Standing ovation for Bankster

Zeenat Aman with son Azaan Khan (to her right) at the screening

There is a special pleasure in seeing the children of one's old friends come into their own in their chosen professions.

Which is why, when we caught up with our old buddy, yesteryear superstar and icon, Zeenat Aman, and she informed us that her elder son Azaan Khan's debut film ‘Bankster' was screened as the opening film at the recently concluded Norway film festival, and had received a standing ovation and the award for ‘Best Debut Director,' we were thrilled.

"They're both strapping and gallant young men," said Aman in her famous husky drawl, about her sons Zahaan and Azaan. Bankster, the movie based on an original screenplay, and starring Faizan Khawaja and Naseeruddin Shah, is slated to release later this year.

Star outings
One of the things you learn to respect, when you embark on a week of hectic to-ing and fro-ing, as we did last week, is the sheer stamina of those you encounter along the way.

Rhea and Anil Kapoor

Last week, we ran into Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan, two nights in a row, and realised how very hard they work, keeping up with their social and professional commitments. Anil Kapoor, who we bumped into, on his way to Rima Kapoor's birthday bash last week, appears to have been no slouch in the back-to-back event attendance business.

Not only is the indefatigable star, who embarked on an international career in his fifties, actively involved in the run-up to his son Harsh Kapoor's debut launch this week, but he also made it a point to drop in at daughter Rhea Kapoor's Friday night party, held at a store on Linking Road to mark a new collaboration, with his famous smile intact, and never the worse for wear. After all, that's what makes a star.

The sound of music
Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources, is known to host musical mehfils at his airy Mumbai apartment overlooking the Gateway of India when in town. And this weekend saw the head of the global metals and mining giant, invite a small group of friends to be regaled by singer- composer Shankar Mahadevan.

AnilâÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088Agarwal and Shankar Mahadevan

"It was really quite an exclusive crowd of businessmen and their wives and the only famous face I recognised was Kishore Biyani," said a female guest, adding, "along with composer Anu Malik, and lyricist and singer Swanand Kirkire, who along with the host and his family sportingly belted out a few numbers too."

The Deol legacy
‘Tis the season of star progeny': Sunny Deol's elder son Karan Deol, known as Rocky to his close friends and family, is gearing up for his debut film, ‘Pal, Pal Dil Ke Pass.'

Dharmendra and SunnyâÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088Deol

Karan, who we have watched perform on his school stage as a rapper, from a young age has been dividing his time between Mumbai and London, going through rigorous workouts, dance and acting workshops, and the 360-degree preparation programme that Bollywood aspirants are expected to complete these days.

Karan Deol

"But even though he has received numerous offers from big directors, Sunny has been clear that his son will be launched by the home banner," says a source. And to this end a YouTube video was released over the weekend by the Deol's production company, Vijayta films, offering a sneak peak into the latest Deol, and announcing that auditions are open to find his leading lady.

"Dharmendra launched Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh with ‘Betaab,' Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna with ‘Barsaat,' and Abhay Deol and Ayesha Takia with ‘Socha Na Tha,' and he was very clear that he would like to launch his oldest grandson Karan and another debutant actress in the same manner," adds the source. Ladies, are you listening?

Drama queens unlimited?
Oh dear, this lissome former actress, who'd had a rousing hit with a South Indian film before her marriage to a Mumbai bizman, appears to have made quite a scene at the first night of a new play over the weekend.

Not wanting to share the limelight with the play's protagonist, the lady is said to have tried ‘every trick in the book,' with loud and boisterous behaviour to attract her share of attention, especially in the presence of the media, which led to some choice sniping by others present, we are informed.

"Any surprises that the name of the play was ‘Drama Queen'?, purrs a fellow attendee. Ouch!

Dangling conversations
A kind of clarion call goes out in certain circles in Mumbai, when it is known that Good Earth's Delhi-based founder and creative head Anita Lal is visiting. The design maven, who has given India one of its most significant contemporary design vocabularies, is a rare combination of unbridled creativity and Punjabi pragmatism, and a great raconteur.

Anita Lal

No surprises then that this Saturday's brunch, hosted by the iconic lifestyle store, saw some of the city's leading design aficionados gather to witness the launch of the Shambala collection. Spotted in the room with Anita and daughter Simran Lal, who now helms the brand, were such varied talents as photographer Sheena Sippy, architect Ahsan Ansari, and advertising icon Mohammed Khan amongst others.

Over an excellent duck salad and baked fish, subjects as wide ranging as Rumi's poetry, (serendipitously, it happened to be the poet's birth anniversary that day) the tragedy of Partition, the US presidential election, and the health of Jayalalitha were discussed as the exquisite muted hues of the store's tribute to the Silk Route leached into the grey green shades of a rainy Mumbai afternoon.

"True decadence takes decades of refinement to achieve," we heard the great Hyderabadi wordsmith Khan say to a riveted audience. That's what Lal brings to Mumbai: a reminder of a time infinitely more civilised and gracious.