The two sides of Rohit Khosla

>> A prior commitment in Delhi made us miss Rohit Bal's Friday's cocktails at a five-star in Mumbai, which he described as ‘a soirée of fashion, music and sculpture.'

And so, when on Saturday all of Delhi (at least the three people we spoke to) was donning its jewels to attend Suneet Varma's fashion extravaganza to mark his 25th year in fashion we found the Delhi Mumbai mirror image even more delicious.

Suneet Verma

Two young Punjabi designers at the top of their game, showing over two consecutive days at two magnificent five star hotels in both cities seemed the perfect way to underline the symmetry of the two cities.

For those interested in symmetries and synergies there's more involving the two designers. Years before, they arrived on the scene, Delhi's design throne had been occupied by the late great Rohit Khosla, who brought panache and daring to the nascent industry.

After his young and tragic demise we always believed that his mantle had been inherited by two similar (in persona) Delhi boys: Rohit Bal inherited his title of enfant terrible and Suneet Varma his cutting edge charm and drive. That both had shows this weekend at high falutin venues in the political and financial
capital seemed a bit of magic realism.u00a0

One Billion Rising
>> More on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor. Our meeting with the redoubtable Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal could not take place in Mumbai but we planned to meet her son Kaizad who was also to be in Delhi over the weekend. Both mother and son, the force behind the phenomenal Indian run of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues are now involved with One Billion Rising, the global campaign against violence against women.

Dolly Thakore, Jane Fonda, Eve Ensler, Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal and Marisa Tomei

"The one billion refers to the number of women who live in jeopardy and under the threat of violence," Kotwal said to us. "We are planning a series of events all over the country to spread the word. Eve Ensler will be coming down in January for this purpose." We had met Eve Ensler with Mody at the CCI for dinner almost five years ago after the premier of the Vagina Monologues. On that table also happened to be Jane Fonda and Marisa Tomei. Like Mahabanoo, all women of substance and committed to fighting for their less empowered sisters to theu00a0last. We have no doubt that with people like these on board One Billion Rising will be a success.

The Dilli-Mumbai corridor
>> And so it's back on the seamless Delhi-Mumbai corridor today. And more of the same: uber banker Hemendra Kothari's passion for wildlife presented at the Sanctuary Awards, The Satya Paul launch and finally Jodhpur for the Dom Perignon hi-jinx!

The biggest fattest wedding
>> More on the Sethia wedding that people in the know swear is going to outdo every big fat Indian wedding witnessed so far. We learn that the family has engaged India's most stylish and celebrated designer Tarun Tahiliani himself to design some of the events to be held in Udaipur soon.

Tahiliani, the ferociously stylish Doon and Wharton educated son of an Admiral messaged us from the site of the preparations in what can only be an SMS befitting of the grand occasion.

"Am in Udaipur. Designed the faboid SETHIA wedding. Back tom. Am now on the lake listening to Vanessa Mae play Beethoven's fuges."
Ahhh, just another day in paradise!

My car's elder brother may be an Aston Martin
>> In the general scheme of things it seems only natural that in the week that the dashing Anand Mahindra has been in the news for his company's bid for the iconic British car brand Aston Martin, we should have been actively considering another equally epochal initiative that his company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), India's leading maker of tractors and sport utility vehicles that also controls Korea's SsangYong Motor is reported to be involved with: The Reva NXR.

Anand Mahindra

We have been in love with the Bangalore produced boxy little car and have been dying to get our hands on it ever since we've been fans of Noddy and his little red toot toot. A dinky little battery operated four-wheeler, that's cute green and nifty - who wouldn't want one? We test drove our first Reva in Delhi last year, but decided to wait until its new promoters the Mahindra group, the makers of Scorpio, India's largest selling SUV rev it up ad added its own bells and whistles to the product.

James Bond with the Aston Martin DB5u00a0

Now, we learn the new improved model is all set to roll out in December and from its early pictures appears to be produced in a neon shade of green that we quite fancy. So what do you know? By the time we get our hands on it -we might just be able to say that the same company that owns James Bond's preferred set of wheels makes it! Toot toot!

Good news about Pran!
>> For veteran actor Pran's legion of fans, the fact that contrary to news reports of the more hasty kind he's in good spirits and well on the way to recovery should come as a welcome piece of cheer. We particularly like his doting daughter Pinky Bhalla's post of her picture with the actor who contrary to his villainous persona has the reputation of being one of Bollywood's original gentlemen.

As for the erroneous rumours making the rounds on Friday here's what Pinky said, "Very irresponsible of some channels to tweet incorrect information about dad's health. They need to check with the family or the hospital before creating a panic situation. He is doing well, and should be discharged tomorrow evening. Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes." We like! u00a0