A Times of indiA PUbLicATion JULY 2017 l 150

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tHe PoWer oF tWo tHe DUKe AnD DUCHess oF CAMBrIDGe WILLIAM & KAte carrY FOrward tHE LatE prIncEss dIana's LEGacY as a pEOpLE's cOupLE aLsO: dYnamIc duOs acrOss tHE arts, busInEss and OtHEr FIELds sHarE tHEIr stOrIEs

InterIor's Special HELLO! sHOwcasEs nEw trEnds, prOducts and spacEs

AsIn & RAHUL REENA & AMRITA & sHARMA JITIsH KALLAT MALAIKA ARORA InsIde Hello!

COVER PHOTO: gETTy imagEs

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THE POWER OF TWO PRINCE WILLIAM & KATE MIDDLETON HELLO! visits tHE pEOpLE-friEndLY pOwEr cOUpLE, tO sEE HOw tHEY carrY fOrward tHE HUmanitarianism ExHibitEd in princEss diana’s LifEtimE, as tHE LEgEnd is widELY rEmEmbErEd On HEr 20tH dEatH annivErsarY. HELLO! aLsO LOOks at tHE cOUpLE’s gEnEraL cOmfOrt witH EacH OtHEr COVER STORY as friEnds, parEnts and cO-inHabitOrs Of a grEat LEgacY

2 HELLO! JULY 2017 10 THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF 10 BLACAS D’AUPS HELLO! enters Château D’ussé, the historic castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty, and presents the story of the blue- blooded family and its lifestyle in this regal abode 18 YOUNG MONEY ONLY HELLO! focuses on the new millionaires, all under 30, who are challenging old paradigms of possibilities for success, including Evan spiegel of snapchat, reality TV star, Kylie Jenner and more 20 AMIT PASRICHA HELLO! meets the photographer who has dedicated a new book, titled, India At Home, featuring a range of interiors shot with families across india 24 MANDEEP NAGI AND DAVID HOUSEGO They have been running a successful business with their iconic brand, shades of india. HELLO! discovers a home that reflects their seamless bond as co-creators 29 AMISH TRIPATHI The author chats on the uniqueness of Sita, Warrior of Mithila, the second book of his Ram Chandra series 34 RAHUL AND ASIN SHARMA Their life is a celebration of success, power and hard work. HELLO! meets the couple for their first ever 24 34 interview post marriage 39 AJAY AND SANJEEV BIJLI HELLO! interacts with the sibling-team who are at the helm of the multi-crore PVR cinemas nationwide, forming a stellar picture of siblings as co- visionaries and entrepreneurs 40 JITISH AND REENA KALLAT HELLO! brings to you the quintessential artistic couple as they share recent ideas and insights into their equation and their work 44 SCHAUNA AND NADIA CHAUHAN The elusive Parle agro sisters met HELLO! at home for a riveting chat on success, family and teamwork 48 ROHIT KHANNA AND RAHUL GANDHI HELLO! meets a design duo with many accomplishments spanning two decades, and discovers how they inspire and motivate each other 52 RITU AND ANITA DALMIA Together they create a treat for the senses – one,

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with her culinary finesse, the other with her décor 38 sensibility. The sister duo speak to HELLO! about a fantastic partnership 55 FASHION Check out what’s ‘Haute in HELLO!,’ Olivia Palermo’s insta-life and HELLO!’s style muses, the sizzling arora sisters, malaika and amrita, as they are joined by their friend and designer, gabriella Demetriades for an exclusive fashion escapade 66 WELLNESS & BEAUTY ‘get the Look’ from the Cannes red carpet, a sneak-peek into actress and TV anchor, Kubra sait’s handbag, Fragrance Director, Celine Roux introduces Jo malone to india, as well as a guide to summer beauty must-haves 70 GOOD LIVING HELLO! discovers its sweet- tooth with Confetti, a mumbai-based brand started by talented home baking sibling duo, Priyal and Priyanka Kothari 74 SHANTANU GARG The founder of shantanu garg Design, Jaipur’s leading firm for architecture, interior and furniture design, has a chat with HELLO! 78 PARADISE IN THE PALMS HELLO! enters The atelier Habib signature Villa in the Palms, Dubai, and chats with interior designer aakif Habib, on global trends, digital interfaces in modern homes and more 80 POOJA DHINGRA The founder of celebrity- favourite Le 15 Pâtisserie explores Brazil and Peru for a remarkable culinary tale

REGULARS 28 THE INSIDE STORY 82 LUXE NEWS 88 DIARY OF THE MONTH 93 DRINKS WITH ANDREA VOLTOLINA

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4 HELLO! JULY 2017 Letters to the editor [email protected]

backdrop of the Luxor Temple ruins in Hello! New CoNsCiousNess your cover shoot with Parineeti Chopra, I have changed my mind. It has definitely given me major travel goals. I would like to give a special mention to your FASHIONED BY THE ELEMENTS fashion pages for churning out such out AS FASHION EMBRACES A of the box content with regards to the MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO STYLE, HELLO!’S MINDFUL personalities you’ll cover. MUSE SHOWCASES THE HAUTEST ELENA SILHOUETTES OF THIS MOVEMENT Darshita Ranka, Mumbai THREE CHEERS Elena Fernandes shoots with HELLO! for the first time in FERNANDEShe importance of of his pieces is absolutely divine timeless possessions? a layered mul cotton dress I am writing to thank HELLO! for Tsustainable fashion… and made from recycled products. “My most timeless possession is an with halter strings from “Sustainable fashion is vital – we There’s a misconception that Omega watch, which was passed Chola by Sohaya. A silver should all be made aware of the sustainable fashion is ugly, because on to me by my great grandmother. plated earring with a painted bringing a smile on the faces of your ‘fashion waste’ and ‘human toil’ that when the general public thinks of It’s a classic and I love it! (smiles) I flower, layered chain cuff is a part of the process that goes into recycled goods, they often think old also love my classic Burberry trench and flower full finger ring, all from Amprapali, completes making our clothes. We live in a fast- and used… but if you just look at coat, which I can use all year round this simple and elegant look readers through the fantastic features paced fashion world and often, no what Amit has created, it will truly and which completes every single thought is given to how the clothes open your eyes and make you aware outfit. It’s a statement piece that actually reach our popular stores on of how truly beautiful sustainable never goes out of fashion. One of a weekly basis. To me, it means that fashion is. H&M is another my treasured bags is a Chanel 2.55. you’ll put together. I have read this we have succumbed to an induced brand making great strides in It is an investment piece and an coma of more, more and more – this direction.” item I would definitely pass to my an environment of quantity over Your thoughts on daughter. It really is such a classic. magazine, cover to cover, for the last 10 quality. We, as humans, must take ‘Fast Fashion?’ And last, but not least, my vintage a sustainable approach to how we “I watched a documentary on fast Ray-Bans, which never fail me.” view fashion.” fashion and it broke my heart. It Which fashionable trend years and it only gets better with each How do you personally recycle gave me a reality check with regards are you looking forward to and reuse? to the slave labour that goes into fast embracing this season? “I love shopping at thrift stores… fashion – that makes it possible to “I’m definitely looking forward to issue. I have immense respect for HELLO! one can buy amazing vintage buy so many clothes frequently.” embracing the thigh-high slit. I’m clothing and accessories. This is How can everyone include drawn towards Amit Aggarwal’s how I recycle and reuse fashion. sustainable fashion into SS 2017 collection – I want every I’m not a big shopper, I generally their lives? single piece!” for not being another run-of- the-mill buy statement pieces and mix and “We live in such a wasteful society Do you believe sustainable match. Not only is it sustainable whereby we have truly lost the value ‘beauty’ will follow suit? but it helps to maintain your of our possessions. Each year, for “I definitely think sustainable beauty tabloid but a tribute for those who are individuality. I don’t believe in any example, we give into the hype of the will follow suit. I hope to see an end kind of waste; for example – do not new iPhone, when really all we need to animal testing and the use of put excess food on your plate. If you is a camera for ‘selfies’ and a basic chemicals in beauty products.” achieving great things in their respective have leftovers, share the same with handset. The majority of us do not Which beauty trend will you be those less fortunate. One man’s trash give any thought to its other qualities embracing this summer? is another’s treasure.” – we are only concerned with having “This summer, I plan to embrace Has any designer/celebrity the latest model. We need to be more glowing, golden skin. Less is always fields. Three cheers for HELLO! India. initiative caught your eye? conscious and aware of how we more… at the most, a pastel pop “One of my favourite designers, who spend our money and how it affects of colour on my lips. I’ve always I believe is the pinnacle of sustainable the world around us.” believed in letting one’s natural Rohan Mehta, Mumbai fashion, is Amit Aggarwal. Each one Which are your most beauty shine through. Great

