A bouquet of Tharoors

Shashi Tharoor, Ishaan Tharoor. Pic/Twitter and Kanishk Tharoor

It's been touted as a ‘Trio of Tharoors,' and indeed, the Indo-American Arts Council's upcoming literary festival unfolding this week in New York is well aware of the star power that the three Tharoors, pater Shashi, and twins Kanishk and Ishaan command when they are fielded together.

Called ‘Swimmer Among the Stars', Kanishk's debut work of fiction will be published in the US next March. The discussion this Sunday will see the silken-tongued former UN diplomat, and Congress leader engage his twin sons in a discussion about their journalistic and literary endeavours.

‘Both the younger Tharoors have formidable writing careers at a young age,' the liner notes. ‘Kanishk is a writer and broadcaster, and his debut collection has created quite a buzz. And Ishaan is a foreign affairs writer at Washington Post, where he heads the WorldViews blog and writes on many issues.'

And when the elder Tharoor was asked if there'd ever be chance that the three wordsmiths would collaborate on a project together, he didn't rule it out. ‘Never say never!' He said to a popular website, adding, ‘but they do say a camel was a horse created by a committee, so I am not sure what a text authored by three people would look like!'

No flirting please
She is a formidable voice in Bollywood, commanding a following of her own, and so when uber casting agent Shanoo Sharma, head of casting of YRF, the lady credited with discovering some of the industry's most successful stars, including Ranveer Singh, recently penned her 12 top tips for filmy hopefuls on how to make it; no surprises that it garnered much interest.

Ranveer Singh and Shanoo Sharma

But among the more common sense advice such as ‘do your research' and ‘work hard on improving yourself,' what caught our eye was tip #4: Called ‘Don't flirt with him or her.' It afforded a fascinating insight into the business of casting. ‘People hit on you,' wrote Sharma. ‘It happens all the time, and trust me its not nice,' she opined. ‘Because one is aware of the motive and it's not flattering for anyone to know that.'

And to show just how she means business the savvy lady added, "Any actor who tries to flirt with me, I screenshot, save messages and keep a folder on my phone. So, incase people ever question me about that matter (although I never mention it), there's a folder with name, time and number. It's all saved." That's what's called a Casting Ouch! We like.

A blast from the past
It was something of a gathering of the fold, when noted journalist Madhu Trehan, acknowledged as the woman who founded India Today, and consequently changed the face of Indian journalism way back in the seventies, celebrated her big birthday at her residence on Wednesday night.

Kamal Nath, William Dalrymple and Sunil Mittal

Trehan (who now runs the feisty Newslaundry.com) and her husband, the celebrated heart surgeon Naresh Trehan, are one of Delhi's most popular couples and so to partake in the festivities, were their friends, like the birthday girl's celebrated media baron brother Aroon Purie with wife Rekha Purie, Minister for Power and Coal Piyush Goel, Congress leader Kamal Nath, designers Rohit Bal, Vivek Sahni, author William Dalrymple with artist wife Olivia Fraser, Orissa politico Jai Panda, TV maven Vikram Chandra, industrialist Sunil Mittal, and economists Montek and Ishar Ahluwalia. "The food was catered by Marut Sikka, there was plenty of bubbly, a blasting band and much dancing till the wee hours," says a source.

Naresh and Madhu Trehan

Incidentally, when asked what the Delhi scene in general was like in these days of the Modi regime, the same source added, "Don't you know the drawing rooms of Delhi have collapsed? Everyone drinks sherbet and goes to sleep at 7 now." Obviously, Wednesday's hoorah was a ghost of times past.

The fashion squad
We are not sure where this glamorous picture was taken but if someone were writing a book on India's tryst with western fashion, this surely would be the definitive cover picture.

Anaita Shroff Adajania, Kalyani Chawla, Bandana Tewari and Priya Tanna

After all Uber stylist to the stars and fashion editor Anahita Adajania, Dior's Kalyani Chawla, spunky fashion editor Bandana Tewari, and editor of India's leading fashion monthly Priya Tanna, have all, singularly and collectively pulled up India's fashion consciousness through the hoops of despair and into the era of ball gowns, red carpet makeovers and stiletto heels. If ever there was a fashion police, meet its commissioners.

A change of hands?
Word comes in that this international hotel chain that made a somewhat under-whelming entry into India not too long ago with a mid city hotel which appeared to be a far cry from the high standards of its international fare is looking to redeem itself somewhat by acquiring a stunning heritage existing hotel property in Delhi. The hotel is being run by a renowned Delhi family in a prime location, and has garnered much renown for its high standards and impeccable interiors. But word on the block is that the younger members are keen to exit and hence the sale to the international hotel chain is on the cards. As for the Capital's hotel scene, it is said that with the cities leading hotel closed down for extensive renovations, the doors are left wide open for new contenders to make headway.