New age power list

Having put together numerous power lists for different publications over the years, we know how much goes into creating a list that has the potential to impact share prices, mood swings and societal worth.

So we were pleased to read Twitter India's year-end review list released yesterday. Known as #yearontwitter it shed light on the 10 most followed accounts in India. And no surprises that the no. 1 spot belongs deservedly to Amitabh Bachchan, with 18.1 million followers.

Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan

Big B, after all, was one of the first to embrace social media with his blog and is an enthusiastic social networker. At second place with 16.5 million is Shah Rukh Khan, who is fascinated by all kinds of technology, and uses his iPhone, posting usually early in the morning.

The other Khans, Aamir and Salman come in at fourth and fifth place, even though they seldom post on social media. And PM Narendra Modi takes third spot.

The only two women on the list, Deepika and Priyanka, come in at sixth and eight spot with 12.3 million and 11.8 million followers respectively. And Hrithik and Akshay Kumar follow with 11.9 million and 10.6 million.
The last spot on the list is for AR Rahman, who edges out Sachin Tendulkar. Actors, a politician, a singer. Interesting na?

Spoofing Suhel, parodying Peter
"Suhel Seth is so English and exaggerating, the way he speaks, is the easiest way to depict him." It was Kunal Vijayakar, whose send up of the bouncing bon vivant on a TV channel's show ‘The Week that Wasn't,' had delighted us enormously recently. "He's a dear friend and preparation to play him was not difficult," said Vijayakar.

Kunal Vijayakar parodies Peter Mukerjea (right) during a polygraph test

But even better than his caricaturing of Seth had been his parody of Peter Mukerjea. "We tried to imagine how Peter could have behaved during his polygraph. And his responses were based on his attitude and responses as far as his relationship with Indrani, to the police and journos was from day one," said Vijayakar.

Here Vijayakar spoofs Suhel Seth (right)

And which portrayal did he enjoy doing more? "Suhel is a friend and a lot like me, so he was easier to do, But Peter was a new thing," said Vijayakar.

Ritu's journey
For today's fashionistas, it might be hard to fathom, that one of the building blocks of the great fashion monolith in India was a tiny boutique the size of a handkerchief, in a residential building at Breach Candy in the Seventies.

(LtoR) Rakhee, Ritu Kumar and a guest

The boutique was Ritu Kumar's and the building happened to be the one we resided in. It was the first ‘designer boutique' that many of us had ever stepped into, and we inhaled the air-conditioned exclusivity with wonder. The Ambani ladies, Kokilaben with daughters Dipti and Nina, Hema Deora, Smita Parekh, all wore clothes from here, and you could spot a ‘Rita's' a mile away.

"When I started the Breach Candy boutique in the seventies, fashion was not even taken seriously! It was merely a cottage industry with mom & pop stores," said the designer to us yesterday, about launch of her new sprawling store at Kala Ghoda this evening.

"I feel honoured to have been a part of a journey," she said. And with its interiors said to be a tribute to India's rich history of textiles trade, the sprawling new store sounds a far cry from the tiny little shop where Kumar had started her fashion journey all those years ago.

All the World's A Stage...
Our Oolong tea favouring SoBo hostess friend was beside her. "Can you come over right away?" she said.

As usual, when we arrived she was sipping her favourite tea, "We need to Google Shakespeare asap," she said.

Huh we said. Our OTFSH friend was a self-styled blue stocking, what with her regular book club meetings etc, but ‘Googling Shakespeare' was drastic even by her standards.

"It's my police officer friend who's on the Peter Mukerjea case," she said referring to one of the city's dashing IPS officers, a fixture at her soirees. "He called to say he'd just had that theatre director, you know the one with the goatee and the crazy hairdo, who shouts at Arnab on TV shows?"

I'm in a rush we said to get her back to topic. The OTFSH shot us her withering look.

"Copsy called to say that this crazy director had been called in yesterday and that he hadn't understood a SINGLE word of what the guy said. Google Shakespeare ASAP," she implored.

I did as told.

"OK what does: ‘I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at' mean?' That's what director Saab had said to Copsy.

Othello we said. He meant he would be forthcoming.

What about: ‘You all did love him once, not without cause,

What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?"

Anthony's speech in Julius Caesar, we said, he meant that Peter was once loved by many cops and had been hastily dropped…

"Oof these drama-baazi types," said the OTFSH. "No wonder poor Copsy was pulling out his hair in frustration," she said.

‘Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble,' we said. "Huh," said the OTFSH, "and what does that mean?"

It means we're outta here we said heading for the door.

"Thanks," sulked the OTFSH. "I will convey all this to Copsy," she said, and then we think, we heard her say ‘Out, damned spot! Out!' but we could be wrong.