48 HELLO! JUNE 2017 HELLO! JUNE 2017 49 CONSCIOUS CALLING

063-066-HE122 Eco fashion–Elena fernandez 2-SAN_R1.indd 48-49 23/05/17 5:14 pm The stunning June issue of HELLO! COVER LOVING Singh Jhala and his wife is an excellent had everything a discerning reader I have been a fan of Parineeti Chopra and read. It is my dream to be invited to one would want and more! It was a perfect I must say she looks absolutely ravishing of your events and to rub shoulders with amalgamation of glamour, class, fashion, on your cover. What a brilliant shoot. the crème de la crème of the country. travel and the food. I quite enjoyed the Love the outfits, make-up and of course Rajan Khuranna, Bangkok eco-consciousness feature that you guys the location. Gorgeous is the word. Apart put together. These are alarming issues from the visual treat, the interview is a TRAVEL GOALS that one and all need to look into. Good great read with an undeniable freshness I would have never imagined a holiday work HELLO! India. to it. Keep up the great work HELLO! in Egypt; but after seeing the beautiful Neharika Baja, Bhopal Awaiting the next issue. Nikita Maheshwari, Calcutta ECO-BRIGADE As a first time reader of your magazine, BEST WISHES I was surprised to discover the high HELLO! carefully selects topics and standards and sheer versatility in HELLO! reading material coupled with exclusivity. Your magazine is addictive! Your May In fact there is an utmost need to present issue dissected, debated and analysed eco- talent with beauty. The personalities friendly, sustainable and environmental presented by HELLO! have worked hard measures that leading industrialists and in their respective fields and deserve this celebrities are endorsing. Kudos to the platform. Egypt is a fabulous location and likes of Suniel Shetty, Farah Khan Ali, Parineeti definitely sizzles on the cover. Juhi Chawala, Elena Åström, Digvijay Best wishes to HELLO! for working hard Kathiwada and Sangita Jindal who month after month and collecting the have stepped up to the plate and made best and the latest for elite readers. an effort to save our environment. The A TIMES OF INDIA PUBLICATION Sneh Pagrani, Ahmadabad most delectable coup was the stunning

www.facebook.com/helloindia INDIA l VOL 11 ISSUE 3 l JUNE 2017 l 150 cover with Parineeti Chopra, who rose JUDICIOUS JUNE like a modern day ‘Cleopatra’ among A brilliant June issue is what the the ruins of Egypt. I was stunned to see HELLO! team churned out last month. her transformation. With her molten INSIDE: PARINEETI CELEBRATING CHOPRA ECO-CONSCIOUSNESS The fact that you guys celebrated eco- sexuality and irrepressible star power... l ECO-COOL FASHION HOT TROTS l CELEBS ON ACROSS ECO-CHALLENGES THE EGYPTIAN l ECO-HOLIDAYS consciousness, speaks volumes about I’m quite sure a few mummies may have SANDS... your sensibilities. We mostly know about come alive after this photo-shoot! these individuals for being part of the Cajetan Menino, Mumbai Turn to our Contents page for details 055-HE118 Cover Final_NEW 2-STAN_R1.indd 1 23/05/17 3:58 pm glamour industry, but the fact that they Versace Dylan Blue HELLO! are doing such a commendable job even evokes the allusion to the JUNE otherwise is worth noting. An eye opener Mediterranean Sea and is CORRIGENDUM: In our Interior I must say! modern, fresh, incisive, intense, 2017 Expert Speak page with Jimmy Mistry Abhijeet Bannerjee, Darjeeling profound and sensual – for the in the June issue of HELLO! on page winner for the next Best Letter to the Editor! 112, due to reveiving inaccurate best letter: A ROYAL TREAT information, it was erroneously HELLO! brings such fabulous royal WINNER: mentioned that the Della Group has stories month after month. I mean To win a perfume, ROHAN send in your letter to a net worth of 10,000 crores. The who knew about the Jhalawar Royals. Della Group has an annual turnover MEHTA, It is such a great find. The picturesque [email protected] or mail of Rs 100 crores. The error is MUMBAI Prithvivilas Palace and the personal chat us at The Editor, deeply regretted. th with the inheritors, Maharaja Chandrajit HELLO!, WWM, 4 floor, Times of India building, Dr DN Road, Mumbai 400 001 HELLO! JULY 2017 5 spain UK aRGEnTina BULGaRia Canada CHiLE COLOMBia dOMiniCan REpUBLiC dUBai ECUadOR GREECE india indOnEsia MaLaYsia MEXiCO MOROCCO paKisTan pERU pUERTO RiCO RUssia sERBia THaiLand TURKEY VEnEZUELa

CEO Deepak Lamba SuBSCriPtiOnS General Manager, Product Strategy Chief Community Officer & Editor Ruchika Mehta Priyadarshi Banerjee [email protected] Executive Editor Sangeeta Wadhwani Fashion Director Avantikka Kilachand Assistant General Manager (rMD Magazines) Fashion Features & Beauty Editor Farah Palia Suparna Sheth Copy Editor Jeena J Billimoria [email protected] Features Writer Ankita Rathod centres Editorial Coordinator Anita Nair N o r t h 011 - 6 61112 5 5 East 033 - 39898090 Associate Editor (Delhi) Sanghita Singh West 022 - 39898090 Fashion Editor (Delhi) Amber Tikari South 080 - 39898090 Special Correspondent (Delhi) Neeva Jain SMS: HLOSUB to 58888 BrAnD SOLutiOnS Contributing Editor Malavika Sangghvi Head - Business Strategy & Special Projects Sunil Wuthoo Senior Stylist Sonam Poladia [email protected] Junior Stylist Richa Mehta WESt Vice President Armaity S. Amaria Senior Art Director Suresh Bhandary [email protected] Deputy Art Director Dattatray Jadhav MUMBAI Anita Anand, [email protected] Salman Shaikh, [email protected] Brand Publisher Abhishek Krishnan Pooja Nidadavolu, [email protected] Senior Brand Manager Jaymin Dalal PUNE

Ekta Dang, [email protected] Chief Financial Officer S. Subramaniam AHMEDABAD Publisher, Print & Kamal Rajput, [email protected] Production Controller Joji Varghese nOrtH Vice President Anjali Rathor [email protected] NOIDA, DELHI General Manager Shikha Sinha Suri Printed and published by Joji Varghese for and on behalf of Worldwide Media Private Limited, [email protected] The Times of India Building, Dr DN Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 and printed at Rajhans Enterprises, Pooja Sharma, [email protected] 134, 4th Main Road, Industrial Town, Rajajinagar, Bangalore 560 044. Tania Kohli, [email protected] Editor: Ruchika Mehta. JAIPUR Hello! magazine and Hello! logo are the property of Hola, S.A. Pushpesh Sood, [email protected] Worldwide Media Private Limited is the exclusive authorised user under License Agreement in India. SOutH © Hola, S.A. (1988) Vice President – South & Business © Worldwide Media Private Limited (2007) Head – Femina tamil Registration number: MAHENG/2007/21672 Pravin Menon Corporate Identification number: U22120MH2003PTC142239 [email protected] All rights reserved. Republishing in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Meenakshi Nag Roy, [email protected] This issue also contains editorial text originally published in Hello! magazine of Hello! Limited (Licensor) and such editorial matter is being used by Worldwide Media Private Limited (Licensee) with the EASt permission of the Licensor. Assistant Vice President HELLO! Indian Edition takes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material Alka Kakar, [email protected] ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ARE USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY KOLKATA Bijoy Choudhury, [email protected] The national edition of HELLO! Indian Edition is not for sale outside India

6 HELLO! JULY 2017 Editor’s NotE

elcome back from your summer sojourns. This has been an unusually warm summer and hope you all got your fill of fresh air from the cooler climes all over the world. It’s time to get back to life all rejuvenated and Wrefreshed and enjoy the monsoons. We too are back with our annual ‘Interior’s Special.’ As Indians, we are very house proud and spend a substantial amount of time and money in doing up our homes. Beautiful personal spaces are a reflection of who we are and culturally, Indians like to show that off with great aplomb. Over the years, we have seen the nouveau riche spending endlessly on interiors, and they are the ones who are an absolute delight for the interior designers. All the big international brands have made an entry in India and we are no more running abroad to get all the COntriButOrs fancy stuff.

