Delhi has been through a hectic social week. A bunch of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and non-official after parties along with the FDCI Fashion Week and its bacchanalia, all coincided. The party of the first Indian Premier League match in Delhi was a ‘happening’ one in Delhi’s language. For a change the owner of the Mumbai team Nita Ambani and her two children were present. The Ambani children have been kept out of the media glare till now. This was actually a fun evening with the country’s top models walking on the ramp in Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna’s outfits. Of course in all IPL after match parties you have almost the same crowd of Lalit Modi, Rajiv Shukla and the relevant cricketers and team groupies who dance till the wee hours of the morning and then amazingly are again ready for the next match, next party, next city.
The much awaited fashion week of the FDCI was however a dampener. Obviously the FDCI’s carelessness led to commotion and frustration for many top designers. They could not get their fire license in time thus leading to the first day’s shows getting cancelled en-masse. So, Ritu Beri for example, could not get Sushmita Sen as her show stopper the next day because alas Sushmita was already booked for the next programme.
Actually the fashion weeks are now quite a public flop. In this fashion week one neither saw celebrities or major buyers. The designers were not, privately, happy with arrangements at all. But here once again the after party of some designers were quiet a hit. Free booze and free khana is after all, always welcome in Dilli.
*********************************************************************************
Drawing room Delhites are busy trying to keep tabs on the Common Wealth Games. This is a favourite pastime in Delhi circles today. Suresh Kalmadi’s apt reply on who’s going to be the face of the Common Wealth Games was well taken by some. It has to be a sportsperson and a young face and not a repeat of old Amitabh Bachchan of the Asian Games he indicated. It is as if the love-hate relationship that Amitabh and the Congress have is being carried on. And it cannot be that Amar Singh can remain out of it all. Delhites still cannot after many many years fathom - What is Amar Singh all about?
The Bachchans’ have a history of being in the way of Gandhi family controversy. It began when the Bofors case came up. Now Jaya Bachchan has for once not sided with her ‘dear brother’ Amar Singh. But obviously she is still busy humoring Mulayam Singh Yadav. Her Rajya Sabha seat is about to expire and she represents the Samajwadi party. The Bachchans’ also realize that there is no other political party that can accommodate Jaya Bachchan in the Rajya Sabha. The famous trio Amitabh, Anil and Amar which were known as Amar, Akbar, Anthony in Delhi circles seems to be in troubled waters now. So many people are now watching the Amar, Akbar, Anthony trio relationship closely as to see what the future holds for them and where they land.
****************************************************************************
As the Congress gears up in Uttar Pradesh to take on Mayawati, Rahul Gandhi has his own agenda very clear. As he is already now known for his hardwork and honest opinions, he is working overtime to take in as much as he can, whether it is meeting editors over a quiet meal or spending time with renowned religious scholars. He frequently visits Dr. Karan Singh who is a master of literature, music, art and culture. The ICCR Chief, Dr. Karan Singh has authored books on Hinduism too. Rahul is frequently seen with dedicated NGO heads at the South Indian eatery Sagar Ratna regularly. He walks into conferences to hear speakers who interest him frequently without any fanfare. He recently swept Black Swan author Nassim Taleb away for a quiet lunch. All very quietly.
So, when Rahul is not campaigning across the country he is busy grasping all that he can by meeting people, right from scientists to thinkers and industrialists. He has a limited circle of friends where he might spend a quiet evening at home with them; otherwise this young man spends his time meeting Congress men from across the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment