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A Times of indiA PublicATion

indiA

Vol 9 issue 9

decembeR 2015

150

INTRODUCING
THE

Debutants

Zamir Abdullah

Nirvaan Birla

Shloka Birla

Padmanabh Singh
of Jaipur

Yashasvini
Jindal

InsIde Hello!

COVER imagE: aSHiSH CHaWLa, baCkdROp imagE: CORbiS, WaRdRObE COuRtESy - yaSHaSVini JindaL:
gauRaV gupta and JEWELLERy by diaCOLOR, padmanabH SingH Of JaipuR: RagHaVEndRa RatHORE,
ZamiR abduLLaH: ROHit baL, SHLOka biRLa: faLguni & SHanE pEaCOCk

COVER STORY

38

DEBUTANTS

BOLD, BEAUTIFUL AND


BLUE-BLOODED!

INDIA IS KNOWN TO BE A YOUNG NATION, BRIMMING WITH UNCONTESTED


POTENTIAL. HELLO! TURNS THE SPOTLIGHT ON A GENERATION OF BRIGHT
YOUNG THINGS SOME FROM ROYAL BACKGROUNDS, OTHERS FROM
RENOWNED FAMILIES. FROM THE TEENAGE MAHARAJA PADMANABH OF
JAIPUR, TO THE NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SCIONS OF THE JINDALS, ABDULLAHS,
BIRLAS, SCINDIAS, JETHMALANIS AND JAIKISHANS... PRESENTING THE FUTURE
OF INDIA, THROUGH THEIR VOICES

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2 HELLO! december 2015

10

10 MATILDE BORROMEO Sister to


Beatrice Borromeo, (who recently married into
the royal family of Monaco) the young Matilde
shows us around her home in the family palace
in Milan
18 EVE-O-LUTION One of the most talked
about events of the winter calendar, HELLO!
captured elegant portraits of nine women of
stellar backgrounds who walked the ramp in
ensembles by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla in
support of the Breakthrough Mission Hazaar
fashion extravaganza. Here, they look at female
evolution in their personal contexts
26 TOP TEN NEWSMAKERS From our
energetic PM Narendra Modis multitudinous
foreign jaunts, to the recent terror attacks on
Paris and Malli, to the Great Indian Beef Ban...
HELLO! reviews the year that was
30 SONALI BENDRE BEHL The actress,
TV personality and now, author, waxes
eloquently about her journey as a mother in her
debut publication, The Modern Gurukool, My
Experiments with Parenthood
35 A LITTLE PRINCE ARRIVES! Yuvraj
Shivraj and his lovely wife, Gayatri Raje, just
celebrated the birth of their son. HELLO!
presents an exclusive peek
74 ZEENIA AND ADITI SINGH HELLO!
meets Zeenia, designer and wife of Ranbaxy
scion Vikramjit Singh and her muse, Aditi, wife of
Fortis healthcare Co-Founder, Shivinder Singh.
The sisters-in-law also double up as each others
friends and aesthetic soulmates

18
30

80 JESSICA SIMON The scion of the fashion


label, Monsoon, is joined by her sister and son
in order to welcome HELLO! into her stunning
home in Ibiza
86 HAUTE TO TROT Girls about town,
Mehryn Zafar, Natasha Kamal and Noor
Mahmood, are Lahores hautest new designers
on the block. They share their style diaries
with HELLO!
93 WRITERS BLOC The recent Tata
Literature Live! festival had moments of revelation
and timely discussions. Sangeeta Wadhwani
presents highlights

CHECK OUT THE


HELLO! E-MAG
Visit

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worldwide-media/hello!/celebrity
HELLO! december 2015 3

InsIde Hello!
74

80
94 HELLO! FASHION HELLO! visits globally
acclaimed Indian designer, Bibhu Mohapatra
for a rapidfire tte--tte on everything Bibhu.
Also, HELLO! decodes the hautest style trends
of the season and more...
102 HELLO! BEAUTY HELLO! spotlights the
hautest beauty trends of the season and more...

86

112 SPARKLERS & MORE In keeping with


the festive spirit, Nirav Modi hosts a special
lunch get-together for the capitals
swishest ladies
114 BAUBLE TRENDS Acclaimed jewellers
from across the nation decode the hottest
jewellery trends of the season
118 CRACKER OF A FESTIVE FEAST
Famed Chef, Gordon Ramsay, whips up a festive
feast filled with Christmas cheer
128 THE KASHMIR POLO CUP A bright
spark on the capitals social calendar, the
Kashmir Polo Cup saw the whos who assemble
as guests of hosts Vikramaditya Singh and his
wife, Chitrangada Raje
REGULARS
36 INSIDE STORY
134 HOROSCOPE
135 DRINKS WITH
CHRISTIANO RONALDO
LIFESTYLE
126 LUXE NEWS

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4 HELLO! december 2015

Letters to the editor letterstohello@gmail.com


her Diwali Dreamscape.
Anju Khetarpal, Ghaziabad

Hello! Nuptials

Wedding of the year


2

3
5

A TALE OF CROSS-CONTINENTAL LOVE REACHED ITS ZENITH OVER GLITTERING


CELEBRATIONS AS TANYA MADHVANI (SCION OF THE MADHVANI GROUP OF COMPANIES)
WED MARCO CILIA, A GLOBAL BUSINESSMAN AND HOTELIER
1) Tanya Madhvani Cilia and her sister, Natasha Madhvani Khan, share a tender moment in the suite of the Connaught Hotel, Mayfair, London 2)
Marcos shoes are bespoke by Arthurs Sleepers, London and are embossed with the wedding logo 3) Tanyas magnificent wedding band is a pearshaped six carat diamond set in a halo design 4) Marco Cilia is captured in an ungaurded moment at the private family residence on Green Street,
Mayfair, London. Marco is the global hotelier behind some of the most successful lifestyle hotels in London and New York and will soon be launching
his own hotel chain in Italy. He wears a tuxedo by Dolce & Gabbana and shirt by Tom Ford 5) Tanya Madhvani Cilia arrives at One Mayfair, London
170 HELLO! NOVEMBER 2015

24/10/15 7:42 PM

LA DOLCE VITA!

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A TIMES Of INDIA PUBLIcATION

INDIA l VOL 9 ISSUE 8 l NOVEMBER 2015 l 150

tHe
KAPOORS
Anil, sonam and Rhea

HELLO!
NOVEMBER
2015
winner for the
best letter:
Captain Oscar
Louis, Mumbai

Incredible! Your November issue was


definitely the bomb! The festive spirit
was ushered in spectacularly and was
exemplified by a memorable family
portrait of the Kapoors at their opulent
best. Their bond was very evident and
it really touched a chord. Anil must be
really proud of his two daughters, who
have been brought up with the right
values, culture and tradition. From the
tantalising cover to the most explosive
content, you had me salivating for
more! HELLO! redefines luxury in more
ways than one; nothing is off limits. Being
an art aficionado myself, I was delighted
to get a ringside view of the Pundole
art auction preview soire (Indian Art
In London). Truly an eclectic collection.
Thank you for the outstanding coverage
of the two biggest wedding events of
the year (the Monaco and Madhvani
wedding), they were truly exemplary.
HELLO! has metamorphosed over the
years. It has become more dynamic and
fluid, adapting all the time... a veritable
chameleon, what with the introduction
of new sections such as beauty and
the many gift guides. Well done,
HELLO! This issue definitely took it to
another level.
Captain Oscar Louis, Mumbai

DIWALI DHAMAKA

celebRAting WitH

Turn to our
Contents page
for details

One of the reasons HELLO! continues


to be my favourite magazine is because
you entrance your readers and take
them to a different world a magical
one thats filled with glitter and gold.
While no celebritys life is private
anymore, what with 24x7 access to
the internet, HELLO! covers events in
great depth and with a warmth that is
not seen elsewhere, case in point, the
Monaco Nuptials. You truly care about
the people you feature and that shines
through more than you realise. Thank
you for being kind and highlighting only
the good things in people, rather than
viciously cutting them down as seen
everywhere else. You provide a feel good
factor to your many readers and I hope
that never changes!
Malti Bhatia, Mumbai

HELLO! NOVEMBER 2015 171

058-060-HE103 TANYA MADHVANI_kaushik R1.indd 170-171

HE103 COVER Final.indd 1

TANTALISING TALES

24/10/15 5:14 PM

The three vivacious Kapoors on your


cover set up the ambience of Diwalis
ethos perfectly. Though I love my kitchen
and cuisine very much, Casa Fabulosity
gave me a glimpse into the dining style of
the most sought-after people of society,
which added quite a bit of taste to the
season. Fiesty, Festive, Fun! brought me
an inch closer to the people who I could
only dream of meeting. Their sharing
of special memories felt like I was part

of their families. But the perfect Diwali


blast was hands-down created by Anil,
Sonam and Rhea. The trio, through
their elegance proved that just affluence
is not enough; one should be able to
carry it gracefully. Since no Diwali pooja
is complete without beautiful company,
Akanksha Aggarwal completed that too
by inviting some of the loveliest ladies to

PICTURE PERFECT

The cover of HELLO!s November


edition was picture perfect! Diwali is
such a uniting yet intimate time of year,
one that is spent with those closest to
you, while also spreading love and good
cheer to the community as a whole. The
Kapoor clan was an apt choice to lead
the festivities. They come across as a
close-knit and humble family and looked
so genuinely happy while decorating
your glossy pages. With its themed issues,
HELLO! always sends out such positive
vibes and energy, really engaging with its
readers. You respect Indian culture and
are happy to shout it from the rooftops
or rather, from magazine stands. You
unify people this way, bringing them
together in a traditional and festive
celebration of all we have to be thankful
for. May the new year be exciting and
blissful for HELLO!
Jayanti K, Delhi

FESTIVE FEVER

Nuit dissey Parfum by issey


Miyake is a classic mens fragrance
that is intense, crisp and magnetic
for the best letter to the editor in
the next issue!

To win a perfume,
send in your letter to
letterstohello@gmail.com or mail
us at The editor,
HeLLO!, WWM, 4 floor,
Times of India building,
dr dN Road, Mumbai 400 001
th

Bright, colourful, festive. That was what


you gave your readers a whole lot of
sparkle! I loved the features titled, Diwali
Dreamscape, Casa Fabulosity and Fun, Feisty,
Festive!. It was such an accurate essence of
the festival that brings so many together.
The celebrations didnt stop there the
Monaco and Madhvani weddings, along
with Khushi Singhs bridal diary, added
to the fun, as did the pretty Diwali Gift
Guide. HELLO! really went all out this
time and each page was like a bright
firework. What sealed it all together and
what seemed like a natural fit, were the
stars on your cover. Anil, Sonam and
Rhea Kapoor all looked great in their
festive gear. Though that much-awaited
festive week has now come to an end,
the spirit and celebrations live on in
your pages.
Madhavi Merchant, Mumbai
HELLO! deceMBeR 2015 5

Editors NotE

These scions/inheritors
from some of the
countrys top families
will be soon graduating
with fancy degrees and
springing out, carrying
forward the legacy of
their families

Ruchika Mehta
Editor

ust when I got down to penning this note, I did not realise this
would be the year-ender sign off. This year has literally flown by;
probably keeping pace with our dear Prime Minister, Narendra
Modis, non-stop foreign trips. The year 2015 has been eventful
not just for India, but the world. The various political developments
and upheavals in our country have thrown up new equations. We
are happy to learn the voter is using his mind and NOT crumbling
under vested influences. Indians abroad have done us proud. A
standing ovation to Sundar Pichai to head one of the most powerful
software giants in the world. Our brain drain is Googles big Brain
Gain. We also saw the rise and fall of many business leaders who
rule the corporate world. The unprecedented rise of the ISIS
has been alarming and extremely disturbing. At a time when the
world was just about getting rid of terrorism by almost eliminating
al-Qaeda, a new demon has emerged to pull us back into the dark ages
of brutality and violence. The recent Paris attacks are a testimony to
this. As we surge ahead in life with everything digitalised, we need
to bridge this contrast between the 12th century and 21st century
conundrum we have been thrust into.
Amidst many more happenings around the globe, and trying to
put behind all the not-so-pleasant things, HELLO! welcomes and
introduces a fresh breed of new kids on the block in our cover story
on Debutants. These scions/inheritors from some of the countrys
top families will be soon graduating with fancy degrees and springing
out, carrying forward the legacy of their families. Their voices
touch upon several issues and occupations close to their hearts and
from what we see, this is a generation that understands the global
village, its mounting needs and challenges. They are aware of
their privileged positions and their potential to bring about positive
changes, to build on existing visions of India.
Once again, HELLO! takes the first bold step to introduce them to
our readers and to the world at large.

COnTribuTOrs

AsHisH CHAWLA
Noted lensman, Ashish Chawlas
acclaimed repertoire ranges from
fashion and beauty to travel and
portraits. For HELLO!s final cover
of 2015, Ashish captures bright
young debutants of illustrious
Indian families Zamir Abdullah,
Padmanabh Singh and Yashasvini
Jindal in a rich tableau of youth
and beauty.

We also have some very rich features still reveling in the festive spirit.
In an exclusive, Aditi Singh, wife of Shivinder Singh of Ranbaxy
and Fortis Hospitals, who just renounced the world to seek solace
at his gurus feet in Beas, speaks to us about what life can be after
they step out of the gilded doors. She plays a beautiful muse to her
sister-in-law and friend, Zeenia Singh. We also take you through
some arresting portraits from the Breakthrough Mission Hazaar
fund-raiser for gender equality, where a host of society moms and
daughters speak on female evolution and support the cause by
investing in gorgeous ensembles by Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla.
As this year draws to a close, let us bow our heads in silence and
think about all those innocents who lost their lives to some mindless
reckless fanaticism and pledge ourselves to working towards a more
sane milieu, for our generations to come. Wishing you all a very
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you next year!

Popularly known as Pacho, Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur is seen striking a


pose at HELLO!s exclusive shoot
6 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

AbHisHEK KHAnDELWAL
Faces and places fascinate ace
photographer, Abhishek Khandelwal,
who credits people and travelling
as his inspirations for setting off
on his path as a photographer. For
HELLO! this month, Abhishek
captures the charming designermuse duo Zeenia and Aditi Singh
of the renowned house of Ranbaxy.
HELLO! offers me a great platform
on which to explore new places and
to connect with people.

Editors LoungE

The Editors choice for the best of the month in people, products, parties, places, fashion and style

LIGHT UP
YOUR LIFE
While Diwali may be over,
Swarovski is still lighting
up lives with a stunning
installation in Mumbai.
Inspired by lanterns, this
alluring installation has
been conceptualised by
leading artist-designer and
scenographer, Sumant
Jayakrishnan. The multitiered 3D abstraction
is representative of the
quintessential 1,000 petalled
Indian Lotus Mandala. The
lower tip of the Lantern
installation and upper tip
of the lotus floor standing
installation are perfectly
aligned with a small gap
in between to create the
dynamic of the future
unknown. This installation
has been specially crafted to
complement the art and deco
at The Palladium, Mumbai,
while also redefining the
finesse and uniqueness of
crystals from Swarovski. So
try and make time for a look
at this for sure!

KATY PERRY
HIGHEST PAID
Although Taylor Swift has been
hitting the headlines for being
the worlds highest-earning celebrity
couple along with Calvin Harris
and topping Maxims Hot 100 list of
2015, it is Katy Perry who is playing
music at the top slot of Forbess 2015
list of the highest earning women in
the music industry. The Celebrity
100 cover star is 2015s highestpaid woman in music, thanks to her
Prismatic World Tour as well as
deals with Coty, Claires and Cover
Girl. Perry has garnered US$135
million this year and grossed more
than US$2 million per city over the
course of 126 shows. Singing her

CELEBRITY PATRONS

NAOMI ENDORSES
LINGERIE LINE
Top model, Naomi Campbell, has
partnered with Italian company,
Yamamay, to launch a limitededition lingerie collection for
the holidays, titled I am Naomi
Campbell. The range features
seven collections of bras, panties,
slips, camisoles, bodysuits and
robes. The colour palette boasts
of nocturnal hues like black and
purple and surprises with a sultry
red. And for those wondering
about how much cash youll have
to shell out for the I am Naomi
Campbell collection, Campbell
kept things fairly affordable with
prices ranging form US$32 for bras
and US$65 for a kimono-inspired
robe. The British supermodel also
appears in the brands advertising
campaign, shot by photographer
Mario Testino.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary,


the UKs Graduate Fashion Week
has commissioned two British
fashion icons to help raise the
profile of the event. Christopher
Bailey and Victoria Beckham
have been appointed as the first
patrons of the Graduate Fashion
Week. Burberry Chief Creative
and Chief Executive Officer and
the English businesswoman and
fashion designer, are delighted to
be a part of the worlds leading
event celebrating the creativity
of students and graduates
within fashion. In 1991, Bailey
had showcased his own work
for the first time at Graduate
Fashion Week. Bailey was also
the first winner of the prestigious

Graduate Fashion Week Gold


Award 20 years ago. Victoria also
believes that it is very important
to support and mentor young
people and GFW provides an
essential platform for the same.
She said she was delighted to
be joining Christopher Bailey,
working together on such a
worthwhile project. Since the
past 25 years, Graduate Fashion
Week has become one of the
most significant, international
events on the fashion calendar.
Additional alumni of the annual
event include Stella McCartney,
Antonio Berardi, Marchesa,
Julien MacDonald, Christopher
Raeburn, Agi and Sam and
Sophie Hulme.

way to the second position is 25-yearold Taylor Swift, with an estimated


earning of US$80 million. The Shake
It Off singers launch of her widely
successful pop album, 1989 in October
2014 helped to propel her to this slot.
The album has sold more than 3.6
million copies and with her 1989 Tour
grossing some US$4 million per city,
she is sure to capture the top position
in the coming year. The third highest
earning position in the music industry
is held by Fleetwood Mac, with an
annual earning of US$59.5 million.
While Lady Gaga ranks fourth with
US$59 million, Beyonc rounded out
the top five with US$54.5 million.

NEW YORKER DINER


After capturing the pulse of
Mumbais night life with his
popular joints Tryst and Exo
at the St. Regis, boy about town,
Rishi Acharya, is all set to woo
Breach Candy with his new
diner, Doppio Bar and Basserie.
Keeping it Boho chic, he has tried
to give it a New York Soho feel.
Spread across 2,500 square feet,
the 90-seater eatery will have a
vintage feel with a sizeable bar.
This all-day trendy diner will offer
European cuisine and probably
be a refreshing change for Breach
Candy, which currently doesnt
really have a good dining place. If
Rishis private soires are anything
to go by this place is going to be
the new home for SoBos elite.

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 7

spain UK aRGEnTina BULGaRia Canada CHiLE COLOMBia dOMiniCan REpUBLiC


dUBai ECUadOR GREECE india indOnEsia MaLaYsia MEXiCO MOROCCO paKisTan
pERU pUERTO RiCO RUssia sERBia THaiLand TURKEY VEnEZUELa
CEO

Deepak Lamba

Chief Community Officer & Editor

Ruchika Mehta

Executive Editor
Fashion Director
Assistant Editor
Fashion Features & Beauty Editor
Copy Editor
Photo Editor
Editorial Coordinator

Sangeeta Wadhwani
Avantikka Kilachand
Vishwaveer Singh
Farah Palia
Jeena J Billimoria
Kirthika Prasad
Anita Nair

Associate Editor
Fashion Editor
Special Correspondent
Editorial Trainee

(Delhi)
(Delhi)
(Delhi)
(Delhi)

Sanghita Singh
Amber Tikari
Neeva Jain
Radha Jetley

Senior Stylist
Junior Stylist

Sonam Poladia
Richa Mehta

SuBSCriPTiOnS
Generel Manager
Product Strategy
Priyadarshi Banerjee
subscriptions.wwm@wwm.co.in
Assistant General Manager
(rMD Magazines)
Suparna Sheth
suparna.sheth@timesgroup.com
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Jyoti Verma
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Art Director
Senior Graphic Designer

Suresh Bhandary
Dattatray Jadhav

WEST
Vice President
Armaity S. Amaria
armaity.amaria1@wwm.co.in

Brand Publisher
Senior Brand Manager

Anupama Bhalla
Jaymin Dalal

MUMBAI
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Salman Shaikh, salman.shaikh@wwm.co.in

Chief Financial Officer

S. Subramaniam

PUNE
Ekta Dang, ekta.dang@wwm.co.in

Publisher, Print &


Production Controller

Joji Varghese

AHMEDABAD
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nOrTh
Vice President
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Printed and published by Joji Varghese for and on behalf of Worldwide Media Private Limited,
The Times of India Building, Dr DN Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 and printed at Rajhans Enterprises,
134, 4th Main Road, Industrial Town, Rajajinagar, Bangalore 560 044.
Editor: Ruchika Mehta.
Hello! magazine and Hello! logo are the property of Hola, S.A.
Worldwide Media Private Limited is the exclusive authorised user under License
Agreement in India.
Hola, S.A. (1988)
Worldwide Media Private Limited (2007)
Registration number: MAHENG/2007/21672
Corporate Identification number: U22120MH2003PTC142239
All rights reserved. Republishing in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
This issue also contains editorial text originally published in Hello! magazine of Hello! Limited (Licensor)
and such editorial matter is being used by Worldwide Media Private Limited (Licensee) with the
permission of the Licensor.
HELLO! Indian Edition takes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ARE USED FOR
ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY
The national edition of HELLO! Indian Edition is not for sale outside India

8 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

NOIDA, DELHI
General Manager
Shikha Sinha Suri
shikha.suri@wwm.co.in
Pooja Sharma, pooja.sharma@wwm.co.in
Manoj Sharma, manoj.sharma@wwm.co.in
JAIPUR

Pushpesh Sood, pushpesh.sood@wwm.co.in


SOuTh
Assistant Vice President
Vikram Singh
vikram.singh@wwm.co.in
EAST
Assistant Vice President
Alka Kakar, alka.kakar@wwm.co.in
KOLKATA
Bijoy Choudhury, bijoy.choudhury@wwm.co.in

December calenDar

HEllo! SCanS UpCoMing EvEntS in inDia anD aBRoaD


Sunburn Festival

ART & CULTURE


JACQUELINE DE RIBES:
THE ART OF STYLE
WHERE: The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York
WHEN: Until 21
February, 2016
The Costume Institutes fall 2015
exhibition will focus on the
internationally renowned style
icon, Countess Jacqueline de
Ribes, whose originality and
elegance established her as one
of the most celebrated fashion
personas of the 20th century. The
thematic show will feature about
60 ensembles of haute couture
and ready-to-wear primarily from
de Ribess personal archive, dating
from 1959 to the present.

SHOES: PLEASURE
AND PAIN
WHERE: Regents
Park, London
WHEN: Until 28
February, 2016
The V&As blockbuster
exhibition is all about
shoes but not ballet
flats, cosy boots or
crocs. Shoes: Pleasure
and Pain, focuses on the
transformative power
of extreme footwear,
exploring the agony and
ecstasy that a shoe might
inspire. Over 200 pairs of
shoes, past and present,
have been gathered from
all over the world.

THEATRE
LA BOHME
WHERE: Opernhaus
Zrich, Switzerland
WHEN: 1-8
An opera in four acts, composed
by Giacomo Puccini to an
Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and
Giuseppe Giacosa, La Bohme
is based on Scnes de la vie
de bohme by Henri Murger.
This is Ole Anders Tandberg,
one of Scandinavias most
widely recognised directors,
first production for Zurich Opera
House. Giampaolo Bisanti will be
at the rostrum of the Philharmonia
Zurich and American highflier,
Michael Fabiano, will dbut in
Zurich as the lead, Rodolfo.
FILTER THEATRES
TWELFTH NIGHT
WHERE: High Street
Phoenix, Mumbai
WHEN: 17
High Street Phoenix will set
the stage for a Broadway-style

Anoushka Shankar

performance by international theatre


artists of Filter Theatres acclaimed,
Twelfth Night. Directed by
celebrated director, Sean Holmes
and re-directed by Oliver Dimsdale
and Ferdy Roberts, this adaptation
is a fast and furious reworking of
Shakespeares well-known work:
fresh, unconventional and interactive
with the feel of an intimate,
dishevelled rock gig.
MUSIC
ANOUSHKA SHANKAR
INDIA TOUR
WHERE: Mumbai, New Delhi,
Jaipur and Bengaluru
WHEN: 12-18
The sitar virtuoso and four-time
Grammy nominee, returns to India
this winter for a four-city tour of the
sub-continent, in support of her new
album, Home. After several stunning
non-classical albums, including
the Grammy-nominated recordings
Rise, Traveller and Traces Of You,
Anoushka returns to her solo roots,
paying homage to the teachings of
her late father, Shri Ravi Shankar.
SUNBURN FESTIVAL
WHERE: Goa, India
WHEN: 27-30
La Bohme

The electronic dance music (EDM)


festival is held across various
locations throughout the world with
the biggest event taking place just
after the Christmas celebrations
and just before the New Year in
Goa every year. The festival, which
is a combination of music, food,
shopping and entertainment, is
spread over three days and the
line-up of artists is hand-picked
and showcases some of the most
renowned DJs from around the
globe alongside local Indian talent.
SPORTS
DUBAI WORLD
SUPERSERIES FINALS
WHERE: Dubai
WHEN: 9-13
Held under the patronage of
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan
bin Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and Chairman of Dubai
Sports Council, the Dubai World
Superseries Finals returns to the
Hamdan Sports Complex, as the
worlds badminton heroes compete
for the most prestigious prize on the
BWF badminton calendar.
KRAMPUSNACHT
FESTIVAL
WHERE: Klagenfurt, Austria
WHEN: 5
Krampus, Saint Nicholass horned
mythical companion of Alpine
folklore, was said to punish
naughty children during the
Christmas season. The mysterious
Krampusnacht Festival is celebrated
on the eve of St. Nicholas Day
and sees people dressed as devils
and demons capering through the
streets in celebration of the holiday
season. This raucous party also has
a number of Christmas markets to
keep you entertained.
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 9

Hello! Homes

SISTER OF MONACO ROYAL bRIdE bEATRICE

MATILdE bORROMEO
SHOWS US AROUNd HER HOME IN THE FAMILY PALACE IN MILAN

eautiful,
chic,
dynamic
b
and determined, Matilde
Borromeo is very much the
modern muse as she poses for
our shoot at the family palace in
Milan, stunning in Giambattista
Valli couture.
A keen horsewoman, talented
at sport and as much at home in
the country as she is in town, the

10 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

mother of two divides her time


between her parents estate and
her husband, Prince Antonius von
Frstenbergs city base.
The couples apartment in the
palazzo is airy and painted in
pastel shades, with scenes from
nature sketched on some walls,
giving a fresh but sophisticated
feel. And, after showing us

around, Matilde whose sister


Beatrice recently married into
Monacos royal family sits down
to explain how she created this
beautiful family home and how
shes bringing up the couples
two sons, Karl-Egon, four, and
Alexander, three.
Does daily life still revolve
around the children?

Living inside the family


palace means its easy to
catch up with relatives
based in other cities,
because when theyre in
town, theyre all under
one roof

Behind the plain faade of the


palazzo in Milan (left) hides a
charming apartment, home to
Countess Matilde whose halfsister, Beatrice Borromeo, married
Monegasque royal Pierre Casiraghi
in the summer and her husband
Prince Antonius von Frstenberg
with their young sons, Karl-Egon
and Alexander
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 11

Hello! Homes
both my husband and I like a
style thats classic in essence but
bold enough to include a modern
touch we love colour and
contemporary art, textiles
and antiques

Last month, the boys started


at pre-school, so our routine is
a mixture of relaxed and fastpaced. It feels incredible that
theyre now busy for half the
day. In the morning, the house
is very quiet, something weve
missed over the last few years;
come afternoon, its full of shouts
of happiness and games, mixed
in with the odd argument and
a touch of rebelliousness a
reminder that being strong and
independent runs in the family.
So you have a bit more
time for your job and your
horses now?
Quite often during the week I
get out of the city to check on our
12 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

cattle at the estate, but also on the


horses my great passion. Having
had two sons, I jokingly call the
fillies my daughters, as theyre all
girls. Theyre growing quickly,
too: the eldest is now eight.
My mares can all jump
heights of 1.4 metres. I get a lot
of compliments from equestrian
and farming people, which is
really satisfying.
So this house is part of the
Borromeo ancestral home?
Thats right, were inside the
family palace. That means its
easy to catch up with relatives
who live in other cities, because
when theyre in Milan, theyre all
under one roof.

Thankfully, the building work


in the square in front is finally
finished and my children can
chase each other in and out of
the house as if they were in the
country. And thats great because,
as theyre at school here, they can
only get to the Costarossa estate
with me at weekends.
What decorative feel did you
want to give your home?
It reflects the style that both
my husband and I like: classic
in essence but bold enough to
include a modern touch. We love
colour and contemporary art; we
also love textiles and antiques.
Interior designer, Flavia de
Giorgi, recommended the marble

floor. Until now, the kind of stone


we chose had never been worked
in the way that we wanted. The
brushed effect, which highlights
the veins in the marble created
by millions of years of layering,
is incredible.
Youve paid a lot of attention
to detail: the floors, wall
colours, ceilings
(Interior designer) Orsola Clerici
did an exquisite job with the
walls. We studied the colours, and
especially the motifs, together.
I love a fresh dcor, a feeling of
freedom, hence the ceiling in my
bathroom sketched with grass and
the odd insect fluttering around. I
also love the oak in the childrens

In the mornings, with


the boys at school, the
house is very quiet.
Come afternoon,
its full of shouts of
happiness and games,
mixed in with
the odd argument!

A couple of rocking
sheep can be found at
one end of the living
room while splashes of
purple (left) add colour
to the otherwise neutral
tones. Were generous
parents, says Matilde,
with toys in each room
for the boys to enjoy

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 13

Hello! Homes

The TV room (top) features


Art Deco chairs and a
cuddly seal. Family meals or
more boisterous play (above)
take place in the dining room
(left) though Matilde makes
sure her boys eat, play and
sleep to a strict schedule.
It seems to work: They are
always happy and full of
energy, she says
14 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

room and the arches of sky in


the landing near the bedrooms.
The pale colours in the dining
room are also Orsolas work. I
asked for a more nuanced look,
to give a feeling of depth and
I wanted the blue to evoke the
tiles you find in a fountain. And
everything turned out perfectly.

We need to be firm with the children: with


just 14 months between them, theyre
very lively boys, competing to win battles
dreamt up every five minutes!

My guests think there really


was a fountain in the original
house that was uncovered during
restoration work.
Tell us about some of
your paintings
The one in the dining room is by
a very talented young Italian artist
called Pietro Ruffo. It was our first

buy and we adore it. Weve made


it work in three houses before this
one but therell be no more
moving now!
For the entrance hall, we
were also lucky and have a piece
by Sofia Cacciapaglia My
husband commissioned Embrace,
where you can see our faces gently

touching, welcoming guests and


family into our home.
How is married life going?
Antonius and I try to be very
hands-on parents. Were lucky
because we can manage our
schedules to allow lots of time
with the children. We need to be
firm though, because with just 14

months between them, theyre


very lively boys who compete to
win battles dreamt up every
five minutes.
Were generous parents, too,
though, with toys in each room
for them to enjoy. We make
sure we keep to timetables for
playing, eating and sleeping;
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 15

Hello! Homes

The bedspread in the main bedroom is by Fortuny (above), while the bathroom, which features a standalone bath, is
flooded with natural light (below). Interior designer Orsola Clerici helped Matilde with the decor. She did an exquisite
job, says Matilde, adding, We studied the colours, and especially the motifs, together.

Im convinced that if you adhere


to schedules, the kids dont get
overly tired or hungry. Often
people say to me that Im more
German than my husband,
because Im not very flexible but,
I have to say, our children are
always happy and full of energy.
How do you and Antonius
organise things?
My husband makes sure I have
everything I need. I get a lot of
help on the domestic front and
with the children. Without that
it would be difficult to manage
our busy life, split between town
and country.
I like to take charge of
everything and do all the family
shopping. There are certain tasks
I dont like to delegate to anyone,
except, occasionally, to Antonius.
I enjoy seeing him indignant on
some occasions and honoured on
others for the confidence shown
in his domestic skills.
How do you dress for a life
between town and country?
People have two completely
16 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

People have two completely


different images of me. In
the city I love elegant looks.
In the country its combat
gear: jodhpurs, shirt
and boots
different images of me. In the
city, when Im not working, I
love being feminine again, with
elegant outfits, hats and bags.
In the country, its combat gear:
jodhpurs, shirt or T-shirt and
boots. I remember my younger
sister (Beatrice) never liked me
looking like that when we were
girls and I havent changed in
20 years.
I love the Giambattista Valli
clothes Im wearing for this
shoot. He is a friend of all my
sisters. I met him in Paris a few
years ago and was so impressed,
and these pieces fit well with the
style I like: modern, but with
classic details that, for me, make
them classy.
Even in my city guise,
though, you can spot a nod to
the country girl: slim trousers
worn with a shirt. Im lucky its a
fashionable look right now!
H

text & COORDINAtION:


NANA BOttAZZI
POSeD PHOtOS:
FeRNANDO LOMBARDI
HOUSe PHOtOS:
MAttIA BettINeLLI
HAIR & MAKe-UP:
PABLO ARDIZZONe
HOUSe StYLING: FABRIZIO COCCHI
CLOtHeS: GIAMBAttIStA
VALLI COUtURe; JeWeLLeRY:
CHANteCLeR; SHOeS: VALLI,
CAOVILLA, GIUSePPe ZANOttI
CHILDReNS CLOtHeS:
LA StUPeNDeRIA
CARPetS: PASHA VICeNZA

Despite being a busy mother of two,


Matilde still finds time for fashion. I
love the Giambattista Valli clothes Im
wearing for this shoot, she says. He
is a friend of all my sisters
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 17

Hello! Portraits

EVE-O-LUTION
THEy may HaIL frOm
gOLd-gILdEd UNIVErsEs,
bUT THE ETErNaL fEmaLE
qUEsT fOr LIbErTy aNd
sHarE-Of-VOIcE, ExIsTs
EVEN IN THEIr warm
fILIaL wOrLds. HELLO!
TaLks TO wOmEN Of
dIVErsE backgrOUNds
acrOss gENEraTIONs,
LOOkINg fOr THE
EVEOLUTIONary TraIL,
aT THE brEakTHrOUgHmIssION Hazaar fasHION
ExTraVagaNza, wITH
abU JaNI aNd saNdEEp
kHOsLas dazzLINg
crEaTIONs adOrNINg 40
pOwEr wOmEN
ver walked into a room filled with
E
40 women from Indias most
respected corporate families, getting

dressed for a cause? There is an electric


current that runs around the elegant
spaces annexing the Crystal Room
of The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai,
where the elegantsia are getting their
hair coaxed into sculptural perfection,
cheeks are being contoured, eyes
are getting highlighted, and smiles
are acquiring a rich, glossy sheen.
Tripping over make-up filled drawers,
the hum of hair driers, one is amused
to see the designer partners to this
spectacular fundraiser the alwaysenthused Abu Jani and Sandeep
Khosla gently announcing that a dry
run will be essential for a show of this
scale. The ladies did do a dry run in
the am, but there is a different cadence
perhaps that will occur once they are
in far weightier lehengas, sarees, gowns
and dresses, moving on lean, mean
stilettoes. From the outset, one senses
a super-successful endeavour and a
brilliant idea. Which woman would
not want to purchase an Abu Jani
Sandeep Khosla garment, knowing
part of her spends go to empower her
own gender? Which Indian woman
does not know the gentle surpression
of gender, in whichever rung of the
social hierarchy she has taken birth?
Over to their voices.

18 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

sUssaNNE kHaN
ussanne is the first to confess that the radical
s
streak in her can be traced to the wisdom of
her super-creative mum and a privileged journey

that allowed her to taste a new way of living as


a design student in Long Beach, California. I
have always marvelled at the grace and beauty
with which my mum balanced her life. My
attraction to the world of design felt inborn, as
at just age five or six, I would go with her for site
supervision on her interior design projects. On
these visits, she would ask me to help her make
choices from different colour palettes and almost
always, she would go along with my choices.
That gave me a lot of confidence; she made me
feel I was thinking in the right direction. Then,
as I started developing my own views, she never
imposed her ideas on me. All this made me
feel confident as a woman, an individual and
an entrepreneur.
Of course, while she admitted to HELLO!
that technical training was not so much a part
of her mothers world, today, if you arent
constantly updating your knowledge, you can
become redundant! I want to go and study some
more myself, sign up for new courses. I sincerely
believe you can never be too old to grow, change
and learn. Its so essential.

sImONE arOra
nurtured and brought up in a
Iwas
progressive and cosmopolitan home,

Sussanne Khan and sister, Simone Arora are


both aesthetes, reinventing spaces but each with
her unique style and worldview

where I was constantly exposed to beautiful


art and objects, fine living and extensive travel.
I came in contact with many interesting and
influential people very early in my life. My
parents are both artistically inclined and they
exposed me to a great number of things that
lead to my heightened sensibility and I believe,
were the major source of my design influence. I
was brought up to be an individual with a mind
of my own and to have ambitions and dreams,
without ever feeling differentiated because of
my gender.
Sussanne and I are different personalities and
our work is an expression of our individuality.
Sussanne is innovative and eclectic in her
dcor style. She combines the traditional with
the contemporary and creates cozy, warm
and lived in, yet opulent spaces. My style is a
nature-inspired, dcor look. It is contemporary,
soothing and tranquil in feel with a luxe appeal.
We are both fortunate to have been raised in a
liberal home that encouraged us to follow our
dreams, personal or professional.
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 19

Hello! Portraits

aLpaNa aNd
aLIka kIrLOskar
THEy say THE appLE
NEVEr faLLs far frOm
THE TrEE. THE ELUsIVE
kIrLOskar LadIEs
prOVE THIs TO bE
TrUE, as THEy rEfLEcT
ON THEIr mOTHErdaUgHTEr EqUaTION

20 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

he Kirloskars are a renowned family


T
hailing from Pune. While Alpana Kirloskar
was born and educated in Delhi, where she

Alika sits across from her mother, Alpana,


quite symbolically, like a mirror reflection. The
mother and daughter have similar interests
as lovers of the outdoors, and in the fields of
architecture and interiors

qualified at Delhis School of Planning and


Architecture, her daughter, Alika, is in many
ways following in her moms footsteps, with
perhaps greater global exposure. As Alika finds
her own feet in her chosen vocation, (very
harmoniously allied to her moms), we listen
in between the lines, as they touch upon the
difference between their generations.
ALPANA KIRLOSKAR I greatly appreciate
Alikas sensitivity, her creativity; she just
graduated from the School of the Arts Institute
of Chicago, specialising in interior architecture.
We can actually collaborate professionally now,
if we wish to! When I look at Alika, I feel she
is quite a tomboy just like I have been. She is
fond of sports, outdoor activities and swimming.
Both of us love the beach, we love Goa, we are
both scuba divers. That sporty outdoor spirit,
I think, has actually been imbibed from me,
and not so much her father! When I look back
on my lifes journey, I do feel my life choices
were kind of limited by gender. I was a good
student, but we were told by our parents that if
you score well, you have to either do medicine,
or engineering, or architecture. My father was
in the field of construction; when he heard I
wanted to do medicine, he said, no no, as a
doctor youll see blood and bodies and wont be
able to handle it! Do architecture! Back then,
we were obedient kids and I saw the wisdom
of choosing a profession more in sync with my
dads. However, then came marriage and once
again, one had to defer to the familys wish that
ideally, women shouldnt go out and work.
ALIKA KIRLOSKAR It was different for
me, because my parents said do whatever
you are interested in doing. So I had a lot
more options, but I was always interested in
architecture. It was either that, or something
creative, like graphic design. Having said
that, I definitely reflect my moms personality
and interests in many ways. Mom is an
architect and I am qualified in Interior
Architecture. The difference between us, is I
have more patience (laughs). I think I was all
over the place at first, but I have now found
my way. The qualities I most admire in my
mom? Her sense of humour, and creativity
as well. Shes a joy to be around.
ALPANA In totality, though I qualified in a
viable profession, even within it, I couldnt
reach my full potential because women have
always been compelled to put other priorities
first. Its also one reason we support all these
initiatives because we would like to empower a
girl child, let her grow to her fullest potential. I
feel women are actually more capable because
and I speak for myself too we can multitask.
ALIKA We definitely have more freedom
today than in moms day. But I still feel I had
fewer options than my brother did. I was looked
down upon a little bit. Not so much in the home
environment but definitely from the way one is
looked at, from the outside world! So though
things are looking easier, our generation has to
tackle the more subtle, unconscious limitations
we learn to impose on ourselves and perhaps
other women too.
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 21

Hello! Portraits

UrmILa kaNOrIa, saNgITa


JINdaL aNd aNUsHrEE JasaNI
a pOrTraIT Of a mOTHEr, daUgHTEr aNd daUgHTEr-IN-Law TO
bE, aNd THE cOmmON THrEads THaT UNITE THEIr JOUrNEys
URMILLA KANORIA
In a time women were vilified for having interests
beyond their domestic worlds, she established the
foundation stone for the Kanoria Centre for Arts,
Ahmedabad, in 1984, with artist MF Husain.
Urmilla, (mother of Sangita Jindal), envisioned
this as an incubation space for budding art talent,
framed
around the philosophy of Tagores
Shantiniketan, as a non-profit, self-funded art
institution. Situated amongst the foliage within
the KL Campus, KCA provides scholarships and
studio spaces to graduate artists from India and all
over the world and teaches art courses to over 300
children. Her connect to the cause of the evening
and work being done by Breakthrough, comes from
a lifetime of observing the odds stacked against the
girl child.
I think in India, we should have more
fundraisers like this. Even at my arts centre, I
tend to help girls more readily; they are from
underprivileged backgrounds anyway. At any
level, women have to work twice as hard as men
to find any success. As adults, they have to pander
to their partner, their kids, their in-laws and then
they get into their own work. And after all that, they
go home knowing fully well nobody will pamper
them, give them a cup of tea. Even if a woman
is successful, she may avoid showing it or talking
about it, as she knows the man of the house wants
to be in control, she explains. In her own way, she
has never been very vocal about her art centre,
preferring to keep it low profile so nobody will
create issues. The institution completed 30 years
in January of this year, with a beautiful panoramic
exhibition featuring renowned and nouveau artists
at Mumbais Jehangir Art Gallery. I feel now,
things are changing. Women have more freedom
and work with a sense of pride. Their husbands
also take pride in what they do.
SANGITA JINDAL
Sangita Jindal and her future daughter-in-law, the
realty heiress, Anushree Jasani, affirm that yes,
things have changed with the times, but the grand
matriarch, Urmilla Kanoria will always be an
inspiration. Shes very positive and a go-getter,
says Sangita about her mom. Even if times are
hard, she will be positive. Shes very young at heart.
In my growing years, as a family, we were always
interested in jewellery. My mother alone took us for
literary events, so her interests shaped our character

22 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

and our outlook. We do enjoy a lot of lighter, fun


things too like shopping together. Being around
her, I have learned that businesses grow, they fall,
but one must always enjoy life and be a peoples
person. If you step back and think you are superior,
you will only isolate yourself and be cut off from
the flow of life.
ANUSHREE JASANI
Anushree Jasani, who has known fianc Parth
Jindal since her years at Cathedral and John
Connon School and more especially through the
YPO, shares that she has an immense comfort level
with her future mom-in-law and grandmom-in-law.
A graduate from the London School of Economics
who has majored in Finance and Accounting, she
confesses, I have known the family for a long time,
but obviously after you get engaged its different,
its more formalised. I am very comfortable with
my future mom-in-law, (Sangita), we talk almost
everyday. I love the fact that she is so energetic,
always full of beans, much like her own mom. She
pushes herself, she works out, takes a keen interest
in her office and is also very family-oriented at the
same time. She finds a way to balance everything.
My grandmom-in-law, (Urmilla) is like a pillar of
strength and support to the whole family and I
think her bubbly, vivacious nature, always brings a
smile to everyones face.
SANGITA JINDAL ON BREAKTHROUGHS
EFFORTS ON CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
AND THE FEMALE GENDER

The girl child situation needs addressing in India.


Yes, there is a difference between my generation
and my daughters generation. Even though we
are privileged, most of us are not financially
independent. We defer to a big family structure.
But women of the younger generation are definitely
on their way to more independence and we hope it
happens through the rest of our country. Mallika
Dutt of Breakthrough is a childhood friend. Her
work has been stellar and I have always felt if I can
help, I will feel blessed. So I was happy to be on the
H
board of this fundraiser and contribute!
TEXT: SANGEETA WADHWANI
PHOTOS: RYAN MARTIS
STYLE DIRECTOR: AVANTIKKA KILACHAND
STYLING : SONAM POLADIA
WARDROBE COURTESY: ABU JANI SANDEEP KHOSLA
LOCATION COURTESY: JADE ROOM, TAJ MAHAL
PALACE, MUMBAI

Its all about creativity and self-belief, say these


three cross-generational voices - Urmila Kanoria,
daughter Sangita Jindal and to-be daughter-inlaw, Anushree Jasani
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 23

Hello! Portraits

sHwETa aNd gaUrI bHOsaLE


THE ELEgaNT LadIEs Of THE EpIc bHOsaLE famILy Of pUNE,
rEVEaL a sEamLEss EqUaTION THaT cHaLLENgEs TradITIONaL
NOTIONs Of a mOm-IN-Law aNd daUgHTEr-IN-Law bONd
auri Bhosale, matriarch to one of Punes
g
first families and her daughter-in-law,
Shweta, make a fetching portrait not just as

family, but as each others best friends. Shweta


hails from Ludhiana and was working for a
textile company, before she was introduced to
her husband, Amit Bhosale. She was married
five years ago and had her first baby a little
girl very soon, as she puts it. In some
ways, I am still learning about Maharastrian
culture! she says, with a twinkle in her eye.

SHWETA BHOSALE
I think its a privilege to be a part of
Breakthrough; I am glad all of us have chosen
this platform to show our concern for a cause
that I feel is rooted deep in our nation; the
gender bias, the violence against girls. We are
proud to be women and I have a baby girl,
so these dialogues about gender and cultural
ecosystems are all very real to me. I would say
to girls and women today, enjoy the equal
status, the ability to do what you most want to
do, having access to everything in life, be it a
career, or running a nation, but be responsible.
Do not misuse the freedom.
On her cross-generational connect with her
mom-in-law, she says, I find my mom-inlaw very innocent, very straightforward,
very loving. I dont think I could do without
her. Which is why, even when I was asked to
walk the ramp, I wanted to be with her. A lot
of mother-daughters are walking, but in my
case, I need her more than my own mom! We
generally see things in a similar way, and we
have similar habits as well.
GAURI BHOSALE
Shwetas very calm, very loving and a good
mother to her little girl. Our nature is quite
similar, we understand each other pretty easily.
We share our exercise time in the morning,
then read the newspapers together. I have my
milk, Shweta has her tea and even our diets
are similar! When I am asked about tonights
cause, I say I am proud to be a part of the show.
We bought these outfits just for tonight; its our
first time walking the ramp for any cause... but
I am happy to see that a new thought process is
being born. That women have the freedoms
they have today.

The graceful Shweta makes a


portrait of elegance with her
mom-in-law, Gauri Bhosale
24 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

Hello! Profile

brEakINg THrOUgH wITH

maLLIka dUTT

THE cHarITy THaT LOOks TO LEVEL THE fIELd


Of gENdEr INTErpLay by addrEssINg mEN
as mUcH as wOmEN was THE THrEad THaT
LINkEd THE gLamOUrOUs EVENT TO EmpOwEr
wOmaNHOOd, EVEN IN a pOsT-fEmINIsT wOrLd

allika,
what
incident
or
observation set you on the path
to addressing inequalities and human
rights violations against women?
My own experience of growing up in Kolkata
in a joint family with three boys was the spark
for my path to advocating for gender equality
and womens human rights. I was a tomboy
and played cricket with my brothers while my
grandmother would exhort me to come inside
and learn how to make rajma or learn how
to knit. The three boys inherited the family
home and the business and I was expected to
get married and go away to my own house.
I never felt like I had a home of my own
growing up, so as a teenager, I made a decision
that I would forge my own path and create my
own home. This led me to a womens college
in the United States Mt. Holyoke College
which enabled me to articulate the unfairness
of what I experienced and led to a path in
human rights.
I had another experience in 1985 that
is seared in my memory. A friend of mine
was in a car accident and ended up in the
womens ward of JJ Hospital in Mumbai. We
were taking turns at night to provide her with
the care she needed. The ward was full of
young women who had been burnt by their
husband or their families for dowries. They
were screaming in pain through the night.
Several of them were on mattresses on the
floor and had big rats nibbling at them. I
spent the night chasing rats away and trying
to comfort the ones in pain. The pain and
abuse we inflict on women doesnt need us to
invent new technology or a vaccine. It requires
us to change our behaviour and to respect the
feminine and to respect women. Thats why
I believe that cultural change is so critical for
creating the world we want to live in.
In a Womens Media Centre interview,
you said something very interesting
like, We are at this moment in history,
where I can feel this energy out there...
all of this work weve done is finally at
the level of this tipping point. Can you
narrate specific incidents where you
have seen this, from Africa and India to
Nepal and the US?
Breakthroughs work in India has engaged
men from the outset. When I created Mann
ke Manjeere with men like Prasoon Joshi,
Shantanu Moitra and Shoojit Sircar in 2000
that led to the emergence of the organisation,
I was struck by their immediate commitment
to gender equality. With Bell Bajao, we have
seen hundreds of men stepping up and taking
accountability for domestic violence to such
an extent that it became a global Ring the
Bell campaign with men from all around the
world making commitments to take action in
their own spheres. Last year, we honoured
Ajay Banga, CEO of MasterCard, who has

ensured that women form part of his senior


executive team. Other companies are already
implementing other cutting-edge measures
such as pay revisions for gender parity.
You use new age platforms to create
thought-change like your transmedia
Facebook game, focusing on racial
justice, human rights and migration.
How does this particular game do this?
These games reach people where they are
and some who may not already consider
themselves activists. Games are known
to immerse people in new and different
experiences and make them willing to try
out new ideas and identities. Thats how we
create empathy and action around human
rights issues. Thats how all our games work
America 2049 did it by sending people into
an imaginary and terrible future and offering
them the chance to change it. A review of
America 2049 and also of our game called
ICED, about immigrants rights, showed that
after playing the games people understood
more about racial justice and immigrant
rights and were more willing to take action.
You said very beautifully that the
burden to reduce the abuse of women

is not on women alone it should be


borne by the entire ecosystem the
social ecosystem, which includes
men. Can you tell us if your videos,
like What Kind of a Man Are You, or
Be That Guy (the one who stops his
buddy from violence against a woman),
have been shown around Asia, and in
particular India?
Thats right. We believe that men and
everyone must also be part of the solution.
In fact, most of our programming since What
Kind of Man Are You? has involved and engaged
men as a matter of course. As I mentioned,
our best-known and most internationally
lauded campaign, Bell Bajao, launched in India
in 2009, called on men to interrupt overheard
situations of domestic violence, making
it not a private matter but a community
responsibility. That campaign went global,
and viral, first through adaptations in China,
Vietnam and more, and then officially in
2013, when we called on men worldwide to
take concrete action against violence against
women in all its forms. What Kind of Man Are
You was created in partnership with McCann
Erickson and was spread throughout India
using multiple kinds of media, reaching
millions in eight languages. Be That Guy was
not specifically shown in Asia, but of course
the internet is everywhere and it was covered
in The Guardian.
Does todays urban Indian woman have
a more evolved social ecosystem?
A great deal has changed in India for the better
and women are certainly taking a more public
role in society. However, much remains to be
done in urban India as well. Gender-biased
sex selection is not just a rural issue. People in
cities use technology to determine the sex of
their child and continue to prefer sons. When
it comes to issues like family inheritance and
businesses, boys certainly benefit more than
girls. I think its really important for men
to stand up for their daughters rights in a
comprehensive manner.
What
new
tools
of
cultural
transformation are you working on?
Whats important is to use the tools that
will reach people where they are. For our
#Selfies4School campaign challenging early
marriage, we went to urban malls (Delhi,
Mumbai, and more) and asked people in
person to upload their selfies and join the
cause. Where people dont have smart phones
or Internet, we might, as with our work
challenging early marriage, use interactive
voice response to allow them to collaborate
for action. We take video vans into villages
to jump-start lasting, conversations about
challenging domestic violence. We also use
puppetry and interactive street theater. Its all
about using culture the right culture, in the
right place to change culture.
H
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 25

Hello! Round-up

top 10NEWSMAKERS
HELLO! TAKES A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS OF THE YEAR THAT WAS

TERROR STRIKES AGAIN!

rock music concert in Paris legendary Bataclan Theatre


A
interrupted by bullets; restaurants and cafs in the
highly refined city turning into guerilla warzones. In a matter

of minutes, the anger of ISIS was unleashed on innocent


civilians, killing 130 people, (89 at the rock show) and injuring
368, (80 to 99 sustained near fatal injuries) across four locations
in the city on 13/11. Terror brought Paris to a standstill, like
it had brought New York, Bali, Mumbai and at last call Mali
in Africa, to a halt. The ISISs stated motive was retaliation
for French involvement in the Syrian Civil War and the Iraqi
Civil War. On 15 November, France launched its largest
single airstrike of Opration Chammal, its contribution to
the anti-ISIS bombing campaign, by striking targets in AlRaqqah. On 18 November, the suspected lead operative of
the attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a raid by
the French police. As November plodded on, another terror
attack was unleashed at a luxury hotel in the Mali capital
Bamako a former French colony, where Islamist gunmen
stormed the Radisson and took 170 people hostage. Some
were reportedly released after reciting verses of the Koran.
French, Turkish and Chinese nationals, tourists and business
chiefs of numerous nationalities were among those caught up
in the attack. While the Mahatma famously said an eye for an
eye will make the world blind, we dont see anybody looking
for deeper solutions to the psychological wounds creating this
conflict. We do live in frightened and frightening times...

READY, JET-SET, GO!

ur dynamic PM has made about


O
31 odd trips to nations outside of
India since he became the 15 Prime
th

Minister of the Indian republic in 26


May, 2014. He has visited Australia,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada,
China, France, Fiji, Germany, Ireland,
Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, South Korea, Tajikistan,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab
Emirates, United Kingdom and
Uzbekistan at least once and made
two visits each to Nepal and the
United States. Modis first foreign
policy outlook was revealed during
the run up for the Prime Ministerial
candidature in his party in 2013 when
in a Network 18 program called Think
India, Dialogue Forum, he had outlined
the following points: Improving
relations with immediate neighbours
would be his priority as peace and
tranquillity in South Asia was essential
for realising his development agenda.
Secondly, he introduced the concept of paradiplomacy in India where each state and
city would have the liberty to forge special
relations with countries or federal states or
even cities of their interest. Thirdly, he hoped

26 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

for bilateral trade to dominate relationships


with most countries, (except a few important
global powers with which India shares a
strategic partnership). Certainly India has
been foisted back on the global supermarket

hierarchy, and hopefully with a stable


currency and stable government, she will
once again be the prized nation for trading
and play a key role in rapidly evolving IT
(info-tech) village.

THE GREAT INDIAN BEEF BAN

anning beef has been on the periphery of the


B
Indian governments agenda ever since Indian
Independence in 1947. While the ban never surfaced

at the central government level, due to a secular


constitutional tradition, (the Muslim and Christian
minorities consume beef extensively), cow slaughter
and beef consumption has never sat easy. Some
states, however, have succeeded in implementing
local legislation banning cow slaughter. While
this does not automatically translate into a beef
consumption ban, it makes it difficult to legitimately
source beef and beef products. The recent lynching
and killing of a Muslim resident in Dadri, the
50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi, took the
beef debate to a new level. The leading question
is whether we are witnessing a Nazi-style expunging
of choices? Interestingly, India is the worlds second
largest beef exporter, though most of the beef
exported is buffalo meat! While Goa, Daman and
Diu ban the slaughter of young cows, they allow the
slaughter of old and sick cows. In yet other states
such as Assam and West Bengal, slaughter houses
need to obtain a fit for slaughter certificate for
each cow before it is slaughtered. States such as
Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura allow
for slaughter of cows without the need for any
certificate. Consumption of beef is highest among
the North Eastern states of India.

INDIANS ON TIMES MAN OF THE YEAR LIST

M Narendra Modi, Reliance


P
Industries chairman Mukesh
Ambani and Google CEO Sundar Pichai

are among over 50 global leaders, business


chiefs and pop icons named as contenders
by Time magazine for its Person of
the Year honour to be announced on
December 9. The title goes to a person
who most influenced the news this year
for better or worse.
The Prime Minister of India has
encouraged foreign direct investment
in India and is trying to modernise the
worlds largest democracy. He has also
faced controversy over what some see as
right-wing extremism, the magazine said.
The chairman of RIL which owns
everything from telecommunications
properties to the worlds largest crude oil
refinery is the richest person in India.
Mukesh Ambani has been able to garner
0.3 per cent of the vote share and is ahead
of Michael Dell who has 0.2 per cent.
As for the Chennai-born Sundar
Pichai, the magazine noted, After 11
years at Google, most recently as CoFounder, Larry Pages right hand, Pichai
assumed the tech giants top job. Amid
a wave of change, he will oversee core
businesses, including search, ads, Android
and YouTube.
With three of our top achievers on this
covetable and exclusive list, its a proud
moment for Indians indeed.

THE SHEENA SAGA WHO DUNNIT?

heena Bohras murder case has taken more turns than


S
a Bold and the Beautiful plotline. Theories have flown all
around the media and in the gossip circles of Mumbai, Delhi

and Kolkata. Some say Sheenas parentage was the cause of her
murder, some believe it was the hand of some big wigs that contributed
to the expulsion of top cop Rakesh Maria and now that Peter Mukerjea
himself has been arrested by the CBI, its all a giant maze of deceit,
murder, sex, lies and oodles of money.
To sum up the
case in one quick go,
24-year-old
Sheena
was strangled in April
2012
allegedly
by
Indrani Mukerjea, her
ex-husband
Sanjeev
Khanna and driver
Shyam Rai. Her body
was set on fire and
dumped in the forest
in Raigad, 80km from
Mumbai.
Indrani
Mukerjea told friends
and family that Sheena
had gone to the US. The
crime remained hidden
for three years until the
remains were found in
August. Peter Mukerjea
was arrested reportedly
after Indranis conflicting statements led the CBI to believe that he was
aware of the plot to kill his step-daughter.
The CBI said in court that Mr Mukerjea was in touch with Indrani at
the time of the killing. He was abroad but telephone conversations in
the two-three days around the crime lasted 20-25 minutes each, it said.
From the looks of things, it looks like only time and trial will tell who
the real mastermind behind Sheenas murder was until then, the
nation stays hooked to the crime of the decade.

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 27

Hello! Round-up

ANOTHER ROYAL
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE

his year saw the birth of Princess


T
Charlotte of Cambridge on May
2. The second child of Prince William,

the Duke of Cambridge and his wife,


Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge, she
is now 4th in line to the British throne after
her grandfather Prince Charles, her father
and her elder brother, Prince George.
Since her birth, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
(her full name) has become a favourite of
the British press and paparazzi, who dont
miss out any opportunity to photograph
the royal infant whenever the rare
opportunity arises.

6
V

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE KING OF GOOD TIMES

ijay Mallya, the erstwhile King of Good Times, has been under the financial scanner
for long enough now. Just when everyone was assuming he had bitten the bullet and
survived to tell the tale, the SBI along with a list of other banks, declared Mallya a wilful
defaulter, meaning he didnt pay debts even when he had the funds to do so. Mallyas
personal private jet was sold off earlier this year for Rs 22 lakhs and was torn apart for scrap,
this apart from his homes in Mumbai and Bengaluru being raided and his personal supercar
collection confiscated by debtors, if rumours are to be believed.

8
D

POONAWALLAS PALATIAL PAD

r Cyrus Poonawalla is known for many things, his pharma empire, his horses, his collection
of Rolls-Royces, his enviable art collection and his va-va-voom private jets. Records were
broken however when the 74-year-old paid out close to Rs 750 crores for Lincoln House, an
iconic property in Breach Candy, Mumbai recently. Sold by the US Consulate, for Rs 100 crores
less than their initial asking price, the property is a heritage structure that isnt allowed to be
architecturally changed or modified. That doesnt affect Poonawalla much though, since he
intends to use the 2-acre Grade-III property with a built-up area of around 50,000 square feet,
for his personal home and has no plans to develop it further.

28 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

THE BIG FAT HINDUJA


WEDDING

nu Mahtani and Sanjay Hinduja


A
tied the knot earlier this year in
a dream wedding in Udaipur, which
had the crme of India descend in
throngs to the Rajasthani city, where
they were entertained by the likes
of such international celebs such as
JLo and Nicole Scherzinger. Hes
the scion of the acclaimed Hinduja
family, which has diversified interests
in the automotive industry, oil and
gas, finance, telecom and media
among several others. Many estimate
the familys combined networth
at US$ 20 billion. Shes a fashion
designer who has made a mark for
herself in London over the years.
The perfect match? Well we seem to
think so for sure!

10

THE BURNING
MIDDLE-EAST

The war in Syria has spilled over to


the rest of the immediate world and
with the emergence of ISIS in the
region, its pretty
sad that 2015 has
to come to end
with one of the
bloodiest battles
weve known till
date being waged.
Russia joined in
after a hiatus of
several
decades
of being out of
international
politics, the US
embarrassed itself
having financed
some of the worlds
most confused terrorists and the Saudis
backed some pretty dodgy rebels who
eventually confused everyone to the
extent of almost backing out of the
entire war. Terrorist attacks in the
name of ISIS around the world made
things only worse! The Syrian war,
is one mess that world powers now
wish they had never gotten involved
in, lets hope and pray it somehow,
miraculously, comes to a decisive end. H
TEXT: SANGEETA WADHWANI &
VISHWAVEER SINGH

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 29

Hello! Books

SONALI
BENDRE BEHL
THE ACTRESS AND AUTHOR WELCOMES HELLO!
INTO HER BEAUTIFUL HOME ALONG WITH HER
SON, RANVEER, FOR A FREEWHEELING
TTE--TTE ON FAMILY AND HER LATEST
LITERARY ENDEAVOUR THE MODERN GURUKUL,
MY EXPERIMENTS WITH PARENTING

he svelte young mother and her high-on-energy son, welcome


T
HELLO! into their grandly appointed home floor to ceiling
urns, strikingly printed arm chairs and intricately shaped glass

doors fill the home and large windows overlook beautiful vistas.
The home is burrowed deeply within a private lane of a Mumbai
suburb, which is densely populated with the residences of the
Hindi film industrys greatest luminaries. Mother and son share
an amiable and love-filled rapport as she readies herself once
again for the arc lights and he plays with the familys much-loved
golden retrievers, Neo and Isis. Effortlessly at ease in front of the
camera like his mother, Ranveer charms with his easy confidence
and gregarious demeanor as he strikes a pose with Sonalis

30 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Actress and author, Sonali Bendre, is


captured with her dapper young son,
Ranveer at home. Sonali is gorgeous
in a one-shoulder layered gown
from JADE by Monica and Karishma,
paired with a diamond and ruby
flower ring and diamond and ruby
drop earrings, both from ESTAA
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 31

Hello! Books

32 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Raising a child is solely a


familys responsibility and
duty. Your child gradually
absorbs certain principles
and morals, which eventually
shapes his or her mind
stunning silhouette whilst seated in
the familys living room. HELLO!
indulges in a delightful tte--tte
You have a beautiful home
I have to thank Sussanne (Roshan)
for decorating my home beautifully.
The entire house has been completed
while keeping my personal style (and
that of my husbands, film director,
Goldie) in mind. One of my favourite
spaces in the house is a wall, which has
multiple metal plates placed across
it. In front of these metal sheets we
have placed our silver mandir. I love
the juxtaposition of the elements.
Why
is
family
of
primary importance?
Every child initially imbibes values
from the environment he grows up
in and family plays a crucial role
in ensuring that the right kind of
environment is provided. If we dont
value relationships within the family,
it can reflect on the childs behavior.
My family has always been my top
priority, even if it meant canceling
social
events
and/or
work.
Ranveer was born in 2005,
immediately after which you
took a professional hiatus
I wanted to focus on Ranveers
upbringing. His childhood is the
most important stage during which to
build a mother-son bond it is also a
precious time, filled with memorable
and magical moments.
How do you and your husband,
Goldie, co-parent?
As two working parents, the
responsibility of raising Ranveer
has always been a joint effort. I
have been extremely fortunate to
have Goldie by my side since the
very beginning. He has made many
alterations in his life in order to be
the best father he can be to his son.
What is the best piece of
parenting advice youve ever
been given?

Sonali strikes a pose


in a pleated kaftan and
palazzo pants, both by
Payal Khandwala. She
accessorises with a
stunning blue stone and
diamond flower ring and
earrings with marquise,
pear and princess cut
diamonds, all from ESTAA
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 33

Hello! Books
Everyone has a different style of
parenting. There are no right or
wrong ways of raising a child. The
book explores my personal journey
as a first time mother. Its a journal
on how I evolved as a parent

Beautiful Sonali poses in a


silk embellished jumpsuit
by Priyanka Parekh, paired
with beautiful diamond
drop earrings, a marquise
and princess cut diamond
bracelet and a ring with
baguettes, princess and pear
shaped diamonds and yellow
diamonds, all from ESTAA
34 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Listen to your children.


How did the title, The Modern
Gurukul, My Experiments With
Parenting, come about?
Everyone has a different style of parenting.
There are no right or wrong ways of raising
a child. The book explores my personal
journey as a first time mother. Its a journal
on how I evolved as a parent and for that
reason its titled, My Experiments with Parenting.
The foreword to your book is by Dr
Indu Shahani, a noted educator
For the foreword, I wanted someone who
has been involved with educating children in
an impactful manner and for her to endorse
my book was very meaningful for me. We
both really identified with the fact that the
world is changing rapidly and that we need to
adapt our parenting styles to todays world.
Youve highlighted the importance of
raising a compassionate child
Raising a child is solely a familys
responsibility and duty. Your child gradually
absorbs certain principles and morals,
which eventually shapes his or her mind.
What are the three most important
principles to keep in mind, in your
opinion, whilst raising a child in the
digital age?
I learnt to be savvy on digital platforms
in order to learn the pros and cons of
the digital age for myself. Its important
to interact with your child digitally
rather than impose a blanket ban.
After Ranveer started to attend
school, you returned to the arc lights
successfully with Indian Idol, Indias
Got Talent, Hindustan Ke Hunarbaaz
and Indias Best Dramebaaz
When I was offered the opportunity
to judge Indian Idol, I had suffered a
personal loss. Goldie encouraged me to
take this opportunity to step out and
meet new people in order to get my mind
off things. It helped me to enter into a
positive space. From there on, gradually,
it went from one show to another.
What is the next step in
your journey?
As a book lover, its surreal to see my own
book in a store. Life has been wonderful,
so far, without any in depth planning for
now, I would like to just go with the flow. H

TEXT: FARAH PALIA


PHOTOS: RYAN MARTIS
HAIR AND MAKE-UP: RECINDA MARTIS
STYLING: SONAM POLADIA
ASSISTED BY: RICHA MEHTA

Hello! exclusive

A LittLE PrincE
ArrivEs

tHE BLuE city Of JOdHPur is ABuzz witH


tHE nEws Of its GEnErAtiOn nExt PrincEs
ArrivAL. HELLO! BrinGs yOu An ExcLusivE
PHOtO And rEPOrt On tHE LittLE PrincE, tHE
nEwEst kid On tHE rOyAL BLOck!
ayatri Rajye, wife of Shivraj Singh
G
of Jodhpur, couldnt have asked for
a better birthday gift. A day before the

"I am happy; and happy too, that


everyone in my family and clan, and
the people of Jodhpur are also so
happy," shared the proud father,
Yuvraj Shivraj Singh

young Yuvrani of Jodhpur could ring


in her birthday, she was greeted with
the loud wails of her son and second
child born on November 16, at Delhis
Sitaram Bhartiya hospital. Three years
after the birth of the couples first
child, Princess Vaara Rajye, Jodhpurs
new princes birth was celebrated with
expected fanfare. As soon as news
from Delhi poured into Jodhpur, the
entire blue city was roused from its
everyday humdrum as 101 Cannons
boomed from Jodhpurs magnificent
Mehrangarh Fort in honour of the
newly arrived Prince, who will bear the
title of Raj Bhanwar.
It was a special day indeed as
Jodhpurs royal history turned a new leaf
for almost 250 years, no Maharaja of
Jodhpur had had the privilege of seeing
a grandson! This boy, as he breaks a
250-year-old spell, is a blessing for his
grandparents, who have been delighted
with the news. The baby when he grows
up, is all set to be the 43rd Chief of the
Warrior Rathore clan.
With the loud booms conveying
to people about the birth of the royal
Prince, people from all parts of the city,
the erstwhile Kingdom of the Rathores,
began to congregate at the Royal
Residence, The Umaid Bhawan Palace.
At 11am, the proud father, Shivraj
Singh and the delighted grandfather,
Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur,
appeared to a rapturous and emotional
applause by people that had assembled
at the palace with their greetings.
There was an atmosphere of unbridled
celebration and jubilation as the
famous Jodhpuri ladoos were distributed
across the city in tons! Every mohalla
in the city sent its representative
with fire-works and soon the Palace
lit up with sparkles and echoed with
resounding laughter!
A Palace Spokesman revealed later
in the day that, The baby will be
named after the Royal Family returns
to Jodhpur.
H
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 35

The InsIde sTory


WELcOmE tO
tHE WOrLd!
Another couple who
have recently become
first-time
parents
to
baby Cianna, are Faarah
Mehta (daughter of
Rita and Karl Mehta,
former publishers of
Cine Blitz) and Sagar
Shewakramani, a Dubaibased entrepreneur. We
hear that the tiny tot,
who is just a month old, is
absolutely adorable. Our
heartiest congratulations
to the new mommy and
daddy!

AndrEA BOcELLi tO cOmE tO indiA?

World-renowned maestro, Zubin Mehta, will turn 80-years-old next


April. And this news is good news for us because were in for a treat!
When asked whether he will be coming to Mumbai for the milestone
birthday, Mehta revealed that on the day itself, he will be in Vienna but
a week before that, in Mumbai! Now during that time, three concerts
are being planned Pinchas Zukerman (violinist) will be the soloist
for the first. Then a fine young Russian pianist will be for the second.
His name is Denis Matsuev. And the third, which is at the planning
stage, will be at the CCI stadium with Andrea Bocelli, said Mehta.
Yes, THE Andrea Bocelli, the classical tenor who sounds like an angel!
If we had to define what fantastic news is, this would most certainly
be it! We know without a doubt, that tickets for this show will be sold
out before the box office even has a chance to fully open its shutters.

sAy, i dO!

Saharsh Parekh, the coowner of Atletico de


Kolkata (son of Utsav
Parekh)
and
Devangi
Nishar, (daughter of Atul
Nishar, Founder of Aptech
computers and Alka Nishar,
owner of designer boutique
chain, AZA fashions) are
tying the knot in February
next year. While details are
still under wraps, weve caught wind that the nuptials will take
place in Abu Dhabi.

A rigHt rOyAL visit

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will embark


on a tour of India in Spring 2016, Kensington Palace has
confirmed. While this news is generating waves of excitement,
we cant quite shake of a slight feeling of disappointment
that the royal couple wont be travelling with Prince George
and Princess Charlotte. This marks the couples first official
overseas tour together since their three-day tour of New York
in December 2014. It will also be the first time William and
Kate have visited the region and therefore, plan to undertake
a broad range of engagements during their time in our great
nation.
36 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

Shashwat
Goenka, the
strapping son of
Sanjiv Goenka,
Chairman
of RP Sanjiv
Goenka Group, is
marrying his lovely
fianc, Shivika
Jhunjhunwala
(who hails from
Singapore)
between 2729 January in
Kolkata. Join us in
wishing both these
couples a splendid
happily ever after!

mAdAmE tussAuds cOming


tO indiA!

Madame Tussauds, the world famous Wax


Museum, will open its new venture in New
Delhi for Bollywood stars, as part of the IndiaUK Year of Culture in 2017. The news was
officially announced in London coinciding with
Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the
UK recently.
According to the announcement by British
Prime Minister David Cameron, a Shakespeare
First Folio, treasures from the British Museum
and a copy of the Magna Carta will go on touring
displays in India for the cultural exchange. A
festival of India will also be staged in the UK
during the year.
The British Library will be digitising 200,000
pages of their South Asian archives, making
books from 1714 to 1914 accessible around the
globe. This year-long programme is in celebration
of the 70th anniversary of Indian independence
and UK cultural ties, and is something we look
forward to.

A stOry tO tELL

Live a story worth telling! Thats


the mantra of Tanmay Puri, a
25-year-old entrepreneur and CEO
of the newly launched, And More
Stories, a luxury furniture and
design store in Mumbai. Tanmay
has partnered with Arti Gandhi,
a dynamic entrepreneur with 20
years of corporate experience,
for this new and exciting venture.
Nestled in the plush furniture hub
of Raghuvanshi Mills in Mumbai,
the store features an unrivalled
selection of luxury furniture,
exclusive lightings and exceptional
artifacts from choicest brands
like Ligne Roset from France,
Cattelan Italia from Italy, Himolla
from Germany and the in-house
brand And more, showcasing
handpicked pieces of artefacts
exclusively designed by artisans
across the globe.

A stAr fOr A stAr

British actor, Daniel Radcliffe,


has been honoured with a Star
on iconic Hollywood Walk of
Fame. Earning the 2,565th star
was an incredible honour,
said the 26-year-old, who has
been in the spotlight since the
age of 11, when he bagged the
title role of JK Rowlings mega
successful, Harry Potter series.
Kudos, Dan!

A cAusE fOr fAsHiOn

The ANGEL! Foundation was founded in India in


2008 by Angeli Kapoor Puri to fight the cause of
female feticide and other crimes against women. The
Charity was started as a family trust with personal
funds to empower the
Girl Child in India.
Then in 2012, The
ANGEL!
Foundation
was launched in London
to generate awareness
within the South Asian
Community,
which
now has a significant
presence
as
an
established charity in
New Delhi and London.
In aid of this charity,
Puri has partnered with
Lucy Choi, the niece of
legendary shoe designer,
Jimmy Choo (who
founded his business
with Tamara Mellon
and sold his stake in
the luxury goods brand
in 2001). Lucy, said to
possess a real talent for
designing even more so
than her uncle, founded
her
own
boutique
shoe label, Lucy Choi
London, in 2012. The
collection is sold at over
80 high-end boutiques
and stores in the UK as
well as internationally.
The launch of her flagship boutique in Central London
has also been a huge success, marking the start of a
Lucy Choi London expansion worldwide. The Angeli
Foundation hosted an exclusive event at the Baglioni
Hotel in London recently with a special guest appearance
from Jimmy Choo himself, with the proceeds from the
evening going towards The Angeli Foundation.

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 37

Hello! Debutants

DEBUTANTs
BOLD,
BEAUTIFUL
AND
BLUE-BLOODED!

HELLO! SURVEYS OUR MILLENNIAL PRINCES


AND PRINCESSES WHO STAND TO INHERIT
AGE-OLD VALUES IN A JET-SETTING, MUTABLE
WORLD. HERE, WE CAPTURE THEIR UNIQUE
ALCHEMY WITH PAST AND PRESENT, ALONG
WITH A HOST OF GEN-NEXT YOUNG MAVENS
FROM SOCIETY AND CORPORATE FAMILIES
WITHIN INDIA AND THE DIASPORA
38 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

The young Maharaja looks


dapper in a velvet bandhgala
by Raghavendra Rathore and
stands alongside a Bentley
Flying Spur V8, courtesy
Exclusive Motors, New Delhi

PADMANABH
sINGH
A LEGAcy
cONTINUEs

ANNOUNCED THE MAHARAJA


OF JAIPUR AT 12, THE
TEENAGE PACHO OF TODAY
IS A STELLAR POLO PLAYER,
REVEALING HIS REGAL
GENES. HELLO! DISCOVERS
A YOUNG MAN CARRYING
A WEIGHTY TITLE WITH THE
SAME GRACE EXUDED BY
YESTERYEAR PRINCES

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 39

Hello! Debutants
At university I want to study
politics. And hopefully in the
future, contribute to peoples
welfare through a political role

Popularly known as Pacho, Padmanabh


Singh of Jaipur enjoys playing polo like
his father and grandfather. A thorough
gentleman with a hint of a polished,
British accent, courtesy his education
at Millfield, he also has customised
polo gear displaying the grand
Jaipur emblem

40 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

n his steed he goes with the speed


of lightening till he is ahead of
the rest, chasing the ball with his
mallet like a lone ranger in a battle field
he goes after it riding tempestuously as
the crowds egg him on. and its a goal!
The audience roars to a loud encore and
Padmanabh Singh gallops away raising
himself slightly from the horse in a
gesture of gratitude.
Padmanabh, the young titular head
of the Jaipur royal family has the natural
form of a polo player and the demeanour
of a true-blue sophisticate. My great
grandfather won us the World Cup and
the current World Cup in circulation
is called the Jaipur World Cup. My
grandfather, Col Bhawani Singh, was
a four handicap player and a huge
promoter of the game. He never missed
a polo match in Jaipur, says 17-year-old
Padmanabh talking about the familys
long-standing association with the game.
But in all honesty he confesses, it wasnt
something he intrinsically gravitated
towards. As a child, I was scared of
horses. But when I joined Mayo, some of
my friends used to go riding. Once a close
friend of mine at school asked me to join
him and that day I really enjoyed riding.
Gradually my interest grew and I started
attending riding lessons diligently. And
riding gradually transformed into polo,
he shares, adding on the side, that he is a
proud owner of 21 horses 14 in India
and seven in England!
At school in Londons Millfield,
he is busy getting used to the English
way of life and also getting ready to go
from being the young school boy that
he has been, to a man ready for future
responsibilities. I chose Millfield on my
own. It was my decision. Its more casual
and there is a good environment for sports
there, he says purposefully, about giving
Harrow a miss, where his grandfather
was educated. My family has been very
kind to me. There have been no pressures
whatsoever. In fact, they did not have any
words of advice or caution when I left
India. They have been confident about
me and the way I would conduct myself. I
have started thinking about University too
and I would like to stay on in England for
it, especially Oxford. I have travelled to
America and other parts of the world and
I somehow think I prefer England, says
Padmanabh, reiterating his preferences
and the freedom of taking decisions on
his own.
The weight of regal responsibilities
came early onto his shoulders. He was
adopted as the legal heir to the Jaipur
throne way back in 2002 when he
was all of five! That was followed by a
formal coronation ceremony bestowing
the title, Maharaja of Jaipur, at the age
of 12. Did he quite understand what he
was in for? At my adoption I was too
young. But that set the ball rolling for

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 41

Hello! Debutants
I had an awareness that I came from a different background
from an early age. But with the privilege that I was born with,
I was also given lessons in humility. My grandmother told me I
should be grateful to God for what I have been born with
my future responsibilities. I would say
I was subtly being groomed into my
role within the family, especially by
my grandmother (Rajmata Padmini
Devi), he explains. The Rajmata and
he, apparently, make a great team
together. I speak to my grandmother
about everything. She tells me about
her experiences in England where she
attended finishing school. We always
have a lot to catch up on, he says with
a smile.
Padmanabh has fond memories of
his grandfather after whose demise he
was crowned Maharaja of Jaipur. I
had an awareness that I came from a
different background from an early
age. But with the privilege that I was
born with, I was also given lessons in
humility. My grandmother told me I
should be grateful to God for what I
have been born with. My grandfather
was a perfect example of a royal in a
democratic set-up. People looked up to
him, he says, reminiscing about the
close bond they shared. He would take
me to Moti store on MI road every day.
He doted on me, adds Padmanabh.
While his grandparents have clearly
inspired his regal role, for Padmanabh
his parents have been friends that hes
looked up to. His father, Narendra
Singh, picked up polo a few years
ago and started his own team. That
is incredible. To play at my age is
easy but I know how tough it is to
start playing when one is older. But
hes done a fantastic job at polo,
says Padmanabh.
The young royal is fairly impressed
that his mother Diya Kumari, now
an MLA from Sawai Madhopur, has
completely transformed with her new
political role. When she was contesting
some people had doubts about what
she would do and whether she would
even turn up at her constituency,
giving her privileged background.
But shes at Sawai Madhopur every
other day and we call her the guest at
the house when shes in Jaipur! She
doesnt have as much time at home
but I am very happy to see her work
hard and contribute to peoples lives,
says the proud son. Padmnabh went
campaigning for his mothers maiden
election and came back overwhelmed
with the love and support he got from
the people of Rajasthan. People love
her for who she is. And I received a lot
of love and affection from them as well.
It was amazing. And it makes me happy

42 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

to see that my mother is being able to


change the lives of the people there
their demands are so basic! They
just want food, water and electricity
how can we not provide these basics
to them? he questions passionately,
adding, In so many years, basics were
denied to them. But I can already see
signs of change with my mother taking
her job seriously.
One sees mild strains of political
idealism in Padmanabh and he doesnt
rule out eventually walking into his
mothers shoes. At university I want
to study politics. And hopefully in
the future, contribute to peoples
welfare through a political role,
says Padmanabh.
Time spent at Millfield and London
have already started showing on his
personality. There is independence
of thought and confidence in his
disposition as he speaks softly with a
mild British accent. I am enjoying
myself there. In England, some of my
friends know about my background
but I dont think they really understand
monarchy in India as they tend to
equate it with monarchy in England.
This year, being my final year in school,
is also crucial, academically. I also
spend a lot of time playing professional
polo there. Its very tough getting into
the polo circuit there I have joined
the Guards Polo Club and hope I
can take my game to the next level,
says Padmanabh. He also travels a lot
between India and England, keeping
commitments at home in mind. One
of the things about going to school
there was the fact that they knew I
would have to return home for family
responsibilities. Ive been coming to
India for festivals and for the polo
season, he explains, touching upon
the delicate balance he maintains living
between two countries. But other than
responsibilities does he get to have fun?
Of course there is a lot of socialising
and partying as well. But its different
in England and different when I am in
Jaipur. In Jaipur, when I am out, people
often try to figure me out and recognise
me, he elaborates.
Padmanabh is aware of his roots
and even while he lives the global life,
he is at ease with the idea of coming
back to Jaipur and belonging where his
H
ancestors ruled and reigned.
TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH
PHOTOS: ABHISHEK KHANDELWAL
STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 43

Hello! Debutants

YASHASVINI JINDAL
THE DANCE OF LIFE

StEEL magnatE, fOrmEr mP and POLO


PLayEr, navEEn JindaL and HiS wifE,
kucHiPudi ExPOnEnt, SHaLLu JindaLS
daugHtEr, iS aLrEady a PrOmiSing taLEnt
in indian cLaSSicaL dancE and HaS bEEn
HOnOurEd fOr HEr PErfOrmancES

The Balinese-inspired sit out in the garden is done up with floral arrangements in white - a perfect
getaway amidst the urban chaos and traffic of Delhi. Yashasvini looks ethereal in a mirror work,
thread and lehenga from the Divine Collection by Dabiri. A yellow and white diamond necklace set
in 18K two-tone gold, with matching earrings by DIACOLOR, completes the look

44 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 45

Hello! Debutants
EDUCATION: Vasant Valley School, New Delhi
INSPIRATION: My family really inspires me
my brother Venkatesh (who works immensely
hard in any endeavour he takes up), my dad (who
never fails to chase his dreams) and my mom
(who has always been my pillar of strength are all
people I look up to).
PASSION: Passion is a feeling that drives our
life. It moves us forward towards our goal, keeps
us focused, helps overcome obstacles and feel
contented with life. Dance is definitely a huge
part of who I am today and it has taught me
more than anything or anyone ever has. It has
taught me discipline, courage, strength and grace
and most importantly never to give up. Dance
has taught me that no matter how hard things
get, no matter how exhausted you are, you have
to keep moving. You have to keep dancing on the
stage; the stage of life. You have to push yourself
till the finish line. Its about mind over body. Its
about determination and strength.
STRENGHTS: Strength for me refers to being
strong emotionally and physically. I think one of
my strengths is that Im a friendly person. I love
getting to know people, making new friends and
making people feel comfortable.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE
MOST: The values I treasure the most would
be kindness, perseverance and determination.
I feel that all these qualities are crucial for an
individual to be successful in life.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: To be
honest, I dont have any heroes as such. But I
really love and admire my grandparents for who
they are. I genuinely feel that theyre always up
and about, doing something for the welfare of
society and truly making a difference in their
own ways.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: Unfortunately, the
younger generation has been greatly influenced
by the technologically advanced world and I too
am a victim of this. My iPhone is definitely my
constant companion and I wouldnt be able to
part from it for too long.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: I dont know
what I want to do in the future as of now,
however, Im certain that I definitely want to give
back to society in as many ways as I can along
with promoting Indian art forms.
IDEA OF LOVE: Ive never really been in love
so I dont think I can define my idea of love.
But Im sure when I do fall in love someday
(hopefully), Ill know. (smiles)
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT:
Through the past few years, there have been
several coming of age moments wherein I
have felt all grown up. Receiving the ICUNR
Award in dance along with the Hindustan Times
Stylish Youth Icon have been two extremely
memorable moments.

46 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE


EVER RECEIVED: The best compliment I
receive is that I look like Alia Bhatt.
TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH
PHOTOS: ABHISHEK KHANDELWAL
STYLING: AMBER TIKARI
MAKE-UP & HAIR: PRIYANKA KAPOOR

Yashu, as shes fondly called,


looks radiant and svelte in a
gown by a local designer from
Turkey. Diamond earrings set
in 18K white gold and a bangle
in rose-cut diamonds by
DIACOLOR, completes
the ensemble

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 47

Hello! Debutants

48 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

NIRVAAN BIRLA
TO THE BIRLA MANOR BORN

SON OF INDUSTRIALIST, YASH BIRLA, AND


HIS WIFE, AVANTI, NIRVAAN IS ALL SET TO
MAKE A MARK FOR HIMSELF IN THE WORLD
OF BUSINESS. HELLO! GOT TO CHAT WITH THE
21-YEAR-OLD IN LONDON AS HE GAVE US AN
INSIGHT INTO HIS LIFE AS ONE OF THE NEXT-GEN
SCIONS OF THE ACCLAIMED BIRLA DYNASTY

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 49

Hello! Debutants

THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED:


One of my dads partners once told him that Id go on to become
someone big and do wonders for the company. He felt I was
sharper than my age.
INSPIRATIONS: My biggest inspirations would have to be a
gentleman called Nirmal Sethia, who I had the opportunity of
interning with here in London for a short while. What I like about
him is that hes come from nothing and has been able to make so
much for himself, yet maintaining his humility and crediting God
for everything he has got. The other inspiration in my life would
equally be my dad, who has had to go through so many hardships
in his life at a very young age. His strength inspires me to get
motivated and do what it takes to make something of myself.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS: I love playing football and watching
the matches when I get a chance. The gym is another obsession
of mine. Theres no better alternative to working out as far as
keeping your mind and body fit goes. Movies are a passion for me
and I can watch tonnes of them without getting bored. They add
to ones imagination and creativity. Though I used to read a lot of
fiction before, Ive now started getting into non-fiction. Im reading
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell nowadays. Progressive House music
is another interest of mine. Just listening to it puts me in a good
mood automatically.
STRENGHTS: Id like to think that Im a quick learner and
someone who is creative with problem solving. Im also a pretty
positive person with a generally positive outlook on life and
everything around me.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE MOST: Positivity
and humility.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My heroes in real life would
have to be my dad and Christiano Ronaldo, for the amount of
hard work he puts into being such a legendary footballer. Salman
Khan is another real life hero for me, for the number of movies
hes done and how hes managed to stay on the top of his game for
so many years.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: My PS4, a new pair of MGM Beats
headphones and my two-wheel electric hoverboard which is great
for moving around when youre being lazy.
ON YOUR iPOD: A lot of Wiz Khalifa, Maceo Plex and Tyga.

EDUCATION: University of Westminster, Masters


in Management
PERSONALITY TRAITS: I think Im an outstander who loves
venturing to places where no one usually goes.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT: When I moved to
London and had to live independently. I had to get out of the
whole South Bombay laad saab culture with maids and staff around
and fend for myself. When I was 18-19, it was all about being the
popular cool kid who knew all the girls, but coming to London
changed me completely. I had to stop being a procrastinator,
learned about punctuality and timing, in general just got a little bit
more mature. Im still transforming though, and cant confess to
completely becoming an adult yet, but I can definitely say that Im
on the right track.

50 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE MOST: This


might sound weird but it would have to be the comic book hero,
The Flash. I feel hes the only character who is willing to learn and
look for knowledge. Hes not met his full potential, but when he
does hell surely be at a place where no one can stop him.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: To build a business conglomerate
around steel and textile that will last for generations, maybe
hopefully get known as the next JD Rockefeller (laughs).
IDEA OF LOVE: I think kids nowadays at 19 or 20 dont think
twice before telling someone that they love them, which is pretty
foolish. Until one isnt old enough to be self-sufficient and until
both the boy and the girl arent living the same life, they cant really
fall in love. You have to know someone for at least a few years
before realising that you are in love with them. Its a very mature,
deep and intense emotion, and should be treated that way.
H
TEXT: VISHWAVEER SINGH
PHOTOS: CHLOE CHUDASAMA
LOCATION COURTESY: THE LEONARD HOTEL, LONDON

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 51

Hello! Debutants

MAHANAARYAMAN J SCINDIA
THE SON RISES

CONGRESSMAN AND GWALIOR ROYAL, JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA, AND HIS


WIFE, PRIYADARSHINI RAJE SCINDIAS FIRST BORN, MAHANAARYAMAN J
SCINDIA, OPENS UP TO HELLO! IN HIS FIRST BIG INTERVIEW ON LEGACY,
POLITICS AND CREATING HIS OWN IDENTITY

52 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

The young and confident Mahanaaryaman


Jyotiraditya Scindia is dapper and very
well put together when HELLO! catches
up with him in his Delhi home, just before
he begins college in the US

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 53

Hello! Debutants
gum-chewing 21-year-old, clad in a loose kurta pyjama,
A
forehead smeared with red vermillion, takes on
the political turf in the hinterland. The city buff in him

may find comfort in the gum lodged in the small of his


mouth. But Mahanaaryaman Jyotiraditya Scindia draws
his strength from the multitudes that surround him
the look of admiration in their eyes. Their hope in him
as the Gen-Next Scindia clearly fuels his fire, as he belts
out a feisty speech in chaste Hindi. Just like his father
Jyotiraditya and grandfather, the charismatic Madhav Rao
Scindia, Mahanaaryaman is confident, good-looking and a
natural magnet tor the people of Gwalior. I like going to
Gwalior and to my fathers constituency. I often go there
alone. I have to build my own relationship with the place,
he shares.
In Gwalior, being Mahanaryaman Scindia is a big deal.
He calls the splendid and vast Jai Vilas Palace home. In a
hub where his ancestors once ruled as the great Maratha
Kings of Gwalior, his father, Jyotiraditya Scindias huge
political influence (he has won all elections hes contested)
doesnt take much to impress the masses. He could just
win over the hoi-polloi with his last name. But the flipside
to taking ones legacy for granted has its pit falls. At an age
where the follies of youth can mislead, it is remarkable to
see the eagerness with which Aryaman wants to slip into
his role as the son of Gwaliors soil and the prince of
peoples hearts.
He recently formed a team and approached a solar
power company to pitch a plant in one of the villages in the
area which now supplies electricity to the entire village. I
am very passionate about Gwalior. I want to take it to the
next level as a destination for art and culture. There is huge
potential which we have to explore, he adds talking about
how he plans to gradually widen his portfolio. A recent
training at the international auction house Christies,
has already exposed him to the dynamics of valuing and
preserving artefacts and made him more aware of how best
to sustain and showcase the treasures of his own legacy; the
Jai Vilas Palace is a centre for rare works of art from the
Maharaja era. We have a strong heritage and we need to
market it, he reiterates.
Mahanaaryaman is the 12th descendent of the illustrious
Scindia clan and from the looks of it could be taking on
the political mantle from his father, making it a fourth
generation profession whose roots were formed when his
great-grandmother, Vijaya Raje Scindia, contested elections
way back in 1957. Of course, Madhav Rao famously joined
the Congress party and became Railway Minister in Rajiv
Gandhis government while his mother continued to wield
influence as a BJP veteran right till the end. Despite having
the makings of a politician, Mahanaaryaman is not ready
to commit to a future role yet. I dont even know whether
I will pursue politics. I just campaigned for my father last
year. I was very clear that it was not about a political party
but a family that I was representing, he talks about his
maiden brush with politics.
He holds his own. Whether it is at platforms from where
he gives short yet lofty speeches urging women to come out
and vote or at home sitting in a living room surrounded
by trophies and memories, all reminiscent of the majestic
days of the Raj. Hes at ease in a pair of blue jeans and
white tee, his favourite attire, but when he speaks, he does
with the responsible wisdom of a boy who is all ready to
take on the world as a man ready to carve his own identity.
His mother, Priyadarshini Raje, watches her young son talk
about making decisions of his own and the glint in her eyes
convey her obvious pride. As he interviews with HELLO!,
he is comfortable and relaxed and often looks at his mother,
more to include her in the conversation and affirm his own
answers. He explains about the confidence he drew from

54 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Quite a natty dresser,


Aryaman matches a
checkered jacket with
a printed t-shirt over a
pair of jeans

making his first crucial decision. I think one of the most


crucial decisions I took was to take time off after school. My
parents were not very sure about my decision but I think that
one year has been the best year of my life so far, he says
about his gap year after Doon School. In between he travelled
to Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam and threw himself into the
deep end, courting new adventures. I had got through to
Cornell University but my first choice was Yale. I reasoned
with my parents but they did not agree with me initially. I
didnt want to settle for anything less than my first choice,
explains the young Scindia.
He took advantage of that time and pursued other avenues,
training himself widely in different fields. First amongst those
was an internship with Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck,
the King of Bhutan, also a family friend. I spent a lot of
time with his Majesty and travelled around Bhutan with him.
We stayed in pitch dark jungles with a cavalcade of military
trucks around us. It was a different experience. At work the
king was business-like but we had fun moments too, as he has
a great sense of humour. He was extremely generous to take
me along and teach me. One of the biggest lessons I came
back with, was a lesson in humility. Despite being the King,
he has an immense capacity to make people feel at home and
comes down to their level to interact with them, he says about
the Bhutanese experience. When Mahanaaryamans parents
came visiting Bhutan at the end of the training, he says it was
the first time that he felt people knew his parents through his
name! I had worked quite hard during the internship and
made some lasting friendships there. I felt extremely good as
people kept referring to them as Mahanaaryamans parents.
I made all their arrangements and planned their itinerary.
Every morning we would wake up and my father would ask
me what the plan was, he recalls, realising he was slowly
growing out of his parents shadow as he took charge.
Next followed an internship with the Ministry of Finance
under Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, where he learnt about
economic frameworks and policy-making. These are
experiences I would have never encountered had I not taken
that gap year, he reiterates.
While hes out there charting his own professional course,
family is still his basic support system. He says his relationship
with his father is cross-generational. Although if you asked
my father he would say we are more like brothers, he says
chuckling about the easy relationship the duo shares. His
mother is surely his fashion icon and the person hes perhaps
closest to; I trust her when it comes to clothes and fashion,
he says, acknowledging her innate elegance.
While the Scindias public life is riddled with responsibilities
and expectations, at home they have fun bonding over food
and watching movies. I love getting recipes off the internet
and experimenting with them. When I was younger, I wanted
to become a chef. Now of course it is just a hobby and the
interesting thing is that we all like to cook my sister Ananya
enjoys cooking and in my mothers family they all like to
cook. When I go to Mumbai for vacations to spend time
with my maternal grandparents, uncle and aunt, we end up
spending so much time cooking together that we hardly step
out to eat outside. In fact, I am a lot like my uncle, Pratap
Gaekwad. We also get along like a house on fire, he says.
Pratap, incidentally was also the first person to hold Aryaman
when he was born.
From the time that he was born, time seems to have flown
by; his mother is now readying to send him to the US where
he will operate on his own terms. A year has gone by since
his big decision and hes finally off to Yale, making it to the
list this time. Following his dreams. And only settling for
H
the best.
TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH
PHOTOS: ANIL CHAWLA
STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 55

Hello! Debutants

SHLOKA
BIRLA
LE PARFAIT
PRINCESS

THE TEENAGE DAUGHTER


OF YASH AND AVANTI
BIRLA TALKS TO HELLO!
ABOUT HER PLANS
FOR THE FUTURE, HER
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES
AND INSPIRATIONS

56 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

EDUCATION: Currently studying


at the German School, Mumbai
PERSONALITY TRAITS: I feel
Im an outgoing type of person, but
at the same time can still be shy. It
all depends on the people Im with.
If I vibe with them easily Ill be
gregarious and talkative, otherwise
I tend to hold back and be less
talkative.
COMING OF AGE MOMENT:
Watching my brothers grow up
and becoming adults was a coming
of age moment for me. They are
the perfect role models and seeing
them go from adolescents to mature
individuals was what made me think
about how I myself should change
as the years move on. At the end of
the day its all about being the best
person you can be.
BEST
COMPLIMENT:
Whenever my dad compliments
me on the way I look, how I do at
school or on my values, those are the
compliments that stay with me the
most. He is the most genuine person
I know, so his compliments are the
most treasured.
INSPIRATIONS: I dont really
have one thing that inspires me. I
believe that everyone in the world
can be inspiring in some way or the
other. But having said that, Outliers by
Malcolm Gladwell is one book that
I thought was pretty inspirational.

The pretty scion shoots with


HELLO! for the very first time. She
is garbed in a mini sequin and
feather dress by Nadine Dhody
paired with a necklace, worn here
as a hair accessory, and a ring,
both from her personal collection

PASSIONS/INTERESTS: Since
I was eight-years-old, I have been
acting in plays so Id have to say
that theatre and acting in general is
a passion of mine. I was part of the
play The Journey Home, where I had to
act in front of 2,000 people, this was
when I was 12-years-old.
STRENGHTS:
Im
very
independent in thought and
generally dont listen to other
peoples views. Instead I make up my
own mind. Persistence is another

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 57

Hello! Debutants
quality I swear to live by. And I love to
prove my detractors wrong.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE
THE MOST: Those would have to
be love and hard work. Anyone can go
to any heights in the world by imbibing
either of these values.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE:
Those would have to be the three
men in my life my dad, my elder
brother Vedant for his determination
to do well in life and my other
brother Nirvaan.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: That would
have to be my iPhone. It lets me socialise
and see what everyone is upto.
ON YOUR iPOD: Right Now by Party
Next Door and tracks by Lil Wayne.
A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY
WITH THE MOST: That would
have to be Olivia Pope from Scandal,
because she gets what she wants and is
an empowered woman who uses her own
strengths to do that.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: Ive
not figured that one out yet. I believe in
just doing what makes me happy. As far
as my future goes, it could be in acting
or in business though I feel it most
probably will be in business.
IDEA OF LOVE: When I hear the
word love, the first person that comes to
my mind is my father. Hes someone who
believes in nurturing everyone around
him and growing with selflessness.
H
TEXT: VISHWAVEER SINGH
PHOTOS: RYAN MARTIS
MAKE-UP: RECINDA MARTIS
HAIR: DIANA TAMANG
CREATIVE DIRECTION:
AVANTIKKA KILACHAND
STYLING: SONAM POLADIA
ASSISTED BY: RICHA MEHTA

58 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 59

Hello! Debutants

The young Zamir Abdullah, all of 17,


looks dapper as he casually strikes
a pose at the entrance of their New
Delhi home, dressed in a polywool
bandhgala with a detachable collar,
over an an eye-catching knit t-shirt
both by Lecoanet Hemant

60 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

ZAMIR
ABDULLAH

cHILD of pARADIse
THE sOn Of fOrmEr J&K CHiEf
minisTEr, Omar abduLLaH
and PayaL abduLLaH, is
an avid fOOTbaLLEr wHO
Has rEPrEsEnTEd dELHi in
THE naTiOnaLs and PLayEd
PrOfEssiOnaL fOOTbaLL in
sPain, finLand and swEdEn.
HE OPEns uP TO HELLO! in His
firsT inTErviEw TaLKing abOuT
KasHmir, CHariTy and His LOvE
fOr animaLs

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 61

Hello! Debutants

62 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

EDUCATION: Sanskriti School, Delhi


INSPIRATION: One of my biggest inspirations today is the President of the
United States of America, Barack Obama. He is an African American who
came from a humble background, yet became one of the most powerful men
in the world.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS: I spend most of my time in the day outside playing
sports whether its football, basketball or badminton soccer being my forte. I
am very passionate about nature and spend most of my time in the summer going
for treks in the mountains. I also help with my mothers NGO, Rahat, in charity
work. Whether its helping animals who are injured and need medical care or
contributing my pocket money to educate a poor child, I do whatever best I can.
I love animals and have two Saint Bernards I spend a lot of my time playing
with them.
STRENGTHS: The values Ive been brought up with are my strengths. My
upbringing gives me the confidence to stand up for myself and yet be humble.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE MOST: Respecting fellow human
beings irrespective of caste, creed or class, is a vital lesson both my brother and I
have grown up with. Weve also been taught to love animals selflessly and all our
pets are part of the family. These are some lessons that can help anyone get by in
life with dignity.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: Sheikh Abdullah, my great-grandfather
who was also known as the Lion of Kashmir for his relentless fight against the
hierarchy of the Maharaja. In sports, Pele is one of my biggest heroes for being
the greatest football player ever. He hailed from a poor background in Brazil and
eventually rose to the top. His determination and willingness to succeed
inspires me.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: My iPhone 5s. I watch football matches on it
I also keep checking football scores on it. I dont really play games on my
phone though.
ON YOUR iPOD: I listen to 30 Seconds to Mars and a lot of Major Lazer.
A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE MOST: I havent come across
any such character yet.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: My ultimate vision would be, become a good
human being with the correct values. I would like to contribute to India becoming
a great power and at the same time, do everything I can to solve the problems of
Jammu and Kashmir.
IDEA OF LOVE: Love can be experienced in various ways it could be love for
your parents, devotion towards your country or even pure affection for your pets.
For me the concept of love goes beyond just romance.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT? Once, while helping my mom with
her NGO work, I met some underprivileged kids in Gurgaon. Seeing them made
me realise how grateful we should be for what we have. I decided on the spot to
help them and every month I sign a cheque that goes from my personal account
for their food and education. For the first time, I felt responsible and it also gave
me a sense of fulfilment.
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? I dont know
about compliments, but I feel grateful for being born into the family that I am in
H
and I hope I can live up to peoples expectations of me.
TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH
PHOTOS: ABHISHEK KHANDELWAL
STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 63

Hello! Debutants
EDUCATION: The Cathedral and John Connon School,
Mumbai and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
INSPIRATIONS: My grandfather, famed lawyer and
politician, Ram Jethmalani, for his zest and courage of
conviction. He is physically and mentally agile at 92. Till today,
he argues regularly in court, teaches law with dedication and
plays a solid game of badminton. He also always has time
for his family and is undeniably the most loving grandfather I
know.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS: Im passionate about sports. I
swim, ski and run but am equally interested in social issues. I
enjoy social work, particularly with underprivileged children.
I worked with Teach for India this summer and thoroughly
enjoyed the experience.
STRENGHTS: For me, strength is the ability to believe in
yourself and your ideals. My core strength is my resilience and
positive attitude as I use my setbacks as a springboard to make a
successful comeback.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE MOST: Integrity
towards all, compassion and honesty. These values serve as a
filter through which I make the choices that define who I am.
Although I love the good times, a work ethic is important so
that I can bring out the best I am capable of.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My father, simply for who
he is and what he stands for. He is a self-made man and his
ambition to be greater everyday is something I hope to achieve.
I look up to him as he defines the role of a lawyer by focusing
on the person in need, rather than the money he will earn.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: My iPhone. It keeps me connected
to the outside world through Instagram and Facebook. Im also
able to check the news and play an occasional game of Candy
Crush! (smiles)
ON YOUR iPOD: Fetty Wap, Drake, Beyonc and
Justin Bieber.

SERENA
JETHMALANI

A LEGACY CoNTINuES
ACCLAIMED LAwyEr, MAHEsH
JETHMALANI AND HIs gLObAL sTyLIsTA
wIFE, HAsEENAs DAugHTEr, CArrIEs
AN IMprEssIvE FAMILIAL LEgACy ON
HEr yOuNg sHOuLDErs As sHE MAkEs
pOwErFuL sTrIDEs INTO THE wOrLD

A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE MOST:


My fathers late sister, Rani. Not only did she raise my father
to be the man he is today but she was also a strong, working
feminist amidst highly patriarchal surroundings. Today, just like
her, I have tried to raise my nine-year-old twin brothers and
in the future, I hope to be a successful woman, one who is not
dependent on a surname.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT? Definitely the
transition from school in Mumbai to university in America.
It has allowed me to become an independent person in many
aspects as I entered a world that was completely different from
what I was used to.
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE EVER
RECEIVED: I have been told that I look exactly like my
mother. I dont think any 19-year-old girl could receive a better
compliment especially since her mother is so beautiful.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: Born into a four-generation
family of lawyers, I have grown up hearing legal arguments as
dinner table conversation. I hope to continue the legacy in my
family a lawyer who is concerned less with monetary success
and more with pro-bono cases for disadvantaged women. I
hope to someday work at the United Nations as a volunteer.
IDEA OF LOVE: I think love needs to be both selfless yet
balanced. My brothers, Amartya and Agastya, are the perfect
definition of love.
TEXT: FARAH PALIA

64 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

TAHIRA
TARA
CHAWLA
DESIGNS ON
THE WORLD

THE EffErvEscEnT
daugHTEr Of
KaLyani cHawLa,
vP MarKETing and
cOMMunicaTiOns Of
cHrisTian diOr and
businEssMan, visHaL
cHawLa Has inHEriTEd
HEr MOTHErs Trs
cHic sEnsE Of fLair
and HEr faTHErs
sPOrTy sPiriT. HELLO!
sHinEs a sPOTLigHT
On THE budding
yOung bEauTy
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 65

Cover Story

her book, I Am Malala, humbled me. She


made me realise how much we take for
granted every single day, it is a sobering
thought.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: My
favourite gadget is my phone because it
has everything I need from my class
assignments and school calendar to social
media. Its convenient and easy to use.
ON YOUR iPOD: I am currently
listening to The Weekend, Drake, Kanye
West and some of the greats, such as
Bob Marley.
A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY
WITH THE MOST: I admire Emma
Watson for all the work she has done for
the He for She campaign. I also think she
is a really good actress and an inspiring
figure for all young girls.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT:
I dont know if my mother will ever think
I am of age. (smiles)
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU
HAVE EVER RECEIVED: You are
starting to look a lot like your mother.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: In the
future, I see myself being in the spheres of
law, architecture or marketing. They are
all very different paths but Im interested
in them all. I will decide upon a field by
the end of my GCSE exams. I envision
living in New York or London.
discipline and focus, which is essential
if you want to excel in life. I also enjoy
acting and have participated in school
plays and performed in musicals.
STRENGHTS: Strength, in my opinion,
is being able to voice your own beliefs and
not be influenced by the judgement of
others.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE
MOST: I value people with honesty

66 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

and a good sense of humour because


honesty is essential in order to build a
trusting relationship and it is important to
surround yourself with people who can
make you laugh as I believe never trust
anyone who cant make you laugh!
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My
real life hero is undoubtedly, Malala
Yousafzai. For such a brave young woman
to make such a meaningful impact on the
world is absolutely outstanding. Reading

IDEA OF LOVE: Love is being able


to trust somebody with your life and
knowing that they feel the same about you.
Love to me involves being able to spend
limitless time with my family and friends
surrounded by their love for me and mine
of them.
H

TEXT: FARAH PALIA


PHOTO: MAnOj KEsHARwAnI

Hello! Debutants

tIANA
tARApORVALA
A LYRICAL pAth

PHOTO COURTESY: ELIZAVETA MYAKSHEVA

THE cHarming daugHTEr Of LOndOnbasEd fasHiOnisTa, anju cHuLani,


and OrTHOpEdic surgEOn, dr farHad
TarapOrvaLa is a passiOnaTE music
LOvEr wiTH a quirky, quick-wiTTEd
sEnsE Of HumOur
EDUCATION: The Cathedral and John Connon School,
Mumbai, Heathfield School, Ascot and is currently a third year
Economics student at the University of Edinburgh
INSPIRATIONS: People who are passionate about what they do
and love their jobs, inspire me to work harder to achieve my goals.
PASSIONS/ INTERESTS:
Music is my biggest passion. It never fails to lift my mood. Ive
always been singing for as far back as I can remember from
school choirs and musicals to operas and currently with an A
capella group at university. I think its because Ive grown up
around music as both my parents and both sides of grandparents
are musically inclined its such a fulfilling passion to have.
STRENGHTS: In my opinion, strength is a persons ability to
pick themselves up after enduring a bad situation and moving on.
Id like to think that one of my greatest strengths is loyalty. Ive had
the same set of close friends since I was about 12-years-old and its
such a great support system to have.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE MOST: The values I
treasure the most in a person are kindness, intelligence, humility
and a warped sense of humour just like myself ! (smiles) Weird,
funny, clever people who dont necessarily know how great they
are, are the best kind!
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My heroes in real life are
undoubtedly my parents and grandparents who have been my
backbone and have always guided me through the decisions Ive
made helping to shape the person Ive become and loving me
unconditionally. I am so grateful for the values they have instilled in
me and consider myself lucky to call them family.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: Id have to say my phone because its
how I keep in contact with everyone and has all my music, but I do
sometimes feel like the pressure to constantly be on social networks
and social media can be overwhelming and annoying.
ON YOUR iPOD: This is probably the most difficult question for
me but Id have to say the artists Im obsessed with, and constantly
have on repeat, are Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran, Jeff Buckley,
Paolo Nutini, Kodaline and Mumford & Sons.

A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE MOST: A


character I identify with the most would probably be a cross
between Chandler Bing from the TV show Friends, for his sarcastic
sense of humour, Phoebe Buffay, also from Friends, for her weird
quirkiness and Winney the Pooh, because Im such a foodie and
love to day dream.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT: My coming of age
moment was probably the first time I had to cook a proper meal for
myself at college and managed to grate my finger and set the fire
alarm off all in one fell swoop! It made me realise how much I
took home-made food for granted.
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED:
The best compliment I have ever received is that Im witty. I love
making people laugh.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: Although Im currently studying
Economics at university, my true passion is music and I hope to
be able to do something with that in the future I just want to be
really happy with whatever I choose to pursue.
IDEA OF LOVE: This is difficult for me to answer because I
havent really ever been in love but in my head its somewhere
between being a crazy, romantic, Cinderella-happily-ever-after
believer and a rationalist. Love is being able to be completely
selfless towards someone and not want or expect anything
in return.

TEXT: FARAH PALIA

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 67

Hello! Debutants

AMAAN
JAIKISHAN

A GENTLEMAN
RISES

PHOTO COURTESY: CHETAN JAIKISHAN

THE dappEr yOung sciOn


Of cOrpOraTE mavEn,
cHETan JaikisHan, Of
ExprEss fOOds pvT LTd,
and gLObaL fasHiOnisTa,
rOOHi OOmErbHOy
JaikisHan, Of rrO pvT
LTd, is a gEnTLEman
inTELLEcTuaL in THE making

68 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

EDUCATION: The Cathedral and John


Connon School, Mumbai. Currently at Bryant
University studying International Business,
Rhode Island
INSPIRATIONS: I am extremely lucky to
have several inspiring people around me. My
late grandmother being the first, her courage
and determination taught me never to give up
in the most difficult of situations. Every family
member of mine inspires me in their own
way right from my youngest cousin, Inaara,
to my great-grandmother, Khadija Sattar
Oomerbhoy. Seeing people like my grandfather,
grandmother, my uncle and parents working
hard every day inspires me to do the same and
improve as an individual.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS: Football has
been my passion since the day I started playing.
The sport taught me so much throughout my
childhood and teen years. I learned about
discipline, team spirit and competition in a way
that no other experience would have taught
me. The game has become a huge part of my
life. Gyming and training are an important
part of my life outside of academics. I believe
that keeping fit helps, not only physically but
mentally too, as it is a great stress reliever.
STRENGHTS: To me, strength is not just
something that you may be good at and that
sets you apart from others, but something that
is beneficial to others, it may be even just a
personality trait that you hold, it doesnt always
have to be a skill. My core strengths would
be perseverance, because throughout school,
even though I wasnt exceptional at academics,
I always worked hard because, to me, failure
is unacceptable. I have to keep going until I
achieve what Im aiming for. It served me well
in my final examinations. People find me easy
going and amiable by nature.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE
MOST: Honesty is the one value I need to
see in every single person I choose to assosciate
with because its also an important part of my
personality. I believe in telling people things
as they are and not beating around the bush
or being deceptive. Trust and loyalty are also
extremely important to me. When you can trust
the people around you and they can trust you,
there is no doubt that those relationships are
life long and more often than not, these people
will help you on your journey to success. It may
result in you having a small circle, but your
circle definitely has more value.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My mum
and dad are my heroes. No one can compare
to them. Theyve been the best parents anyone
could ask for. I look up to them, not only for the
successful businesses they both run but also for
the fact that even with all their hard work they
never failed to remind me that family comes
first. Theyve always been there for me and
their lives inspire me. I hope that I can be even
half as amazing as they are when I become
a parent.

A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH


THE MOST: The character I identify most
with is Atticus Finch from Harper Lees To Kill a
Mockingbird. It sounds strange but at a core level,
Atticus is a man who has his own methods of
going about life but he is still successful. He has
a strong value base and anyone who doesnt
uphold the values he believes in are cut off
from his views. Most of all though, he would do
anything for the people he cared about, even if
he didnt always show it.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: My iPhone,
laptop and Playstation 4. My phone simply
because it has everything I need and it is easily
accessible. My laptop is mainly used for work
and to watch my favourite TV shows. My
Playstation is the ultimate stress reliever, playing
FIFA after a stressful day helps me relax and is
a daily routine of mine.
ON YOUR iPOD: My music mainly
comprises of rap, deep house and tropical
house music. My favourite artists are Kanye
West, Drake, Future, Kygo, Robin Shulz and
The Weekend.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT?
Undoubtedly, when I reached college. The
comfort and luxury of home vanishes in a
matter of seconds. For the first time in my life I
wasnt dependent on anyone. It really brought
about a positive change in my development as
an individual.
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE
EVER RECEIVED? The best compliment
I have ever received is was not mentioned
directly to me but to my parents. Their friends
told them that I was well brought up and to
me that is the most important compliment as it
serves as a reflection off my parents kindness
whilst nurturing me and helping me become
the individual I am today.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM My
immediate future at Bryant where I want to
study really hard, but still have a great time
and make lots of memories. After that I want
to follow in my parents footsteps and have a
successful business of my own. Not only do
I want the business to be successful but I will
strive to make sure that it incorporates all the
values I hold close. The most important thing,
however, is that I want to be happy. No matter
what else happens, I want to keep the people I
cherish close. My success wont mean anything
to me unless certain people arent with me on
that same successful journey.
IDEA OF LOVE: I feel that love is a term
that is severely misused by everyone these days.
Love, according to me, is a feeling of comfort,
security, happiness and an undying passion for
H
someone regardless of any obstacles.