In this year’s ‘Interior’s Special,’ we present a visit to Château D’Ussé the castle that inspired the Disney film, Sleeping Beauty, which is home to The Duke and Duchess of Blacas D’Aups. We decode the enigma HELLO! also visits the Shades of India couple, Mandeep Nagi behind this Power and David Housego, at home. We present a photo essay from a work by Amit Pasricha, which takes you right into a rich variety Couple, looking at of homes across India. Our experts guide you through the their commitment to latest trends you can follow, with a nod to the best hubs to shop for up-to-date interiors. Do share your feedback on what more DinEsH KHanna serve charities, care would you like us to help you with in our future issues. Dinesh Khanna has been working for victims in a year of as a freelance photographer for At HELLO!, we believe in constantly bringing new concepts over 25 years with an eclectic blend terror attacks — all while and themes for our cover story. This month, we took our of commercial and personal work representing the British editorial lenses to focus on how the ‘POWER OF TWO’ brings (he is, however, most fascinated by the best out in power-duos, be they couples, siblings, business abandoned chairs and ingredients monarchy worldover with associates or blue-bloods. Topping the charts, of course, on the kitchen table and shoots them dignity and style are the world’s most sought-after and photographed royal obsessively). His personal work has couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and been published as acclaimed books; Duchess of Cambridge. As the world remembers the beautiful Bazaar and Living Faith and he is humanistic legacy left behind by Prince William’s mother, the also one of the co-founders of the late Princess Diana, on her forthcoming 20th death anniversary Delhi Photo Festival. For HELLO!’s in August, we asked Malavika Sangghvi to review how the July issue, he captures the eclectic Duke and Duchess would have made the late Princess proud. home of Mandeep Nagi and David We decode the enigma behind this Power Couple, looking at Housego, the owners of Shades of Ruchika Mehta their commitment to serve charities, care for victims in a year India, in the capital. of terror attacks, all while representing the British monarchy Editor worldover with dignity.

Following through with our theme, we look at duos who complement each other in talents, personalities, journeys. When two right people get togther, they multiply their own capacity to evolve. We zoom into the lives of powerful duos like artists Reena and Jitish Kallat, entrepreneur Rahul Sharma of Micromax phones and his actress wife Asin, designers Rohit and Rahul Khanna, brothers Ajay and Sanjiv Bijli of PVR cinemas and sisters Shauna and Nadia Chauhan of the Parle Agro empire. In our fashion section, look out for a mis-en-scene between sexy sisters, Malaika and Amrita Arora. taras taraPOrVaLa This Bengaluru native and young We also welcome journalist and columnist Malavika Sangghvi ace photographer has worked with a who joins the HELLO! family as Contributing Editor. With her slew of celebrities from Lisa Haydon three decades of chronicling social mores, we look forward to a to Sushant Singh Rajput and Aditya host of super-exclusives on social trends and people. Roy Kapoor, with a focus on haute fashion. As HELLO! celebrates the So, time to jazz up your home and believe in the power of ‘Power of Two’ special, he focuses YOU and your partner, in whatever you do! his lens on sartorial sisters – Malaika and Amrita Arora in a lush tale of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children, Prince style along with their friend and George and Princess Charlotte at this year’s Trooping the Colour, designer, Gabriella Demetriades – a an annual parade for the Queen’s birthday (left) true visual treat!

HELLO! JULY 2017 7 Editor’s LoungE The Editor’s choice for the best of the month in people, products, parties, places, fashion and style

STEFANO RICCI’S PRIYANKA CHOPRA HOME COLLECTION DAZZLES IN NIRAV MODI Moving on from Made-to- Global luxury jeweller and haute diamantaire Measure exclusive menswear, Nirav Modi has launched their 2017 fashion brand Stefano Ricci global campaign featuring international has now ventured into home icon Priyanka Chopra, who was recently accessories. The Home appointed global brand ambassador, along Collection is rich and offers with actress and model Rosie Huntington- coordinated products made Whiteley. The campaign has been shot entirely by the expert hands by renowned French photographer, of Florentine artisans, with Patrick Demarchelier. Together, Modi and exceptional details required for those Demarchelier captured the fascinating who only desire the best in Italian manufacturing transformation that happens to a woman and design. The Imperial Botticelli set teacups when she falls in love with diamonds. Chopra and saucers are decorated with two types of and Huntington-Whiteley represent a gold and both matte and shiny, 95 per cent confluence of East and West for a brand that pure platinum. The design is inspired by the marries India’s deeply rooted relationship iconic paisley motif found on many Stefano with masterful high jewellery craftsmanship Ricci hand printed silks. The Royal Malachite and a Western sensibility. The stars have been set of six coffee cups and saucers is decorated photographed in an iconic, monochromatic, with details in 14K shiny gold, and is part of cinematic style reminiscent of the golden a complete collection inspired by the precious age of both Bollywood and Hollywood. stone. The exquisite tableware with its elegant The campaign features both high jewels and curves and shapes is a perfect fit to any refined signature collections, including the Embrace interior. Stefano Ricci offers two different collection, the Jasmine collection and Bridal shapes of China tea and coffee sets: the Classic collection pieces. and Imperial Lines. The Classic Line has a more modern impact with its straight and pure lines while the Imperial shape is characterised KENDALL JENNER FOR LA PEARLA by its sophisticated, ornamental design. Social media star and supermodel Kendall Jenner JAMES FRANCO features in the latest campaign for La Perla lingerie’s FOR COACH pre-Fall 2017 collection, titled ‘The Kaleidoscopic World of Fashion brand Coach has an English Garden.’ Photographed by the renowned Mert recently announced that James & Marcus amidst gigantic, colourful hibiscus, begonias Franco is the face of Coach and tulips, the 21-year-old wears swimwear, ready-to- for men, a new fragrance wear, and lingerie. “Jenner exudes the certainty and launching this September. An self-assurance of a true heroine – owning her world through confidence and empowered femininity,” La Perla states. “The explosive visual message is intended to shock and transport the viewer to a world of fantasy, colour, and art.” Designed by Julia Haart, La Perla’s Creative Director, Kendall’s shoot draws inspiration from the art of Georgia O’Keeffe and Peter Max, forming a fusion of Pop art, modernism and fashion. THE ULTIMATE ROLLS-ROYCE The designer was inspired by the motif of the British The ultimate symbol of luxury, Rolls-Royce garden as captured by painters throughout history. has unveiled a custom-designed one-off luxury This isn’t Kendall’s first time in a La Perla lingerie ad. car, called Sweptail. The new one-off model She previously starred in the brand’s steamy Spring is not just another custom-made Rolls-Royce 2017 campaign too. car. At US$12.8 million, it might just be the world’s most expensive car ever. The Sweptail actor, director, writer, artist takes inspiration from the Rolls-Royces of the and philanthropist, Franco 1920s and 1930s. According to Rolls-Royce, embodies the creativity, the client of the super expensive Sweptail was confidence, curiosity and a “connoisseur and collector of distinctive, innate style of the Coach one-off items, including super-yachts and Guy. He is dynamic, private aircraft.” It took almost four years for daring, magnetic and multi- the automaker to make the car. It also takes faceted. He is defined by inspirations from luxury yachts, including the harmonious dualities: panoramic roof. The front remained much rugged yet refined, fearless like a Rolls and the Sweptail had the Pantheon and brave yet thoughtful inspired grille, which was milled from solid and grounded. He has a aluminum, the largest on any era Rolls-Royce rebellious spirit and it’s and got a hand to a mirror finish. The car also perfectly fitting that he gets its unique registration number – 08 – that once played James Dean. had been milled from ingots of aluminum The Creative Director of and hand polished. The two-seater coupé the brand felt that James also features a panoramic glass roof, one of represents so many of the the largest and most complex ever seen on a references he has used at motorcar of any marquee. The roof allowed Coach, that he landed up natural light to flood the cabin and animate a being the perfect fit for this. host of beautifully handcrafted materials.

