textiles with western construction. Having grown up in Bangalore, where there is a strong western sartorial sensibility, this comes naturally to me.” It was by accident, a quirk of fate actually, that she donned the designer’s hat. “I was waiting for the results of my state services exam (there was a stay on the

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Deepika Govind worked with eri, softened to feel like a pashmina and imbued with vegetable and organic dyes. Eri, also known as endi or errandi, is often referred to as Ahimsa silk or peace silk, since the process does not involve killing the silkworm that spins the yarn. She also created the Threads of Gold saris, working as a consultant for Karnataka Silks. results) and during the gap attended some classes in fashion sketching held by an ex-FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) professor. The national design contest came by and I decided to participate. Though I did not win, the collection (based on the ancient land of Mesopotamia) was hugely appreciated,” she recalls. Eventually, the state services exam results swung in her favour, but at the ensuing interview disillusionment set in. “The interviewer asked me for a hefty bribe though my marks were good enough to get me a Class A posting. I walked out of that room deciding I would rather be my own boss than live in the shadow of corruption that I would not be able to control and would inevitably become a victim of,” she recalls. Deepika’s flagship stores are in Bangalore and Delhi. She constantly shuttles between these cities when she isn’t spending time with her hotelier husband and two sons. She also extends her services to interior designing; she has conceptualised the interiors for boutique hotels in Delhi and NCR, Rajasthan, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kundapur. In the vast canvas of Indian textiles, Deepika wishes to leave an imprint. Her calling in life, she says, is to be able to give those remarkable weavers, those unsung, faceless heroes, a chance to survive. “I want to give this community, many of which face extinction, a new lease of life and hope, to allow their art to thrive and flourish.” Text: Archana Shenoy

Deepika reinvented organic denim that is hand-woven May 2013 63 Hi! Blitz

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Weave Minstrel Championing the cause of heritage textiles, weaves and crafts, Darshan Shahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weavers Studio is an iconic shopping destination in Kolkata. The textile revivalist confesses that the intrinsic talents of the weaver community and numerous reserve collections in museums have been the inspiration behind her label.

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“Our patrons are willing to purchase the items at a higher value, accepting that age-old natural techniques make them more elegant & luxurious”—Darshan Shah

Ask Darshan Shah which heritage textile she is currently working on and she is quick to retort that it is not just her who is behind the elegant and luxurious textiles, saris and apparels at her upscale boutique in Kolkata, one also has to take into account the toil and sweat of the plethora of weavers working for her label. Darshan, the lady behind the famous Weavers Studio label in Kolkata, has been working with the best of heritage and national weaves and textiles ever since she set up shop 19 years ago. The label is immensely popular with fashionistas both in India and internationally as well. Says Darshan, “The handcrafted textiles go through an intensive and extensive process from the time the cotton is picked, cleaned, combed, spun, reeled, drummed and woven. After that, there are value additions with printing, dyeing, as well as embroidery. Our clothes carry the distinctive ‘hand feel’ and today are viewed as luxurious wear.” Darshan, a Gujarati born in Kolkata, started at a time when the awareness for natural textiles and fabrics was not as widespread as it is today. “The internet, brand advertising, government incentive schemes, international requirements for azo-free dyes, fair trade, etc have led to better awareness,” she states. “While initially people were disinterested in natural fabrics, the current demand and interest in the field has helped the business grow.” International interest in Indian handcrafted goods, the movement

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for biodegradable and environment-friendly products, the shift towards recycling, etc have led to more awareness and growing markets for natural fabrics. The good news is that the much-maligned Indian fashion weeks have popularised clothing made with natural textiles. Even the much-derided government initiatives have brought some succour to the field, while the success of the co-operative movement of Dastkar (a society for craft and craftspeople) and private players like Fabindia and Anokhi have fuelled the market at the grassroots level. It is worth noting how Darshan’s label is working towards reviving some of the old weaving techniques. “Viewing the reserve collections at many museums led us to work on the jacquard, jamdani, 500-count khadi, high twist textiles, innovative hand-woven double and triple layered cloth and inlays. Then we focused on textile techniques using wooden blocks, screens, freehand designs, batik, resist dyes, tie-dyes, ikats, warp ikats, woven shiboris and much more.” Darshan continues her revival work with “felting, broken needle embroideries, threedimensional appliqués, layered and multi-technique usages that have led to interesting contemporary collections backed by ancient traditions and techniques. We also experiment with muga yarn, a natural fibre.”

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Weavers Studio boasts of regular clients from the celebrity world. Film directors Rituparno Ghosh and Aparna Sen, actors Kirron Kher, Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das are seen quite often at the posh store in Ballygunge picking up their favourite ensembles. The label also has been exporting to Japan, Australia, UK, USA and some European countries.

Darshan is at her animated best when talking about the rich body of work that the weavers are doing for her label. “We are working with weavers from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bhagalpur, Sambalpur, Kotpad, Pochampally, Mangalagiri, Maheshwar, Chanderi and Kota. Without their expertise and talent, Weavers Studio wouldn’t be what it is today. We are also working with batik vendors and creative batik artistes from Shantiniketan, block printers from Bagru, Sanganer, Ahmedabad and Kutch. These talented artisans add value by way of experience and knowledge in the field of traditional techniques in Indian textiles. And thankfully, our patrons are willing to purchase the items at a higher value, accepting that age-old natural techniques make them more elegant and luxurious.”

Darshan started Weavers Studio at a time when the awareness for natural textiles & fabrics was not as widespread as it is today

Her efforts have been recognised far and wide and lauded accordingly. Apart from patrons and buyers from various walks of life, Weavers Studio boasts of regular clients from the celebrity world too. Film directors Rituparno Ghosh and Aparna Sen, actors Kirron Kher, Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das are seen quite often at the posh store in Ballygunge picking up their favourite ensembles. “This has only encouraged us to pursue our passion and be committed towards handlooms and handcrafted textiles, especially those that we create in Bengal,” says Darshan. Weavers Studio also has been exporting to Japan, Australia, UK, USA and some European countries as well.

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Darshan, however, is still a wee bit sceptical about the younger generation’s reaction towards the clothes she creates. “I would not recommend a young girl to wear anything from the Weavers Studio collection for a cocktail party. There are very few young girls who have the confidence to wear a classic handloom textile and drape it in a fashionable manner. But I do hope to see that happening soon,” she says, signing off on a positive note.

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Text: Sharmi Ghosh Dastidar Photos: Suvashis Mullick

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Embroideries Of Opulence Patine works at reviving the dying arts of Parsi gara, chikankari, kamani and gota patti. This luxury Indian brand infuses new life into heritage Indian embroidery by creating clothes that exude aristocratic elegance.

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Shon Randhawa of Patine believes in reviving age-old heritage crafts & modernising them with new techniques

It takes an artisan roughly eight hours to complete one single frame of Parsi gara embroidery. The stitches are neat and extremely intricate and the motifs are delicate. Considering that almost all the creations at Patine (which means dull sheen on copper) boast of heavy embroidery, it is evident that the completion of an apparel must take months. Couple that with the fine trimmings and edges needed to finish the ensemble, and one can without doubt say that Patine’s creations are labour intensive. In this four-year-old luxury Indian brand that popularises Indian heritage embroideries, the arts of Lucknow chikankari and Parsi gara are finding a new lease of life. Says Shon Randhawa, the co-founder and creative director of Patine, “The whole idea is to not only revive age-old heritage crafts but to also modernise them with new techniques. So while the original Parsi gara would entail embroidery using one shade, we play around with colours, French knots and fill up the fabric with embroidery. Unlike the original version, our Parsi gara uses

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one thread. The effect is more intricate and delicate.” Their chikankari too is not the usual, run-of-the-mill, commercial threadwork done in the bylanes of Lucknow, it is finer, prettier and more exquisite. “The chikan work and Parsi gara is combined with gota and jamdani in some cases to give it a richer look,” says Geeti Mehra, co-owner of Patine. Chimes in Shon, “Our creations are everlasting. No matter how old they get, they will always remain pure and timeless.” Shon and Geeti passed out of NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) together. Both had an acute love for heritage embroidery and wanted to explore the field. While Geeti worked at several fashion brands, Shon was always keen on starting something on her own to popularise the dying techniques of Parsi gara and chikankari. “Parsi gara originated in China in the 16th century and came to India via the Silk Route. It was prevalent amongst the Parsi community. We scoured archives, books and materials kept at museums to discover the true

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The creations at Patine are expensive because of the painstaking & time-consuming work done on them—a single piece takes months to craft

beauty of this craft and pictured reviving it, albeit with a fashionable twist. We do Parsi gara on anarkalis, jackets, boleros, as well as saris. While the jackets and boleros are popular with Japanese and European clients, the saris fly off the shelves in India,” says Geeti. The owners acknowledge that Patine’s products are expensive and only the rich can afford them. “You have to pay the right price for the embroidery, which is painstaking and timeconsuming. A single piece takes months to craft. Our artisans are from the interiors of Lucknow who were finding it difficult to continue their trade. Patine has revived and popularised their craft and they are getting their due,” says Shon, adding, “If you are buying from Patine, you are paying for the remarkable craftsmanship of these workers.” Actor Neetu Kapoor is a regular customer at Patine and so is Deepika Padukone. This luxury brand has annual and biannual trunk shows in

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Patine has been popularising the dying techniques of Parsi gara and chikankari. “Parsi gara originated in China in the 16th century and came to India via the Silk Route. It was prevalent amongst the Parsi community. We scoured archives, books and materials kept at museums to discover the true beauty of this craft and pictured reviving it, albeit with a fashionable twist. We do Parsi gara on anarkalis, jackets, boleros, as well as saris,” says Geeti Mehra.

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The best chiffons & georgettes are chosen for the saris so that they can carry the weight of the intricate embroidery

London, New York, Palm Beach, Kuwait, Karachi, Hong Kong and Mumbai. While Shon and Geeti experiment with various permutations and combinations—adding contemporary touches by way of colour, cut and silhouette to enhance the heritage embroidery techniques—they strive to keep the heart of the embroidery traditional. Geeti shows us a lovely orange chiffon sari (priced at R80,000) embroidered with Parsi gara. She says that teamed with a slim blouse, this piece can be quite a head turner at a cocktail party. Then, there is the black georgette sari with dull copper Parsi gara and gota embroidery that is perfect for any party. What makes these creations even more exquisite are the fine trimmings. The brand focuses on pin-tucked satin, velvet, brocade and uses the best quality products to enhance the beauty of the embroidery. “Our creations are not trendy pieces that will get discarded the next season. These are elegant, sophisticated pieces that will

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stay in style for generations,” says Shon. Patine has its stores in all major cities and the co-founders are working towards opening more stores in the Capital. They are also all set to launch Talitha in London. “That will be a brand focusing more on youngsters. We will be selling dresses, tunics, shorts...but the core will be traditional embroidery because that is our signature,” says Shon. With the crème de la crème of Delhi flocking to Patine, the owners are only too happy that dying heritage embroideries are getting recognition once again. “The fascinating thing about these crafts is that they accentuate any kind of fabric. And the best part about our apparels are that they are perfect for all occasions, with or without any bling or accessories,” says Shon. “Embroidery is queen here!”