TEXT: FARAH PALIA

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 69

Hello! Debutants

the allrounder

THE sTriking daugHTEr Of


TasnEEm Zakaria mEHTa,
managing TrusTEE and
HOnOrary dirEcTOr, BHau daji
Lad musEum and Vikram singH
mEHTa, cHairman Of BrOOkings,
india is a spiriTEd wOmEns
EmpOwErmEnT acTiVisT aT HEarT
EDUCATION: Currently, Ahilya is a sophomore at Wellesley
College and is considering a double major in Political Science and
Economics. She is a part of several different organisations including
the Student Justice for Palestine and Mock Trial. She is also a Senior
Student Ambassador at the Wellesley Center of Women. Before
coming to Wellesley, Ahilya studied at the Dhirubhai Ambani
International School in Mumbai. During her time in the Ambani
high school, she was interested in pursuing History and Economics.
Additionally, the school let her pursue her love for sports and while
at the school, she was Sports Captain and represented her school
and state at the Judo Junior Nationals Tournament.
INSPIRATIONS: My inspiration is my mother its that simple.
Ive seen my mother fight through thick and thin to continue what
she loves. She has taken on more than I could ever actually imagine
taking on and has still managed to commit herself to everything
equally. She has achieved so much and everytime I mention it to her,
her eyes sparkle because she always says that she is doing exactly
what she loves. I think thats the main reason she inspires me she
has never sacrificed her passion for anyone or anything and has
become so successful following it.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS: Ive always wanted to study law.
At Wellesley, Im pursuing my interest in law as a member of
the Mock Trial team. I am also incredibly interested in womens
empowerment. As a senior student ambassador for the Wellesley
Center of Women, it is my job to try to communicate to the college
the work the Center does to promote women empowerment.
During my year off, I worked and lived in villages on the outskirts
of Udaipur, Rajasthan, helping domestically abused women as a
volunteer for the NGO, Seva Mandir.
STRENGTHS: Id like to believe that my biggest strength is that
Im a very independent and strong-willed person. Ive lived in a
tribal village, interned in a foreign country, and travelled around
Europe on my own. During my gap year and for my summer after
my first year at Wellesley, I was studying and interning in Spain.
While studying there, I lived with a host family for months and

70 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

travelled to different parts of Europe on my own. It taught me the


value and importance of independence and has become something
Ive prided myself on ever since.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE MOST: Honesty and
respect are two values that are of the utmost importance to me.
I know that it isnt easy to control how others behave but Ive
always believed that it is necessary to treat others with the respect
you would want them to treat you with. Additionally, honesty is
important to me because the truth is something that eventually
comes out. Ive always believed that honesty and respect are very
closely linked.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My real life hero is my dada,
Jagat Singh Mehta. No matter how old he got, his brain never aged.
He never let his age affect his work or his passion. He always had
people visiting and would always tell stories of his days as Foreign
Secretary.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: I only really use my iPhone and my
laptop. I have all my work, my notes, my music, pictures, etc on my
laptop.
ON YOUR iPOD: I love Bollywood music and Bollywood movies.
I love working out to this music because theres so much energy or
emotion in each song. I have always listened to Bach or Vivaldi but
after actually learning how to play the piano last year, I enjoy it so
much more.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: Ive tried planning my life and
realised that things are constantly changing. Im not prepared to
think about what happens next.
IDEA OF LOVE: All my friends say Im a hopeless romantic.
Regardless, if I were to define love, for me at this time in my life it
would entail spending time with my friends and laughing endlessly. H
TEXT: FARAH PALIA

Hello! Debutants
EDUCATION: Millfield School, London
INSPIRATIONS: One person that
inspires me tremendously is my mother
watching this strong, successful, kindhearted and supportive woman
is inspirational.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS:
Philanthropy is a passionate pursuit
for me especially working with
charities that promote education for
underprivileged children because I
believe that an education can change
peoples lives dramatically. As a part of
the privileged class it is our duty to help
others who need our help in order to
better their lives.
STRENGHTS: Strength is the power
to believe in yourself and your dreams
without needing anyone elses validation.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE
MOST: One value I treasure above all,
is kindness and compassion, because
the world can never have too much
of either.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My
hero is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
because of her self-confidence
and individuality.

AKANKSHA GOEL

A PASSIONATE ACTIVIST

THE bEguiLing yOung DAugHTER Of cORpORATE


HOncHO, AsHisH gOEL, THE MD Of AMEyALOgisTics AnD
AccLAiMED sOciETy bEAuTy, pRERnA MALHOTRA, On HER
inspiRATiOns, cHARiTAbLE puRsuiTs AnD MORE...

PHOTO COURTESY: JUSTIN PIPERGER

FAVOURITE GADGETS: My
favourite gadget is a kindle as I love to
read biographies, such as Daughters of
Arabia by Jean Sasson.
ON YOUR iPOD: I love to listen to
Hello by Adele, What Do You Mean by
Justin Bieber and Summer by
Calvin Harris.
A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY
WITH THE MOST: Someone I truly
idolise is the First Lady of the United
States of America, Michelle Obama, for
her sense of intellect and grace.
YOUR COMING OF AGE
MOMENT? My coming of age
moment was when I went to
boarding school.
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU
HAVE EVER RECEIVED: Beauty
and brains.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: My
vision for the future is to open my own
NGO for womens empowerment and to
be a successful business woman.
IDEA OF LOVE: My definition of love
is two people who accept one another for
who they are with all their perfections
and imperfections.

TEXT: FARAH PALIA

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 71

Hello! Debutants
EDUCATION: The J.B. Petit High School for Girls,
Mumbai, cole Mondiale World School, Mumbai
and Wellesley College, Massachusetts
INSPIRATIONS: Nichiren Daishonins writings
inspire me. I quote, By chanting nammyohorenge
kyo, the fundamental law of the universe you can
change an adverse wind into a tailwind. Im a strong
believer in the Lotus Sutra and my mission is to
strive alongside my Mentor, President Daisaku Ikeda,
in order to spread Buddhism to every corner of the
world and I plan to do so by setting up SGI centers
across the globe through the revenue I generate from
my lingerie start-up, Veremente Enterprises.
PASSIONS/INTERESTS: Im passionate about
the Arts, I am a trained kathak dancer and have been
so since the age of seven. I also take a keen interest
in badminton and yoga.
STRENGHTS: I have a quest for utter perfection
Ill keep at it until I am satisfied with the end result.
THE VALUES YOU TREASURE THE MOST:
The values I treasure the most are ones that I learnt
from my nani, Asha Golcha, (who lives in Jaipur).
She has always reiterated that a womans beauty lies
solely in her simplicity and that hard work always
pays off, no matter what the sacrifices.
YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE: My real
world heroes include Mahatma Gandhi and my
father. Mahatma Gandhi had a great soul, which
captured the attention of the entire world. He was
armed with non-violence a quality that embodies
courage greater than any sword-bearing warrior.
My father personifies resolute determination he
has a never give up and achieve the impossible,
die-hard attitude.
FAVOURITE GADGETS: My iPhone and my
MacBook I cant do without either of them!

RADHIKA B GOENKA
A SPIRITED DREAmER

THE daugHTEr Of BaLkrisHan (Bk), CHairman Of


THE WELspun grOup a us$3 BiLLiOn muLTinaTiOnaL
COngLOmEraTE and dipaLi gOEnka, managing
dirECTOr Of WELspun gLOBaL Brands LimiTEd
(WgBL) is a spiriTuaL EnTrEprEnEur WiTH a quEsT
fOr aBsOLuTE pErfECTiOn in aLL spHErEs
72 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

ON YOUR iPOD: Drake is always on repeat!


Currently its all about his new single Hotline Bling.
A CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE
MOST: Surprising as this may be to some
Tony Stark. The characters quirky attitude in
taking on challenges reminds me of aspects of my
own personality.
YOUR COMING OF AGE MOMENT? When
I earned my first ever salary as an intern with ELLE,
India in 2007.
THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU HAVE EVER
RECEIVED: Ive been told I am a loyal and
reliable friend.
ULTIMATE VISION/DREAM: Ultimately, I
would wish for Veremente Enterprises to be a
huge success story and a legacy I can leave behind.
At Welspun, we are all very excited about new
challenges and innovations such as 3D printing.
IDEA OF LOVE: Love is nothing more than a
sense of being, and feeling, complete and happy
with yourself.
TEXT: FARAH PALIA
PHOTO: gAuRAv sAwn PHOTOgRAPHy
HAIR & mAkE-uP: bIAncA bEE

Hello! Debutants
Can you tell us a bit about your childhood
in Mumbai?
Ive lived in Mumbai all my life, Ive been born and
brought up here. My childhood however, was super hectic.
My parents had enrolled me into way too many classes.
So I was always at tennis, swimming, calligraphy, dance or
elocution whenever I had any free time.
How did you choose the university you
wanted to attend? Whats the experience
there been like?
USC (University of Southern California) was always
super high on my list, and when it came down to
choosing, it was East Coast vs the West Coast, and as
much as I liked the appeal of studying in that
environment on the East of the US, for me, picking
USC was a very obvious choice.
When it comes to fashion and your personal style,
who would you say is your biggest inspiration?
I dont really have any inspirations. Inspirations always
come and go and change with the times. I just wear what
Im comfortable in and thats been my mantra for as long
as I can remember.
If there was one place in the world where you
could settle down, where would that be?
Exactly where I am now. But if for some reason I was not
allowed to be in Mumbai, it would probably be London. I
love that city.
Has your family played an important role in your
career and education choices?
Yes of course. Theyve played an important role but
theyve at the same time always let me make my own
decisions and have guided and supported me with
whatever I wanted to do.
Who are you closer to, your mom or your dad?
Thats a tough one. Its like asking a parent which child
is their favourite. Id say Im equally close to the both of
them.
Who are the designers you patronise the most?
Funnily enough, I dont really have a favourite designer
or shop. I pick up my clothes from all over,
on holidays.

SIMRAN ADVANI
FASHIONISTA AND
gIRl AbOuT TOwN

tHE daugHtEr Of EntrEprEnEurs,


dInEsH and pOOnaM adVanI, taLKs tO
HELLO! aBOut HEr pLans fOr tHE futurE
and MOrE...

What are your favourite restaurants/clubs in


the world?
Wasabi at the Taj is definitely at the top of my list, I also
like Hakkasan and Nobu, and this really cute Korean
BBQ place called Gogi, in California.
Are you a reader? If so, which books and authors
do you prefer?
I read sometimes. JK Rowling definitely, but Khaled
Hosseini and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, those are
my favourites.
Would you ever think about joining your
family business?
Sure. Thats something that I have had on my mind for a
long time.
What are the five must-have items in your
handbag that you cant do without?
Thats easy, my wallet, my sunglasses, spare rubber
bands, my phone and some chewing gum.

TEXT: VishwaVEEr singh


PhoTo: ryan marTis
hair & makE-uP: rEcinda marTis
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 73

Designer Muse

ON fASHION,
fAmILy ANd frIENdSHIp

ZEENIA ANd
AdITI SINGH
HELLO! mEETS ZEENIA, dESIGNEr ANd wIfE Of
rANbAxy ScION, VIkrAmjIT SINGH ANd HEr
muSE, AdITI, wIfE Of fOrTIS HEALTHcArE cOfOuNdEr, SHIVINdEr SINGH. THE LAdIES, wHO
ArE SISTErS-IN-LAw, ALSO dOubLE up AS EAcH
OTHErS frIENdS. THEy SHArE SOmE ExcLuSIVE
bONdING mOmENTS TOGETHEr bEfOrE AdITI
SETS Off TO A NEw wAy Of LIfE AwAy IN bEAS
74 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Petite and talented designer Zeenia


Singh and sister-in-law and muse,
Aditi Singh, pose at the back lawn of
her Delhi home dressed in Zeenias
latest collection of Indian wear
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 75

Designer Muse
ot many have seen Aditi Singh, the mediaN
shy wife of Fortis Head Shivinder Singh.
No search engines will offer a glimpse of her. Not

even Google! This is her media debut, ironically at


a time when her husband has announced a life of
sewa to the Radha Soami sect in Beas, renouncing
their cosmopolitan life in Delhi a choice that has
taken the business world by surprise. Despite the
buzz, Aditi is unperturbed. As Zeenia puts finishing
touches to Aditis look, their chemistry as friends
and sisters-in-law that get along famously, is quite
evident. Laughter and good vibes set the ball rolling
for a memorable shoot. Our grandmother-in-law
wouldve been proud to see us. She loved dressing up
and was an extremely stylish woman, says Zeenia.
Dadiji loved her French chiffons and enjoyed life
she celebrated every aspect of it, recalls Aditi about
Tari Mohan Singh, wife of Ranbaxy Founder, Bhai
Mohan Singh, who has had an obvious influence on
the women.
Taking a leaf out of the past, the third-generation
women indulge in some joie-de-vivre as Zeenia
compliments Aditi and Shivinder for taking this
giant leap of faith, literally. I think its beautiful
that they can start this journey together, says Zeenia
about the couples move to Beas, to offer sewa at
the Radha Soami establishment. I am very happy
that we are doing this at 40 we never thought we
would move there so early but feel blessed that it has
happened now, says Aditi as she poses for HELLO!
The essence of the life that the couple has chosen is
reflected in small gestures. Aditi is doing this photoshoot as an exception as a symbol of her love
and appreciation for her designer and sister-in-law,
revelling in the joy of giving, which a truly spiritual
life bestows.
The women, whose husbands are first cousins,
are quite similar in their ways both dignified and
refreshingly old-world as they talk of family values
and creating strong bonds between their children.
Zeenia is innately creative. She exudes a tangible
savoir-faire. Aditi combines style and substance
together holding the two in a delicate balance. As
a designer, it is Zeenias celebratory moment as she
watches Aditi exult in clothes designed by her. Ive
always felt that people should not just look beautiful
but also feel beautiful in my clothes, offers Zeenia,
sounding creatively fulfilled.
As Zeenias muse, Aditi is flattered. She wants
to do justice to Zeenia bhabhi and despite the
imminent drastic change awaiting her, she makes
time for this. Her spirituality shines through in her
good-naturedness and eagerness to celebrate every
moment. Aditi cannot stop raving about Zeenias
talent. Whenever Ive gone to Zeenia bhabhi, shes
always been there. And as a designer she truly
understands me. She brings out my personality
through her clothes there is an understated
elegance about her clothes that resonates with my
personality, explains Aditi.
As they pose for HELLO!, they represent the spirit
of feminine friendships and blissful bonds. I am
going to a place of love, reminds Aditi. But seeing
the two women revel in a creative process as Zeenia
crafts and Aditi dons, one is reminded of Amir
Khusros famous Farsi lines used later by Emperor
Jehangir, when he fell for the beauty of Kashmir:
Agar Firdaus Bar Roo E Zaminasto Zaminast, Haminasto
Haminasto Haminast. If there is paradise on Earth, it is
here. It is here. It is here. Human beings can indeed
create heavens when they think and act in beauty.
Presenting Zeenia and Aditi at their beautiful best:
76 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Zeenia wears a Benarsi kurta


with zari border, with a silk
velvet Patiala salwar and a net
dupatta with heavy sequence
and thread jaal work, all from
her collection while Aditi
poses beside her in all her
festive glory (seen here). Aditi,
beaming happily (opposite
page), shares that for her
(Zeenia) to think I would be
her muse, is very flattering
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 77

Designer Muse
AdITI SINGH

What do you like about Zeenias designs?


The reason why I love her clothes is the fact that her taste
is very similar to mine. I love dressing up. She understands
what works for me. Every woman wants to look beautiful
and Zeenia allows me to do that even with my regular
clothes. For festivals and weddings, shes able to do rich
clothes for me without making them too weighty or
ostentatious. There is an element of simplicity in what she
does for me her clothes are elegant and yet flashy enough
if one wants to make a statement.
What part of your personality do her designs
bring out or enhance?
I am a delicate woman and want to be perceived as
one. Zeenia recognises who I am in essence and brings
out the human being that I am through her clothes. I
love border sarees with blouses that are heavy and she
improvises for me depending upon the occasion. If its
a regular dinner she will do a simpler blouse and for a
wedding saree, she will do a heavier blouse. Sometimes,
she just plays with colour for a dramatic effect and its the
colour that changes the entire design equation.
How do you feel about playing muse to Zeenia and
inspiring her designs?
I am absolutely flattered. Shes beautiful inside and
outside. For her to think I would be her muse, is very
flattering. Shes a wonderful human being. I honestly
didnt think I would be anyones muse.
Your favourite outfit designed by her?
A green sharara which she did for me. A neon pink and
yellow leheriya saree is also one of my favourites. Its just
the colours in the saree that makes it vibrant. Thats the
special thing she does for me shes able to bring out the
woman in me through her colours.
How do you view Zeenia as a human being?
Shes beautiful; physically and inside. She does justice
to all roles she plays as a mother, friend, daughter-inlaw, designer and friend. There have been times I need
something done in three days and she will do it for me
without ever refusing. Both she and I got married about
17 years ago. Our kids went to the same school. Weve
had lots to share in life family and experiences; and
its been a great journey for both of us. Going through
matrimony and motherhood together has made our
friendship even stronger. When we got married we
decided we would be great friends luckily it has been
that way. Its been wonderful. To share our taste and
experiences as daughters-in-law. Both our mothers-in-law
love dressing up. It makes it more fun. Her mother-in-law
has complimented me on wearing Zeenias sarees without
even knowing they were designed by her and those little
moments make it more special.
Your favourite time spent with Zeenia?
Every time that I meet her becomes my favourite time
with her. Its always a great friendship and we giggle like
little girls. We dont go out for lunches and dinners. I liked
spending more time with the kids at home I knew my
nest would be empty sooner than later and I didnt want
to leave them alone. Weve sent our kids and my husbands
brothers kids to Sanawar, which was a conscious decision
to choose a co-ed boarding school as we wanted the next
generation to grow up together.
The most precious gift youve received
from Zeenia?
The most precious gift that Ive received is the love and
respect Ive got from her. Material things get used and
thrown away. The moments spent with her have been
priceless. She is a very loving person. Its great between
sisters-in-law. We have no competition to outdo each other
in any way.
What you would truly wish for Zeenia
Happiness and fulfillment in all the roles that she plays.
78 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Aditi looks radiant in a shaded


chiffon saree with a delicate pearl
and beadwork border

Zeenia is evidently passionate


about her work, I feel happy
probably the happiest when I
am creating, she tells HELLO!

ZEENIA SINGH

How did your design journey begin?


Its been almost eight-nine years since I
started designing clothes. The journey started
with creating spun cotton salwar kameezes.
Whenever I would look in the market, I would
either find stuff that was too dressy or too
simple. Not really satisfied with what I saw
in stores, I started making my own clothes
and got compliments whenever I wore them.
Slowly, people started requesting me to make
salwar kameezes for them. I started with simple
cottons that people could wear to work
and gradually moved onto the heavier stuff
wedding wear lehengas and shararas with
salma and gota work. Every year, I do a huge
exhibition and other times I meet people by
appointment.
How does Aditi inspire you as a muse?
She looks beautiful in my clothes. She got
married six months before me and we had
our babies together. We lived in a family
compound. Over the years weve become
friends. Its not so much of just being sistersin-law. But there is an obvious bond between
us that comes from being family.
What are the qualities in Aditi that
you admire?

I just find shes genuinely very warm


there is an inner radiance that she reflects
always smiling! She also carries herself very
elegantly.
Can you describe an outfit you designed
keeping her in mind?
The green sharara (in the photo) was designed
with her in mind. She loves dressing up and
wearing jewellery in that sense we are both
quite similar and yet simple at the core. We are
both traditional at heart and our sensibilities
exude an old-world charm. When I design, I
like to create classic pieces its not something
that you wear one season and forget about in
the next. And Aditi does complete justice to
my designs shes classic and timeless. There
is an instant synergy between my designs and
Aditi as a muse.
Creativity is also a spiritual experience.
Do you feel that way?
I feel happy probably the happiest when I
am creating. When I see people looking lovely
in my clothes, it gives me a sense of satisfaction
and joy. I also only do customised clothing for
people so no two people will have the same
clothes. Also, its my effort to make every client
feel good and provide for them what really
suits them.

Do you share common ground


with Aditi?
Our family comes first for both of us
husband and kids come before
everything else.
Your favourite time spent with her?
When we were newly married, we had a
great time enjoying a new phase in our lives. I
have lovely memories of those times she has
four boys and I have a boy and girl. Rakhi was
a special occasion for the entire family my
husband and his two first cousins (Shivinder
and Malvinder Singh) and their families would
celebrate together. And all the kids being
together 10 of them was amazing! We used
to have a fairly hectic time trying to get the
kids to tie rakhis.
What do you think is the best version
of Aditi?
Its very difficult to point out as shes good at
all her roles shes a great mother and wife.
Its not easy bringing up four boys but shes
done a fantastic job. Shes a perfect wife who
has stood by her husband and been a constant
H
support to the entire family.
TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH
PHOTOS: ABHISHEK KHANDELWAL
STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 79

Hello! Profile

WITH HER SON AND


SISTER AT HOME IN IBIZA

JESSICA
SIMON

TELLS HOW SHES BRINGING


HER OWN STYLE TO THE FAMILY
FASHION LABEL, MONSOON

Peter Simon is the founder of the high-street label,


Monsoon, never set out to be a fashion designer.
Had she followed her heart during her
foundation course during her first year at art
school, she would have happily carved out a
career as a ceramicist. I still keep my hand in,
she says as she guides us through a series of her
own beautifully hand-crafted and painted pots
and vases, which line a shelf in her familys home
in Ibiza. Today, they have been filled with blooms
and greenery from the villas garden.
Its always been a passion of mine, but there
was a point at art school when I had to decide
what to specialise in and I did have to question
where that was going to lead, Could I really make
a living out of this, or should I move in another
direction? I suppose fashion was the obvious
choice, given my background.
Jessica might be passionate about ceramics,
but fashion is very much in her blood. During the
early stages of Monsoons set-up, her fathers then
wife Jessicas mother Kate, was responsible for
introducing a line of accessories into its stores, a
venture that would lead in time to the birth of the
equally successful Accessorize chain of shops.
Jessicas sister Zara, is an acclaimed jewellery
designer in her own right. Growing up in London
and later in the country, the sisters remember
playing not with toys, but with the piles of fabrics,
swatches of silks, hand-block prints, beads and
design samples for Monsoon that filled their
household. I think thats where my obsession
with print began, says Jessica. Thats why I say
my career path was almost inevitable.
IN THE FAMILY
We are sitting with Jessica, 36, and Zara, 35,
drinking a much-needed cup of coffee, on a
terrace of the Ibiza house, which looks down over
the sea and has views of the islands old town.
Were poring over a look book of Jessicas designs,
which make up her first, eponymous collection for
their fathers company.
Being just a year apart, the sisters have an
incredibly close bond. They have also both
been up since the early hours: Jessica with her
80 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

SHIRT: JESSICA SIMON FOR MONSOON. JEWELLERY THROUGHOUT: Z FOR MONSOON

espite the fact that she has recently launched


D
her first clothing collection, by her own
admission, Jessica Starr Simon, whose father

There is a vibe here


in Ibiza
laid-back yet always
stylish and chic

Jessica relaxes with her son Luca at the family villa in Ibiza. The
islands relaxed atmosphere away from the party hotspots
helped inspire not just her new collection for her dads label
Monsoon, but also the whole company. My father came here in the
late 1960s and its where Monsoon really came about, she says.
He set about the idea of bringing the Ibiza look back to London
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 81

Hello! Profile
I have always loved clothes, but I have
never been into high-end fashion
son Luca, whos three-and-a-half, and Zara who
married last year with her baby River, born three
months ago. Both women, understandably, are
feeling a little weary.
I have always loved clothes, but I have never
been into high-end fashion, says Jessica as she talks
about her collection. What I wanted to create here
was a line of easy-to-wear pieces that you can wear at
home, on a night out or on holiday. Its all about the
silhouette, the prints and the textures.
Jessicas capsule collection of 15 pieces includes
panelled star-printed shirts which can be easily
matched with shorts, or jeans for the less brave, as
she advises plus smocked dresses, blouses and batik
printed tops.
She takes her inspiration from India where she
has travelled extensively over the years studying print
techniques the 1970s and glam rock, as well as her
mothers innate sense of style, which she describes as
effortless, understated but feminine.
Jessicas aim was to produce a line that was stylish
but relaxed; a look that was easy to pull together,
fashionable but timeless and also affordable. When
thinking about her collection, Jessica also looked to
Ibiza, which is very much a second home for her.
My father came here in the late 60s and its
where Monsoon really came about, she explains.
He was a hippie, living on Formentera (island,
to Ibizas south) in a nudist colony, of all things, and
he set about the idea of bringing the Ibiza look, as
he saw it, back to London which he did, selling
from a stall on the Portobello Road and that would
eventually become the company. It was so successful
that by his late 20s, he already had seven shops.

Jessica and her sister


Zara, who designs
jewellery for Monsoons
sister label, Accessorize.
While its easy to assume
their family connections
make their jobs easy,
the sisters see things
differently. You are
always having to prove
your worth probably
more so than if you
worked anywhere else,
says Zara
82 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

FANTASY ISLAND
Hed always warned us off Ibiza, saying it wasnt
for us, that it was full of freaks, says Zara. But
when we were in our teens on a sailing trip round
the Balearics, he brought us here for the night. We
were only 14, 15 at the time and our eyes were out
on stalks.
It seemed like so much fun and on a trip round
the old town that day we were approached by a guy
who asked us to come to a club that night. Wed have
free entry, free drinks, you name it; all we had to do
was take part in a beauty contest.
So that night we jumped ship, when our
parents had gone to bed, and went to the club and
had a brilliant time. We snuck back onto the boat
in the early hours of the morning thinking no
one would know any better, but unfortunately we
were rumbled.
I dont think it helped that we were photographed
by the local press, standing on a catwalk with sashes
round us that read Summer Ibiza Girl and that
Dad saw it in the paper, laughs Jessica.
Or the fact that he found vodka in our bags,
adds Zara.
Dad was pretty furious, to say the least, Jessica
continues. When we woke up late that afternoon
and emerged from our cabin, we found ourselves no
longer in Ibiza but in Majorca. In the intervening
hours, having seen the piece, Dad promptly raised
the anchor and took us to safer shores.
Their father might not have approved of his
childrens antics then, but in the 1990s he relented

Floral cushions on outdoor sofas (above) and indoor daybeds (below right) are a nod not just to the nature that surrounds the villa, but also to the family company,
with many items in the house coming from current or past Monsoon home ranges. The simple staircase (below left), meanwhile, is pure rustic Ibiza

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 83

Hello! Profile
It makes sense to work with
Monsoon. Its always been a
family business
and bought a second home on the island
for the family.
Its here that Jessica and Zara like to
spend as much time as they can with
their own families, catching up with their
younger sister Camilla and her brood, who
are based there, as well as their brother
George and Peters younger children.
Its very much a home from home for
us, says Jessica. We have a lot of friends
here but its not all about going wild. Of
course, I like to go out, but for us now
thats more about late dinners with friends
we have grown up with, or lazy lunches on
Formentera with the children. We both
spend a lot of time there off season, away
from the crowds.
We both love it because of the
inspiration it gives us as designers. There
is a vibe here laid-back yet always
stylish and chic that appeals to us.
The fact that Jessica and Zara are
employed within their fathers firm could
perhaps raise eyebrows, as they are more
than aware. Jessicas new collection falls
under the Monsoon label, as does Zaras
jewellery line, Z, for Accessorize.
However, the sisters have earned their
stripes. They both completed foundation

Jessica models a dress from her own range (above), which was designed with stylish
relaxation in mind. Just the thing, then, for an alfresco meal (right), something she and
Zara are keen on when in Ibiza. Its very much a home from home for us, says Jessica.
Thats more about late dinners with friends we have grown up with, or lazy lunches with
the children
84 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

There are people Im working


with who I literally grew up with
courses at art school and both were
awarded much-coveted places at Central
Saint Martins College of Art and Design
(whose alumni include Stella McCartney,
Alexander McQueen and Clines
Phoebe Philo).
They also worked elsewhere long
before joining the family fold. Jessica
had many placements in the world of
fashion, including time at Clements
Ribeiro. Zara trained for a time under
celebrated jeweller, Stephen Webster,
before she set up on her own.
I suppose people will and can have
their views on that, muses Jessica. But
to be honest it really makes sense for
both of us to work with Monsoon.
Its always been very much a family
business. My father set it up, my mother
was a great influence in the early years
and we grew up within this world and
understand the ethic and the ethos of the
fashion brand that is within us all, really.
My brother works in the Far East
for the company, Camilla looks after the
franchise in Ibiza even my uncle works
for the firm.
Ive had opportunities to work
elsewhere some of which Ive taken
but I suppose it was only natural that I
would gravitate back here eventually.
There are people Im working with today
who I literally grew up with no one
seems to leave.
Adds Zara: Because of that, you
are always having to prove your worth
probably more so than if you worked
anywhere else. Im working on a
jewellery line for Accessorize with a team
of people who really know their stuff,
so you cant afford to make mistakes
even if you want to push the boundaries
at times.
SHORTS STORY
With that in mind, what did their father
really think of Jessicas first collection for
the company?
She pauses for a moment, then laughs.
Hes someone who comes straight to
the point. I think he likes the look of it,
the fact that it stayed true to the heritage
and look of Monsoon, that Ive worked
with the right materials.
He liked the prints, he approved of
the designs for the shirts and dresses
but when I showed him a pair of shorts,
Im not sure that registered so well with
him. His response was, Shorts? For the
autumn? Are you serious?
She was, and was right to be: the
shorts are proving a hit. But thats fathers
H
for you
text: NAtASHA GARNett
PHOtOS: tIM BeDDOW
HAIR & MAKe-UP: LOUISe MAxWeLL
USING CHARLOtte tILBURy

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 85

Hello! Designers

GIRLS ABOUT TOWN

HAUTE TO TROT
MEET LAHORES fRESHEST cROp Of dESIGNERS - MEHRyN ZAfAR,
NATASHA KAMAL ANd NOOR MAHMOOd

Being the youngest in


the family and starting
my own business at the
age of 23 transformed me
immensely from being a
socially awkward kid and
the spoiled youngest family
member to independent
and hardworking
- Mehryn

MEHRyN ZAfAR

I did my BA from BNU in Mass Communication


and always wondered why I wasnt in a fashion
institute. I decided I wanted to be a part of the
fashion industry as soon as I moved back to Lahore
because I learnt about the culture and tradition here.
My parents wanted us to move back, so we could
grow up in Pakistan surrounded by family! I have
three older sisters, who have helped me out a lot in
starting my own business, but all the credit goes to my
parents, especially my father, who has been my rock
and I am where I am only because of him! Being the
youngest in the family and starting my own business
at the age of 23 transformed me immensely from

86 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

being a socially awkward kid and the spoiled youngest


family member to independent and hardworking.
When did you know you wanted to become a
fashion designer?
I knew when I first went to Liberty, near Khussa
Mehal side and saw an altogether new use for colours;
in embellishments and embroideries. Additionally,
I also visited designer Bunto Kazmis house with
my mother, growing up. Naturally, the energy and
vibrancy of her studio drew me in like a magnet!
From then on, I knew one day I want to do what
she does.
What was the first article of clothing
you designed?

The endearing girls about town wear


fall-friendly hues in their inimitable
and refreshing signature styles. All
three are pictured in latest ensembles
from their own labels (below and
opposite page)

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 87

Hello! Designers
I never thought that I would be a part
of the fashion industry, but then again,
I never saw myself as a chartered
accountant either
- Natasha

Natasha
Your style icon?
Queen Rania of Jordan not only is
she a style icon but a role model as well.
Your favourite place(s) to shop?
Quaint boutiques on Kings Road and
a personal favourite is BCBG.
A
fashion/style
rule
you
never break?
Less is more!
Staples in your wardrobe?
A LBD is a famous acronym for a
reason! Neutral tops, carry-all tote bag
and nude strappy heels.
Your favourite current trend?
High-waisted pants! The illusion of
longer legs and a teeny waist what
more could a girl want?
Your
daily
beauty
and
fitness regime?
This is just a reminder that I need to
get back to the gym! (laughs)
Your go-to stylist?
Nabilas.
Your favourite lipstick?
I swear by bene-tint by Benefit!
(lip-stain).
An all-time favourite movie?
Scent of a Woman.
A place that makes you happy?
Streets of London during fall.
Necessary extravagance?
Travelling and blow-dries to tame
my curls!
Guilty pleasure?
Chocolate decadence!
Book on your bedside table?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront is literally
just on the bedside table, waiting to
be read.
Favourite
local
and
international designers?
Currently, just to name a few, Max
Azria, Valentino, Zuhair Murad and
Altuzarra. Locally Sana Safinazs
luxury pret.

88 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

It was for myself, during the popular basant era in


Pakistan when it was common to decide your outfit
months before. It was a teal blue short kameez with
multi-coloured embroidery with a patiala shalwar.
Describe
your
aesthetic
sense
in
three words?
Unique, vivid and traditional.
What are the biggest myths about
your profession?
There are so many like your bag should match
your shoes, navy and black dont go together, you
have to be model tall to wear long dresses or wideleg trousers, it all comes down to perfect fit! And last
but not the least, no mixing gold and silver.
Who is your muse/inspiration?
Nature plays a huge role in my daily dose of
inspiration I love earthy tones and florals. As far
as a muse goes, I can only think of my best friend,
Hira Hashmi. She would make even a paper
bag trendy!
What, in your opinion, are the benefits of
starting your own business?
There are so many benefits of having your own
business. Firstly, since my family sees me working
hard day and night, theres no pressure to settle
down. Living in Lahore where theres not much to
do, I feel its so important for girls to work. You learn
so much about life and people. You understand how
important it is for a woman to be independent on
her own. And the best part about is it keeps you so
busy you dont realise where your day went.
What are the top five fashion must-haves?
Flared pants/jeans, a black crop top but not too
cropped (half sleeves), a small sized bag (I feel
massive in-your-face bags are so 2013), MAC Candy
Yum Yum lipstick and a nice watch to accessorise
any outfit.
How do you plan to expand your label?
I have no plans at the moment to expand my
label as Ive, MashAllah, been so busy with work I
havent even thought of expanding it yet. I do plan
to take part in one of the fashion weeks, but I would
say on top of my list would be the new studio Im
working on these days, as that is going to be walk-in
and appointments. It will have my ready-to-wear,
formals and bridals.

NATASHA KAMAL

Anyone who has known me for a long time would


never have thought I would have started my own
clothing brand. It was never a part of the plan
but things change and in this case, for the better.
Growing up I had two options, accounting or law
it ended up being a bit of both. I completed
my undergraduate degree from Royal Holloway
University of London, in Management with
Accounting, followed by a Diploma of Law from
BPP Law School. I carried on with an internship
at a law firm (Thompson & Co) and then pursuing
my articles at A.F Ferguson. It was almost two years
ago that I went into work for two weeks straight,
only to quit everyday and be convinced otherwise.
Everyone thought I was crazy for quitting on

Noor
Your style icon?
Olivia Palermo.
Your favourite place(s) to shop?
Sephora for make-up and for clothes
I like exploring local boutique stores
wherever I travel.
A fashion/style rule you
never break?
Breaking the rules sets you apart.
Staples in your wardrobe?
Nude shoes, jeans and a white shirt
for every occasion!
Your
daily
beauty
and
fitness regime?
Workout, lots of sun block and
vitamin water.
Your go-to stylist?
Im my own stylist.
Your favourite lipstick?
Kat Von D is by far my favourite
liquid lipstick of all! My favourite
summer shade is a go-go.
An all-time favourite movie?
From the recent past, I would have
to say The Great Gatsby.
A place that makes you happy?
Santorini.
Necessary extravagance?
Shoes and stationery.
Guilty pleasure?
Green curry.
Book on your bedside table?
The Little Black Book of Style by
Nina Garcia.
Favourite
local
and
international designers?
Kamiar Rokni and Narciso
Rodriguez for his cuts.

Natasha is the picture of


sophisticated elegance
in a ruffled top and
skirt (opposite page).
Noor displays her chic
sense of style (above)
and Mehryn is striking
in neon, off-setting the
look with bright lips

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 89

Hello! Designers
Its about creating
the persona of an
NK woman. The
idea is to revamp
vintage techniques
and silhouettes,
which are a part
of our culture, and
infuse them with
an understated
Western
sensibility
- Natasha

90 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Mehryn
Your style icon?
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Your favorite place(s) to shop?
Zara, Topshop and Sapphire in Lahore.
A fashion/style rule you never break?
I dont really believe in fashion rules. Something that
evolves so quickly cant have boundaries.
Staples in your wardrobe?
Crop tops, high-wasted pants and of course, my
shoe collection.
Your favourite current trend?
Skinny jeans with a loose t-shirt tucked in with pretty flats,
mascara and a bright lip shade!
Your daily beauty and fitness regime?
Water and a cup of green tea as soon as I wake up and
swimming every other day!
Your go-to stylist?
My sister Sahar Zafar I have learnt a lot about fashion
from her.
Your favourite lipstick?
Candy Yum Yum by MAC.
An all-time favourite movie?
The Notebook.
A place that makes you happy?
My family home in Khanispur with my whole family
there with me and being around kids.
Necessary extravagance?
My cell phone.
Guilty pleasure?
Nutella crpe from The Deli!
Book on your bedside table?
Vintage Patterns and Flower Power from The Last Word.
Favourite local and international designers?
Local designer, Bunto Kazmi and lan and international
is definitely Zuhair Murad.
Noor is flawless in a monochromatic gown, striking a pose with Mehryn and Natasha
(opposite page). Mehryn amps it up in an embellished top and subtle smokey eyes
(above). Natasha has some serious sartorial game! She nailed the edgy monochrome
look with well tailored separates combined with statement earrings and a messy top
knot (left)

the best accounting firm in Pakistan.


Finally, the day came when I decided
that it would be my last. I still
remember getting into the car as my
brother shouted out darna mat! I
took cupcakes as a peace offering for
my whole office it felt more like a
celebration than anything else. After
that, there was no looking back!
When did you know you wanted
to become a fashion designer?
To be completely honest, I never
thought that I would be a part of
the fashion industry, but then again,
I never saw myself as a chartered
accountant either. I enjoy the creative
process of building a piece of fashion
an iterative evolutionary process that
brings my idea to life. What started
off as an experiment when I moved
back to Pakistan just blossomed and
took on a life of its own.
What was the first article of
clothing you designed?
That would be a pair of black pants!
As simple as it sounds, it is one of the

hardest things to find and even harder


to make because of the nuances
involved in cutting the perfect pair
of trousers.
Describe your aesthetic sense
in three words?
Avant-craft, contemporary and
considered.
What are the biggest myths
about your profession?
That this business is easy.
Who is your muse/inspiration?
I dont have a particular muse its
about creating the persona of an
NK woman. The idea is to revamp
vintage techniques and silhouettes,
which are a part of our culture and
infuse them with an understated
western sensibility resulting in a
modern appeal without breaking too
far away from convention.
What, in your opinion, are
the benefits of starting your
own business?
You are in control of your own
creative vision.
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 91

Hello! Designers
The desire to set up my own label
definitely arose at the time of my
wedding while looking for a unique piece
for my mehendi
- Noor

What are the top five fashion must-haves?


A floor-duster coat, lace-up pumps, over-sized
statement jewellery, belts and high-waisted pants!
How do you plan to expand your label?
We are planning on expanding our product
categories to include a luxury day-wear line iconic
separates, which we hope will become wardrobe
essentials something I am very excited about!
Simultaneously, we are increasing our distribution
and accessibility to Karachi and Islamabad and
internationally, via our website, which will be
launching in a few months.

NOOR MAHMOOd

She went to Lacas for her former education and later


was enrolled in the Bachelors of Jewellery design
program at BNU. Shes an artist with a fearless
and vivid imagination. Whether its the clothes she
designs, jewellery she handcrafts or paintings she
creates, she does it with an uncompromising desire
to surprise her audience.
When did you know you wanted to become
a fashion designer?
As an artist, Ive always loved experimenting
with mixed media, from painting to designing
my upcoming jewellery line, but the desire to set
up my own label definitely arose at the time of
my wedding while looking for a unique piece for
my mehendi. I ended up creating a piece that truly
reflected who I am and thats exactly how I wish to
serve my clients.
What was the first article of clothing
you designed?
I had something very specific in mind about what
I wanted to wear on my mehendi. I could not find it
anywhere, so I decided to take it upon myself to
create something unique from scratch.
Describe
your
aesthetic
sense
in
three words?
I feel my sense of style is eclectic and it also
evolves, as does the fashion world.
What are the biggest myths about
your profession?
That its a left handed job and it doesnt
require much hard work or effort to have it
running successfully.
What, in your opinion, are the benefits of
starting your own business?
The hardest thing to do is practicing self-discipline
while at the same time the flexible hours, creative
freedom and being my own boss is always a plus!
What are the top five fashion must-haves?
Shorter hemlines, flared pants, culottes replacing
lehenga cholis and cropped tops paired with
sleeveless jackets.
How do you plan to expand your label?
My partner Hirah and I, will soon be starting
H
Mannequins luxury prt line.
Cute as a button, Natasha is all smiles in a top from her own label. She pairs it with pants, chunky
jewellery and voluminous beach waves; Mehryn brightens things up in a feminine, neon dress with a
nod to drama. Her favourite lipstick (Candy Yum Yum by MAC), adds further to the playful girly vibe;
Noor is fashion forward in a top and wide-legged pants, accessorising with chunky rings
92 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

TexT & coordinaTion: Mehek raza rizvi


PhoTos: ashna khan
hair & Make-uP: alina Faizan
locaTion courTesy: designers guild

Culture lounge

WRITERS BLOC
THIS yEaRS TaTa LITERaTuRE LIvE! HIT
upOn majOR fauLTLInES THaT aRE SuBTLy
and InSIdIOuSLy REdEfInIng mOdERn
IndIa. SangEETa WadHWanI REvIEWS THE
TEmpESTuOuS LOng WEEkEnd

ver 120 celebrated writers


O
and thinkers from over
14 countries congregated at

the NCPA complex, Mumbai,


creating a four-day buzz at the
citys epicenter that matched any
world class festival. What made
this a truly international literature
event? The diversity.
If womens writing and
worldviews were of interest,
then perhaps the most riveting
sessions involved the voices of
megafeminist Germain Greer
(whose path-breaking book, The
Female Eunuch, launched in 1970
and whose The Whole Woman she
said, was subsequently a far better
book, but launched in an era far
less given to reading). EgyptianAmerican Mona Eltahawys
Headscarves and Hymens, featured
as a topic of discussion across two
sessions, one with Barkha Dutt
and another featuring perhaps
the strongest combination of
female voices possible (Chaired
by Shobhaa D, Germain Greer
and Mona Eltahaway) called Will
Women Always Be the Second Sex?
While the three-woman powwow was a bit remote at The
Prithvi Theatre, one got a glimpse
into Madam Greers spunk when
she mentioned supporting a society
for invertebrae the cockroach is
more useful to the ecosystem than
the snow leopard, she asserted.
She was struggling to assemble
an anthology of the finest poems
inspired by insects, but was facing
major bottlenecks with copyright
fees even though my own book is
not for profit, she shared. While
freedom of expression seems to
be a global preoccupation, the
vantage she offered was uniquely
British Writers dread being
sued. Because they know that in
court of law, truth is no defense. It
will be the richer party that wins!
On the homefront, the major
faultline (are we free to speak
or write as we wish?) became a
leitmotif across several sessions
and a resounding debate. In the
session Chacha Pe Charcha, (on
Pandit Nehrus contributions),

featuring Vir Sanghvi, Anil Dharkar,


Nayantara Sahgal, chaired by Arun
Maira, a few fascinating points were
raised by Sanghvi, like There is a
provision in the Indian Constitution
against beef consumption from
the Pandits time, and few may
know that he banned a version of
the Ramayana which he thought
may create a riot! Fascinating!
The eloquent Nayantara Sahgal
reminded us that Pandit Nehru had
a daunting task in front of him a
nation impoverished by 150 years
of colonialism, needed to find her
spirit. He had to be judicious.
Things along this touchy
faultline reached a crescendo at
the big debate, with the motion,
Freedom of Expression Is In
Imminent Danger. (Ouch and
how!) Much tweeting and sharing
of social media posts ensured that
this session went viral, underscoring
how little a BJP voice like Anupam
Kher (who stood against the
motion, along with Nalin Kohli)
understood the power of reason
and fact. Of course, we have
freedom of speech, we are sitting
right here in the middle of Mumbai
at the Tata Theatre and having
this debate... and there is wine
and cheese circulating backstage!
Ms D memorably thundered,
DONT, DONT, DONT! Are we
juvenile delinquents who need to be
told how to live, what to say, what
to watch, and for Chrissake what
to eat? It was the theatrical and
political nerve centre of the festival,
and one felt much faith in the
future hearing under 30-year- old
attendees
telling Mr Kher,

A rousing debate on whether dangers to freedom of expression are imminent,


featured Anupam Kher and Nalin Kohli opposing the motion (topmost). Iconic
women writers Germaine Greer, Mona Elthaway and Shobhaa D in a powerful
session at the Prithvi Theatre (above) Kalki Koechlin and Festival Director Anil
Dharkar take a moment to pose (below)

Sir, we are fatally disappointed.


We dont know what you are
doing here. He of course, in true
politico style, accused the audience
of being bought, essayed a host of
attacks on the festival director Anil
Dharkar, and Ms D (for editing a
gossip magazine once upon a time),
and so on. The team for the motion
won hands down, as blue placards
were unanimously waved across
the theatre. Nik Davies, celebrated
British crime investigator of The
Guardian, whispered the next day
over chai that he was worried about
the oppositions outlook.
On a lighter and very refreshing
note, was the session, Asli Desi
Kaun? The surprise element here
was French actor Kalki Koechlin,
who confessed she was a product
of two French people a hippie
dad and a prim and proper French
mom who met on a sojourn to
India, married and raised her in
Pondicherry. I grew up speaking
Tamil, nodded my head in this
funny way and had to learn English
in school. In Britain, nobody
believed I was Indian and thought
I was lying or just mental. Even
today, sans make-up and carrying
her back pack, Kalki delights in
the speculation her presence calls
for they think I cant be Kalki
because Kalki is this movie star!
she laughed. Historian Johnathan
Gil Harris (whose book, The First
Firangis of India, sold out in record
time) shared how he chanced
upon golden archival material

left out behind this cabinet, on


the floor of this archival library.
It was purely accidental, and
it blew my mind how many
treasures will vanish forever unless
saved like this! Interestingly, he
shared that the warrior Rajputs (a
favourite clan in HELLO! given
their royal heritage) were actually
from Central Asia! One wishes
one could have attended more
sessions, but the cup overflowed
and the harried human condition
is such... but thank you Mr
Dharkar... looking forward to your
H
literary carnival in 2016!
BRAVISSIMO!
H
ARThink
South
Asia
(ATSA) and the Piramal
Art Foundation presented
a two-day event on Arts
Management
in
India.
ATSA also offers a two week
training programme teaching
artpreneurs how to grow an
endeavour or organisation
using marketing-friendly tools.
After training, the programme
sends its fellows on sponsored
internships
with
foreign
cultural bodies. Also, look
out for the recently launched
new Piramal Museum, (at
Peninsula Corporate Park,
Lower Parel, Mumbai). View
the history of modern Indian
art as encompassed in the
private collection of Ajay and
Swati Piramal!
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 93

HAUTE IN HELLO!

TRENDS

FROM THE DESK OF

GET THE LOOK

Haute in
Hello!

This elegant statement piece is an


arresting combination of fancy shape
diamonds (marquises, princess cut,
rounds and drops) and emeralds, set
in 18K gold, GEHNA Jewellers

94 HELLO! NOVEMBER 2015

DESIGNER-MUSE

Hello! Trends
5

13

Back to
Black
14

Classic,
beguiling and
sophisticated... allblack effortlessly
dominates

1. Ruffle lace and net dress, RODARTE


2. Embellished pansuit, H&M X BALMAIN
3. Off-shoulder pencil dress, HUGO BOSS
4. Off-shoulder tweed top, PROENZA SCHOULER
5. Tasseled multi-stone earrings, KENNETH JAY LANE
6. Rectangle estate crystal bracelet, EDDIE BORGO
7. Round acetate sunglasses, ILLESTEVA LEONARD
8. Acrylic and crystal choker, MARNI
9. Asymmetric stretch-jersey gown, HANEY
10. Studded crepe mini dress, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
11. Suede pumps, ACNE STUDIOS
12. Embellished patent-leather pumps, ROCHAS
13. Circle leather clutch, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM
14. No Mobile imperial box clutch, ANYA HINDMARCH

Gigi Hadid in
Atelier Versace

10

11
12
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 95

Hello! Trends

All That Glitters

Sparkle, shimmer and shine this season with unfettered glamour

12

10
8

11

9
Kate
Hudson in
a chic striped
gown,
Balmain

96 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

5
1. Sequined mini dress,
ASHISH
2. Acrylic shoulder bag,
EDIE PARKER
3. Chain bracelet, CHLO
4. Embellished tulle clutch,
DOLCE & GABBANA
5. Slit embellished dress,
ANTHONY VACCARELLO
6. Metallic layered dress,
EMILIO PUCCI
7. Shimmer cape,
SONIA RYKIEL
8. Embellished chiffon mini,
NEEDLE & THREAD
9. Crystal satin sandals,
RENE CAOVILLA
10. Striped Aztec mini dress,
ALICE + OLIVIA
11. Fringe gunmetal bracelet,
ERICKSON BEAMON
12. Pearl and crystal
necklace, ROSANTICA

Hello! Trends
10

Ravishing
Resort

HELLO! shines a spotlight on


the top styles from Gionee India
Beach Fashion Week
1) Rina Dhaka
2) Babita Malkani
3) Dev R Nil
4) James Ferreira
5) Aditi Rao Hydari in
Sukriti & Aakriti
6) Neha Dhupia in Sangeeta Sharma
7) Richa Chadda in
Mayyur R Girotra Couture
8) Anusha Dandekar in Rocky S
9) Ken Ferns
10) Deme by Gabriella

8
4
7

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 97

Fashion Trends

Model alert
PHOTO COURTESY: ANIMA CREATIVES

PHOTO COURTESY: ANIMA CREATIVES

Indian origin models are storming catwalks across the globe with their arresting visages and
lithe walks. HELLO! brings you the hautest faces of the year

RASIKA NAVARE
Rasikas incredible bone
structure enabled her
to land a Smashbox
Cosmetics campaign
as soon as she landed
in Paris. She has since
dominated the global
fashion landscape with
shoots for Givenchy,
Koovs London, Sephora
Canada and Asos.

98 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

POOJA MOR

NEELAM GILL

In her early 20s,


the British-Indian
model made fashion
history by becoming
the first Indianorigin model to
be signed on as
the face of global
brand, Burberry.

Neelam starred
alongside Romeo
Beckham in the
brands Christmas
campaign and
was hand-picked
for Kanye Wests
Adidas show at New
York Fashion Week.

A break out face at the


Louis Vuitton resort show in
Palm Springs (she made her
international debut by walking
for Nicolas Ghesquires
Cruise 16 show), Pooja was
discovered via Instagram.
She has gone on to appear
in editorials of esteemed
publications such as The
Gentlewoman, i-D and Another
magazine and work for
illustrious design houses such
as Missoni, Roberto Cavalli,
Calvin Klein, Elie Saab, Stella
McCartney and
Alexander McQueen.

KEISHA LALL

The London-born, Rajasthani


beauty has made waves globally
shes been the face of a Rimmel
campaign and appeared on noted
fashion blogger and photographer,
Garance Dores site, several times.
Keisha has been in demand
worldwide with the likes of
Marks & Spencer, John Lewis,
Kohls, Macys, LOral, Venus
Gillette and Salvatore Ferragamo
jewellery. She has also essayed the
leading role in Duran Durans
Thing Called Love and appeared
along side Professor Green in Never
Be a Right Time.

TARUN NIJJER
The 27-year-old runway model
from Karnal has walked the
runways of New York, London
and Milan recently. She has
landed some big gigs including
Dries Van Noten in Paris,
Alexander Wang (he gave her the
opportunity to debut in the New
York Fashion Week with his show)
and Marc Jacobs in New York,
Gareth Pugh in London as well
as Bottega Veneta and Salvatore
Ferragamo in Milan. She has also
walked for DAKS, Emilio Pucci,
Cavalli and Fendi a true
modelling superstar.

PHOTO COURTESY: ANIMA CREATIVES

BHUMIKA ARORA

Born to an English mother


and Punjabi father, Tarun
has opened and closed
the Burberry Prorsum
show, A Painterly Journey,
for Christopher Bailey.
He also appeared in the
labels A/W 14 campaign
alongside supermodels
Cara Delevingne and Suki
Waterhouse. His latest
accomplishment a spot in
Tom Fords path-breaking
video with Lady Gaga to
launch his latest collection.

TEXT: FARAH PALIA


HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 99

From the Desk oF

Your idea
of perfect
happiness
When I see the
students I mentor,
go out into the
world, work hard,
flourish and
prosper.

PHOTO COURTESY: STEWART SHINING

A style icon for


all ages
Franoise Hardy
and Rekha.

Bibhu
Mohapatra
THE INDIAN-AMERICAN
FASHION DESIGNER ON
GLOBAL SUCCESS AND THE
JOURNEY SO FAR
As you look back on the
journey so far, which have
been some of the greatest
highlights and some of the
hardest challenges?
Being a part of the CFDA
Incubator program and when
the First Lady of the US,
Michelle Obama, arrived in
India in one of my outfits and
was received by Prime Minister,
Narendra Modi.
The Bibhu Mohapatra success
story continues to grow from
strength to strength, what do
you believe lies at the core of the
brands success?
Thank you. For me the focus has
always been on our ultimate clientele
and the product we come up with.

100 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

Who is
the Bibhu
Mohapatra
woman?
A woman
with passion,
with a purpose,
educated,
well-travelled
someone who
loves beautifully
crafted clothes.
The greatest
love of
your life
My nieces, both
of whom are
growing up
in India.

PHOTO COURTESY: KEVIN STURMAN

What is a talent
that you admire
the most in
others?
Kindness,
accompanied by
humility.

Where do you
prefer to retreat
to for rest and
rejuvenation?
I am very blessed
to have a little
house in the
countryside, in
upstate NY, where
I spend every
weekend in order
to recharge
and rejuvenate.

What are some of the standout


pieces from the
current collection?
From the Spring 16 collection, my
personal stand outs include the
beige and ivory crepe tennis dress, the
hand woven leather and silk jacket with
an ivory chiffon tux shirt and ivory
crepe trousers, the Bauhaus print crepe
dress with pleated underskirt, the black
and white silk and cotton jacquard dress
with leather harness and the pale grey
silk barathea embroidered ball dress.

What presently inspires you?


My recent trip to the Forbidden City
in Beijing was very inspiring all its
walls have thousands of stories to tell.

Your current state


of mind
Is entirely devoted to my muse
for the Fall 16 collection.

Notable personalities such


as the First Lady of the
United States, Michelle
Obama, Frieda Pinto,
Priyanka Chopra, Sonam
Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor,
just to name a few
It means a lot to me to have the
acknowledgement and support
from these amazing personalities,
who are talented, driven and
inspirational. Above all, they are
all incredible human beings and I
am very fortunate to have crossed
paths with them. I will never forget
the moving conversation I had
with the First Lady
when
I met her for
the first time
at the White
House.

Which great creative


minds do you
derive maximum
inspiration from?
Ellsworth Kelly and
Ludwig Mies van der
Rohe amazing artists
and brilliant poets.

What are the top 5


essentials on
your desk?
My drafting pencil,
my parents picture,
my little Ganesh icon,
my colour markers
and my stylebook
with all the lists of
all styles we have
created under Bibhu
Mohapatra label over
the last six years.
TEXT: FARAH PALIA
PHOTOS COURTESY:
BIBHU MOHAPATRA

Hello! FasHion

Get the look!

Recreate the most talked about collaboration of


the season H&M X Balmain

vest,
hord HI
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Models of the moment, Jourdan Dunn and Kendell Jenner in


H&M X Balmain

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 101

Beauty
l

In HEr BaG

EXPErT SPEaK

TrEnDS

JATIN KAMPANI/FEMINA

GET THE LOOK

Get the
look!

Capture Lisa
Haydons fun
and fearless
beauty with
bold and bright
eyes and lips

6
4
2
5
102 HELLO! NOVEMBER 2015

1) Dream touch
blush, MAYBELLINE
2) Star bronzer, LANCME
3) Noir mascara, COLORBAR
4) Perfect refining
foundation, SHISEIDO
5) Heat protection
serum, KRASTASE
6) Velvet matte lip colour,
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
7) Shimmer eye
pallette, SEPHORA

In Her Bag

Shilpa
Shetty

PHOTO COURTESY: VICKRAM SINGH BAWA

The silver screen actress,


businesswoman and
mother of one, shares her
beauty secrets
with HELLO!

ame your top


beauty products?
My go-to beauty products are
Cetaphil cream, Natura Bisse eye
cream, Rodial snake venom face
mask, Kiehls lip balm and MAC Lust
lip gloss all of them help to keep
my skin soft and supple.
What are your must-have
beauty essentials?
A good moisturiser and eye cream
(preferably Paraben free) is a must.
A foot scrubber and moisturising
foot scrub, non-smudge eyeliner for
beautiful eyes all day and Jo Malone
or Laura Mercier bath products and
creams that smell divine.
Describe your usual make-up
look for the day?
A tinted moisturiser to start off with,
liner, a soft pink lipstick and an under
eye concealer, if Ive had a late night.
Describe your usual make-up
look for the night?
It would depend on the outfit and
occasion for a casual dinner or a
red carpet event, I love dramatising
my eyes and if I use a bright lip
colour then I keep the rest of
my face understated as I like to
accentuate just one feature on my
face at a time.
Which are your favourite
fragrances?
Tom Ford Santal Blush for
nights and Pleasures by Este
Lauder or Tamdao by Diptique
during the day.
Top make-up secrets
Wash your hair with a good
shampoo and alternate your
choice of shampoo every month
so product residue on the scalp
is avoided. I deep condition my
hair thrice a week and Ive never
used soap on my face. I just take off
my make-up with baby oil and a
Bioderma water cleanser and finish
off with lots of moisturiser.
Beauty tips
I believe it is important to keep
your beauty routine simple and
natural. Apply a face pack of
yogurt, honey and a touch of
turmeric at least thrice a week, its
cooling and acts as an antiseptic.
Which bag do you prefer to
carry during the day as well
as for cocktail soires?
I like light bags, so just a simple
tote (that fits a lot) is important to
store everything from wet wipes for
Viaan to dry fruits and organic fruit
lollipops! For the evenings, I carry my
Gucci bag of the moment.
What are your
in-bag essentials?
If you look into my bag at
any time, you will find my
phone, wet wipes, perfume,
lipstick and sunglasses.
TEXT: FARAH PALIA
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 103

Beauty expert Speak

Face the Music


HELLO! DECODES THE PARTY
SEASONS HOTTEST MAKE-UP TRENDS
WITH ABHILASHA SINGH, THE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MAKE-UP OF
JEAN-CAUDE BIGUINE SALON AND SPA

The purple
smokey eye
STEP 1: Prep skin with a primer and
moisturiser. Use a skin appropriate foundation
along with a concealer. Finish off with a loose
powder to seal in the foundation and concealer
STEP 2: Apply an eye primer followed by
MACs Bare Study paint pot all over the eyes.
Use a purple smokey eye pencil all over half
the eyelid and then smudge it with a powder
purple eye shadow. Use a light brown shimmer
powder to blend in with the purple and to give
the eye a soft smokey feel
STEP 3: Finish off the eyes with kohl and
lashings of blue mascara
STEP 4: Apply an illuminator in the
inner corners of the eyes

104 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

Winged liner

STEP 1: Prep skin with a primer and


moisturiser. Use a skin appropriate
foundation along with a concealer.
Finish off with a loose powder to seal in the
foundation and concealer
STEP 2: Apply a light shimmer eye shadow
all over the eye lid
STEP 3: Use a smudge proof pencil to
create a winged shape. Once the shape is
defined, make it more prominent by going
over the line with a cream liner and sharpen
the line
STEP 4: Set the line with a black
eyeshadow powder to give it its black depth
STEP 5: Apply an illuminator in the inner
corners of the eyes

Rimmed black
smokey eye
STEP 1: Prep skin with a primer and
moisturiser. Use a skin appropriate
foundation along with a concealer.
Finish off with a loose powder to seal in
the foundation and concealer
STEP 2: Using a smolder pencil from
MAC to create a line shaping the rim
of the eyes
STEP 3: Smudge the line with a black
eye shadow, just over the eye pencil rim.
Then apply a thin line of liquid liner on
the lash line
STEP 4: Apply coats of mascara
STEP 5: Apply an illuminator in the
inner corners of the eyes

The light brown


smokey eye
STEP 1: Prep skin with a primer and
moisturiser. Use a skin appropriate
foundation along with a concealer. Finish
off with a loose powder to seal in the
foundation and concealer
STEP 2: Apply a light shimmer eye
shadow all over the eye lid in a light
brown colour.
STEP 3: Use MACs Teddy eye pencil
cover the entire eyelid followed by a matt
brown eye shadow to smoke out the edges
STEP 4: Draw a thin black line on the
lash line with a black eyeliner and apply
lots of mascara
STEP 5: Apply an illuminator in the
inner corners of the eyes

COMPILED BY: FARAH PALIA


MODEL PHOTOS: JEAN-CAUDE BIGUINE SALON
AND SPA
HELLO! NOVEMBER 2015 105

Hello! Trends

Face Time!