8 HELLO! JULY 2017 July Calendar HeLLo! ScanS Upcoming eventS in india and abroad

Curious Arts Festival Soundwave Festival

ART & CULTURE British Open CURiOUs ARTs FEsTivAL WHERE: Hampshire, UK WHEN: 20 – 23 For all you literary lovers with a penchant for gardens – The Curious Arts Festival features live music, book readings, film screenings and an opportunity to explore the hidden gardens of the venue.

LOTUs FEsTivAL WHERE: Los Angeles, USA WHEN: 15 – 16 As they mark their 37th year, you can expect lots of food, music, dragon boat races and lovely floating flower beds bloom at Echo Park. This year, the festival will honour the Bangladeshi community for their contributions to LA.

Europe’s most life-affirming festivals WHEN: 14 – 16 MUsiC & FiLM packed full of music, art, film and Take a ride to Ferropolis (known sOUNdWAvE FEsTivAL much more. Do not miss the after- as the ‘City of Iron’) with all your WHERE: Tismo, Croatia party, which kicks off each night at besties in tow. Let yourself drift WHEN: 27 – 31 the open-air club Barbarella’s, it’s from stage to stage listening to Soundwave Croatia returns to worth making a beeline for. the peninsula’s pulsating beats the magical Garden Tisno for between breathtaking steel giants. yet another incomparable five MELT! Dive into a flickering sea of lights BiLBAO BBK LivE day adventure where kindred WHERE: Gräfenhainichen, until the sun rises again on Lake WHERE: Bilbao, Spain spirits flock to experience one of Germany Gremmin’s horizon. Then jump into WHEN: 6 – 8 the lake’s cool waters and start The 40,000 capacity Melt! music festival anew: that’s the legendary Melt! festival has four main Festival for you. stages, two dance tents, a pop tent, a chillout sPORTs area, food stalls and a BRiTisH OPEN campsite. With the idyllic WHERE: Liverpool, England town and world-famous WHEN: surfing spot a stone’s 20 – 23 throw away, the location The British Open’s official title is the is among the best in Open Championship however, it is Europe for a diverse referred to as the British festival experience. Open to distinguish it from the US Time to sway under the Open. It’s the oldest of four Majors, Spanish sun… dating way back to the1860s.

HELLO! JULY 2017 9 Hello! Homes

10 HELLO! JULY 2017 OpEning tHE dOOrs tO CHâtEAU d’UssÉ tHE dUkE And dUCHEss Of bLACAs d’AUps sHOW Us ArOUnd tHE drEAM CAstLE tHAt inspirEd sLEEping bEAUty

Casimir de Blacas d’Aups, 7th Duke of Blacas, and his wife Caroline, outside their historic castle with son Stanislas, centre, and son-in-law Count Alexis de Limburg Stirum, far left, the husband of their daughter Béatrix. Legend has it that in the 17th century, the château and its picturesque grounds inspired Charles Perrault to write his much-loved fairytale

HELLO! JULY 2017 11 Hello! Homes

estled in France’s Loire Valley, breathtaking, and its surroundings nChâteau d’Ussé is perhaps most so magical that it feels as if anything famous as the inspiration for Charles could happen. Perrault’s 17th-century Sleeping Beauty. Even amid the many castles that And indeed, when you arrive at the dot the Loire, this one, which once historic castle, it really is like entering welcomed philosophers Voltaire and that fairytale. Rousseau through its doors, stands out. Surrounded by dense forest, in Guarded by ancient oaks, the majestic which bears, deer and birds of prey building is approached through a vast still live, its turrets seem lost in time. garden filled with fragrant blooms – Each and every detail is almost unreal: tulips, dahlias, golden irises and, of the light, the colours, the flowers, course, roses – which also decorate the the scents. The château’s beauty is rooms inside.

12 HELLO! JULY 2017 ‘the castle is like a labyrinth... Our three-year-old granddaughter loves to ride her bicycle from the library to the living room’

Béatrix, seated, joins her parents and brother (also seated) in the main family gathering place of the enormous castle, the impressive grand salon (above left). The room, which is furnished with red silk-upholstered Louis XVI chairs, is often overflowing with the Duke and Duchess’s granddaughter’s toys (above, left). “I love it because it gives the room a real family feel,” says the Duchess. Béatrix’s husband makes a dashing entrance by helicopter (left)

HELLO! JULY 2017 13 Hello! Homes

The property’s owners – Casimir de Blacas a surname. d’Aups, 7th Duke of Blacas, and his wife, “During the French Revolution, Casimir de Duchess Caroline – from one of France’s most Blacas went into exile and served the Comte prominent families, have invited hello! inside to de Provence, the future King Louis XVIII. share the true story of this dream castle. In 1824, he was awarded his dukedom, and Tell us about your Emperor Ferdinand of Austria gave him the family’s history. title of prince. The Duke: “The Blacas d’Aups family “Casimir was a great art collector, and helped is one of the oldest in Provence; the first finance Champollion’s excavations in Egypt, distinguished member, Pierre d’Aups, took the source of the Louvre’s Egyptian collection. part in the First Crusade, in 1096. His eldest He also collected Greek and Roman artifacts, son, Blacas, converted his first name into works from the Far East, ancient coins and

14 HELLO! JULY 2017

Opposite page: In the dining room a portrait of King Louis XV hangs above the mantelpiece (above left). One of the castle’s numerous antique-filled sitting rooms (far left) and the library, just off the green bedroom (left). The Duchess and Béatrix, both wearing Alberta Ferretti (seen here)

HELLO! JULY 2017 15 Hello! Homes

‘the attic is filled with beautiful furniture that ancestors stored away when it became demodé. We’re bringing those pieces back to life and back to their rightful places’

A perfect spot for hide and seek: The Count shows his daughter Aliénor the castle’s vast attics (above), where all sorts of treasures, from various eras of the castle’s history, are stored. This 19th century entryway has a spiral staircase leading up to the family bedrooms. A portrait of the Marquess de Vauban, whose daughter wed the castle’s first proprietor, sits above an antique chest (left)

vases. The majority were sold to the the era of Louis XVI. There’s a mix British Museum in 1867.” of styles in the main rooms, thanks to How extensive is your property? additions made over the generations, “It’s very large, with 1,000 hectares with each acquiring exquisite pieces of of forests, fields, ponds, farms, its own. hunting lodges, barns, stables and “Then naturally there are a lot of vineyards. Ussé is multi-functional family portraits, which at first I found and we take advantage of that somewhat intimidating! They seem in order to pay for its upkeep.” to be watching over the house from It has a wonderful chapel. within those golden frames. “The chapel is a marvel that dates “A couple of years ago, I began back to the French Renaissance. changing some of the furniture. It’s a It’s where my parents married, and real joy because the attics are full of also where two of my children – beautiful pieces that were removed Stanislas and Hortense – and my only by my husband’s ancestors when they granddaughter, Aliénor de Limburg became demodé. With the help of our Stirum, were baptised. Some members restorers, we’re bringing a lot of those of our family are buried in the crypt.” pieces back to life and back to their Duchess, tell us about the décor. rightful places.” “My husband doesn’t like it when we Ussé is a labyrinth of rooms... move things around, so every piece of “You’re right, it is. We’ve got lots of furniture, every painting, every objet salons, living rooms, bedrooms and d’art must remain in the same place it attics, but very few ‘practical’ spaces. was when he was a child. So there’s not My dream is to have a room dedicated that much leeway for change! exclusively to flower arranging! “Most of the décor dates back to Ussé isn’t practical, but it is a very