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Text: Sharmi Ghosh Dastidar

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Coming Of Age Photography: Joy Dattaâ&#x20AC;˘Art Direction: Kunal Naik

Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan stunned the nation two months back, when he powered his way to the fastest Test century by a debutant against Australia at Mohali. While the player has had many erratic swings in his career that have stumped him, a newfound maturity has evolved his game. In this interview with Shalini Sharma, the sportsman talks about how he changed his approach on the field. He also touchingly confides about falling in love with his wife over the internet and adopting her two children as his own.

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Elaborate tattoos & macho moustache add to Shikharâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rock-grunge look Hi! BLITZ 66 MAY 2013

Pale pink shorts, white anchor print shirt & loafers from Arrow Spring-Summer collection, watch from Carl F Bucherer from Ethos Summit

Elaborate tattoos, macho moustache, a mischievous tuft of hair at the nape of his neck add to the rock-grunge look. If Shikhar Dhawan was in New York, he’d be fashion’s bad boy walking the ramp. He has that lean, mean structure and gait that’d look wicked on the catwalk; and as this photoshoot shows, he can slip into anything and make it look like a fashion statement. He’s a natural clotheshorse. His whole look is a bit dangerous, we suggest to him warily. He smiles and nods his head in agreement, “Ya, ya, I’ve got a very dangerous look and little kids are always afraid of me. Not many come close to me. But I love this rough look and my wife loves it too.” Despite his amazing batting skills, extraordinary fielding and fitness levels, Shikhar’s erratic career record did not help his position in the team. His time in the India squad had been all of five ODIs and a T20 International in 2011. His record of smacking that amazing 187 against Australia at Mohali, the fastest century in Test cricket by a debutant, came in his ninth year of first-class

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By the time he scored that 187 against Australia at Mohali, Shikhar Dhawan had by then spent almost a decade in first-class cricket waiting it out as Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir successfully occupied the opening slots. A free-stroke, left-handed batsman with dazzling shots square of the wicket, Shikhar is at his best when playing his natural game but that has often led to his demise on the crease.

cricket, after he had been written off by almost everybody. By the time he scored that 187, Shikhar had by then spent almost a decade in first-class cricket waiting it out as Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir successfully occupied the opening slots. A free-stroke, left-handed batsman with dazzling shots square of the wicket, Shikhar is at his best when playing his natural game but that has often led to his demise on the crease. He recalls the first time he went out to play for India, hoping to score generously. It was his big moment, but he got out for a duck. “I walked back to the pavilion smiling. In my head I was like, ‘I can’t believe this happened’!” Shikhar now admits he has matured and understood the paramount importance of staying in there and not lofting the ball wide, as is his wont. “I am a much more pragmatic player; I understand how important it is to protect my wicket and which ball to step away from.” In an interview earlier this year, Shikhar explained it simply: “I realised that I was not using my brains, but only my talent.” He has made it a habit of noting down his observations from a net session or an innings and going through them during a series. Post the Mohali match, a finger fracture put him out of action, rendering him unable to play in the current IPL season till now (at the time of this going to press), but he confides that he has been cleared to play. He’s philosophical about how his strong talent has been let down by weak performances or bad luck. “By the grace of God I am a really positive person with a strong fighting spirit. I have never allowed failure to get to me. I have always accepted that I have to start working on my issues rather than blaming others, because when a person fails it’s a human tendency to look for excuses. I was honest to myself that I had performed badly out there and that it was up to me to improve.

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I find that this is the best approach to deal with bad times.” For one who looks so menacing and speaks with a macho Punjabi accent, he can be incredibly romantic and gentle. Which brings us to his love life and wife—a relationship that has caused much speculation in the media. Well, for starters, he and his wife Aesha met on Facebook. Like seriously? You mean people actually meet there, fall in love and get married, like one hears about but never believes? Both Shikhar and his wife Aesha (who is sitting around listening) roll their eyes, almost sympathetic to our astonishment. Shikhar confesses, “When we started chatting on Facebook, neither of us believed in internet love. I always used to think this is bullshit. I never liked to be on the internet for long so I thought I would chat with her for a little bit and then go do my stuff. But when I started chatting with her, I felt like we were twins—whatever I loved, she loved too! We ended up chatting for hours and pretty soon we both acknowledged that there was something between us that was special.” So they fell in love even before they met? “Oh yes, of course. Meeting was just a formality. When I met her, it was like I had found my best friend. It also helped that I loved how she looked. We were so alike and spiritually we were on the same wavelength.” The couple had a simple Sikh wedding in a gurdwara. They have been exchanging many tender, loving glances during the course of the interview. The cricketer can’t help smiling as his wife constantly teases him, even while she thoughtfully serves him food. Aesha is half-English half-Bengali, brought up in Australia and is a keen sportswoman herself. She confesses to being an amateur cricket player in Melbourne where she is based.

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White pants & blue shirt over a yellow polo from Arrow Spring-Summer collection, watch from Diesel

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If Shikhar Dhawan was in New York, he’d be fashion’s bad boy walking the ramp. He has that lean, mean structure and gait that’d look wicked on the catwalk; and as this photoshoot shows, he is a natural clotheshorse. His whole look is a bit dangerous, we suggest to him warily. He smiles and nods his head in agreement, “Ya, ya, I’ve got a very dangerous look and little kids are always afraid of me.”

Linen blazer, checked shirt & pocket square from Arrow Spring-Summer collection

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Crisp white linen blazer & blue shirt from Arrow Spring-Summer collection Hi! BLITZ 72 MAY 2013

Aesha has two daughters aged eight and 13 from a previous marriage. The kids have now been adopted by Shikhar Dhawan who clearly adores and dotes on them. “My best times are spent with our children. Both Aesha and I want them to have a sporty, healthy life.” That he is not their biological father has not diminished the bond they share, and he is awed by the love they show him in return. He spends his time between his hometown Delhi and Melbourne. “My kids are studying in Melbourne so my wife travels up and down; when I’m on tour she joins me and when I’m free I go there.”

Shikhar is thrilled that she loves sports. “She comes to the grounds with me; I throw balls to her.” Shikhar has a mean Hayabusa bike that he zips around on. His wife approves of this. “She loves biking so she comes along with me,” he says. In their free time, the couple listen to Sufi music, watch movies, go horse riding and, being spiritually inclined, make it a point to visit places of worship of different religions. Aesha has two daughters aged eight and 13 from a previous marriage. The kids have now been adopted by Shikhar who clearly adores and dotes on them. “My best times are spent with our children. Both Aesha and I want them to have a sporty, healthy life. So when I am free, we take them cycling and swimming and also to play football.” That he is not their biological father has not diminished the bond they share, and he is awed by the love they show him in return. He spends his time between his hometown Delhi and Melbourne. “My kids are studying in Melbourne so my wife travels up and down; when I’m on tour she joins me and when I’m free I go there.” Shikhar was a rebellious child in some ways. A west Delhi Punjabi boy, he started getting tattooed and growing his hair long at the age of 15, much to the dismay of his parents. But he insists, “I was always respectful of the intrinsic values they had inculcated in me, so they came around eventually.” Even his marriage that could have been upsetting for conservative parents was smoothened out when they got to know his wife. “Now they adore her,” he smiles triumphantly. He’s played for three different IPL teams so far—starting with the Delhi Daredevils, moving on to the Mumbai Indians, then the Deccan Chargers and, on their demise, becoming a

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part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. What does he think of this constant movement? “I feel that when some change comes into my life, it’s always for the best. When I played for the Delhi Daredevils the first year I did pretty well; then they traded me to the Mumbai Indians, which I felt was lucky, because it is every Indian cricketer’s dream to play with Sachin paji (Tendulkar). I was opening with Sachin paji and sharing the dressing room for two years with him and that for me was a big thing. I had a really good time in Mumbai—I enjoyed the city and the people.” He’s now hoping to get a strong place in the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. Other cricketers he idolises? “Matthew Hayden and Rahul Dravid bhai. Even the youngster (Cheteshwar) Pujara. I admire Virat Kohli for his consistency and the way he thinks on the field. I love the flamboyance of Yuvraj (Singh) paji’s batting. Yuvi paji is a great fighter; you need a strong will to overcome cancer and come back to the team again. I love his game, the way he hits the ball and the way the ball takes off from his bat, you know, it’s outstanding.” He’s proud that his game has taken him to so many different countries and that he has been exposed to so many different cultures. While playing county cricket in England, he lived on his own and learned to cook. “When I used to travel in local buses over there, everyone was really respectful, especially towards ladies. In India, nobody in the local bus thanks the bus driver, while over there I noticed that everybody says thanks or please. So I’m thankful that I went there and learned those things.” A constantly evolving cricketer and a constantly evolving human being, that’s Shikhar Dhawan for you.

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Shikhar Dhawan and his wife Aesha met on Facebook. “Neither of us believed in internet love. I always used to think this is bullshit. But when I started chatting with her, I felt like we were twins—whatever I loved, she loved too! We ended up chatting for hours and pretty soon we both acknowledged that there was something between us that was special... When I met her, it was like I had found my best friend,” says Shikhar. The couple followed the meeting with a simple Sikh wedding in a gurdwara.

White pants & blue shirt over a yellow polo from Arrow Spring-Summer collection, shoes from Tod’s, watch from Diesel, hat from Zara Hi! BLITZ 74 MAY 2013

Blue shorts & shirt from Arrow Spring-Summer collection, sunglasses from Hidesign, watch from Emporio Armani

Styling: Daena Sethna Assisted by: Chandini Batra Make-up: Fanny Aubin, Jean-Claude Biguine India Co-ordination: Shalina Thadani Location Courtesy: Ramada Powai Hotel And Convention Centre, Mumbai

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Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cut Text: Farhad J Dadyburjor

With their unique vision and powerful narratives, their films have left us spellbound. As the celebrations for 100 years of cinema get underway, Hi! Blitz goes behind the scenes with five famous Indian women directors to find out what really makes them tick.

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Salaam Cinema! One of the most sought-after filmmakers internationally, Mira Nair grew up in Orissa and was inspired by street theatre. She takes Hi! Blitz on a journey from her first mega-success Salaam Bombay! to her current Hollywood biggie The Reluctant Fundamentalist, whilst also revealing her plans for a Bollywood-style Broadway musical.

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For one of our most prolific and internationally renowned filmmakers, it was not films that fed her imagination growing up but theatre. “I grew up in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, which is a very small town,” recalls Mira Nair, “and one of the first things I remember is trying to search for someone who had written a book, because for me artistic expression of any kind was incredibly inspiring. And, you know, when you’re in a small town, you always think things happen elsewhere—but I always felt what about right here!” Deeply inspired by Habib Tanvir and his street theatre, Mira thought of becoming an actor—never a director. “I hardly saw movies...there was only one cinema called Ravi Talkies and every Sunday they used to only show Doctor Zhivago and I had had enough of Omar Sharif’s moustache,” she laughs. “I wasn’t particularly drawn to the Bollywood movies of that time, although I loved the songs and so forth. So it was theatre that first grabbed my attention, political theatre, and really the question for me always was: ‘Can art change the world?’ And I read all these biographies

and looked for people that expressed themselves through various art forms... It was theatre that really inspired me and propelled me to seek a scholarship outside this country.” Having enrolled into Harvard University, Mira found American theatre to be of little interest. “There, the theatre was really apolitical, it had no bearing on me, and that’s what led me to choose something that was related to me— documentary filmmaking,” says Mira, who soon went on to make five documentaries over a span of seven years, all in India, including India Cabaret, which was about strippers in a Ghatkopar nightclub. “But it was a time when finding an audience for documentaries was difficult. And that frustration of finding a bigger audience was what led to the making of Salaam Bombay!—a fictitious film and not a hit-and-run documentary. Although Sooni (Taraporevala) and I did use the documentary approach for research—we lived for four months with a gang of ragpickers in Grant Road. And then wrote a screenplay that incorporated their stories and our imagination.”

