Royal Brunch with the Peacocks (and a Tigress!)

Amrit Maghera and Anupama Verma

Nethra Raghunathan

Narayani Shastri, Rahul Aggarwal and Riyaaz Amlani

Raman Lamba

Bunty Grewal and Zulfi Sayed

Rashmi Nigam

Shravan Chhabria and Jimmy Felix

Minisha Lamba and Mr. Dilawar Nensey

So Sunday was brunch day. Apart from Del Italia’s first anniversary (pictures coming soon) the launch of the Imperial Palace, the new 5-star property which promises a 17th century experience of royalty happened over brunch hosted by Mr. Amir Nensey, Chairman, Royal Palms India Pvt Ltd along with Muhamed Nensey, Managing Director and Dilawar Nensey, Jt. Managing Director.

The hotel was inaugurated by guest of honor, Shri Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra along Shri Gurudas Kamat, Minister of Communication & IT.

Spotted: Minisha Lamba, Raman Lamba, Kelly Dorjee, Chetan Bhagat & wife, Pradeep Hirani, Shane & Falguni Peacock, Matan Schabracq,  Sharad Kapoor, Hanif Hilal, Ashmit Patel, Riyaaz Amlani (how’d he manage to be at both?!), Vanadana Sajnani & Rajesh Kakkad, Mouni Roy, Zulfi Sayed, Nethra Raghunathan, Natasha Suri, Ashok Salian, Suved Lohia, Tulip Joshi, Rashmi Nigam, Narayani Shastri, Rahul Aggarwal, Ritik Bhasin, Shweta Salve, Shabir Ahluwalia, Kanchi Kaul, Nihar Pandya, Kashmira Irani, Megha Kawale, Niketan Madhok, Sunny Sara, Amreet Maghera, Anupama Verma, Bunty Grewal, Harrison, Sucheta Sharma, Muzzamil Ibrahim, Shravan Chhabria and Jimmy Felix.

Shane & Falguni Peacock

On a side note I have always wondered how Shane @ Falguni Peacock got their slightly OTT last name. (Come on it must have crossed your mind too right?) HHC ladies would you know? I mean how many “Peacocks” do you know personally? They even have a swanky website dedicated to high luxury prêt called Peacock Couture. Meanwhile a bird of a different feather is evidently out and about again. Anupama Verma broke out the animal print for the occassion, remiscent of Indian royalty engaged in their favorite pastime of Tiger hunting. I wonder if she’s trying to snag herself a prince! I’m still pretty impressed by her flawless performance on Big Boss, and apparently so was the unsuspecting Aryan Vaid!

Because… this rocks.

Nritarutya

Haseena Jethmalani

Mona Singh and Rakshandha Khan

Hemant Trevedi and Radhike Khanna with the children

On Friday evening at NCPA, Mumbai S.P.J. Sadhana School Celebrated 35 years of successfully bringing life and joy to the lives of some very special children. Students of the Visual Arts & Crafts Department in the fourth year of their course, showcased the extraordinary skills of the mentally challenged and painstaking dedication to creating a visual extravaganza designed and conceptualized by fashion guru Hemant Trevedi and the Sheetal Design Studio. (Hemant has been associated with the school for more than a decade and has orchestrated two successful fashion events, “The Awakening” (1999) and “I M Possible” (2004) for the school.)

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it and I’m struggling to find the right words to express what an absolutely brilliant experience this was.

The evening showcased 8 thematic sequences on the ramp and an exquisite performance by the unique dance troupe Nritarutya.  In addition Aruna Raje, a critically acclaimed film maker showcased her stirring film on the lives of these students as they put their hearts and souls into the project aptly titled “Because … I am.”

Dr. Radhike Khanna, the charming and unassuming Vice Principal of S.P.J. Sadhana School, spent the evening in the front row cheering and clapping for all her students who immediately flung her a flying kisses full of unadultrated love. At this point Juhi Chawla burst into tears and I know exactly how she felt.

Juhi Chawla

Models like Deepti Gujral, Parvathy Omnakuttan, Mashoom and Shamita Singha, Candice Pinto, Kavita Karayat, Sucheta Sharma, Mridula Chanrashekar and Amit Gauhar sashayed in the stylish emslebles with  with hand painted florals, hand made jewellery in clay and beads along with the students who worked on the project.  The host Rakshandha Khan was her enegmatic self and enjoyed a little play-fighting with the show stopper Mona Singh.

Others who lent their support to this wonderful cause included Shobha De, Kunal Kohli, Haseena Jethmalani, Reema Jain, artist Brinda Miller, actress Madhu, Pankaj Udhas with wife & daughter, Anup Jalota, Queenie Dhody, Anita Dhongre, Sangeetha Kathiawad, Chhaya Momaya, Hemu & Naz Jhaveri, Bijal Meswani, Kedar Gawde of Celebrity and Manini De.

Dr. Radhike Khanna put it so well when she said, “Art is the finest way of doing anything.  Education that focuses on challenging the creative mental processes of an individual, results in the transformation of the human spirit. We are very happy and excited that our children have got this opportunity to display their unique talent. We were very thrilled with Hemant being such an integral part of our event “Because …. I am” which recognizes that our students are alive individuals with their own identity, complete and unique personalities.”

The students used the skills and techniques they’ve learnt in their course like brush strokes, stenciling, spray painting, paper quilling, beadwork, embroidery and silk painting to create high quality fashion wear. As witnessed in the film the concentration and focus with which they work helped them overcome their disabilities to become the young, talented and fresh designers of the Visual Arts Ramp.

Gemini Tee

I especially loved the pieces evoking imagary from aincient civilizations like Mohinjodaro and the very trendy zodiac inspired baby tees.

Now here’s where you come in the collection with be available for sale at both SDS Design Studio and SPJ Sadhana and the proceeds will go to the school.
The clothes are exquisit and children are so worth it.