16 HELLO! JULY 2017 charming family home.” You also host a lot of guests here. But then this whole property, with its trees filled ferretti. corneliani. alessandra vicedominii. mimisol.shoes: rene caovilla ardizzone. clothes: alberta make-up: pablo What is it like to live here? “Yes, and over the years we’ve had some with colour, its ponds, the vegetable garden and “We live in one part of the house, as the rest is unusual visitors, such as Haile Selassie, the the orchard, is a paradise. open to the public. We mainly use the Vauban King of Kings and last Emperor of Ethiopia; “To be able to take care of Ussé, to pavilion, built in the late 17th century. the Queen of England and the late Queen restore it, to create a true family atmosphere, “The family living room is the grand salon Mother; the Comtesse de Paris; and, more is a real pleasure for me. Ussé is a genuine – which at the moment is overflowing with my recently, Madame Jacques Chirac, who slept in family home.” H granddaughter Aliénor’s toys, which I love! the King’s Chamber.” They give the room a real family feel. She And what do you yourself especially love text AND CO-ORDINAtION: NANÁ BOttAZZI loves to ride her bike from the library to the about Château d’ Ussé? INteRIOR PHOtOS: GIORGIO BARONI living room.” “The flower garden – that’s my great passion. PORtRAItS: VICtOR CUCARt

The Duke and his son in their Gothic- revival style library, which now also serves as an office (left). The delicately beautiful French Renaissance chapel, constructed in 1521, where the family still hold their religious celebrations (right)

‘there are a mix of styles in the castle, as each new generation has added exquisite pieces of its own’

HELLO! JULY 2017 17 Hello! PeoPle

YOUNG MONEY ONLY HELLO! BRINGS YOU TODAY’S MILLIONAIRES UNDER 30 WHO ARE CHANGING THE MODERN WORLD

ntrepreneurship is ever evolving. Seasoned Eplayers are replaced by young and revolutionary minds – who are making their first million much faster than the generation 1. EvaN SpiEGEL 2. DaviD Karp before them did. There’s no time to sit back AGE: 26 AGE: 30 or settle. It’s always about the big picture and NET WORTH: US$4.9 billion NET WORTH: US$200 million it won’t be long before this breakneck speed HOW: Snapchat HOW: Tumblr way of life will become conventional. It’s impossible to summarise a millenial in finite With a net worth of approx INR Known to be cut out from the same cloth as space and that’s what the goal has become. To 3,20,65,00,00,000, Evan Spiegel is a Stanford the few very eccentric people that have walked be many things at the same time. These ideals dropout who Co-Founded Snapchat and is the Earth, Karp is known to be a young boy show us that you can’t tie your imagination to now engaged to a former Victoria’s Secret in a man’s body, talkative and always jumpy the structure of day and night. It’s not about model, Miranda Kerr. “Cars bring me sheer with ideas – which is what gives Tumbr the what you do, it’s about how well you do it. So joy” he is quoted from a letter to his father, user friendly interface with no advertisements now the world sees more reality stars breaking which was written explaining why he should to disrupt the experience of users and their into the shoes of an entrepreneur and mere be allowed to lease a US$75,000 BMW. Evan creations. He feels that there should be more kids setting out to sell customised soda was then, still in high school. Being born to platforms for expression, other than the bottle lids as locker magnets end up making two Ivy League educated attorneys, he is not billion dollar Alphabet subsidiary, Youtube. a million dollars. It’s no longer only about a stranger to the luxe life but stepping out of After a US$1.1 billion deal came through of working hard – but thinking smart! So while this comfort zone, he created one of the most selling the blogging platform to Yahoo, Karp you play hard, you’re still minting in seven groundbreaking spaces for photo sharing and still retains the position of the CEO of the digits. While, Young Money becomes the went on to become the youngest billionaire company. Constantly in communication with latest aim, ‘toys’ assume new meaning, which in the world. He is also widely known for his staff, Karp finds his time to play out his could be anything from a yacht to match his famous link-up with Taylor Swift and millionaire dreams. Like upgrading his Vespa your car or an 18-hole golf course in your rebuffing a US$3 billion dollar deal from with an attached GoPro camera. Or riding it backyard. Let’s look at some of the leading Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the to work. icons of commerce and entertainment. initial days of Snapchat, now Snap Inc.

18 HELLO! JULY 2017 3. JENNifEr LawrENcE

AGE: 26 NET WORTH: US$53.9 million HOW: Hollywood actress 4. NicK D’aLOiSiO 5. KYLiE JENNEr “Even as far back as when I started acting at AGE: 21 AGE: 19 14, I know I’ve never considered failure,” says NET WORTH: US$30 million NET WORTH: US$18 million one of the highest paid actresses in the world HOW: Summly HOW: Reality TV, Kylie Cosmetics who is only 26 years of age and has roughly 83 awards, which includes three Golden Commonly known as an app mastermind, Reality TV star, model, fashion designer, Globes, an Academy Award for best actress this youngster wants to have it all. After socialite and now entrepreneur, Kylie Jenner for her movie, Silver Linings Playbook and a total selling his news summarisation application, raised her rank in the Kardashian clan and of 175 nominations. A fairly recent addition Summly, formerly known as Trimmit to transformed the cosmetics industry with the to the film industry, Jennifer Lawrence has Yahoo, for US$30 million, he went on to release of the Kylie lip kits in 2016. Since already set a record of excellence. Graduating work on Yahoo’s News Digest app. He was then, she has moved on to launch a full- from high school two years early to begin her just 17 at the time. This coding philosopher fledged cosmetic brand, Kylie Cosmetics career in acting was one of the decisions that has been known to be extremely persistent and has been dominating the industry ever led her to rise to fame from a young age and with his investors and media people, while since. But this Kardashian, staying true to comfortably enjoy her prime in her early some may call it madness or desperation, her name, works hard and plays harder. Her 20s. After her breakthrough movie, Winter’s few notice the drive behind his endeavour. infamous transformation left many dead in Bone, nominations for Golden Globes and an Along with app launches in Vegas and an their tracks as she rose to fame with her red Academy award rolled in, including the offer Apple Design Award in 2014, this Oxford carpet appearances and constant presence at to play Mystique in franchise reboot X-Men: student has seen it all. Unlike his illustrious the front row of all fashion shows. Known First Class. Her sardonic humour and easy predecessors, D’Aloisio has decided to stay in for her staggering social media following, she grace made her a household name. And, school and gear up for new enterprising leaps utilises the platform like many bloggers to unlike her rich, partying peers, she drives a in the coming future. earn stacks of those green dollar bills. H Chevy Volt, determined to do everything for the world’s environmental betterment. TEXT: ANANYA SINGH

HELLO! JULY 2017 19 Hello! PHoto essay WHERE HABITS HAVE A HABITAT AMIT PASRICHA HELLO MEETS THE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS DEDICATED A NEW BOOK, TITLED INDIA AT HOME, TO PHOTOGRAPHS SHOT ACROSS THE DIVERSE HOMES OF INDIA – FROM PALACES TO APARTMENTS, HE WARNS ABOUT THE CULTURAL HOMOGENISATION SEEPING INTO THE COUNTRY