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Mira Nair’s father grew up in Pakistan and she still has several uncles and aunts living there. “I’ve been frustrated since 9/11; you see so many films coming out about America, about them going to war in Iraq or Afghanistan, and it’s always from the American point of view. But you never hear the story about the Iraqi woman whose house is bombed by them in the name of freedom and democracy! So I wanted to tell it from the other side.” Salaam Bombay! proved to be a turning point in Mira’s career—not only running for 27 weeks in theatres here, but also winning the Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Now, 25 years later, Mira recently released a new digitalised print of the film. “I want the young to see it,” she explains. “It’s considered a cult movie, but how many of them have actually seen it.” Having gone on to make cinematic gems like Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, Mississippi Masala and Vanity Fair amongst others, Mira is one of the most sought-after directors in the world today, shuttling between homes in New York, Uganda and Delhi. Her latest film The Reluctant

Fundamentalist, adapted from Mohsin Hamid’s book, stars Hollywood actors like Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber, along with Shabana Azmi and Om Puri. “When I read Mohsin’s book, it not only gave me the potential portrait of what I wanted to say about contemporary Pakistan, but also a dialogue with America. And both situations are situations I know very well,” says Mira, whose father had grown up in Pakistan and who still has several uncles and aunts living there. “I’ve been frustrated since the last ten years, since 9/11; you see so many films coming out about America, about them going to war in Iraq or Afghanistan, and it’s always from the American point of view. But

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you never hear the story about the Iraqi woman whose house is bombed by them in the name of freedom and democracy— in fact, you never even hear her name, forget about her even being a character! So I wanted to tell it from the other side.” Having taken five years to make, ask Mira if adapting from a book is an easier or harder process and she says, “It’s another process as compared to writing an original screenplay, but a book is obviously a great source of inspiration. Each book however has its own challenges. The Namesake was in a way much easier and accessible—just about a couple of drafts and then we were ready to shoot. But with The Reluctant Fundamentalist, primarily because it is a monologue by the main character, Changez, speaking to an American in a tea house in Lahore who never says a word, it was very interior as a result. And the challenge was to make this whole world come alive as a full-blown thriller.” Speaking of thrillers, Mira was also in the process of adapting Gregory David Roberts’ Shantaram into a big-budget starrer a while ago. Ask her for an update and she sighs, “What can I say? The work’s all done—it was an amazing screenplay, incredible production, the casting was all done, and three weeks before we were to start shooting it fell apart with the Writers Guild of America going on strike. By the time the strike was resolved, Johnny Depp (the lead actor and producer) had taken on other offers. So the material remains as powerful as it ever was. I just hope one day it can be made.” Next, Mira is gearing up for a full-on Bollywood-style Broadway musical. “What I’m working on right now is bringing Monsoon Wedding to Broadway as a major spectacular musical, which will open in May next year. We’ve been working on it for over four years now and Vishal Bhardwaj is composing it and Abbas Tyrewala’s doing the lyrics. Seven songs have been recorded and we have four more to go, and we’ll start rehearsals in January. It’s going to be a live Broadway musical with a fierce desi heart,” she says, smiling. And there’s also the inspiring true story about a li’l chess champ that she’s working on. “You know, I fell in love with my lovely (second) husband in Uganda and have been staying there more now,” says Mira. “And this is a true story of this amazing girl—eight years old, one of five children, living in the worst slum of Kampala, who learns to play chess with bottle caps and then goes on to become a world champ.” Photographs: Dharmendra Kanani Location Courtesy: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

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“What I’m working on right now is bringing Monsoon Wedding to Broadway as a major spectacular musical”—Mira Nair Hi! BLITZ 81 MAY 2013 visit: www.hiblitz.in

Queen Of Razzmatazz Director, choreographer, television anchor and most recently actor, Farah Khan wears many hats. She chats with Hi! Blitz about the difficulties of directing, why she never wants to act again and her relationship with best pal Shah Rukh Khan post his infamous spat with her husband Shirish Kunder.

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Known for her vibrant, colourful, kaleidoscopic vision of cinema, Farah Khan says that the hardest part of directing for her is zeroing in on a subject. “For me, the most difficult part is choosing what to direct—it sometimes takes me two to three years. I cannot be a factory like other directors who just churn it out. I love the process and I have to be really excited about it,” says Farah, who started out as a choreographer in the industry and is often seen as a judge on TV dance reality shows. “I’ve written two films—Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om, and you could see that each was a ‘Farah Khan film’. Tees Maar Khan was a subject that was not written by me, although I decided to make it and experienced the maximum difficulty directing it. My movies are an ode to Bollywood. I like happy movies. There is a lot of energy in my projects,” she adds. Having recently made her acting debut in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, Farah reveals that while growing up she wanted to be an astronaut and then an airhostess, she never wanted to be an actress. “But I thought here I was getting a chance and a role that not many people get...especially at my age,” she chortles. “I went in thinking it would be a cakewalk, but it was not an easy process. It was quite cumbersome—I now understand what actors go through.” So, has she become more sympathetic

to their plight? “Not sympathetic, because frankly actors work very little compared to directors and get a lot more privileges,” she says sardonically. “But certainly I got an understanding as to why sometimes certain actors or actresses get so insecure. I got an insight into why heroines are so irritable in the mornings… Like I would earlier say, ‘So what if the hairdresser has messed up,’ but then I realised that if my hair was not proper my whole day would go wrong because I’m going to look like that for perpetuity.” Ask her when we’ll see her in a lead role again, and Farah states, “To be honest, I’ve not been offered anything. And secondly, I would now think a hundred times before taking it up. Because the waiting around on the sets and sitting in your van for hours can be killing.” When not working, she has her hands full with her triplets—one son and two daughters with husband Shirish Kunder. “I now socialise mostly with the school moms and carpool moms. Very rarely you’ll spot me at some function or event,” she says, adding, “otherwise you’ll find me in bed watching television serials, not Indian ones though. Like currently I’m watching the mini-series Mr Selfridge. Right now since the kids have gone for judo class I’ll get to watch one episode... which you are disturbing,” she warns, in good humour.

On Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi: “I thought here I was getting a chance & a role that not many people get...especially at my age; I went in thinking it would be a cakewalk, but it was quite cumbersome”—Farah Khan Hi! BLITZ 83 MAY 2013

On the Shah Rukh Khan-Shirish Kunder spat: “Sometimes when two people are fighting, someone needs to come and throw a bucket of cold water on the face to wake you up. We had become the laughing stock; we were episodes of Comedy Circus. We immediately met and sorted things out and decided it was best to start off with a clean slate.”—Farah Khan

“For me, the most difficult part is choosing what to direct—it sometimes takes me two to three years; I cannot be a factory like other directors who just churn it out”—Farah Khan

Being in an industry where careers experience a seismic shift every other Friday, Farah says she’s pretty much her own rock. “I’m not the sort of person who ever got swayed or high-headed. But if I ever do become pompous or arrogant, Shirish kind of brings me down to earth pretty fast. To the point of being annoying, he can cut me down to size really fast. But other than that, I’ve mostly been a grounded person.” Ask her if all is well with best friend Shah Rukh after his spat with her husband at a nightclub last year, and Farah asserts, “Things got fine immediately after the incident. Sometimes when two people are fighting, someone needs to come and throw a bucket of cold water on the face to wake you up. We clearly realised what we had become—we had become the laughing stock; we were episodes of

Comedy Circus. So that awakening was required, otherwise things would have just festered and festered,” she explains. “We immediately met and sorted things out and decided it was best to start off with a clean slate. And things are working out just fine.” As for any personal regrets: “I wish that I hadn’t done Tees Maar Khan,” she says, “but in the long run it will only do me good. There are many lessons learned in failure that you can never learn with success.” Farah then adds, “And maybe if I was thinner in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, it would’ve been nice. My only regret is that I had my tummy tuck after the movie because I saw myself as a baby elephant running around,” she laughs. Photographs: Avinash Gowariker

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Shooting Star She grew up wanting to be a vet, but has gone on to become one of Bollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most coveted directors. Zoya Akhtar talks to Hi! Blitz about what keeps her grounded, her trade secret to managing big egos and how assistant directors are treated like extras.

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Zoya Akhtar was just what Bollywood needed: a fresh directorial vision that was young, funky, at times strangely quirky and yet astute about the predicaments of modern-day life. “My earliest ambition was to be a vet. I’ve always had dogs, so that’s where it came from,” says Zoya smiling, whilst her two beagles scamper around the house merrily. “But I don’t have the stomach to see blood and gore so I’m glad that didn’t work out.” Although born into the Bollywood pedigree (her parents are Honey Irani and Javed Akhtar), Zoya pretty much learned the ropes like anyone else—as an assistant director on brother Farhan Akhtar’s films Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya. Ask her about her early acting stint in Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love as one of Rekha’s disciples, and Zoya explains, “I was an assistant director on the film, and when you’re an assistant director you’re thrown into everything. It is part of the norm. We needed more courtesans in the scene and I was an extra. Basically when you’re an assistant director, you’re an extra! I’ve been in every film that I’ve assisted on and all my assistants are in my films,” she says, adding, “In Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, in the title song on the airplane, the cute airhostess was our prop girl—she was from the art department.

Ankur Tewari, who’s actually a musician, plays the assistant director in Luck By Chance and he got many job offers after that. Every single friend of mine is in that film. Even if they just stand there and read out their lines, it is fine... It’s always fun to have your friends on the sets.” While her directorial debut Luck By Chance was well received, her second film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara proved to be a monster hit, making a clean sweep at the box-office and awards functions. So, what aspect of directing does she still grapple with? “There are two things,” says Zoya. “Firstly, you need to be physically fit because it is physically strenuous. When you are shooting, you are prepping for two to three months prior, doing recces and music and just running around like a mad person. Then you have to start shooting, and your official shoot time is 12 hours—but you always end up extending it by one hour, so that becomes 13 hours... and eventually you end up working 16 to 17 hours a day!” Pausing, she then adds, “And the second thing is dealing with people. That’s the toughest part because you’re dealing with 150 crew members and everyone’s a star and everyone’s an artiste and everyone’s eccentric and if they’re good,

“Dealing with people is the toughest part because everyone’s a star & everyone’s an artiste & everyone’s eccentric & if they ’re good, they ’re nuts”—Zoya Akhtar Hi! BLITZ 86 MAY 2013

Ask Zoya Akhtar about her early acting stint in Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love as one of Rekha’s disciples, and she explains, “I was an assistant director on the film, and when you’re an assistant director you’re thrown into everything. We needed more courtesans in the scene and I was an extra. I’ve been in every film that I’ve assisted on and all my assistants are in my films.”

