Relying on star power

Even as the airwaves since yesterday have been monopolised by news that the much-awaited official launch of Reliance Jio will happen next week as announced by Mukesh Ambani at the Reliance AGM, inside sources say that Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh along with the Badshah of Bollywood, SRK, will be announced as brand ambassadors for the high-profile venture.

Mukesh Ambani, wife Nita and son Akash arrive for the Reliance Industries AGM where he announced the launch of the Jio 4Gâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088service. Pic/AFP

And though the official announcement is to be made soon, sources insist that the trio has already been signed on for the task. Talk about star power!

Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor

Our men in khaki
That police reforms, especially in Maharashtra, are much-needed is acknowledged by all. From cramped living quarters to unsustainable hours of duty and a deplorable lack of infrastructure, our men in khaki toil in challenging conditions. In recognition of this, CM Devendra Fadnavis, Shaina NC and Adar Poonawalla have come together to launch state-of-the-art toilets for police and the Railways across Mumbai.

Devendra Fadnavis, Rishi Kapoor and Adar Poonawalla

A CSR activity supported by I Love Mumbai, the likes of Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar, DGP Satish Mathur, actors Sonali Bendre and Rishi Kapoor gathered yesterday morning at the Mumbai Police headquarters to launch the initiative.

Next on the list: decent housing so that the cops don't have to live cheek by jowl with the very people they police.

All in the family
We had bumped into Roohi Jaikishan last week on her evening constitutional, her face scrubbed clean of make up, her hair pulled back in a tight knot, and of course we had not recognised her as the international fashionista whose appearances, often with her BFF Shweta Bachchan, make such a pretty picture.

Pallavi Jaikishan

This week, when we were sent portraits of Jaikishan modelling her mother-in-law designer Pallavi Jaikishan's latest line, ‘Czarina,' we were once again taken aback to see the transformation from health freak to graceful swan. "It was a celebration of love and family. A very precious moment. Her outfits are my favourite," she says about the shoot, which brought together her sisters-in-law Priya Jaikishan and Farrah Oomerbhoy as fellow models.

Roohi Jaikishan and Farah Oomerbhoy

"Czarina has been designed keeping in mind the approaching wedding season," says Pallavi. As for her three models, she was delighted. "I've never had so much fun on a shoot! All three of them are utterly gorgeous as well as totally natural in front of the camera!" she says.

So you think you can choreograph?
"I never wanted to start dance classes, though I have been asked umpteen times. I wanted to go the next level," says the feisty mother of triplets, leading director and choreographer Farah Khan, about the venture she launched yesterday, along with Shashi Ranjan of the ITA School, to impart her expertise to others.

Farah Khan

"I see so many great dancers. Some of them far better than me, but when it comes to translating that on screen, there is a lack of knowledge and technical finesse," says the lady not known to mince words about some of the more objectionable atrocities that pass for ‘dancing' in Bollywood.

"So I've sat and devised, conceived and written the Farah Khan Choreography Course," she informs. "In 12 weeks, it can help you understand, appreciate and practically shoot a song," she says, ending with a sly dig at her rivals, many of whom she has not hidden her exasperation for, "Other choreographers are welcome to come join too."

We have a list of them ready - but are they listening?

In memory of Sardesai
This year's Dilip Sardesai Memorial lecture, instituted by his wife Nandini and son Rajdeep to commemorate the late Test cricketer, will be held on September 28 over high tea and will see cricketing legend VVS Laxman do the honours. Unsurprisingly, the subject of the lecture is ‘A Tribute to A Cricket Hero.'

Dilip Sardesai and Rajdeep Sardesai

Dilip Sardesai, who had once scored a thrilling double century against New Zealand in the sixties, was said to be one of the best batsmen of his time against spin bowlers.

Mothers without borders
We recall our days as a young mother when the overwhelming feeling of confusion and ignorance about the great responsibility at hand often had us in tears. New mothers have an inexplicable need to connect and bond with other new mothers, often to the exclusion of every other person on the planet. So when we heard about restaurateur Riyaz Amlani's wife Kiran's ‘The Mommy Network' - an endeavour to create a healthy, interdependent community for young moms, it appeared to be an idea whose time has come.

Kiran Amlani, Tejal Bajla and Shreya Lamba

"She has brought together two young moms - an early learning expert, Tejal Bajla, and a business whiz, Shreya Lamba, and together they have launched the site," says a spokesperson. "What started off with a simple desire to create a community of like-minded mothers to share information and ideas, has now taken on a life of its own," says the momtrepreneur Kiran.

And with yummy mommies like Avantika Malik Khan, and Deepshika Deshmukh as followers and a kid's pop-up party this month to gather the flock, mommies need never feel alone. As they say, mom's the word.