Shri Arvind Singh Mewar, ‘custodian’ of the erstwhile royal state of Mewar, poses for a formal portrait in the Darbar Hall of Fateh Prakash Palace. Behind him are ranged bearers of the royal lawazma – the Mewar state insignia. On the walls are portraits of his ancestors: the 75 Maharanas who preceded him. The gallery above houses a crystal museum, claimed to hold the world’s largest privately owned collection of crystal (above)

ow did you chance upon the concept on their beds or favourite chair, surrounded change with the topography of the Hof doing a book on homes? by their families, pets and possessions – people region? Were there some distinct “While I was on assignment for the Agha represent who they are – it’s a consolidated features of particular regions? Khan Foundation in Gujarat we took shelter picture of the great throbbing heart of India. “It is in fact much to do with practicality – for in a Sarpanch’s home in a remote village near Through these intimate portraits, it is possible homes should and have sourced raw materials Siddhpur in the hot part of the day. I found that to interpret their lives: their occupations, tastes, from within the area they are in. So bamboo home to be rather interesting. It had plates on beliefs, status, education and all that they value is to the North East what wood is to Kashmir the wall and reminded me of Subodh Gupta and hold dear.” and mud, straw and sticks to Chhattisgarh and his ‘Bartan Art,’ which would’ve perhaps As you travelled across the country, and brick, steel and cement is to urban India. stemmed from a similar encounter. And so I did you find a common thread running There is another stylistic trend and that has to set about photographing this home with the across the ‘homes of India?’ do with communities such as the Ismaili Bora Sarpanch and his wife. It’s only when I returned “It’s a given that much of what we save up in community, the Marwaris of Shekhawati, and worked upon that image that I realised that the course of our lives is for our homes and the Parsis of South Gujarat, the Brahmin this was a project-in-the-making. In essence, our children. Consequently, we lavish upon homes of Chettinad, the Portuguese homes the panoramic image of the interior brought the home… the proverbial roof over our head of Goa and others – these are built upon the out the relationship of the inhabitants with the and are extremely proud of any indulgences sensibilities of the community and their homes home. This was 2007, a full nine years before thereupon. Even the poor are house-proud and are an extension of the communities’ beliefs the book actually came out. It’s quite another the entire gamut from urban to rural seemed and lifestyles. The Ismaili Boras follow a rigid matter that when we set out to find these people happy to share their private spaces with me, an layout even to a point that their display cut- again for the caption that I discovered my outsider and through me, with the audience. outs in the walls are all similar and their row error in judgment – it was the woman who was The sheer diversity of the homes in our houses in Siddhpur are all subtle variations of the Sarpanch!” country and a collection of these in books like one another. The Goans love to sit out in the What are the aspects of a house that mine should help sound an alarm bell on the monsoon and many of their homes have a interest you? Is it the spaces and their inevitable demise of this richness with the all- verandah running around their property.” creative interpretations or the lifestyle embracing power of modernity. The media, as Some memories that linger on from of the people it represents? well, has a predatory influence on our inherent your interactions with people in various “Homes are fascinating from the point of view indigenous identity. I may add that while we parts of the country? that they literally represent the cosmos – the have spoken at length about urban and rural “India at Home was a collaboration. I became only difference is that this world is entirely India, it was the India in the middle of it – the the chronicler as people set about introducing inside the four walls. Homes are those places Kasbah towns – that are largely ignored, that I themselves and their world to me. I would where habits have a habitat. Here in this private was more interested in.” just set up and say that ‘I want to stand in world, dressed in their regular clothes, sitting How did the topography of the home this corner and my picture will start and end

20 HELLO! JUly 2017 This elegant and avant garde residence in Bengaluru, is a 21st century rendition of what would probably have been described as a Noble House in Elizabethan England. It is the home of Naresh and Radhika Ponnapa, seen here in their sub-terranean formal drawing-room, dressed in their traditional Coorgi attire (above) here.’ So they decided what they wanted to country and people. Save a few urban folks earlier, I was welcome everywhere. Generally, wear, where they wanted to sit or not, and what with perhaps something to hide, most people people were laidback and I think that this was to do. Some chose to look at me and some opened their doors to me. They allowed me to a running theme throughout my travels. It sort were shy. This anganwadi worker decided she disrupt their schedules at a moment’s notice for of fits in very well with my philosophy of life might as well rest while I photographed her, a sitting that even stretched up to several hours. – that life in a way, isn’t about anything much! given her more practical side and so she lay I feel we belong in a world that is not suspicious It is largely based on a collection of moments down on her charpoy. One family in Lucknow, by nature.” when nothing much happens….we simply exist! descendants of the erstwhile Nawabs, proudly From palaces to huts, your books covers There are no big climaxes and dark emotional sat in the midst of their heritage while another an entire gamut of spaces that people trenches and when they do arrive, they retreat chose to ignore me while still somewhat live in. Did you feel people and their rather quickly. India at Home is a collection posing. Each home created an immense and attitudes changed as you went from one of these ‘nothing much moments,’ save an distinguishing vibration.” to the other? aberration or two.” How difficult was it to go into people’s “One cannot arrive in a palace unannounced People often talk about homes private spaces and ask them to pose which one does in rural areas as one scours the having vibes. Was that something for you? countryside for interesting visual material for you tuned into, while photographing “‘Athithi deva bhava’ still holds true with our the book. However that being said, like I stated those spaces?

Rani Kamini Singh, her daughter Chandni, and her young son Prithvi (now Thakur Prithvi Singh Seohara after his father’s death) of Seohara Thikana in their ancestral palace. This room, called Raining Room, is a later addition to the palace, some of whose approximately 30 rooms are about 300-years-old (above). Legal honcho Rohit Kochhar and his wife Sonali pose for this stylised photo-portrait in the atrium of their grand, 35-room Italianate mansion in Chhattarpur, looking as much a piece of art as the marble sculptures around them (below)

HELLO! JUly 2017 21 Hello! PHoto essay

“It is true that homes are about vibes – the warmth, the electricity, the chemistry – all emanating from those spaces. I wish to believe that I am tuning into these but there is no way of being sure. Given the fact that I arrived as a chronicler, I was opening myself to what was around me – the people and their homes – and it is likely that in a certain way what that vibe was, played a role in how I photographed it… letting the colour seep in through the stained glass in a Pondicherry house while the lady of the house took centrestage in red and her husband was a bit left out in blue or when a Manipuri man sat proudly on his bed with his two wives, who both seemed rather accepting of the situation. It’s this very ‘vibe’ that tells the story of the book.” You chose Sadhguru, an itinerant yogi, to write a foreword on a book on homes. Isn’t that a paradox?

Sunny Malayalil and his wife Manju are pictured here with their daughters Luciya, 16, and Lea, 15. While the façade of the house is traditional, on the inside the house is airy, pristine and east facing in compliance with good vaastu (top). Jai, or Maharajkumar Ashwini Pratap Deo as he is formally called, poses for this photograph in the drawing room of his palace in Kanker, Chhattisgarh, in the remote highlands of central India (above). Designer Malini Ramani is a gypsy of sorts, living in several places by turn – pitching up in Goa, New York, Bali and Delhi, wherever work or love calls. This fantastical boudoir that she designed for herself is the perfect metaphor for her nomadic spirit. It is meant to evoke a Bedouin tent (left)

“When I thought of who should write the my widescape of scale and detail, he focuses foreword for such a collection of pictures then on the interrelatedness of things. What we are, the first two obvious choices were that I either what we represent, how we live… everything look for someone like an architect or interior is interconnected. designer who could talk about homes and Finally, what is the concept of home that materials or I look for a sociologist who could has evolved in your vocabulary after interpret the people and their lives. But India at the book? Home for me is actually much larger than all of “My book ends a bit darkly with a picture of The comforting and the peace we seek within that. The common thread that binds this inner Mumtaz Mahal’s beautiful crypt, being aired by ourselves can be found outside the very walls diversity is more spiritual. Additionally, like I an airless fan at the Taj Mahal, for her eternal that restrict us. Both are our home and our stated earlier, it’s merely a reflection of an entire home lies there. While we will continue as journey will define which is more relevant cosmos. Each home, in my opinion, represents humanity to struggle to put a good roof over to us.” H the very nature of that ‘being.’ Somewhere our head and to fill it with memories and turn Sadhguru represents for me the larger vision… it into a home, the very home lies outside this, TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH a bit like my ‘panoramic’ obsession, where like in the world that we inhabit and the cosmos. PHOTOS: AMIT PASRICHA FROM india at home