“My mum & dad have been in this industry for ages, so you don’t really get beaten down by anything or carried away”—Zoya Akhtar

they’re nuts. It’s as simple as that! So you have to learn to handle everyone...and that’s tough.” So what’s the trick of the trade when it comes to managing people? Zoya shoots, “Just tell everyone they are right! The trade secret is that even if you don’t agree with somebody, at that moment you should listen to them because if they feel that you’ve heard them out and contemplated and then given them your decision, they’ll be okay with it.” Currently working on two scripts— “one is for Reema (Kagti) to direct and the other is for me to direct”—this month sees the release of her short film as a part of Bombay Talkies. “It is a fiction piece, about 25 minutes, and it’s about an eight-yearold boy who wants to grow up and be Sheila (from the famous item song Sheila Ki

Jawani)—he loves Katrina Kaif, he loves to dance and she just becomes the face of it.” Initially concerned about the repercussions a role like this could have on the boy’s life, Zoya states, “I was worried because he also has to dress like a girl— wear lipstick and all. I ran the script by his parents and I asked him what if he gets teased at school about it, and he was like, ‘I don’t care, I’m acting.’ And I was like, ‘Exactly. If you were playing Spiderman, you’d dress like Spiderman’!” Being part of an industry that sees massive ups and downs, who is it that keeps her grounded? “I think it’s my family. My parents and my brother—they are really sorted. My mum and dad have been in this industry for ages, so you don’t really get beaten down by anything or carried away either,” ends Zoya.

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A Winning Debut Ad filmmaker Gauri Shinde’s foray into Bollywood with English Vinglish not only signalled the arrival of a sterling new directorial talent, it also resurrected Sridevi’s career. Gauri chats with Hi! Blitz about the pressures of making her next film, why she’d love to work with Ranbir Kapoor and her strange quirk of seeing a person’s picture before working with them.

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It was a debut any filmmaker would dream of. English Vinglish not only brought back Sridevi’s career like a bolt from the blue, it also made director Gauri Shinde one of the hottest new talents to contend with in Bollywood. Having received plenty of accolades and awards for her debut film, ask Gauri if there’s immense pressure now to prove herself again with her next project and she says, “I’m quite chilled that way. I don’t want to make another film simply because I am a filmmaker now. If the idea, when it comes, is worth narrating, then there’s a point in making a film. But if you don’t have anything to say, there’s no point—at least that’s what I believe. Maybe I won’t make another film—we’ll just have to wait and see,” she says with a shrug.

Born and brought up in Pune, Gauri moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in ad films. Over 100 commercials later and with a short film entitled Oh Man! under her belt, it was a natural progression to try her hand at a full-length feature film. Ask her if she found it hard to break into Bollywood as an outsider and she says, “Thankfully I didn’t feel like that, maybe because Balki (her husband R Balki) had already made a foray into Bollywood and I had already seen a little bit of the industry as an ad filmmaker. Also, I don’t think my film was typically a Bollywood film, in the sense that Sridevi had been out of the industry for some time and the other actors were all new people.” While Gauri has in the past said that she made the film as a personal apology

“I don’t want to make another film simply because I am a filmmaker now”—Gauri Shinde Hi! BLITZ 89 MAY 2013

“I think the best compliment was from a woman in Toronto who after a public screening came and hugged me in tears saying, ‘Thank you for making this film...it changed my life.’ And she was not even an Indian! A man came up to me and said, ‘Now I treat my child and my wife differently’ and there was a girl who felt she saw lots of herself in the film...”—Gauri Shinde to her mother whose spoken English she was always embarrassed of as a child, she adds that the greatest joy has been the heart-warming feedback she’s received from complete strangers. “I think the best compliment was from a woman in Toronto who after a public screening came and hugged me in tears saying, ‘Thank you for making this film...it changed my life.’ And she was not even an Indian! A lot of unknown people have come up to me and said such wonderful things—and that is

really the best feedback. Like a man came up to me and said, ‘Now I treat my child and my wife differently’ and there was a girl who felt she saw lots of herself in the film...” Gauri pauses for a bit and smiles. “So, to hear all that, it really opens up your eyes. Not that I had any moral objective in mind whilst doing this film, but if it has come out in that manner then I’m happy about it.” Question her about her inspirations and she says she can’t name any one particular

A Pune girl, Gauri moved to Mumbai where she made over 100 commercials & a short film entitled Oh Man! before venturing into Bollywood with English Vinglish Hi! BLITZ 90 MAY 2013

person. “All kinds of people inspire me at different points in time—whether it’s my own friends or people at work, sometimes it’s my mom, sometimes my husband or my brother, so it depends. Sometimes it’s something you read or watch. Like, I’m still a big fan of A-ha,” says Gauri of the ’80s pop group, “who I know are nowhere now... And yes, Woody Allen—he really inspires me.” And much like the quirky director from whom she draws her inspiration, Gauri

mantelpiece someday? “No, no, I don’t have any dreams like that. My dream is to be able to travel to almost all the places in the world. And to be able to experiment with whatever I like at that point in time— that’s my basic dream. See, I can’t really plan, but I hope I’m able to do whatever I want as per my given choice.” One can’t help but ask her whenever she does make her next film, will we see Sridevi in it again? “I would love to work with Sridevi again but I don’t know,” says

Is there anyone in Bollywood Gauri’s really dying to work with? “Ranbir Kapoor, I think he’s a fantastic actor & there’s something so charming about him”

goes on to reveal a quirk of her own that nobody knows about. “When it comes to work, if I don’t know someone, then my team will show me a picture of that person and I can tell whether I will like this person or not simply from the face,” she says, laughing. “I know it sounds bizarre, but it’s very important for me. Either the person has to have a recommendation or I see the picture and decide. It’s not about good looks or bad, it’s just the vibe I get from the picture.” Any dreams of having an Oscar on her

Gauri. “The story has to dictate it and she has to fit the role; it also has to be worth her while.” So, is there anyone in Bollywood she’s really dying to work with? “Ranbir Kapoor,” she says, smiling. “I really like him, I think he’s a fantastic actor and there’s something so charming about him. Again, like Sridevi, he’s a combination of a star and an actor. They are actually two different things, but he has them both.” Photographs: Dharmendra Kanani

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The Write Cut After coaxing the reticent but brilliant Aamir Khan to act in her film, Reema Kagti is considered hot property in Bollywood for scripting and directing, but she prefers to shun the hype. In a candid chat with Hi! Blitz, she reveals why she still hasn’t watched her own film Talaash, how she’s personally a slob and what she’s working on next.

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For someone who’s directed and written some of Bollywood’s most interesting films of late, Reema Kagti wears her fame lightly. You’ll rarely spot her shooting off quotable quotes at any given opportunity, and in fact she informs us that she dislikes posing for photoshoots. She’d rather keep things natural and candid—much like life itself. Having directed box-office successes like Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd and Talaash, ask her what’s the hardest part of filmmaking and Reema says, “The casting, hunting, dealing with so many people—I wouldn’t say they’re hurdles but, you know, it’s a bitch,” she laughs softly. “The entire experience of filmmaking, in terms of my craft has been a quantum leap from my first film to my second film. And I’m sure I’ll feel that way with my third film too! Also because it’s such an expensive medium, you don’t end up getting too much practice—you end up making a film when you’re making a film;

you don’t otherwise get an opportunity to try out your craft. So in that sense every film for me is a huge learning experience, and I see directing not as something to achieve but as an ongoing, lifelong process.” Hailing from Assam, Reema, the second of three sisters, grew up knowing that she wanted to be a writer of some kind, but wasn’t sure in which field. “I always wrote stories and stuff, and so I thought maybe I’ll become a journalist and also write fiction,” she quips. Having not only scripted the two movies she directed but also co-scripted Zoya Akhtar’s hit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Reema got a foothold in filmmaking by assisting Farhan Akhtar, Ashutosh Gowariker and even Mira Nair. “I assisted Farhan on Lakshya and Dil Chahta Hai and I’ve always had fun working on Farhan’s films. With Mira Nair, it was only a short stint on Vanity Fair and the only thing I remember from that

“I’ve haven’t been able to watch the film (Talaash) yet...the process of post-production is so intense, by the time it released, I was really done; I couldn’t sit through any of the screenings”—Reema Kagti Hi! BLITZ 93 MAY 2013

Citing Zoya Akhtar as the greatest influence on her career, Reema Kagti elaborates, “When it comes to receiving honest criticism about what I’m working on, the person I’m most likely to go to is Zoya— we’ve worked together, we’re best friends, and in a way we’re also rivals, but I think her feedback is very important for me.” shoot was running around like a chicken with its head cut off,” laughs Reema. “It was a mad, mad shoot.” Ask her if she has any favourites, and she says, “All the films I’ve worked on have been fun, and not just the films I’ve directed. Each film has shaped me in a way... Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd since it’s my first one will of course always have a special place in my heart—it was the first film that I ever wrote and directed myself.” Looking back, would she like to change anything in Talaash? “You know for that I’ll have to watch the film,” she surprisingly reveals. “I’ve haven’t been able to watch the film yet—not since it released.” She then goes on to explain, “The process of

post-production is so intense, you end up seeing the film so many times—especially with Talaash—that by the time it released, I was really done. I couldn’t sit through any of the screenings; I would sit outside. I think I was too close to it by then, but now I feel I would have a slightly more subjective approach when I watch it. And I’m sure there would be lots of things that I would like to alter.” Not drawn to any particular theme as such, Reema says the core idea of the story has to appeal to her. “I think the core idea of Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, which is a subtle message of tolerance and peace through the idea of a honeymoon tour package, is what I loved! I loved the core

Reema co-scripted Zoya Akhtar’s hit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, assisted Farhan Akhtar on Lakshya & Dil Chahta Hai, Ashutosh Gowariker on Lagaan & Mira Nair on Vanity Fair Hi! BLITZ 94 MAY 2013

On creative freedom being curbed in the arts: “It really bothers me, because as a society we’re getting more and more intolerant. It’s a bad sign—it’s a sign of an unhealthy society, an intolerant society.” —Reema Kagti idea of Talaash, which in the end is a very internalised drama—it’s about coming to terms with your own demons. I don’t see Talaash as just a supernatural movie; a lot of people do and that’s fine—films can mean what they may to people.” Ask her for her thoughts on the increasing number of incidents that one sees of creative freedom being curbed in the arts, what Salman Rushdie termed as ‘cultural terrorism’, and Reema says, “It really bothers me, because as a society we’re getting more and more intolerant. It’s a bad sign—it’s a sign of an unhealthy society, an intolerant society.” Co-writing the script of Zoya’s next film before moving on to her own, ask Reema what her next movie will be about and she hesitates. “It’s a drama, but since it’s still being written it’s too premature for me to talk about it.” Citing Zoya as the greatest influence on her career, Reema adds, “When it comes to receiving honest criticism about what I’m working on, the person I’m most likely to go to is Zoya— we’ve worked together, we’re best friends, and in a way we’re also rivals, but I think her feedback is very important for me. There are, of course, a bunch of filmmakers that I admire, but there’s nobody that I model myself on.” A complete homebody who loves to watch films and play poker in her off time, Reema says she loves slumming it. “Personally, I’m a slob. When I’m not working, I love not getting out of my pyjamas the whole day,” she laughs. So, what would she like to achieve in the future? “There’s no landmark as such that I want to achieve,” says Reema. “I would be happy if I was writing and directing, because that’s what I really love to do. But at the end of my life, I would like to be able to say that I made more good films than bad ones,” she admits. Photographs: Dharmendra Kanani

“Personally, I’m a slob; when I’m not working, I love not getting out of my pyjamas the whole day”—Reema Kagti Hi! BLITZ 95 MAY 2013

Tales From The Crypt Text & Photographs: Gustasp & Jeroo Irani

A ghost sighting destination can add spice to your vacation. Here are a few places where sightseeing takes on a chilling new meaning.

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Bites From The Legend Of Dracula Thunder roars in the distance and mist descends like floating veils and drapes itself across the forested mountains. The blurred contour of a church steeple presides over a graveyard, ensuring that evil spirits are contained within the grounds pockmarked with headstones. Visitors daring to drive through Transylvania, Romania, get a chilly reception: Dracula, it would seem, has been expecting them and has thrown in special effects as a welcome to his ghostly domain. And as you roll into Bran, the first thing that catches your attention is the count’s castle of horror towering menacingly over the little town. But Bran does not cower, in fact it seems to revel in the fact that it has now become a part of local folklore that was spawned by the fertile imagination of the 18th century Irish novelist Bram Stoker who based the evil protagonist of his novel on the much feared Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, a 15th century noble who was also known as Vlad the Impaler. The town itself is a one-street settlement studded with quaint little cottages that snuggle in the embrace of wooden fences. A little church cowers on the banks of a gurgling stream. It is squat and seems to deflect attention from itself, fearful that it might

incur the wrath of the evil Dracula who rules the town. But it also exudes a sense of determination, built from solid blocks of stone, ready to stand its ground if challenged by the castle that surges menacingly behind it. Further down the road a narrow cobblestone path leads up to the 14th century castle, and with a little imagination one can almost hear Dracula’s horse-drawn carriage rattling down the pathway as he sets off at sundown to snare his next victim. Inside, the fortress’ narrow passages and stairways lead to grand chambers that conjure images of Dracula reclining on a sofa sipping blood from a wine glass, playing eerie music on a grand piano, warming his hands by a fireplace as he plots his next sinister attack on the innocent… And as the sun sets, he metamorphoses into a bat, flapping across the night sky. Fact File The closest international airport is in Bucharest, Romania. Contact: Romanian National Tourist Office at www.romaniatourism.com

A little church cowers on the banks of a gurgling stream; further down a narrow cobblestone path leads up to the 14th century castle & with a little imagination one can almost hear Dracula’s horse-drawn carriage rattling down the pathway May 2013 125 Hi! Blitz

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Shenanigans In Chester There’s something innocent and rustic about Chester, the ancient walled city in northwest England. It resembles a small market town that seems surprised by its own allure! Under its old world veneer, overlaid with a lively vibe, lurk deep dark secrets that go back to its Roman origins of 2,000 years ago. Not for nothing is Chester said to be one of the most haunted cities in the UK. Admittedly though a tourist revelling in its majestic sights—the cathedral, half-timbered houses and the Rows (its medieval double-tier of shops with covered walkways)—will not encounter any paranormal activity. Chester’s Roman ghosts are the earliest in Britain—one legionnaire occasionally strides along the walls and to the ancient amphitheatre at dusk, recounts Liz Roberts, our guide. The story goes that he used to guard one of the gates of the fortress and was in love with a Welsh girl. The Romans, however, regarded the Welsh, just across the border, as their barbaric enemies. One night, the lovelorn soldier left the gate unguarded and nipped down to the River Dee to meet his lady love. In the meantime, the Welsh slipped in and raided Chester. When the soldier returned, there was an uproar. He was dishonoured and was either killed or flung himself off the wall. Postscript: the beautiful Welsh lass was a decoy! There are many haunted pubs and inns in Chester. For

instance, things go bump in the night at the attractive little Ye Olde King’s Head (named after Charles I, the only English monarch who was beheaded). Things disappear or move around on their own in this atmospheric pub, messages are scrawled on the mirror after the pub is closed for the night... When an 1881 bell tower collapsed near the spooky ruins of St John’s Church and monastery, many spirits were disturbed, it is said. Ever since, locals have seen a hooded monk, lips moving in prayer, heading down to the river. He vanishes into thin air when accosted by humans. In the same church where the wind whistles eerily through bare trees, there is a small oak coffin buried way up in the wall. Inscribed on it are the words: Dust to Dust. A wraith-like nun is said to haunt the churchyard. “She was buried up high as she wanted to be closer to heaven,” said our guide. Let your imagination run riot and feel a thrill of fear as darkness closes in. Fact File The closest international airports are in Manchester and London. Contact: VisitEngland at www.visitengland.com

St John’s church where the wind whistles eerily through bare trees; there is a small oak coffin buried way up in the wall

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The Ghost Of A War Hero The icy fingers of a frozen waterfall claw out from a vertical cliff; icicles hang like silver daggers from overhanging ridges; a cold breeze sweeps across the frozen lake and sends a shiver through oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body. The snow-draped crest of Sela Pass (at 14,000 feet, it is one of the highest motorable passes in the world) on the road to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is enveloped in the cold embrace of a pregnant silence: a void filled by the ghost of Jaswant Singh Rawat. Rifleman Jaswant Singh of the Fourth Battalion Garhwal Rifles died a hero during the 1962 border war with China. Singlehandedly he held off the advancing Chinese army and took out a machine gun bunker and captured the weapon. In the process, he killed over 300 enemy soldiers before sacrificing his own life. Awarded a Maha Vir Chakra (posthumously), he retired as a Captain (again posthumously).

The lonely bunker from where Jaswant Singh made his last stand is today converted into a shrine. The memorial houses his bed, shoes, linen and personal effects. Till recently, it was said that every morning his bed would be unmade as though someone had slept in it at night. Sentries would report that should they nod off, they would be slapped awake by an invisible hand. And when it snows it feels like the ghost of Jaswant Singh is sprinkling confetti over the icy outpost that was once the scene of a bloody conflict. Fact File Guwahati and Jorhat in Assam house the closest airports. Contact: Arunachal Pradesh Tourism at www.arunachaltourism.com

The lonely bunker from where Jaswant Singh made his last stand is today converted into a shrine; till recently, it was said that every morning his bed would be unmade as though someone had slept in it at night. May 2013 127 Hi! Blitz

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The Spirited Castle Leslie Just a 70-minute drive away from Belfast, Castle Leslie Estate in Glaslough, Republic of Ireland, is one of the most haunted castles in the country, it is whispered. A thousand acres of glowing green parkland flare in front of the imposing building and in the afternoon sun the stolid citadel seems luxurious yet secure... Yet in a land that thrums with magic and mystery and where elves and fairies of the imagination roam anything can happen. The interiors of the 100-room castle-hotel (of which only 20 are bedrooms) are studded with period furniture, chandeliers, damask draperies, crackling marble fireplaces, gilded mirrors and objets d’art as befitting the home of a nobleman. After a speedy check in, you sweep up a grand staircase, lined with gilded portraits of the Leslie family, including one handsome Norman Leslie who died young in the fields of France in World War I. His penetrating eyes follow you as you explore the castle and step into one of the guest rooms—perchance the Red Room which was his favourite! With mesmeric views, blood red drapes, a red carpet and a magnificent 400-year-old walnut wood bed, the Red Room is said to have the occasional nocturnal visitor—Norman Leslie himself, who appears in a cloud of light. Some guests have heard strange noises emanating from above

the room at night as well. Many apocryphal stories are told about the Leslie family that is known and loved for their eccentricity in the village and about the ghosts that visit the castle. But it is Norman’s Room that sends shivers down the spines of most people; for here the heavy oak canopied bed had been brought from one of the most haunted homes in Surrey in England—a house in which a man had been hacked to death! Today, intrepid wayfarers specifically ask for Norman’s Room and have emerged the next morning with tales of a levitating bed, sudden gusts of cold air and hearing screams and groans renting the quiet night. However, the other-worldly apparitions are harmless—the insomniac Lady Constance whose portrait hangs in the dining room, paces the gallery in a flowing white gown on restless nights and then melts into the woodwork… Fact File The closest international airport is in Belfast. Contact: Ireland Tourism at www.discoverireland.com/in

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Rattling Through A Gay Pub When seen from Manchester’s famous Canal Street, Via looks like any other city pub. Step inside and you are immediately struck by the quirkiness of the place. The mosaic tiles on the floor betray its age. The multi-level wood bar is fashioned from the altar of an old Irish church. The pub has hideaways tucked away in little alcoves and gay couples love that…as also does its resident ghost who rattles through the premises once the last drink is consumed, the lights turned off and the doors shuttered. “There’s something down there. I don’t think it is malicious or evil but it’s definitely very disturbed,” the girl behind the bar confirms. Even as the doors are being closed at night, the staff hears something start to shift around the premises. And it is not uncommon to find things moved around the next morning. There are times when a guest might feel the touch of a chilly hand. Or even get locked in the washroom next to the Piano Bar where the spirit is known to lurk.

The identity of the ghost is unclear, but the spirit is believed to be that of a monk who once haunted a church in Ireland in a benevolent way. Later when the building fell into disuse, the altar was stripped and shipped to Manchester where it was reassembled in the Via pub. It is believed that the ghost of the monk travelled with the altar to its new location and is not too pleased with the way his beloved altar has been rearranged. The pub itself is a lively joint on Canal Street that is associated with the gay community. Tourists also frequent this pub which has live music in the evening and serves great food. And you may not know it but you could be sharing a table with a spook! Fact File Manchester has an international airport. Contact: VisitEngland at www.visitengland.com

There are times when a guest might feel the touch of a chilly hand at the Via, the haunted pub

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Photo: Salamat Husain

Industrial Man Arjun Khanna’s fashion sensibilities are timeless with a twist—a mix of rock chic and old-school savoir-faire. Hi! Blitz checks out the latest collection from this flamboyant couturier for India’s fashion conscious men.

Arjun Khanna’s world personifies elegance & style

He’s retro-modern—a twist of many worlds and styles. When one enters Arjun Khanna’s world, it personifies elegance and style. Not just his creations, but also his envious collection of classic bikes, impeccably curated selection of vintage curios and museum-quality interiors. His is an intimately designed space located in a 200-year-old building in the bustling area of Colaba. Famed for his eclectic style and signature look that define men’s fashion in India, Arjun has effectively brought contemporary silhouettes to classic tailoring using the finest of fabrics. Talking about the latest showing of his Photos: Viral Bhayani

Out of Sight, Out of Mind collection, he says, “My show is about the ‘bicycle style’ I’ve observed all over the world. It is very individualistic and unique, but almost always a statement full of attitude and flair. From the hip Shoreditch crowd to the perfectly manicured Savile Row riders, urban cyclists truly live their style. My collection aims at capturing the essence of these eclectic individuals.” Arjun’s pieces in this collection have been inspired by everything from modern day BMX bikes and fixies to messenger boys of the 1940s—the ultimate chic in today’s urban jungle.

“My show is about the ‘bicycle style’ I’ve observed all over the world”—Arjun Khanna May 2013 130 Hi! Blitz

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Indian Charm

Colour Burst

Fuschia and Orange, launched by designer Dimpey Gujral, is a swanky boutique in Mumbai that offers the city’s fashionistas exquisite Indian styles.