From perfectly coiffed hair to bold eyes, rosy lips and flawless
skin, HELLO! follows the latest make-up trends that will make
you the cynosure of all eyes... anywhere, anytime!

BEAUTIFUL BRAIDS

106 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

teMperley lonDon

cHanel

Focus on an artfully crafted dramatic eye

Dior

anna sui

asHisH

Marissa Webb

DRAMATIC EYES
bibHu MoHapatra

elie saab

nanette lepore

HougHton

Whether cornrow-thin, French plaited or Mohawks;


dynamic braids can be both demure or
avant-garde

carolina Herrera

burberry prorsuM

lanvin
Hussein cHalayan

MAKE UNDER

roDarte

vera Wang

praDa

Sublimely tinted colours add a flawless shine


to pouts

cHlo

LIP STAINED

ralpH lauren

Marni

Swap dark swashes of colour for au naturel lips,


eyes and cheeks

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 107

Hello! Trends
1) Sculpting chubby
stick, CLINIQUE
2) Double wear glow,
ESTE LAUDER
3) Shadow photofinish,
SMASHBOX
4) Strobe cream, MAC
5) Photoready
illuminator, REVLON
6) Illuminating base,
CHANEL
7) Radiant highlighter,
THE BODY SHOP
8) Pen illuminator,
COLORBAR available at
www.nykaa.com
9) Strobing brushes,
BOBBI BROWN

101

Strobing

Meet strobing the


anti-contouring beauty
craze that is sweeping
the globe. HELLO!
brings you the crme
de la crme must-haves

3
4

108 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 109

Hello! Travel

FROM

THAILAND WITH

Love

Thailand has long been considered one


the worlds most romantic destionations.
HELLO! shares some truly lovely
reasons to visit the Asian paradise

icture a setting sun, candles


lit on the beach, white cotton
curtains flail in the wind from a
gazebo set only for two. The smell
of the sea, the sand beneath your
feet, orchids in bloom nearby and
food that will make all aphrodisiacs
in the world pale in comparison,
it doesnt get more romantic than
this! Whether it is a quick getaway
you have planned, a honeymoon
or popping the big question,
Thailands pristine backdrops make
for some of Asias most romantic
spots where love blooms without
the humdrum of traffic or the
blinding lights of neon signs. This
is the place to head to if romance
is in the air and you want to make
an impact on your loved one. While
the beaches are ideal getaways,
Thailands other smaller towns in
the hills act as great destinations for
couples who want to get away from
the throngs of tourists and lounge
in luxury with a healthy dose of
love thrown in for good measure.
If youd like to visit some
exotic islands on your honeymoon

110 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

or romantic getaway, check


out Thailands south. Once a
backpackers dream, Koh Samui,
in the southeast, is now a haven
for honeymooners and couples
seeking romance and luxury. The
resorts range from nature-based
and family-run five star retreats
to international luxury hotel
brands. The beaches are incredibly
beautiful. And the restaurants? You
will be surprised at the range of
world-class cuisine that is available
on Koh Samui. Visit waterfalls,
see the Big Buddha, chill out at
beach clubs, or stretch out and
relax on one of Koh Samuis
tranquil beaches. The pace of your
honeymoon or romantic holiday
will be completely decided by you
and your lover when staying on
Koh Samui.
Just a 25-minute boat ride
away from Samui is Koh Pha
Ngan, originally made famous
by its hedonistic full moon
parties. Although still a Mecca
for backpackers, you will find the
occasional high-end, boutique

resort on Koh Pha Ngan now,


generally pitched at couples and
honeymooners looking for a truly
quiet Thai island escape. Why not
combine a top luxury hotel on Koh
Samui with a few nights on Koh
Pha Ngan, where you will find the
perfect combination of isolation
and relaxation?
Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi lie
in Thailands southwest, next to
the Andaman Sea, and attract
honeymooners and couples from all
over the world, too. These islands
are the quintessential Thai island
destinations that have appeared in
many a brochure over the years and
offer great snorkelling and diving
options to couples who prefer
adventures and discovery on their
honeymoon or romantic getaway.
Although, if you are a beach-loving
couple who just want to chill out
and relax, youll be equally at home
at Krabi, Phuket or Phi Phi.
Phuket is one of the countrys
largest islands, and it is a hundred
destinations in one! Regardless of
whether youre seeking serenity,

indulgence, romance or just the


simple pleasures that island life
offers, you will find it on a Phuket
honeymoon or romantic getaway.
If you are the sort of couple who
love to club and shop and always
need something to do, head to
Patong. But be prepared for nonstop action here! Those who are
planning a honeymoon or couples
holiday that has a combination of
partying and shopping, but want
to retreat to a luxury hideaway
when the feeling strikes have plenty
of options there are quite a few
up-market locations within 10 or
20 minute drive from happening
Patong!
Some of Phukets regions that
are popular with honeymooners
and couples seeking romance
on their holiday include the chic
enclaves of Surin and Kamala.
Here you will find beautiful luxury
resorts, sweeping bays, beach clubs,
restaurants and a vibe that is very
international, but equally as chilled.
Alternatively, stay at the natureinspired, fully-integrated resort

area of Laguna, where you will find


myriad resorts, all connected by
courtesy bus (you can charge from
any of the restaurants at any of the
resorts back to your room if you
are holidaying or honeymooning at
one of the Laguna Phuket resorts).
Laguna even boasts one of the
most lovely wedding chapels in all
of Asia!
Koh Yao Noi, Koh Naga
and Koh Raya are ideal island
destinations in this region, that let
one truly experience the natural
beauty of the land without the usual
trappings of tourist hubs and big
crowds. There are plenty of options
for premium and cozy hotels on
these exotic islands, letting one
make the best use of their natural
beauty while being able to stay in
the relative lap of luxury. Simmilar
beach destionations include Trang,
Khao Lak, Koh Lan Ta (near
Krabi) and Koh Samet, while
Sukhothai is the place you want to
head to if you want to experience
a bit of Thailands rich history,
along with temple ruins and giant

Buddha statues that would leave


anyone spellbound.
For adventure-seeking couples
or honeymooners, or just those
who prefer a faster pace to their
getaways, a dose of adrenaline
can be found trekking through the
jungles of Thailands northern
regions of Chiang Mai and Chiang
Rai, or getting lost in the hustle and
bustle of the capital, Bangkok. If
you ask us, the perfect Thailand
honeymoon or romantic holiday
includes visiting a few of the
countrys gorgeous regions start
in Bangkok, head up to Chiang
Mai and then finish with a week
of some of the worlds best islands
and beaches on one of the more
southern Thai islands (or if you are
honeymooning you might want to
reverse it as you could just want to
just hit the beaches ASAP after the
hectic lead up to your wedding).
Flights are cheap within Thailand,
so why are you waiting? Go ahead,
start planning your ultimate
romantic
Thailand
holiday
or honeymoon!
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 111

Hello! Soire

SPARKLERS
AND MORE
AT THE NIRAV MODI AND
DABIRI DIWALI LUNCH

IRAV
MODI,
in
association
N
with Ambika Jain and Divya Kapur of
Dabiri, hosted a Diwali lunch at the Lodhi
Hotel in New Delhi. Guests at the intimate
event were taken through an exclusive
showcase of jewellery by NIRAV MODI
paired with beautifully designed Indian wear
by Dabiri truly an afternoon that presented
a luxe tableau of festive finery.
Jeweller extraordinaire, Nirav Modi,
believes, Beauty does not reside in any one
place, object or person; inspiration comes
from so many sources nature, art, poetry,
architecture and is sometimes found in the
most unexpected of places. NIRAV MODI
has launched new lines in the Embrace
Collection, featuring new designs of bangles,
limited edition styles and for the first time,
a selection of rings for him and her. At
the heart of his inspiration for this collection
112 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

is curiosity and playfulness. Nirav saw this


in his daughter as she played with an elastic
bangle, enjoying every minute of it. Inspired
by this, he decided to recreate this delight
in jewellery for the woman of today. The
result was the NIRAV MODI Embrace
mechanism that allows the jewel to stretch in
a gentle, interlocking pattern.
Dabiri, derived from poetic Arabic
phraseology, symbolises the golden thread
that holds the power to weave and create
extraordinary works of fashion. Specialising
in Indian traditional outfits, Dabiri, fabricates
rich, formal, intricately detailed embroideries
and also highlights the renowned chikankari
from Lucknow. The essence of Dabiris
creations lies in the innovative cuts and
distinctive styles that are coupled with fine
embroidery and zardozi work.
The event commenced with a

NIRAV MODIs Embrace Collection, is


worn by stunning models garbed in
gorgeous ensembles by Dabiri (above)

showcase,
where
statuesque
models
presented stunning jewels from the
latest Embrace Collection. The jewels
from NIRAV MODI, known for their use of
minimal metal to promise maximum sparkle,
glittered glamorously against Dabiris
pastel palette. Earrings floated, necklaces
caressed and bangles embraced as they
were beautifully complemented by the
cream-hued and mirror-worked collection
from Dabiri.
The lovely winter afternoon saw the
capitals jewellery and luxury lovers, including
Sara Pilot, Rama Pilot, Bina Ramani, Raakhe
Kapoor Tandon, Kavita Singh, Neeva Jain,
Shalu Jindal, Meenu Bakshi, Dilshad Sheikh,
Surita Tandon, Sheetal Ansal, Neelima
Dalmia and Saba Sheikh, enjoy a decadent
spread amidst a picturesque setting of
the waterfront.

3
9
10

1) Ambika Jain and


Divya Kapur
2) Aparna Chudasama
3) Shobhana Bhartia
4) Shallu Jindal and
Surita Tandon
5) Sara Pilot
6) Sadhana Jain and
Neelima Dalmia
7) Pooja Jain
8) Raakhe Kapoor
Tandon
9) Meenu Bakshi
10) Saba Sheikh
HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 113

Hello! Jewellery

Bauble

Trends
HELLO! chats with the top
jewellers of the country, for the
hottest trends this festive season

Samir Sagar
Director, Manubhai Jewellers
Every design, print and technique always
completes its life cycle and comes around.
Traditional and vintage designs have flooded
the retail jewellery market. Jadau jewellery
especially, has become the taste of the season
amongst brides-to-be. Todays jewellery
designs are inspired by ancient art, but do not
emulate it entirely. The most important trend
today, is the ability to re-create these royal
baubles, using the technique and handiwork
of the Mughal era. A piece of jewellery today
has intricate craftsmanship and engraving.
The center pendant in a gold set would have
a traditional look but the remaining portion
of the piece would have a more modern
and artistic look. Filigree is another addition
within the design, lending a contemporary
look to the piece. Using geometric designs
in sets is another way to create a modern
twist. Designers work towards balancing the
design; crafting a contemporary piece while
maintaining the aesthetics of traditions.

114 HELLO! dEcEMBER 2015

Rupak Sen
Regional Marketing Director,
Asia - Gemfields
The latest and biggest trend
this season is the Boho Bride
look with chunky cocktail rings
and exquisite forehead and
head jewellery. Hand cuffs
with harnesses are picking up
with the Boho chic look this
season. Also, emerald and
ruby statement pieces with
delicate work with diamonds
and pearls in necklaces and
earrings are must-haves for the
festive season. To conclude,
mismatched earrings and quirky
hand accessories are picking up
as well.

Biren Vaidya
Managing Director and Creative Soul, The House of Rose
The younger generation is looking at design and brand
aspiration, something that makes a statement. People prefer
important gemstones and larger sized gems. The trends Im
focusing on are unusual gemstones like tanzanites, Colombian
emeralds, Siberian emeralds, tourmalines etc. Colours and their
combinations are also an important trend. For example, tanzanite
and emerald or emerald and tourmalines.

Gaurav Khanna,
Leshna Shah
Founder and Creative Head,
AURELLE
Ready-to-wear, versatile and
light jewellery is trending in the
international fashion scene.
Pearls and slice diamonds
are being extensively used to
create designs. With a team of
international designers and the
latest technology, each piece
created at Aurelle is inimitable
and a statement by itself. Our
jewellery designs are ideal for
any occasion and ensure a
stunning fit for a casual lunch
or a cocktail party. Having lived
in New York, I was exposed
to international design
aesthetics and sensibilities and
recognised the need and the
market for chic, ready-to-wear,
well-crafted fine jewellery that
is similar to the trends in the
international scene than
the Indian.

Director, Kanjimull & Sons Saket


The jewellery trend this year is
oversized earrings, rings, brooches,
cuffs and neckpieces. Glorious and
fluid cuffs of gold chains, dressed
with coloured diamonds, sway to
the rhythm of what women want.
Stack your bangles, necklaces
and rings with fiery red rubies,
everlasting emeralds, fine blue
sapphires and canary diamonds
because layering is here to stay
this season too.
Feminine and oversized hoops
and chandelier dangle earrings
with fine gemstones add a touch
of zing and lan to an ensemble
and you can flashback to the 80s
with statement collar gem-set
neckpieces. Brooches are back
with a bang too and a rainbow of
gems spanning the spectrum from
powdery to super-sizzling, are the
rage. An offset to all the fun is an
all black palette. Varied shades
of black in diamonds, pearls et
al, provides bling and sparkle to
sombre clothing.

Shibani Aggarwal
Owner, Maharani Jewels
Bold, vibrant,
inescapable! The
juxtaposition of
traditional colours like
red and green along with
unusually cut diamonds,
make this bracelet quite
the pice de rsistance!

Vandana Jagwani
Creative Head, Mahesh
Notandass Fine Jewellery
This season, the trend is
inclined towards delicate
pieces such as tennis bracelets,
cluster bangles, knuckle
rings and palm and ear cuffs,
among others. The need is for
jewellery to be understated
and minimalistic, while
emulating fashion and
exclusivity. Our latest collection,
Belle by Vandana, is the
perfect example of this trend.

HELLO! dEcEMBER 2015 115

Hello! Jewellery

Shehzad Zaveri
Creative Director, Minawala
Fine jewellery, unlike fashion, is not
defined from season to season. It is
imperative to cater to patrons with
high-on-design and never-beforeseen jewels. Currently, a lot of
skinny cuffs, pretty pink-gold
jewellery and bridal sets in
canary diamonds have dominated
the jewellery trend, which is
garnering a lot of attention.
Versatile necklaces and earrings are
the talk of the town, which gives a
sophisticated and elegant or minimalist
look as and when desired. Precious
coloured stones are going to add a
lot of glitz and glamour to the style.
Statement jewels, vintage-inspired
designs and animal motifs have
marked their presence in the jewellery
category. Jewellery with diamonds set
in the bright metal, gold, has won the
hearts of jewellery lovers, due to its
drop in price.

Sachin Ved
Director, MAIA Fine Jewellery
Relatively light, wearable sets are more
sought-after, compared to the typical bridal
designs that spend more time in the locker
than on the lady. Customers have become
much more aware about all aspects of
jewellery making, be it design, workmanship
or stones. Statement pieces inspired by
nature are always a winner. One clear trend
that is emerging is an affinity for unique
diamonds like fancy colours (pink, canary)
and fancy shapes (emerald cut, hearts). This
creates an impact even when the design is
minimal less is more!

Pranay Mehta
Managing Director,
Thakorlal Hiralal
Statement pieces have
always been a hot jewellery
trend and more sought-after
this season as collectors look
for that unique piece to set
their collection apart from the
others. It could be that ultimate
solitaire which was on your
wish list, an irreplaceable pair
of large emeralds or a rare
collection of natural Basra
pearls. Statement pieces are a
perennial hot trend
for collectors.

116 HELLO! dEcEMBER 2015

Varuna D Jani
Adornologist, Varuna D Jani
Jewellery which can
go from formal to
semi-formal to casual,
from the same piece,
so that one can get
maximum use out of it,
is key. Jewellery which is
more versatile and can be
teamed up with Western as
well as Indian outfits and
classic jewellery with a
hint of glamour.
Biren Vaidya

Mira Gulati
Founder and Principal
Designer, Mirari
This novel collection
is the celebration of
modern art amalgamated
into classic beauty. The
exclusivity of this segment
is the mirage we have
incorporated in stylising
complexity into simple work
of art. I was inspired after
looking at various Persian
masterpieces of how
intricately detailed designs
they have included in their
work. We have tried to
work on the similar lines by
persevering the chic-look
with the variant flavours of
architectural designs.

Varda
Goenka,
Owner and Designer,
Diagold
The latest jewellery
trends focus on bigger
stones, be it solitaires
or coloured gems such as
emeralds and rubies. Fancy
shaped diamonds like the pear
marquis emerald, rule the roost. Tennis
bracelets, broad cuffs, chunky rings
and statement earrings are a few items
that are in. Since they are light weight and
create subtle statements, connoisseurs are
sporting this jewellery with panache. South
Sea Baroque pearls in long strands with
diamonds have become the talk of the town
they being rare and exquisite. Different
shapes like drops, marquee and baguette
have been used in three-dimensional
settings, which make them eclectic. At the
same time, they stand out from monochrome
designs and patterns, which are garnering a
lot of patrons.

Balram Garg,
Managing Director, PC Jeweller
As one of Indias leading and
distinguished jewellers, we are known
for contemporary and magnificent
jewellery designs and pieces. We
oversee the manufacturing, wholesale
and retail of 100 per cent Hallmark
Gold and Certified Diamond Jewellery.
Our Princess Grace necklace is the
swansong from PCJs brimming ethereal
collection. It is made from Princess cut,
pear-cut and small round cut diamonds.
It symbolises the traditional and
inordinate era of grandeur embraced by
royalty. This one-of-a-kind necklace is
an aristocratic charm that augments the
inner beauty of the woman who wears
it. Beauty no more lies in the eyes of the
beholder; it lies in this stunning piece
from PCJ.

HELLO! dEcEMBER 2015 117

Hello! Gourmet

Cracker of a
FESTIVE FEAST

Gordon Ramsays menu for roast goose with all the trimmings,
followed by a seasonal dessert with a twist, is the perfect recipe for
a stress-free yet stylish family Christmas

ROAST GOOSE WITH FIVE


SPICE AND HONEY
This is the ultimate way to roast a
goose the aromatic five spice powder
really lifts the flavour of the rich,
gamey meat. Unlike turkey, you want
to cook goose to medium rare for the
best texture. Its important to check the
bird half an hour before the end of the
cooking time, as size, density and fat
ratio make a difference. Thereafter,
keep checking about every 15 minutes
Serves 68
INGREDIENTS
5.56.5kg/12-14lb ovenready goose
2 oranges, the zest finely grated
and the fruit cut into wedges
2 lemons, the zest finely grated
and the fruit cut into wedges
2 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
1 tbsp good-quality sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4-5 tbsp runny honey, to drizzle
1. Preheat the oven to 220C, 425F, Gas
7 and place a deep roasting pan fitted with
a rack in the oven to heat. If the goose is
trussed, remove the string and gently tug
and loosen the legs and wings a little, to help
the bird cook more evenly. If its not already been
done, remove the giblets and trim off any excess
fat from the neck and cavity.
2. In a small bowl, mix the orange and lemon
zests with the five spice powder, salt and
pepper. With a sharp knife, lightly score the
skin in a criss-cross pattern, taking care not to
cut into the flesh. Rub the seasoning all over
the skin and inside the cavity. Put the orange
and lemon wedges into the cavity. (You can
prepare to this stage a day ahead and refrigerate
the goose.)
3. Place the goose breast-side up on the rack in the
preheated pan and roast for 15 minutes. Turn down
the heat to 170C, 325F, Gas 3 and roast for
another 30 minutes.
4. Take the pan out of the oven and pour off
some of the fat (save to roast the potatoes).
Drizzle the honey over the goose then
return to the oven and roast for another
30 minutes to 1 hour, basting once or twice until
cooked. (If the bird is browning too much, cover
loosely with foil.) For medium-rare meat, the
flesh should feel firm with a slight spring when
lightly pressed; a meat thermometer inserted into
the thickest part of a thigh but not touching a
bone should register 70C. Remember that the
bird will continue to cook in its own heat while
it is resting.
5. Remove the goose from the oven and cover
loosely with foil. Leave to rest for 30 minutes
before carving and serving.

118 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

HONEY-GLAZED CARROTS AND PARSNIPS


Serves 6-8
INGREDIENTS
500g/1lb 2oz parsnips
500g/1lb 2oz carrots
2-3 tbsp olive oil
Few fresh thyme sprigs
1 cinnamon stick, broken in 2
3 star anise
Sea salt and freshly ground

black pepper
1-2 tbsp clear honey
Splash water
Few knobs butter
1. Peel and halve or quarter the parsnips and
carrots so the pieces are of a similar size.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large saut pan
then add the vegetables and toss to coat
in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon and

star anise. Season then cover and cook over


a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the
vegetables frequently, until golden brown and
almost cooked through.
3. Drizzle over the honey and cook until the
vegetables start to caramelise. Deglaze the pan
with the water then increase the heat.
Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the liquid has
evaporated and the carrots and parsnips are
cooked through. Stir through a few knobs of
butter to glaze.
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 119

Hello! Gourmet
ROAST POTATOES
WITH CHILLI
AND TURMERIC
Serves 8-10
INGREDIENTS
2.5kg/5lb potatoes,
such as Maris Piper
1 tsp ground turmeric
Pinch chilli flakes,
to taste
Sea salt and freshly
ground black pepper
4-5 tbsp olive oil (or
goose or duck fat)
1. Preheat the oven to 200C,
400F, Gas 6. Peel and quarter the
potatoes then place in a large pan
of lightly salted cold water. Bring
to the boil, then lower the heat and
simmer for about 8 minutes.
2. Drain the potatoes in a colander
and sprinkle with the turmeric,
chilli flakes and some salt and
freshly ground black pepper. Toss
in the colander to coat evenly,
then drizzle with a little of the olive
oil and toss again. Leave in the
colander for 5 minutes.
3. Put the rest of the olive oil in a
roasting tray and put in the oven for
a few minutes to heat up. Carefully
add the potatoes and toss to coat
in the oil. Roast for 40-45 minutes,
turning a few times, until crisp and
golden. Drain on kitchen paper and
transfer to a warmed dish to serve.

SPROUTS WITH PANCETTA AND CHESTNUTS


Serves 8-10
INGREDIENTS
1kg/2lb Brussels
sprouts, outer leaves
removed
1-2 tsp olive oil
200g/7oz pancetta, cut
into lardons
200g/7oz vacuum-

packed chestnuts
2 small lemons
Sea salt and freshly
ground black pepper

1. Trim the bases of the sprouts and


cut them in half lengthways. Bring
a pan of lightly salted water to the
boil. Add the sprouts and blanch for
2-3 minutes then drain well.
2. Heat the olive oil in a wide frying

pan and fry the pancetta for a few


minutes until golden and crisp.
Add the sprouts and cook for
2-3 minutes, tossing occasionally.
3. Roughly chop the chestnuts and
add to the pan. Zest the lemons
over the sprouts then halve 1
of the lemons and squeeze its
juice into the pan. Check the
seasoning then transfer to a
warmed serving dish.

CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH TRUFFLE OIL


AND CROUTONS
This is a comforting, creamy soup. As a starter to a Christmas menu, youll only need to
serve a small portion, but it is also a great warming dish to have on a wintry day
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
25g/1oz butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large or 2 medium cauliflowers
(about 1.1kg/2lb), stalks removed and
cut into florets
1 large potato, about 250g/9oz,
peeled and roughly chopped
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1.2ltr/2pt chicken or vegetable stock
400ml/14fl oz whole milk
Sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper
100ml/4fl oz double cream
Truffle-infused oil, to drizzle
For the croutons
2 tbsp olive oil or goose fat
120 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

2 slices day-old country-style bread,


cut into cubes
1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan then
tip in the cauliflower florets, potato and onion. Cover
and sweat for about 10 minutes over a low heat, stirring
occasionally, until the vegetables are softened but
not coloured.
2. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Add the milk
with some seasoning and return to a simmer. Simmer,
uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until all the vegetables are
soft. Add the cream and remove from the heat. Pure
the soup using a free-standing or hand-held blender
until smooth.
3. For the croutons, heat the olive oil or goose fat in a frying
pan over a medium heat. Add the bread cubes and fry until
golden and crisp, turning frequently. Remove with a
slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Sprinkle with
a little sea salt.
4. Return the soup to a clean pan, check the seasoning
and reheat gently. Ladle into warmed bowls, drizzle
over a little truffle oil and scatter a few croutons on top.
Serve immediately.

MINT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

A golden rule for Christmas is to delegate and my children


are always willing to help with any recipe that involves
chocolate. Instead of mint, you might like to flavour the
truffles with a splash of brandy or grated orange zest and a
little Grand Marnier
Makes 8090
INGREDIENTS
250ml/9fl oz
double cream
250ml/9fl oz
single cream
Small bunch fresh mint
500g/1lb 2oz goodquality dark chocolate (at
least 70 per cent
cocoa solids)
125g/4oz butter, diced
125g/4oz clear honey
For the coating
1 or more of the
following: cocoa powder,
crushed chocolate flake
bars, crushed amaretti

biscuits, finely chopped


pistachios or almonds
1. Pour both creams into a medium
saucepan. Lightly bash the mint
sprigs with a wooden spoon to
release their fragrance then add
them to the pan. Heat very gently
for 5-6 minutes to infuse the cream
with the mint.
2. Meanwhile, break up the
chocolate and place in a heatproof
bowl with the diced butter and
clear honey.
3. Strain the hot cream through a
sieve onto the chocolate, butter and
honey, stirring as you do so. Discard
the mint sprigs. Continue to stir
until the chocolate has melted and
the mixture is smooth.
4. Pour the mixture into a wide,
shallow dish, cover and chill in the

fridge for an hour, or until firm.


5. Scatter your chosen coatings
on separate plates. Take the truffle
mix from the fridge and, using
a teaspoon, scoop out a portion
and shape into a sphere by quickly
rolling it in your hands do
this speedily to avoid the truffle

melting in the warmth of your


hands. Toss the truffle in your
preferred coating and arrange
on a plate. Repeat with the rest.
6. Place the truffles in a shallow
plastic
container,
seal
and
refrigerate until firm and ready
to serve. Eat within 3-4 days.

MULLED WINE

These are ideal nibbles to serve with drinks. You can vary the nuts as
you wish, or use a pack of unsalted ready-mixed ones
Makes A small bowlful
INGREDIENTS
250g/9oz mixed nuts,
such as Brazils, almonds,
walnuts and pistachios
Pinch sea salt
1 tbsp groundnut or
other neutral-flavoured
oil (optional)
tsp cayenne pepper
tsp sweet paprika
Leaves from 1

rosemary sprig
1. Heat a large frying pan, add the
nuts and toast gently over a medium
heat for a few minutes, shaking the
pan constantly to ensure they colour
evenly. Once they start to release
their natural oils, add the salt
and toss well. If you find that
the salt isnt sticking to the nuts,
add 1 tbsp oil and toss again.
2. Once the nuts start to colour,
add the cayenne pepper, paprika
and rosemary leaves. Toss to ensure
the nuts are thoroughly coated.
Continue to heat, tossing frequently

for a few minutes, until the nuts and


spices are aromatic. Do not leave
the pan unattended as the nuts
can burn very quickly at this stage.
3. Tip the nuts into a wide bowl,
sprinkle with a little more salt.
If not serving immediately, leave
to cool completely and store in
an airtight container.
4. When ready to serve, warm the
nuts by tossing them in a frying
pan over a medium heat or
toasting in a preheated oven
at 180C, 350F, Gas 4 for about
10 minutes.

Seasons eatings

Our recipes are taken from Christmas


with Gordon, in which Gordon
Ramsay presents his favourite
festive recipes.
Whether you
are
looking
for
crowdpleasing ideas
for Christmas
entertaining,
or
fresh
ways to cook leftover turkey,
ham or Stilton, youll find lots
of inspiration.

COORDINATED BY SARAH HAMILTON-WALKER

DRY-ROASTED SPICED NUTS

Theres no better way to welcome


friends and family at Christmas
than with warming glasses of
aromatic mulled wine. My version
infuses the wine with traditional
and modern flavours. To serve
about 4-5 people, pour a bottle
of red wine into a large saucepan
and place over a gentle heat. Place
7 cardamom pods, 5 cloves, 2 star
anise, 1 halved cinnamon stick
and 1 snipped lemongrass stalk in
a piece of muslin then tie to form
a bag. Add to the saucepan with
the pared zest of 1 orange and
the segmented orange flesh, 1 tbsp
demerara sugar and 2 chopped
preserved stem ginger pieces with
2 tbsp syrup from the jar. Heat
gently for 4-5 minutes, stirring
occasionally do not allow it to
boil. Ladle into cups or glasses.

HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 121

Hello! SpaceS
et amidst Mumbais historical locale,
S
Havana Caf & Bar brings Cuba to
Colaba. At Havana, you can experiencs

and explore a wide array of all things


Cuban from its dcor and aesthetics to
its rum and cigars.

HAVANA
CAF AND
BAR
tHE BAy CItyS
FIRSt EVER LAtINAMERICAN LOUNGE
BAR AND REStAURANt
IS tHE PREFERRED
DEStINAtION FOR
MUSIC AND MOJItOS

122 HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015

Live the Cuban free spirit...


Havana offers a relaxed and spontaneous
buzz with its antique leather cub chairs and
cushioned couches filling one side of the room
and candle lit cafe tables spilling into the
courtyard with a central fountain on the other
side. The rich culture of Cuba is encountered
in the deep pink walls with iconic artworks
and retro posters that show a glimpse of
the past.
Join the authentic Cuban drinking
culture...
One can experience the incredible Cuban
spirit with an extensive drinks menu
comprising of more than 150 drinks. As rum
originated from Cuba, Havana is a rum lovers
paradise with signature cocktails and prides
itself on offering over 18 different rums.
Drinking is an experience at Havana...
At Havana, the music is the perfect
accompaniment to the speak-easy drinking
culture; one can dance the night away with
some foot-tapping music, which epitomises
retro-fusion cool the perfect accompaniment
to a fantastic Daiquiri.
Havana Fiesta...
Havana whips up a delicious and varied
menu of Latin American dishes, including the
classic Cubano.
Continue to celebrate the revolutionary
spirit of Cuba whilst in the heart of Mumbai

The famed Cubano


sandwhich, paired with
beers (above). The striking
Cuban-inspired interiors
(below, left). Walls with
iconic artworks and retro
posters (below, right)

HELLO! DECEMbEr 2015 123

Hello! Vineyard

Time to un-wine-d

Grover Zampa Vineyards has emerged steadily as one of the


leading producers of wine in India

Views of the fabulous vineyard, where some of the best


wine in the country is produced (above and bottom). The
wine is stored in barrels to mature before being bottled
(seen below, left)

remarkable
combination
formed as a result of a merger
between Grover Vineyards Ltd
and Valle De Vin Pvt Ltd, Grover
Zampa Vineyards boasts the most
impressive pedigree in the Indian
wine industry today and owns
brands that are widely recognised
in the Indian wine market.
Grover Vineyards was incepted
in the late 70s and was the
brainchild of Kanwal Grover, who
was joined by George Vesselle, the
Technical Director of Vineyards
of Champagne Mumm at the time.
Together, they began the journey
of analysing and studying Indian
soils and finding a suitable place
to grow French Varietals. In 1992,
the dream materialised into reality
when the First Vintage was born.
Since 1995, Michel Rolland has
been advising Grover Vineyards
for grape growing, harvesting and
winemaking techniques. It is also
the most awarded wine producer
and also leading exporter of fine
wines from India.
Extracting the collective best
from the international grape
varietals and Indian terroir
at Nandi Hills and Nashik
Valley, Grover Zampa exhibits
the extraordinary lineage in
the Indian wine industry and
endeavours to offer top quality
wines that cross boundaries. Their
twin locations also gives them
an opportunity to benefit from
the best of India. The natural
124 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

protection of the Nandi Hills


and the terraced slopes of Nashik
offer fresh climate and fertile soil
which are perfect conditions
for vine growing. Maintaining
quality all along the winemaking process is a key element.
Their grapes are processed in
temperature-controlled
cellars
equipped with modern materials,
as well as their own bottling
lines. The combination of winemaking techniques, perfect terroir
conditions for vine growing and
the magical touch of world famous
wine expert Michel Rolland
bestows a distinguishing style,
complex aroma and a delicate
flavour to the wines.
With
Grover
Zampa
winning 48 grand awards in
the last two years, it is proof of
their true craftsmanship and
unwavering fortitude. One of the
most venerable institutions in Paris,
LArpge is now serving two of
the most delectable offerings by
Grover Zampa Vineyards, making
it the first time for an Indian wine
to be served at the 3 Michelin
star restaurant. Grover Zampas
Sauvignon Blanc and La Reserve
Red have now become a new
addition to the restaurants menu
and will be served by the glass.
As the largest exporter of wines
with exports to over 20 countries,
Grover Zampa, has carved a place
in the world of wines and continues
H
to deliver art in every bottle.

Hello! PamPering

Grooming
Sanctuaries
If you take your appearance
seriously enough to make a
good impression, waltz into
the thoroughly enterprising,
Worship Salon and Gentlemens
Tonic in Delhi

The faade of the sleek


grooming salons

The spacious interior of


Worship Salon and the
spa room (below)

ocated at the capitals snazzy


Emporio Mall, Worship Salon
as well as Gentlemens Tonic, is the
go-to spot for every man and woman
for a variety of pampering and
grooming rituals. The salon is the
perfect spot for all you fashionistas
to get perfectly manicured nails
and a blow-dry, while all the
dapper chaps can emerge from
Gentlemens Tonic looking even
more suave and irresistible.
Taking the typical salon
experience to a whole new level,
Worship is the celebration of the raw
glamour in each woman. Offering
a luxurious range of signature
styles and personalised treatments,
Worship defies uniformity in style
and services. Led by best-in-class
international stylists, Worship

An interior shot of
Gentlemens Tonic

salon unfolds a fresh approach to


how hair, beauty and lifestyle are
understood, with a strong focus
on technique. The spa services
are some of the best in the city at
pampering and making you feel
truly relaxed; and their packages
are some of the most compelling
for those who are looking for proper
and deep rejuvenation. Pick from
a host of massages, facials, skin
treatments, bridal packages and
hair and beauty services. Moreover,
the salons location allows them to
work with designer stores in the
mall, to customise up-dos and do
make-up for special occasions.
Gentlemens Tonic is one of
the first International grooming
establishments
exclusively
for
men to come to Delhi. Founded
in the heart of Mayfair, London,
Gentlemens Tonic at Emporio
offers a variety of services such as
wet shaves, haircuts, massages and
facials all done in the tradition of
the high-end British barbershop,
while fusing elements of old
with new technology. Moreover,
this particular outlet recognises
their patrons need for privacy
and so, each station has its own
separate room, complete with a
personal Bose docking station and
HDTV Tata Sky; just to make the
experience all the more enjoyable.
If youre wondering what makes
this grooming haven the best choice,
its the fact that the team is led by
Creative Director, Rudolph Wilfrid
Hequet and Colour Expert, Elham
Samiee and furthermore, the entire
staff has been trained by experts
globally from London, Dubai
and Canada.
You can rest assured that you
are met by experts here, because
no treatment is rendered without
a thorough consultation and an
in-depth understanding of your
needs and skin and hair type. Such
attention to detail has been given,
that even the infrastructure has
been kept in mind to give you the
best results. How? Worship Salon
has been fitted with both yellow and
white lights in order to get as real a
perspective on the treatments being
rendered. This, teamed with their
extensive product ranges (they have
carefully sourced the best possible
products from across the globe,
using Daniel Hershesons 100
per cent human hair extensions,
braided headbands, brushes, styling
tools, clip-in ponytail extensions
etc), ensures that the goddess within
reflects on the outside once you
leave. And with their product lines
also including Epicuren, Krastase,
Bio Sculpture, Repechage, and Sea
Soul, it definitely entices you to
H
keep coming back for more!
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 125

LifestyLe Buzz

Haute flash

HELLO! gives you the low-down on whats making headlines in


the fashion and luxury hemisphere
FIRST KARL LAGERFELD
HOTEL TO OPEN IN
MACAU BY 2017
Macau beat the Las Vegas Strip
seven-times hollow with its gambling
revenue of uS$45 billion in 2013.
Its no wonder then, that designer
Karl Lagerfeld couldnt resist an
offer to brand stamp the landscape
with his own hotel address.
Partnering
with
established
casino operator, Sociedade de Jogos
de Macau (SJM), Lagerfeld will
have his designs across a 270-room
namesake property in the gamblers
paradise, all set to open doors by
2017. The luxe hotel will be part of
the Lisboa Palace complex, housed
in a 20-storey tower that will be
reminiscent of all things Lagerfeld,
which makes this an interesting
check-in, no doubt. How are we
so sure that this will bring as much
success? This isnt the first time
the chanel and Fendi designer has
worked his charm on a luxury space;
from the pool at Hotel Mtropole
Monte-carlo in Monaco to the suites
at the Hotel de crillon, Lagerfelds
proved his interior designing
skills already.

DECORATIVE ARTWORKS
FROM 1860S AT BONHAMS
Luxury auction house,
Bonhams, held an auction of
some mesmerising decorative
arts from the past. It was
organised by the 20th century
Decorative arts department of
the house, which put on sale a
rich array of glass, metalware,
sculptures and furniture from
1860 till today. The pieces
included Les Pins,
a wrought iron and
alabaster roof light, also
known as Plaffonier in
French, designed by Edgar
Brandt; Les Girls, a sculpture
cast and carved as show
girls wearing Diaghilevinspired skin-tight costumes
with accessories, by Demetre
chiparus with the main
highlight of the showpiece,
their heads, which were
inspired by Leon Bakst, a
russian painter; and Barr, a
set of 12 champagne stirrers,
designed by French glass
designer ren Lalique in
1932, made from frosted and
polished glass.

126 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA AND HAVAIANAS jOIN HANDS


cHarLoTTE
olympia
and
Havaianas are coming together to
present their new capsule of three
flipflop styles, alongside a vibrant retro
design beach towel. The collection
embraces the brands signature
colour palette of gold, blush, red
and leopard print and celebrates
charlotte olympias much-loved iconic

features; Kitty, Bruce the leopard


and charlottes Web. although the
collection will not make an appearance
in the Indian subcontinent, it till be
available to buy in the Havaianas
space, charlotte olympia stores and
online and selected retailers worldwide,
starting Febuary 2016, following its
launch at Milan Fashion Week.

GUCCI COLLABORATES WITH ARTISTS ON AN


INSTAGRAM INITIATIVE
A vast majority of the fashion flock
spends time facedown, immersed
in the pictorial world of Instagram.
The mix of content is addictive a
selfie of a friend, the latest Gucci
shoe, or a photo of an Impressionist
painting, are just a sampling of
things a girl might find in her daily
scroll through the app. Its not too
surprising then, that Instagram is
of particular interest to Guccis
alessandro Michele; the man who
manages to blend fictional 17thcentury maps with 70s trompe
loeil sequins in a visual feast on
the Gucci runway. Inspired by the
mix of the old and the new, the
familiar and the strange, the house
is launching an Instagram initiative
in which artists have been invited
to rework iconic Gucci patterns in
any way they see fit. #GucciGram
is a starting point to tell different
stories, which are all united by
a great freedom, said Michele.

Today, creativity is often born


and finds its voice in digital media,
a vital source of visual culture,
he added.
With Guccis floral #GGBlooms
and
geometric
#GGCaleido
patterns as a jumping-off point,
a slew of Instagrammers, ranging
from the internationally popular
to the up-and-coming, crafted
pieces inspired by the houses
prints. among the submissions,
youll find everything from short,
flickering movies that imagine
Gucci models as weather girls and
TV psychics, courtesy of Spanish
illustrator Ignasi Monreal, to a
near-nude selfie in an airplane
bathroom with a Gucci clutch
hanging from the door by amalia
ulman. The full selection of
entries will be on display on a new
section of the Gucci site, as well as
on the brands social channels over
the coming months.

THE AL THANI COLLECTION ON DISPLAY AT THE V&A

CHRISTIES AUCTIONED
THE LARGEST
PINK DIAMOND
cHrISTIES
International
offered the largest cushion-shaped
Fancy Vivid Pink diamond at their
Magnificent Jewels auction early last
month in Geneva. The 16.08 carat,
beautiful blush-toned diamond is set
in a ring with a double row of pavset white diamonds. In addition, the
ring has a third row of small pink
diamonds underneath. The band
comprises small circular-cut white
diamonds set in platinum. When it
comes to natural-coloured diamonds,
the pink hue is highly popular across
the world and it finds a prime place
in the collection of connoisseurs. This
particular stone has no undershade of
purple or orange and is clear, making
it exceedingly rare. additionally, the
Fancy Vivid Pink diamond classifies as
a Type IIa diamond, which accounts
for less than two per cent of all gem
diamonds. It has been graded from
the Gemological Institute of America
(GIA), and it holds the one in one
hundred thousand title of Fancy
colour. The stone was estimated
between uS$23-28 million and sold
for a staggering uS$28,523,925.

SPEcTacuLar objects, drawn


from a single private collection,
will explore the broad themes of
tradition and modernity in Indian
jewellery till 28 March, 2016 at
the Victoria & albert Museum.
Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani
Collection, includes Mughal jades,
a rare jewelled gold finial from the
throne of Tipu Sultan and pieces
that reveal the dramatic changes

that took place in Indian jewellery


design during the early 20th century.
The exhibition will examine
the influence that India had on
European jewellery made by cartier
and other leading houses and will
conclude with contemporary pieces
made by Jar and Bhagat, which
are inspired by a creative fusion
of Mughal motifs and art Deco
Indian designs.

SATYA PAUL ANNOUNCES THE DEBUT OF SATYA PAUL HOME


In celebration of three opulent decades in the
India Fashion Industry, Satya Paul announces
yet another milestone to this landmark
journey. The House of Satya Paul, for the
very first time, forays into the burgeoning
home dcor and furnishings segment with
the launch of its capsule line, SaTya PauL
Home. Home is a celebration of some of
the most iconic, timeless and eclectic prints
that have been a part of the brands Dna
and heritage. The autumn/Winter 2015
collection is an extension of the brands
nuances of colour and design, translated
into a unique assortment of vibrant, quirky
and flamboyant bed throws and cushion
covers to take your home from simple to
simply divine. With the festive season in tow,
the inaugural collection pays homage to the
classic leopard and paisley motifs, along with
contemporary elements like rose petal prints,
colourful brush strokes and colour blocking.
The collection is a juxtaposition of classics
with a contemporary interpretation of the
signature patterns and techniques, reflecting
the brand ethos of attention-to-detail and
avant-garde designs.
H
compiled by: farah palia &
JeeNa J billimoria
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 127

Hello! Special event

THE KASHMIR POLO CUP


eld in association with
H
HELLO!, The Maharaja
Hari Singh Memorial Cup

concluded on a crisp November


Sunday afternoon in the capital.
It was one of the most coveted
and well-attended events on
Delhis social calendar, with
the whos who in attendance.
The finals of the The Cup were
hosted by the Kashmir Royal
Family, Vikramaditya Singh and
his wife, Chitrangada Raje, along
with their children, Mriganka
and Martand Singh. The haute
attendees, which included the

Chief Guest MP and BCCI


General
Secretary,
Anurag
Singh Thakur as well as former
model, Sangeeta Bijlani, MP
Jyotiraditya Scindia and his wife,
Priyadarshini Raje, polo players
Sameer Suhag and Bhavani
Singh Kalvi amongst others,
watched the Jindal Panthers team
clash with the Mundota Fort and
Palace team in a match that was
won by the Mundota Fort and
Palace. It was a smashing day
for player, Angad Kalan, who
literally clinched the title for the
winning team all by himself !

2
5

1
3

4
128 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

8
11

10

12

1. Martand, Chitrangada, Mriganka and Vikramaditya Singh 2. The match in progress 3. Alkesh and Raakhe
Tandon 4. Shallu Jindal 5. Naveen Jindal 6. Jyotiraditya Scindia with Rajiv Wazir 7. Komal Wazir and Madhavi
Raje Scindia 8. Sangeeta Bijlani 9. Rimple and Harpreet Narula 10. Anurag Thakur 11. Ruchika Mehta, HELLO!
Editor, with Pavan, Tarun and Shiv Kapoor 12. Raseel and Naveen Ansal 13. Neeva Jain and Sanghita Singh 14.
Chandni Nath 15. Stuti Dixit 16. Aprajta Kumari 17. Bhavani Kalvi

14

13

15

16

17
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 129

Diary of the
Month
Fashion
Forward
WHAT: Christian Louboutin
recently hosted a royal soire
with Princess Diya Kumari in
Jaipur. The regal Mounbatten
Suite at Sujan Raj Mahal
Palace was stamped red with
Christian Louboutins Fall/
Winter collection of shoes
and handbags.
BUZZ:
Exotic
flowers,
macaroons
and
music
distinctively characterised the
Parisian signature style of the
brand in a luxurious setting.
Royalty from Rajasthan and
other guests viewed the Fall/
Winter 15 collection up close
over afternoon tea and indulged
in a special Louboutin manicure
that was introduced especially for
the afternoon.

Anjali Gaekwar, Gauri Kohli and Sarah Smith

Thakurani Nisha Singh, Kanwarani Pallavi Naila and


Kanwarani Devyani Singh

Kanwarani Angelique Singh, Kanwarani Usha Singh, Savitri


Kunadi and Kiran Sen

Vijay Lakshmi Bishnoi


130 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

Meera Kataria

Princess Diya Kumari

Manjusha Maheshwari, Thakur Vikram Singh and Raj Kumar


Vijit Singh

Diary of the
Month

Hafeez Contractor

Deluxe
debut

Salman Khan

WHAT: The St. Regis Mumbai,


part of St. Regis Hotels & Resorts,
celebrated its grand opening
with a swing and jazz concert,
exquisite culinary offerings, an
exclusive art tour and its unique
ritual of champagne sabering.
BUZZ: The elegant evening
welcomed a host of influencers
and tastemakers from around
the world, as well as Pune and
Mumbais movers and shakers.

Avinash Bhosale with Shweta and Amit Bhosale

Alison Kanuga, Deanne Pandey and Penny Patel

Malavika Sangghvi with Dr Cyrus Poonawalla

Atul and Gayatri Ruia

Ekta Kapoor

Mandira Bedi
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 131

Diary of the
Month

Kiran Bawa

Anjori Alagh, Laila Motwane, Twinkle Khanna, Smriti Mehra and Deval Sanghvi

Anu Dewan

Festive
Finesse

Bhavna Pandey

Maheep Kapoor

WHAT: The White Window,


a home dcor store by Twinkle
Khanna, showcased a fun day for
festive shopping featuring home
dcor, fashion apparel, gifting
essentials and sweet treats at the
store in Mumbai.
BUZZ: A line of exquisite home
accents titled Le Cirque, was
also unveiled, inspired by vintage
circus posters for the festive
season, of which guests couldnt
get enough.

Mahesh Jagwani with the ladies adorned with jewels from the Heritage Collection by Mahesh
Notandass Fine Jewellery

Gayatri Oberoi and Pinky Reddy

Vidya Malvade

Yasmin Karachiwala

Jewels Gallore

Yasmin Morani
132 HELLO! DECEMBER 2015

WHAT: Brand ambassador, Gauri Khan, unveiled


the much-awaited and scintillating festive collection
at the Mahesh Notandass Fine Jewellery store in
Mumbai and was seen in exquisite pieces from the
Heritage Collection.
BUZZ: Owner, Deepa Jagwani and entrepreneur,
Kunika Singh, played gracious hosts to select guests.
Women of substance and celebrated achievers
extended their support by wearing statement pieces
by the talented jeweller.

Mahesh and Deepa Jagwani with Brand Ambassador,


Gauri Khan

Diary of the
Month
JewelleD
liFe

Kamu Vachani and Simran Shroff

Divina Shroff and Rumana Nazeer

WHAT: Dubais Asian fashion


set attended luxury style curators
Simran Shroff and Kamu
Vachanis exclusive presentation
of stunning fine jewellery by
renowned label, KAJ Fine
Jewellery and Delhis first luxury
multi-designer store, Carma
boutique at Emirates Hills.
BUZZ: Ladies enjoyed browsing
through collections from Carmas
eclectic portfolio of designers
that included Sabyasachi and
Anamika Khanna.

Antoinette Ellis and Edith Sarrocero

Nikhita Samnani, Karieshma Hira, Samara Punjabi and


Aneesa Punjani

Nippa Bhatia and Mala Varma

Charitable
CharM
WHAT: Designer, Maheka Mirpuris, MCan
Foundation, hosted the third instalment of its
charity gala and fundraiser at The Taj Mahal Hotel,
Mumbai. MCan, which has been able to raise 70
lakhs from the two previous fundraisers, raised 78
lakhs at this years fundraiser.
BUZZ: The fundraiser was in aid of the
underprivileged patients fighting cancer at Tata
Memorial Hospital (TMH). While Bollywood
superstar, Anil Kapoor, was the Chief Guest for the
evening, actor Vivek Oberoi was the showstopper.
Maheka Mirpuri with Anil Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi

Rohit and Ronit Roy

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

Manasi Scott
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 133

Horoscope December
Sagittarius: Stay away from those who disappointed you in the past.
Cancer: You have been through a period of deep self-realisation in
the last few years.

Ofer Cohen
Aries 21

mar

- 20

Leo 24

apr

You have a lot to expect from the coming


year. In the months to come, you will
consider making new investments and
exploring new career opportunities.
If you recently started a business
partnership, it is important to be
involved in every important decision. As
the year ends, you will be surrounded
by family and enjoy socialising with old
friends. You can improve relationships
at home by being more patient and
understanding. You often like to do
things without sharing it with your
partner first.

Taurus 21

apr

- 21

may

This period brings new beginnings and


sudden change. It is never easy for you to
accept a new reality but rest assured that
this time everything is happening for the
best. Problems with work colleagues and
issues regarding your work schedule will
continue to disturb you. If you recently
lost your job, you can expect to find
another with better earnings and work
environment. In your personal life, you
choose to stick to those you can trust
rather than those whom you feel cant be
trusted. This time you are correct.

Gemini 22

may

- 22

jun

You want to change the current situation


of a business partnership or a family
property and your horoscope shows
that you yourself might need to change
things, if you want to make progress.
Your financial future is becoming
important now you feel this is the right
time to take long-term decisions. You
want to change the way you work, but it
might take time for plans to materialise.
If you recently got married, spend more
quality time with your loved one. This
will be the best way to deepen your
new relationship.

Cancer 23

jun

- 23

jul

This is a good period for work and


finance. You seem to be overconfident
regarding your ability to succeed and
show good leadership; try to be more
sensitive to your surrounding however.
If you are in the middle of a legal
battle, try and offer a compromising
solution as it can save money and time.
If single, you are ready now to find a
good relationship. There are three things
that Cancerians need in a relationship in
order to be happy stability, money and
family support. Now, you can get all this
without much effort.
134 HELLO! DecemBeR 2015

jul

- 23

Sagittarius 23

aug

You can feel that something in your


life is about to change. Your career is
looking good and will continue to bring
good news in 2016. Financially, you are
still dealing with high expenses but in
the coming months, this wont be much
of a problem as you will have several
opportunities to improve your income. In
your personal relationship, there is a lot
happening. Give your loved one sincere
attention and avoid being dominating.
You can reach the heart of your special
someone only by showing the kind and
gentle side of your personality.

Virgo 24

aug

- 23

Libra 24

sep

- 23

Capricorn 22

Scorpio 24

Actress Amanda
Seyfried turns 30
on December 3

oct

You will continue to focus on property


and finance. Travelling can recharge
you and improve relationships with
family members. Expenses are still
high and you need to find better ways
to manage budgets. In your personal
life, you are confused and are doubting
yourself. Your horoscope shows that
your loved one is hiding things from you,
which is what is continues to keep you
insecure. If you recently started a new
relationship, its better to not to take
any major decisions and just let things
happen naturally.
oct

- 22

nov

Your career is moving forward although


you often feel that things are moving too
slow. For many of you, it is not an easy
financial period; your horoscope shows
that it is only a matter of time before
things fall into place. You will be able to
reduce growing expenses by changing
your list of priorities and avoid taking
financial risks. Your personal life has
suffered from instability for a long time.
It seems as though there is some mystery
that needs to be revealed or something
that you must discover before taking
your relationship to the next level.

- 21

dec

Although the coming months are a


challenging period, your career will
continue to make positive progress. An
opportunity to work with people from
different backgrounds can bring success.
You are trying to solve a partnership or
family problem that is waiting to be
solved. Jupiter is on your side this year
and you will be lucky in finding a way
out of a bad partnership. Stay away
from those who disappointed you in the
past. A very emotional person whom you
rejected early this year, is still hoping to
get you but you have already moved on.

sep

The last few months have been focused


on work and finance and in the coming
months, this trend will continue. Some
of you will expand your current business
while others will work on new projects.
Something in your personal life is
about to change. Do not regret making
mistakes as the universe has its own way
of challenging you emotionally and
bring you to maturity. Relationships
that suffered from infidelity will not
survive unless both of you are willing to
forgive and sincerely communicate.

nov

Ofer Cohen, a
renowned tarot
card reader, was
born in Israel,
into a family
deeply rooted
in Kaballah and
mysticism. His
grandfather
was an expert
in the secrets
of Kaballah,
match-making,
herbs and
their recipes.
It was he who
predicted that
Ofer would carry
on his legacy.
Ofer divides his
time between
Mumbai and
Tel Aviv. He can
be reached at
www.ofercohen.
info or
+919820571003
(mob)

dec

- 20

jan

After a long period of financial worry,


you will be able to progress and feel
more secure about the future. Those
in creative fields will find it easier to
progress this year. In your personal
life, there might be some confusion
regarding someone you recently met.
You appreciate honesty and stability; do
your best to avoid going back to someone
who has disappointed you in the
past. If married, being generous
and warm to your spouse will help
improve the atmosphere at home.

Aquarius 21

jan

- 19

feb

Your financial situation is predicted


to improve after a slow period. Your
approach to life has greatly changed
and you are now ready to face career
challenges like never before. The year
is about to end and a family vacation
by the sea will help you feel recharged
and give you and your family quality
time to relax. In your personal life, you
are in a very emotional period. You will
feel tired of adventure and want to be
close to your spouse again. Your family
and kids will have a lot of impact on your
romantic decisions.

Pisces 20

feb

- 20

mar

A short vacation can help you to


rejuvenate. It will be wise to consult
with professionals before starting a new
business venture. Different expectations
between you and business partners can
end up in a dispute. If so, dont sit back;
you must communicate and express
your feelings regarding things that keep
disturbing you. Boredom can lead you
to do things you never did before; you
will find yourself getting attracted to
foreigners and people from different
backgrounds. Being involved in a secret
relationship may lead you to feel guilty
and eventually get you into trouble.

Drinks With

Cristiano Ronaldo
The hunky footballer and style icon talks family
values, heroes and working with the Sacoor Brothers

ristiano Ronaldo is Real


Madrids
all-time
leading
goalscorer, captain of Portugals
football team and has also surpassed
the 500 mark for career goals for club
and country. But Cristianos fame
extends far beyond the football pitch
as hes a brand ambassador for major
international companies including
Nike, Armani and Coca- Cola and
also has his own underwear and
T-shirt line, CR7. Hes a cover star
whose toned physique has graced the
cover of countless magazines and his
endorsement deals have made him
an international superstar. Here, the
30-year-old father to mini-me son,
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, talks dreams,
celebrity and what he considers to be
the meaning of life.
As a world renowned footballer
and father, do you hope
that your five-year-old son,
Cristiano Jr, will follow in your
legendary footsteps?
I must admit that Id love for him
to follow in my footsteps and become
a footballer. But thats his decision,
I wont force him, so only time
will tell.
Would you say that youve
raised your son to have strong
family values?
I try, the most important thing for
me is his upbringing and installing
the family values that I grew up with.
His upbringing is the only thing I
can control and thats what Ive been
focusing on as a father. Ive had a
lot of training with my nieces and
nephews and if I have more kids, Id
raise them the exact same way.
Do you rely on your family
for support?
Of course. Mainly at the beginning
of my career, I would often ask them
for advice with decision-making. But
with time, experience and especially
with being a father, Ive become
more independent. To be honest,
I never thought that having a child
could change everything in my life at
an emotional level.
Are there any celebrities youd
like to meet?
Denzel Washington, I like him
a lot. Id also love to meet Brad
Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and
Jodie Foster.
Youre a hero for millions
how would you define a hero?
I associate heroes with people I
admire, people in other professions,
in other areas. Like film actors,

basketball players, golfers and


Formula 1 drivers. For me, a hero
isnt someone whose autograph I
want, but a person whose opinion
interests me.
Youve
landed
several
ad campaigns and have
won the Worlds Sexiest
Footballer several times...
do you consider yourself
good looking?
A little. I think we should all be a
little vain. I feel like this generation
takes a lot more care of itself. As least
thats what Ive noticed, especially
when I look at my own family
my parents, my aunts and uncles.
I think this new generation is more
careful with image, but not too
much so. A little care has never
hurt anybody.
Can
you
tell
us
about
your
partnership with the
Sacoor Brothers?
Its a privilege working
with them; I love the
team and the product
speaks for itself. I
truly hope that
our
partnership
continues
for
many years.
Youre known
for being a
d r e a m e r,
do
you
have any
dreams
t h a t
you still
wish
to
achieve?
Its true, Im
a man of dreams
but I dream with my eyes open
which means that I think everything
in life is possible. It just depends
on what your aims are and how
you hope to achieve them. Im
lucky that all of my dreams have
come true.
How would you define the
meaning of life?
The meaning of life is simple,
its living as intensely as possible.
Leaving my mark on my profession.
I think Ive already done that and
Im going to keep on doing it. At
a personal level, its being happy,
having a decent life and being
H
a role model.
TEXT: KATE-LYNNE WOLMARANS
HELLO! DECEMBER 2015 135

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