22 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 23 Hello! InterIors

Mandeep and David Housego are owners of the boutique brand, Shades of India. HELLO! enters their artful penthouse in Noida. The couple believes, “A house must have the personality of the people who live in it.” The living room is reflection of the brand’s design sensibilities and a mélange of colour and textures. The cushions on the sofas are all in-house from Shades of India while the centre table has a collection of pieces bought in markets during their travels across the globe

24 HELLO! JUly 2017 MANDEEP NAGI & DAVID HOUSEGO THE PAIR HAS bEEN RUNNING A SUccESSfUL bUSINESS wITH THEIR IcONIc bRAND, SHADES Of INDIA. HELLO! DIScOVERS A HOME THAT REfLEcTS THEIR SEAMLESS bOND AS cO- cREATORS, TRAVELLERS AND LIfE PARTNERS

HELLO! JUly 2017 25 Hello! InterIors

only when the trappings of grandeur and external perceptions quietly metamorphoses into blissful family moments – and the Housegos create plenty of them, dismantling their professional accomplishments to bask in the daily humdrum. David and Mandeep’s mixed sensibilities and cultural upbringing amalgamate in a way that lends a unique vocabulary to their immediate space. David, a British journalist who worked with the Financial Times as its Bureau Chief in New Delhi finally gave up his promising journalistic career to take a break from the predictability of being tied-down to a job. He quit and started pursuing his interests in craft and design, which was ignited on a trip to Iran where he had travelled on assignment. Mandeep, a textile designer and avid collector found her interests resonating in David’s pursuits and soon, they were not just setting up a business but also their lives together. Their enterprise started with exporting fabric and supplying to the likes of Harrods, Selfridges and Barneys and evolved into a full-fledged Indian design dream for home and apparel. “There is a considerable age gap between us but it has never come in the middle of our relationship. Age is just a number – all you need is to understand each other and tune in mentally,” says Mandeep as she talks about settling the differences of age and nationality, for both professional as well as the personal front. “I had been to India on prior assignments. Moreover, I had worked as a foreign correspondent for many years and therefore leaving my home country was not a big deal for me,” says David, making simple sense of their life’s crucial decisions. Having lived in rented spaces, when the couple finally bought this house, it was with renewed gusto that they put together a home that is a true reflection of their personalities and the yin and yang of their polar interests. “We both like mixing things,” explains Mandeep describing the polar themes in their home that play out like characters in a play. They shifted into this building about three years ago, their first house that they have owned and lived in. David recalls, “What a nightmare! We moved in right in the middle of summer when it was unbelievably hot and this was the 27th floor and sometimes the lift didn’t work and we had to walk all the way up,” he says. Apart from those early teething issues, the biggest task for them was to create a unique The look of the dining room remains clean with a solid teak wood table with mix and match chairs, space with a distinct identity – despite living all sourced from various places. A side wall features antique Zulu tribe war shields in a complex with hundreds of cookie-cutter apartments that looked and felt the same. avid Housego is a busy man on the day its trademark Shades of India stamp, could “When you do your own space, it’s a complete Dwe go to visit him at home. He’s locked just have been a showcase for their aesthetic challenge. For us, it was about how to translate himself up in a room away from all the frenetic sensibilities; perhaps even an extension of the our thoughts into actual space. Neither of us activity that keeps the rest of the household textile, fabric, apparel and home décor store is trained in interiors. So we went by instinct busy. When he emerges, he has the victorious they’ve been running successfully for over – we broke down walls to create light. We also smile of a man who has accomplished his task two decades. Their success as designers and looked at creating practical spaces – like David for the day. His daughter’s homework is done! promoters of Indian craft and artisans has is very fond of books so we had a wall with David and Mandeep’s eight-year-old daughter been celebrated in more ways than one – from books in it,” elaborates Mandeep. Meher is off to spend time with her cousins and winning awards at international platforms like And the house grew organically – reflecting the parents make sure the academic burden is the Maison et Objet in Paris or dressing up the their creative prerogatives, evolving slowly. “We alleviated before she leaves. President’s house on Raisina Hill, their creative needed a space which didn’t have a character Life, as it were at the Housegos, revolves oeuvre has taken them to places, quite literally. of its own and wanted to accommodate all around their child. Their elegant home, with But houses have a tendency of becoming homes that that we really love from textile to wood.

26 HELLO! JUly 2017 We also carved out spaces as per form a rich backdrop that infuse A collection of broomsticks used to sweep a mud hut floor sourced from their travels to South India, add a quirky touch to the cupboard (above, left). An antique our own convenience and tried to expressiveness and add colour Kilm makes a bold statement against the backdrop of a cement grey wall that create an impression of largeness to their everyday lives. “Every creates a sense of cool (above right). One finds an interesting use of material by opening up the place. We object and the way it has been such as earthy terracotta bricks on a feature wall and rope coiled around pipes were so passionate about creating displayed has a meaning – some at the roof top poolside. Seen is their eight-year-old daughter Meher, cooling off even our own furniture that we of it may seem casual, but it’s all with her pet poodle (below) procured wood from the local been thought through,” explains market and even found Burmese Mandeep, drawing attention to wood that was over a 100-years- their juxtapositioning of modern old,” says Mandeep. furniture with antique cushions The house is comfortable and or modern paintings with antique creates a feeling of indulgence figurines. While there is a wealth that is not in-your-face. Such of art and craft in the house, the as the swimming pool on the Housegos have steered clear of terrace that acts as the perfect any traces of opulence in their lounge area for the family. “The décor. There is none of the wonderful thing about our home predictable crystal and chandelier is the large living room and then or expensive marble of Delhi the swimming pool on top – a homes, but a subtle display of luxury we enjoy thoroughly carefully curated pieces that lend during the summer months,” it a suitably artistic hallmark. says David. The house is also known for The couple’s passion for travel the hospitality that the couple and craft erupts in all corners of extends. It’s an open home and their home, and each corner has friends and family often walk in to a script of its own – a Kerala be spoilt with a variety of home- horse, a 17th century Ching cooked offerings, with David Buddha, textiles from Cental turning chef on most occasions! and Southeast Asia. Relics “David and I are very basic and memories from their time people – there are no pretenses. together seep into their spaces, as We are casual and that’s what they recall their diverse escapes you find in our home.” Those to places like Madhya Pradesh parting but impactful words in India to Vietnam in South- from Mandeep are indeed the East Asia. They are both fond of brick and mortar of what they travelling and their trips together have built around their lives and often turn into treasure hunts for their home. H textiles, old and new! “Textiles are our lives,” confesses David. Tribal rugs from Iran to an old TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH Suzani from Central Asia and PHOTOS: DINESH KHANNA an antique achkan hanging, all STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

HELLO! JUly 2017 27 The InsIde sTory

SANJEEV GOENKA’S ‘ROYAL’ CONNECT The rumour mill suggests that Sanjeev Goenka, Chairman of RP Goenka Group, was in London to discuss the possibility of taking over the ownership of the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise ahead of the 2018 season. Sources revealed that Goenka met with Manoj Badale, the man who owns 40 per cent of stake in Rajasthan Royals. The speculation of his taking over the franchise established further credibility when he was spotted alongside Raghu Iyer, the CEO of Goenka Sports wing. This is not the first time he has shown interest in buying the RR team. The same was reported during the start of the year but was denied by Goenka. With the Rajasthan Royals all set to make a comeback next season, it will be interesting to see what Goenka brings to the table, if the news is true. There is no denying that he achieved a lot of success with the Pune franchise and it would definitely be nice to see a familiar face in the IPL next year.