Maheka Mirpuri’s summer ’13 collection called The Yellow Rose is a flirtatious play of colours, designed for the bold, sassy, chic woman. Thought summer is the season for mild colours and soothing hues? Here’s a fashion news update of a bold collection from the peppy designer who loves the bright and happy palette. Maheka Mirpuri’s summer ’13 collection is all about neon pinks, yellows, aquas, jades, limes and citrus oranges. The eternal summer favourite white has only been used when interspersed with black for a bold look. Representing the mood of joyful times, the collection called The Yellow Rose, is for the woman who is bold, sassy and has a mind of her own. “It reflects a love story where a girl has infinite dreams,” says Maheka, adding, “the clothes are colourful and the wearer is in a playful mood. Her mind oscillates between desire and admiration. Her thoughts are young and energetic.” The collection comprises French chiffons, Italian silks, Swiss lace and cotton—the soft-fluid fabrics stressing the silhouette of the body with their textures. White lace flowers strewn over miniskirts and luxurious rose appliqués form the focus of the design element. Volumetric skirts, playsuits, knotted shirts, short one-shoulder blousons and long and short dresses make up the collection, which is an ode to joy and passion.

The designs at Fuchsia & Orange are a mix of practicality & beauty

Fuschia and Orange, situated in the heart of South Mumbai, is a charming shopping destination for women, with its gothic setting, old mosaic flooring and rough unfinished walls. The décor has been conceived to complement the clothes, which are available in a variety of hues and styles. Launched by designer Dimpey Gujral from Chandigarh, Fuchsia and Orange offers shararas and ghararas with hip cuts and a range of shirts and dupattas. Dimpey is also working towards reviving long Kashmiri kurtas with exquisite chinar and lotus motifs. Fashionistas can choose from a wide variety of Lucknowis with intricate jaali work in white and other hues and also Pakistani suits. Shirts with crochet and lace detailing are also available at this swanky boutique. The highlights of Fuschia and Orange are the georgette kaftans and shirts in vivid colours and smart cuts. Think of a coffee and cream cotton cutwork jacket with black lining coupled with a black tee and cream cotton sharara—very smart, indeed. Dimpey, the thorough professional that she is, did an extensive study of the ready-to-wear market in Mumbai before making her foray here. Finding a gap between steeply priced ensembles and wearable and affordable ones, she decided to launch Fuschia and Orange, whose designs are a mix of practicality and beauty.

May 2013 132 Hi! Blitz

Volumetric skirts, playsuits, short one-shoulder blousons...make up the collection, which is an ode to joy & passion Hi! BLITZ 103 MAY 2013 visit: www.hiblitz.in

Awaken Good

Fortune with

Damas D ama s ha s launc hed i ts new A kshaya Tr i t iya 2013 co llec tion. T he 22 new sets wi t hin t he co llec tion have b een c raf ted to welco m e in good for tune a s a s soc ia ted wi t h t he auspic ious occa sion. T his A kshaya Tr i t iya, im m erse yourself in a ll t ha t is promising, a nd pave t he way fo r a prosp erous new b eginning wi t h t he fo llowing jeweller y sets f ro m D a ma s. D a ma s ha s a lso c rea ted a numb er of ot her b eau t if ul d e signs fo r Akshaya Tr i tiya, whic h sui t a ll a g e s, ta ste s a nd bud g ets. T he new A kshaya Tr i t iya 2013 co llec tion is availa b le a t selec t D a ma s ou t lets ac ros s t he GCC .

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Mira Immerse yourself in all that is promising, and pave the way for a prosperous new beginning with Mira, the classic, Victorian jewellery set Inspired by designs that once adorned the necklines of high royalty; the set is crafted in 18k gold and sterling silver and accompanied by pearls, and rose cut and single cut diamonds. The pendant and earrings set is an exquisite modern take on classic Victorian jewellery.

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Ananya When good luck comes knocking this Akshaya Tritiya, there is no better way to welcome it than with the beautiful Ananya jewellery set. Designed in 18k gold, and accented with diamonds in a unique setting, this set includes stunning floral designs with a modern twist. Add some colour to your life with this two piece work of art.

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Gehna Usher in a wealth of prosperity with the Legacy necklace and earrings set, elegantly crafted in 22k yellow gold and studded with uncut diamond and tourmaline stones. The Legacy set, inspired by traditional festive elements.

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Legacy Gold Drawing inspiration from the beauty of antique jewellery, the new Legacy Gold necklace and earrings set is crafted in 22k yellow gold and uses a unique technique to give the piece a distinctively lustrous finish.

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Legacy Light up with prosperity by adorning yourself with the Gehna collection. A stunning necklace and earring ensemble juxtaposing two unique designs embellished by coloured stones, and sprayed enamel on 22k yellow gold. This theme symbolizes prosperity, and gives a rich traditional look, with a twist.

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Hi! WATCHES

Baldessarini

Perrelet

Panerai

Piaget

Roger Dubuis

Skagen

FOR HIM Hi! BLITZ 110 MAY 2013

Chaumet

Concord Saratoga

Just Cavalli

Nina Ricci

Skagen

Thierry Mugler

FOR HER Hi! BLITZ 111 MAY 2013

Hi! BEAUTY

LE ROUGE

CHANEL

T here a re a s ma ny wa ys of b ein g vib ra n t a s t here a re wo m en, a nd a s ma ny ways of showin g i t a s t here a re Cha n e l l ips t ic ks. Le Roug e Cha n e l now of fers t hree d if feren t co llec t ion s whic h inc lud e Ava n t - Première D e Cha n el a nd Révé l a t io n D e Cha n e l whic h we have exp lo red f ur t her t hi s i s sue.

Avant-Première De Chanel This collection opens a new chapter in the Rouge Coco and Rouge Coco Shine saga to reveal bold, unpredictable and boundless femininity. Applying makeup, casual and carefree, ignoring convention and inventing one’s own elegance: Rouge Coco draws on the legend of Mademoiselle to define a freespirited femininity. To wear Rouge Coco is to live freely and spontaneously. This year, Rouge Coco Shine extends its range of semi-transparent shades with a palette of deeper colours enriched with 30% additional pigments. For this collection, Chanel presents a tribute to the fragile grace of movie icons a palette of half-shades.

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Révélation De Chanel This collection reveals the multiple facets of the Lèvres Scintillantes gloss and sparkling femininity. The iconic Chanel gloss adapts naturally to the many facets of women, from the most innocent to the most alluring. To showcase Lèvres Scintillantes’ full spectrum, Chanel presents this new collection comprised of a range of different shades and effects. Smiles go bold as shades become more intense.

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Hi! BEAUTY Dress Up Your Eyes & Impress with

Make Up Forever

MAKE UP FOREVER

Imagine the possibilities of dressing up your eyes in any look you desire in just 3 steps. Make Up Forever launches its For Ever Bridal â&#x20AC;&#x153;La3younikâ&#x20AC;? campaign which presents the 3 must-have products that will satisfy every look and style you desire for your eyes, putting you in the spotlight! From the most natural to the most surreal look, these 3 fabulous musthaves adapt your eyes to every fashion trend, occasion and mood. It is no secret that women are in constant search for the perfect eyes and starting May 15, Make Up Forever will be offering women a tutorial which they can watch at home to learn the different techniques behind getting longlasting stunning eyes. Visit Make Up Forever to get your copy of the tutorial and beautiful eyes!

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20 Years of Looks with MaxFactor’s 2000 Calorie MaxFactor is celebrating 20 years of iconic lashes with 2000 Calorie and in honour of the occasion; we get tips from Joelle Mardinian, the brand’s Regional Creative Director that focuses on a woman’s most expressive feature; the eyes! We love MaxFactor’s 2000 Calorie mascara’s sleek new packaging and three unique volumizing variants, as it continues to deliver 300% more volume and maxed out lashes. The new MaxFactor 2000 Calorie variants will deliver volume to lashes in three unique ways: Dramatic Volume for high drama lashes, Waterproof Volume for waterresistant lash play and Curved Brush Volume & Curl for some flirt and flutter.

Pretty in Pink by Joelle Mardinian Step 1 Getting Your Eyes Ready Use your fingertips or a brush to gently apply Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Pink Plum on your eyelids, making sure to blend both colours well so you can’t see the edges. To create even more of a smoky effect, add eyeshadow to the outer edges of your eyes using vibrant colours. Step 2 Using The Liner Apply Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil in Silver Spark on both your upper and lower lash line and blend it into your lashes. Lightly fill in your eyebrows using Max Factor Eyebrow Pencil in Ebony, making sure to brush the hairs upwards using the brush at the end of the pencil.

Joelle Mardinian

Step 3 The Final Touch For a fan-like effect, apply Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Volume & Curl Mascara in Black. Use the tip of the brush to add more volume to the outer lashes and push the lashes up.

Required Make-Up Tools 1 Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Pink Plum 2 Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil in Silver Spark 3 Max Factor Eyebrow Pencil in Ebony 4 Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Volume & Curl Mascara in Black

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Hi! BEAUTY, HAIRCARE & SKINCARE

The Hi! Guide To Summer Beauty

The feline flick has been batting its way into the beauty After skipping a couple of seasons, t trend charts for a few seasons now. But this springbold lashes are back. And this fun, flut summer, it is sharing space with metallic hues and bold gets a twist—it isn’t supposed to loo colours. Silver, gold, bronze and every other metallic shade faux’ is what beauty gurus are term Text: Ylova Hamdan eyelashes trend as. Offset dazzle alongside the winged-out eyeliner look. This cat-eye ultra-long trend was also seen two-timing with bright, bold colours liner or shimmer around the eyes to a This issue, we bring you our beauty handbook for the month. We sought that make your peepers look simply spectacular. trend also saw lashings of coloured m after and found the best of beauty with these great picks that are now available on the shelves! There is something for any kind of person you

Youthful Glowing Skin Prep the Skin

Photo: Vikram Bawa

wish to be along with added Hi! favourites and tips!

Zinging It With Gl

1 Herbline Essentials Skin Tonic 2 Institut Esthederm Intensif Hyaluronic Cream & Serum 2 3 Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner 4 Radical Cleanser and Eye Pump at Harvey Nichols 5 Blanc de la Mer Whitening Facial 6 YSL Forever Light Creator Serum 7 Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant 8 La Prairie Cellular Power Serum 9 Merle Norman Ultra Light Sunscreen 10 Sisley Facial Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ 11 Bliss Facial Care

5 2 1

CLARINS

It is always important to prepare the skin before makeup application as it is the safest way to obtain a radiant look 7 This season saw contrasting trends, but the one thing and create natural and healthy skin. The four steps that you they all hadfollow in common was flawless, glowing should religiously are: Cleanse, Exfoliate, Tone and skin. This Moisturize! The liquid facial skincare products featured here are of course meant foundation and concealer, but it currently the talk of the town and definitely our favourites for also meant a good skincare routine. Skin experts have our day/night skincare regime. We especially appreciate the screamed themselves hoarse touting the benefits of a good revolutionary Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica which has night’s sleep, diet, a agood exercise never failedatonutritious please. It is made with rice-based enzyme regimen... We recommend follow these to thesmooth tee. and and all natural you extracts designed to exfoliate, brighten the skin without harsh irritants and compounds.

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9 This is another trend that has sne the party10season into spring-summ splendour sparkles up11 those digits. Wh prefer it mixed into their polish, the d two-toned manicure with glitter on th on all the fingers save for one nail per dustings of gold or silver.

Correct & Colour 1

4 3

5 7

6 9

GUERLAIN

Before painting your face with colours of the season, it is always best to correct it so as to hide any imperfections. We love Benefit’s newly launched Fake Up Concealer and Bassam Fattouh’s Primer & Foundation for this step! Some of our other favourite eye, cheek and lip products are featured here especially our latest obsession – Lipstick Queen which recently launched online @ Citruss TV. When it comes to applicators and brushes, be sure to clean them once a week if not every day to maintain hygiene!

1 ArtDeco Anti- aging concealer at Paris Gallery 2 Estee Lauder Pure Colour Shadow Paints & Mascara 3 Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Sticks 4 Bassam Fattouh Primer & Foundation 5 Benefit Fakeup Concealer 6 Lancome Hypnose Palette Applicators 7 Tom Ford Lip Colour Shine Collection 8 Sephora Compact Foundation 9 Clarins Splendours Summer Make-up Collection 2013 10 Mikyajy Kabuki Brush 11 Illamasqya Blush Duo 12 Too Faced Boudoir Eyes at Sephora 13 Lipstick Queen Look of Love Set @ Citruss TV

Beautiful Hair Summer brings with it lots of joy but it can also bring lots of hair woes such as stubborn and frizzy hair, especially on humid days! It is extremely important to take proper care of your hair during this season. These products are bound to achieve maximum results against such hair woes. We especially love the Lush Hair Mist for body, volume and hold and the latest launch to hit all leading salons in the UAE UniqOne as it provides ten benefits in one bottle!

KERASTASE

1 L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Hair Mist 2 UniqOne 3 SachaJuan Intensive Hair Oil 4 Lush Shampoo & Hair Mist 5 Redken Finishing Thermal Spray 6 Kelly Van Gogh Wonderlust Spray 7 Kerastase Elixir Ultime

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Hi! BEAUTY, HAIRCARE & SKINCARE Body Bliss

CLARINS

Hi! Readers should never neglect the body! We adore L’Occitane’s Aurore Body Shower Gel and Lotion with its delicate and romantic scent bound to make you look forward to bath time all the time! It is always good to exfoliate the skin which is why Sephora’s Express Body Scrub and Mask makes it on to our list this issue as we think it’s the best everyday luxury that fights off those dead cells.

1 Clarins Splendours Shimmer Body Oil 2 Figs & Rouge Coco Rose Hand Cream 3 L’Occitane Aurore Body Shower Gel and Lotion 4 Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs 5 Sephora Express Body Scrub and Mask

Gorgeous Nails Painting nails is almost every girl’s favourite pastime. We love Ciate’s new Treasured Possessions Collection as it truly does transport you into a world of opulence and vintage charm! We also love YSL’s new summer shades this season.

1 ArtDeco Express Beauty at Paris Gallery 2 Ciate Treasured Possessions Collection 3 Guerlain Maxi Shine Nailpolishes 4 Illamasqua Spring Collection 5 Sephora Scented Nailpolishes and

Top Coats 6 Une Nail Colour & Top Coats 7 YSL Nailpolishes 8 Mikyajy Minx Nailpolishes

When Sleep Calls How many times have you scared yourself silly by looking into the mirror after a night’s sleep with makeup on? It is no secret that sleeping with make up on is extremely unwise as it results in unnecessary exposure to the free radicals in the environment which the makeup holds on to. Additionally, makeup clogs the pores while you sleep, resulting in the development of acne. Some of the best makeup removers that we’ve tried and loved are these by Clarins, Mikyajy and Sephora. They work wonders on waterproof makeup and are suitable for sensitive skin.

Mikyajy Sensitive Eye Make-up Remover

Clarins Gentle & Instant Eye Make-up Removers

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Sephora 2in1 Waterproof Eye Make up Remover Gel

Hi! FRAGRANCES

2 3

FOR HIM 1 Ajmal Dahn Al Oudh Al Nuwayra 2 Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale 3 M.Micallef Royal Vintage at Paris Gallery 4 Pure Custo Barcelona 2 5 Guerlain Habit Rouge L’Edition Du

Cavalier 6 Carolina Herrera 212 Limited Edition

6 5

FOR HER

1 Clinique Happy in Bloom at Bloomingdale’s 2 Issey Miyake Pleats Please 3 Just Cavalli 4 Marc Jacobs Daisy Sunshine Edition 5 L’Occitane Rose Aurore 6 Jo Malone British Desserts Collection

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Hi! TAROT

Hi! Blitz gets Dr Roopa Patel, internationally known tarotologist, to read what the cards have in store for you this month.

ARIES, THE RAM MAR 21 - APR 20

GEMINI, THE TWINS MAY 21 - JUN 22

LEO, THE LION JUL 22 - AUG 23

This is a month of high energy and pushing the envelope. You will be in your element and will be able to make a breakthrough. The King of Pentacles indicates that you will be noticed by your boss and he will appreciate your achievement. On the downside, be careful not to get hyper and deal with people too aggressively. You may be high-strung and reactive this month and this could cause unnecessary problems. You may end up having to face some brickbats as a consequence. Look beneath the surface and try to understand the root cause of the problem. Do not get entangled in the smaller issues.

All the money you have will not help solve your emotional problems. It is your financial ease in fact that is preventing you from using your time to figure out more meaningful pursuits. You have both money and time on your hands and thus are still brooding about things and their consequences. The cards suggest you get involved in some genuine altruistic activity. Feel things with your heart rather than look at them calculatingly. The feeling of betrayal is strong. You will sooner or later need to deal with it, so why not now?! Remember there are karmic debts we all have to pay.

The cards advise you to be charitable. Try and understand the other person’s perspective. You may be right in your own way, but give the other person a chance to express their point of view as they too may be correct. You are being influenced by your emotions, which are strong and intense. Sometimes we see things through the prism of emotions and not the objective truth as it is. Place yourself in the other person’s shoes before you judge them. You might get a different perspective. Things might open up for you and after a long time you might feel compassion towards people.

TAURUS, THE BULL APR 21 - MAY 20

CANCER, THE CRAB JUN 23 - JUL 21

VIRGO, THE VIRGIN AUG 24 - SEP 22

The month begins with relationship trouble and emotional issues, but ends on a high note with achievement and victory. The cards advise you to discuss your issues with those whom you trust. You have the talent to achieve what you want to but need the right direction pointed out to you. Do not bottle up your emotions or try to figure things out on your own. There is great value in learning from another person’s experience. It may reduce your pain and you may discover some misunderstanding that is easily resolved. Now is the time to think about your future—draft a plan and discuss it with others.

You want things to gallop forward and find no peace till they reach your desired conclusions. You have drawn the card of Death reversed. Death does not mean literal death, but a drastic change. Reversed, the card indicates delays and stagnation. Things may get stuck, causing you to become impatient. In your desperation, you may be tempted to use any means possible to get results. You have drawn the Magician which indicates this. The cards suggest you resist doing anything in an underhand way to get what you want. Remember if things are not moving it is because of some mental block. Work on yourself.

You need to take care of your health this month. If you are not well, take complete rest. Avoid being agitated and impatient, as this c o ul d i n c rea se your recovery period. This is a month where you need to calm down; things will take their own course. Try not to get so worked up that you do nothing else but push things forward. It is your anxiety that is causing you to be so wound up. Address your inner being rather than become frantic, as this is not going to help you achieve anything. In fact, you may end up taking some wrong decisions. Relax! Things will work out provided you work on them sanely and objectively.

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LIBRA, THE SCALE SEP 23 - OCT 23 Success in money matters should cheer you up. You may have a financial breakthrough of sorts. Either a new job or consultancy— an opening up of opportunities are seen on the cards. The King of Pentacles is a captain of industry, a man of high estate. He has appeared prominently in your spread. He is coming into your life as a friend, mentor or lover. Lady Librans may receive a proposal from a rich, older man. The cards advise you to explore whatever comes your way, whether marriage or a financial proposal. Do not take any decisions hastily.

SAGITTARIUS, THE ARCHER NOV 23 - DEC 22 There are new opportunities coming your way. If you are competing for something, you will win. The cards advise you to be generous. Do not hold onto the past or retaliate in a mean, hurtful manner. You need to acknowledge that there is more than enough to go around. You may also get an opportunity to start something new. You have drawn the Two of Wands which indicates a new enterprise that could involve others as well. Expand and include people in your ideas and dreams. This way, your dream will become a reality quickly.

AQUARIUS, THE WATERMAN JAN 21 - FEB 19 There is renewed activity on the cards this month. Things will start moving in the right direction, but do not expect total success, as they won’t move completely in your favour. You need to find a way to resolve this long-time conflict that you have been experiencing. The solution is to open all lines of communication, even if it does not yield immediate results. Search for opportunities to better your communication skills. This is the way of the wise! If you are able to achieve this, then you will be at an advantageous position.

SCORPIO, THE SCORPION OCT 24 - NOV 22 The Ace of Cups has a p p e a r e d reversed. This indicates that there is a great hesitancy to nurture any emotions. You are not moving ahead or engaging with anyone at an emotional level because of fear of rejection. This is leaving you rather isolated and lonely. The cards advise you to take a leap of faith. If you love someone, tell them so. Do not procrastinate or you may end up losing the love of your life. If you are married, communicate with your spouse to avoid the misunderstandings that are creeping into your relationship. Stabilise your emotions and surrender to love.

CAPRICORN, THE GOAT DEC 23 - JAN 20 The card of Justice has a personified image of Justice carrying a double-edged sword. If you have been wronged, you will get justice. But if you have wronged another, then nemesis is at hand. Do not presume to judge this yourself. Let God take that call. Accept whatever comes your way without feeling let down or betrayed. There is a divine justice, which sees the whole picture and not the partial truths that we see. Have faith in God and believe that what is right will happen. If you are able to take this stance, then a lot of your relationships will heal, bringing friendships and familial bonding.

PISCES, THE FISH FEB 20 - MAR 20

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You may be called upon to work hard in order to reach your target. Your efforts may leave you exhausted. This could make you rethink your position and relook at your priorities. The cards advise you to move towards a more spiritual perspective. Explore your inner self; be charitable. If there are any legal battles going on, the judgment may not be what you expected. There could be delays and interim orders may not be to your liking. The cards suggest you have patience and pursue your goals with sincerity. Take a fresh look at your approach—that is the key.

Hi! REVIEWS

The Flavours of Patiala Text by: Ylova Hamdan

Ea r l ier t hi s yea r, in F eb r ua r y, D ub a i wi t ne s sed t he o p enin g of a n au t hen t ic Ind ia n f ine d ining re s taura n t in S ouk A l B a ha r, D own town D ub a i. T he re s taura n t ha s f lown in i ts tea m of c hef s, wi t h a co m bined exp er ience of mo re t ha n 10 0 yea rs, d irec t f ro m No r t h Ind ia. Und er t he s tewa rd ship of renown ed Head Chef S a njay B a hl, t he re sul t i s pure c ul ina r y ma g ic! Hi! B l i tz had t he c ha nce to review Pa t iala for a ll our read ers. Pay a vi si t to Pa t iala a nd you a re sure to exp er ience t r ue No r t h Ind ia n c ui sine a t i ts b e s t!

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Patiala’s Signature Cocktails

Obviously, Dubai is no stranger to the Indian cuisine with casual cafeterias that line almost every corner in the city and fine-dining options in five star hotels. Suffice to say, Patiala is indeed a gleaming gem among the lot! I visited the restaurant for dinner one Thursday night with a guest and we were incredibly pleased by the entire experience. The contemporary and warm interiors immediately soothed my spirit that had been wrestling stress that whole week. I admired the dark ceiling embellished with gold and the hanging light bulbs that lined the seating to the right side of the restaurant next to the open kitchen where diners could watch their dishes being prepared. Many restaurants in the city boast their authenticity yet remain to be somewhat ordinary hence I was very pleased when our waiter, Arvind brought over the drinks menu. You just know a place is special when they serve interesting concoctions with names such as Chilli Margarita and Spiked Chai! There

were many more fascinating blends on their signature cocktails menu but I opted for the Patiala Passion (White Rum infused with Cinnamon, Lemon, Mint, Mango & Passion Fruit Puree, Masala powder and Ginger ale) as recommended by our waiter while my guest tried the Spiked Chai (Dark Rum, Hibiscus tea, Cinnamon, Cloves and Red Bull). We enjoyed the drinks with the complimentary coned papad served with sweet tamarind and chutney. Patiala has an extensive list of drinks besides the signature cocktails which include unique mocktails and fine wines by the glass. Head Chef, Sanjay Bahl made an appearance at our table and I immediately jumped at the chance to inform him of the thought that had been drifting back and forth in my mind – “This evening, we are putting our trust in you!” I said to him! My guest and I truly preferred doing so as we were aware of the indecisiveness we would face after we took just one glance at the exquisite and filled menu.

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Head Chef, Sanjay Bahl

He was a charming character whose love for culinary craftsmanship radiated through his smiles and words. After inquiring about our spice tolerance level, which is very high, he gladly agreed to go all out on the curries but advised the opposite for the kababs so that we could truly taste all that they had to offer.

Hi! REVIEWS

We were started off with the Patiala Chat Platter which consisted of Aloo Ki Tikki, Chat Papdi and mixed fruit chat. The mixed fruit (mangoes, bananas and apples) allowed for an explosion of flavours as the sweetness of the fruits flirted with the somewhat spicy masala dressing. The kabab platter followed with some of the restaurant’s most flavourful meats such as the char grilled chilli mint prawns, Zaveri Fish Tikka, Patiala Murg Tikka, Galouti Kabab, Seekh Kabab and Tandoori Lamb chops. The Chicken Tikka was eatable art! Both my guest and I were surprised as we could almost taste the fire that cooked the spicy chicken! Another favourite was the Galouti Kabab which was served with saffron bread. I am very familiar with the Galouti Kababs of Dubai as I have been on a long search to find one that is spiced just right. I have always been fascinated by the story of its creation as legend has it; it was crafted for an aging Nawab who could not chew. The tender minced lamb and roast cashew mix, smoked with exotic spices truly does melt in your mouth with all its perfection! At last, my long search had ended and perhaps it could be because one of Patiala’s chefs is the great grandson of the kabab’s inventor! Moving on to the mains – we indulged in a mixture of traditional flavours through the restaurant’s signature curry dishes such as Butter Chicken, Murgh Patiala, Dal Patiala and Mutton Roghan Josh that we enjoyed with a generous portion of Chicken Biryani and a selection of royalty breads that are rarely enjoyed outside of India. The Mutton Roghan Josh which is basically boneless lamb flavoured with fennel and ginger was surprisingly my favourite. Normally, I am not too fond of dishes prepared with ginger but Patiala certainly does know how much is just enough which is why I was highly impressed with the taste and quality of all the dishes.

Patiala Tikka kabab

Patiala private dinning room

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While digesting, my guest and I indulged in a pleasant conversation with the chef who light-heartedly informed us that whenever Indian food is ordered, it is best to select a little bit more than a few as each dish presents a completely different flavour than the other and we were left pleased that we had experienced most of them while we later respected the service we had seen given to other diners. What better way to end the evening than with a dessert platter? The Rose Petal Halwa, Gulab Jamun and Kulfi were nothing short of spectacular with their sweet delight!

Patiala is open every day from 12pm to 4pm for Lunch and from 6:30pm to 11:30pm for dinner and drinks. The lounge is open until 2am. The weekend brunch runs from 12pm-4pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Located in Souk Al Bahar, the restaurant is easily accessible through the boardwalk from The Dubai Mall and neighbouring hotels and residences. Patiala has 55 covers in its main restaurant area, plus two private dining rooms for groups of six or ten, with seating for an additional 25 in the lounge bar. For more information and reservations please call +9714 4519151 or visit www.Patiala.ae.

Gosht Biryani

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Gosht Roganjosh

Hi! REVIEWS MUSIC

Ora / Rita Ora

Take Me Home / One Direction

She can moan like Rihanna one minute, hoot like Katy Perry the next and then just go all wild like Ke$ha. That’s Rita Ora for you, the latest pop strumpet whose ‘unique’ sound is fast taking over the charts.

If Justin Bieber had an equally talented lot of twinkie brothers, they would possibly make up what is considered the hottest boy band at the moment, One Direction.

It might have taken her two years to complete her first album, but Rita’s made sure she’s got the best in the business collaborating with her on it and has subsequently hit the number one bull’s-eye three times in a row. Her first single RIP had Tinie Tempah adding to the sexy, deadly tone; How We Do (Party) has become the new party anthem, taking its much echoed refrain from The Notorious BIG’s ‘party and bullshit’; and the head-spinning beats of DJ Fresh in Hot Right Now made it an instant success. The album also sees the dance floor heavy Radioactive (penned by Sia Furler), Fall In Love with will.i.am and even a ballad called Hello, Hi, Goodbye. Being seen as the pop world’s next big thing, Rita was nominated for three awards at the recent Brit Awards and is also fast becoming a fashion icon, with her style being inspired by Gwen Stefani, Marilyn Monroe and Daphne Guinness. She’s starred in 90210 and Fast & Furious 6, as well as Snoop Dogg’s latest single Torn Apart. Yes, prepare for album number two very soon! Label: Sony Music; Genre: Pop

Yes, girls swoon over them, tweens want to be like them and everyone can’t ignore the cutesy appeal of their sweet faces and voices. The English-Irish band of five signed on with Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Records after being formed and finishing third in The X Factor in 2010. Their first album Up All Night was a breakout success and now One Direction are once again charming their way into the charts with a cartload of easy listening hits that are pleasing to the ear with their second album. Live While We’re Young, Kiss You and Heart Attack are all fun, finger-snapping bubblegum pop tracks. Little Things sees the band go into an all-acoustic ballad, Rock Me as the name suggests gets things a li’l rocking in tempo and Back For You is slick up-tempo pop-rock. On the last song in the album Summer Love, the chorus wistfully states: ‘You were mine for the summer, now we know it’s nearly over.’ Oh, boo-hoo! Considering that they’ve already sold over 14 million singles and 8 million albums in total, we’re sure to hear plenty more from this group next summer too. Label: Sony Music; Genre: Pop Text: Farhad J Dadyburjor

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Hi! REVIEWS FILM

The Door / Starring Helen Mirren

Red Riding Trilogy / Starring Andrew Garfield

This is an emotionally charged tale about the lovehate relationship between two women from totally diverse backgrounds—one a servant and the other a rich writer.

These three separate films that centre around the recurring theme of gruesome murders of women and girls and a society rotten with corruption are a darkly gory watch.

Opening in 1960s Hungary, would-be novelist Magda (Martina Gedeck) is looking for someone to look after the large house that she shares with her husband Tibor (Karoly Eperjes) whilst she completes work on her manuscript. She recruits the frumpy Emerenc (Helen Mirren), who rather brusquely explains that she doesn’t look after just about anybody’s house. Along the way Magda and Emerenc begin to share a unique bond—at times loving, at times filled with friction—and often Magda is bewildered by Emerenc’s strange mannerisms (landing up in their bedroom unannounced, banging away till late night, etc). It is only when she learns about Emerenc’s turbulent past does Magda begin to become emotionally attached to her. Emerenc, on the other hand, who all along has fiercely guarded her privacy, finally allows Magda in beyond ‘the door’ and trusts her with her most precious secret. An adaptation of a partly autobiographical novel by the late Magda Szabo, one of Hungary’s most respected writers whose work was often banned, this is an elegant piece of filmmaking. Director: Istvan Szabo; Genre: Drama

While each of the films is directed by a different director with its own star cast and storyline, they all seamlessly fit into the trilogy that’s based on David Peace’s books and are inspired by real events related to the Yorkshire Ripper murders. Set in different time periods, the first 1974 concerns the sudden disappearance and violent deaths of young girls and one journalist’s attempt to get to the core of the deadly truth. The next 1980 sees another series of horrific murders and an outside operative is sent in to investigate the crimes. The last 1983 finds a solicitor and top cop who against their better judgement go in search of the real evil. Each film tries to highlight the sickening levels of corruption in the society, where no one really wants the truth to be revealed. The police are in fact the biggest impediment, obstructing justice rather than seeing it through, with their philosophy in that part of Northern England being: ‘This is the North, where we do what we want.’ A haunting, brutal, riveting watch! Directors: Julian Jarrold, James Marsh, Anand Tucker; Genre: Crime thriller Text: Farhad J Dadyburjor

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Hi! REVIEWS TV

House Of Cards (Season 1) / Starring Kevin Spacey

Sherlock Holmes (Season 2) / Starring Benedict Cumberbatch

This is a show where the politics are dirty, everyone’s personal lives messy and career moves beset with intrigue and backstabbing. Sounds perfect? Then House Of Cards is right up your alley!

It is a season where the writers challenge your power of deduction. Younger and sans the deerstalker, Sherlock Holmes is gripping enough to have you glued to the screen for an hour-and-a-half per episode.

This US political drama directed by David Fincher follows the life of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a powerful congressman playing a modern day game of chess. Spacey does an excellent job of exuding all the oily slickness of a smooth southern politician, someone who smacks of the charisma and cunning necessary to hold a position of power on Capitol Hill—and no doubt he is the star of the show. Robin Wright plays Claire, his steely wife who conspires with him when he’s denied the job of Secretary of State, and you know pretty much from the start that she’s the one who wears the pants at home. Into this mix comes a young investigative blogger Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), with her kohl eyes and cleavage-baring T-shirt proving to be a puppet for Frank, and along with an affair he also begins an exchange of confidential information with her. Filled with plenty of blackmail, manipulation and backdoor politics, there’s no one who’s not without a dual personality on this show. Everyone is playing everyone else and as with any game, there are several casualties! Creator: Beau Willimon; Genre: Political drama

With just three episodes per season, this is one of the better adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary stories—a modern day twist to the age-old tale of Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr Watson (Martin Freeman). The second season begins with A Scandal In Bohemia and the introduction of Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), an intelligent, ruthless dominatrix, with a smartphone filled with compromising photographs of royalty and men and women of power. Mixed into this game of sexual politics is a terrorist attack, a plane full of dead people and, of course, Jim Moriaty (Andrew Scott). The Hound Of The Baskervilles follows the tale of a man whose father was ripped by a gigantic hound 20 years earlier. The series concludes with The Reichenbach Fall, one of the mostdiscussed episodes, which sees Moriaty spinning a dangerous web of crimes for Sherlock to solve. His final piece of the puzzle: disgracing Sherlock and having him commit suicide. Witty and riveting, with a mindboggling twist at the end, this season is anything but ‘Elementary, my dear Watson’. Creators: Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss; Genre: Crime drama; Text: Farhad J Dadyburjor, Desiree de Andrade

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