AN OSCAR IN THE WORKS? Having acted in 288 films till date in almost all genres, veteran actor Dharmendra, has finally bagged a role in an international film project, titled Dream Catcher. The Indo-Australian film will also feature Australian model and Miss Fiji World 2016, Pooja Priyanka and Australian actor, Travis Jeffery. It was reported that the shoot took place at a church in Civil Lines, Gurgaon where our beloved Dharamji was spotted wearing a tuxedo and hat. According the sources, it is a fictional short film with a message for humanity and will be sent for Oscars 2018, under the Short Film category. The living legend has received the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards for his contribution to Indian cinema. And we only wish him all the best for the Oscars this time as well!

FASHION DIARY No stranger to awards and accolades, fashion’s favourite, Mario Testino was recently awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. The French IIFA LOVING government paid tribute to the talented It has been reported that the photographer and his services to International Indian Film Academy culture during his career, which has (IIFA) Awards 2017, which will be hosted spanned over 40 years. The said award by Karan Johar is all set to roll between the is France’s highest civilian distinction 13th and 15th of this month in New York City. and was presented to Testino by the The grand celebration of Indian film, music, French Ambassador to Peru, Fabrice fashion and dance is one of the most prestigious Mauriès, during a small ceremony at events of the year. Now, even the co-host has the French residence in Lima where been revealed and it happens to be none other the photographer was born and raised. than the charming Saif Ali Khan. The most prolific fashion photographer Varun Dhawan will also join the two for a of our time, has gifted us with various short segment making a debut at the award unique perspectives and countless show, along with a dance performance. iconic imagery through his various solo The show is set to take place at exhibitions and editorial work. Earlier the city’s famous last month, he launched, Undressed, an MetLife Stadium. exhibition and accompanying book by the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin that features nude photography.

28 HELLO! JULY 2017 Hello! Bookmark

a TÊTE-À-TÊTE WITH aMIsH TRIPaTHI as HE LauncHEs THE sEcOnD bOOk OF THE RaM cHanDRa sERIEs, THE auTHOR REvEaLs THaT WOMEn WERE MORE THan EquaL In InDIa anD MERITOcRacy RuLED OvER casTEIsM

All the power in Sita Warrior of Mithila body. It is also an act ensuing from the mind. comes from your female characters! That is why in the Indic style, violence always Like you have revisited it with a 21st had a context – are you willing to stand up for century filter... dharma? This is Sita’s stance, in this book.” “Yes, whether it is Queen Sunaina taking A lot of modern mythical writing is often over the reigns of power, Sita being elected a parable for our times. Your book talks the Vishnu by Sage Vishwamitra, and even about an ideal society being balanced. the partnership between Ram and Sita, “See, this is probably the first time in human is that between equals. In some ways it is history where the entire world has enough modern, in some ways it is truly ancient. The money to actually remove global poverty. But interpretations we have today, are based on late we are not being fair in its distribution. I am medieval interpretations. The pre-medieval not being a socialist. Communist leaders have versions, show empowered women and no caused the loss of a 100 million lives in the last caste system.” 100 years. But we need capitalism with a sense Really? When did the caste system of dharma. Sunaina and Sita talk about this.” solidify, according to your findings? The modern myth has it that wealth “Dr Ambedkar in his work Who Are The Shudras, equals joy... and poverty, misery. based on textual evidence, says that it solidified “Sure. Today, even the middle classes can around 1,500 years ago. Modern genetic live a life that royalty couldn’t live. But what’s research seems to back that. In ancient India, the point? Depression is on the rise. We are varied genetic groups intermingled till that destroying the environment. Sharing alone, is time, implying marriages between different the solution to finding joy and spreading it.” communities. We were far more liberal, be it In the cosmos of your story, the priest discussions on different faiths, views on gender, class held up the values of a society, types of intermarriages. The rigidity of the even for the empowered elite. caste system weakened our society, which is “Yes, and the priest class was not determined by why we became more vulnerable to invaders. birth. In Valmiki’s Ramayan, Valmiki was born This is my view.” a shudra. He achieved brahminhood and then There is a theory that Aryans were became a rishi. In Valmiki’s Ramayan there is a from East Europe and brought a certain a great warrior. However, in the Jain Ramayan, priest called Satyakama Jabali who was Lord coded culture – maybe even rascist he is completely non-violent. It’s Lord Laxman Ram’s officiating priest – who performedyagnas outlook – with them? who kills Raavan. In one of the Buddhist for him. He was born to a single shudra mother “Every gene pool that you see outside of Jataka versions, there is no Ravana. And Lord and did not even know his father’s name! This Africa, has descended from around 100-200 Dashrath banishes Ram, Lakshman and Sita of was ancient India.” people. And it kept breaking down over time. his own accord, to protect them from danger. You say our ancient stories did not Alexander the Great was only in India for five Sita’s adoption is there in most versions of the revolve around romance? years. Theories have it that the Aryans came Ramayan. Her as a warrior is there in the ancient “Yes. They asked questions about Dharma. In 3,000 years ago, but there’s no Central Asian versions. In the Adbhut Ramayana, which is also ancient India, they felt that any story without gene pool in India today! It’s a myth.” credited to Sage Valmiki, there are two Ravanas philosophy was like a body without soul. So what is our racial history? – the younger Ravana and the older. The more Dharmic questions are not simple. To illustrate, “There are four genetic groups in India – the powerful is the older Ravaan, who is not killed the Communist Party in China introduced oldest group, from a 1,00,000 years ago, was by Lord Ram, he is killed by Sita. This is the some very harsh policies, curbing people’s Australian-Asian, present in small areas of Northern version, going back a 1,000 years!” freedoms, to consolidate their power. However, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar islands, But wasn’t the North more patriarchal they also pulled 700 million people out of as Aborigines in Australia. Those are the and the South more matriarchal? poverty in one generation! How do you judge original inhabitants of India. The others are, “No. Society swerves between patriarchal their karma? Today, we don’t think at that level. Tibeto-Burman, Ancestral North Indian and or matriarchal – depending on what it is All we want is profit. Jobs in the US and China Ancestral South Indian. These two have been undergoing. The North experienced a lot of are going to robots. In India, we need to revisit around for 45,000 years. And yes, we have a invasions – the most brutal being from the Turk- ideas of dharma in the corporate space.” small population of Turkic people who came Mongols, around 1200 to about 1550 AD, the Was Bahubali a sort of validation of 800 years ago – in Uttar Pradesh.” rule of the Sultanate. Do you know over a period your vision for Indian cinema? In your retellings, Lord Ram is seen as of 20 years, Timur was responsible for the death “Yes, there is a huge market for well-made an unlucky boy since Dashrath lost his of five per cent of the world’s population?” medieval and mythical stories. It appeals to first battle the day he was born. Sita, an But now, with technical warfare even people proud of their soil, their legacy of adopted child, felt displaced when the women can fight in a war. costume, culture, their warrior ethos, ancient Queen gave birth to her own child. “True. And one wonders what the impact will ideologies and history, like me!” H “Most versions of the Ramayan, are late be on the feminine psyche? See, in the Indic medieval. In most he is the favourite son and storytelling style, violence was not always of the text: sangeeta wadhwani

HELLO! JULY 2017 29 Cover Story

BUILDING ON A BEAUTIFUL LEGACY LEFT BY PRINCESS DIANA, WHOSE 20TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY FOSTERS COMPASSION AND A SENSE OF HOPE IN HUMANITY AROUND THE WORLD, HELLO! VISITS THE PEOPLE-FRIENDLY POWER COUPLE THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE PRINCE WILLIAM&

TO SEE HOWKATE THEY CARRY FORWARD MIDDLETONA UNIQUE LEGACY OF HUMANITARIANISM. LIKE THE LATE PRINCESS, THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO SHOW REAL EMOTIONS IN PUBLIC, ARE EARTHY AS PARENTS AND TRAVEL WIDELY WITHOUT ExCESSIVE ROYAL PROTOCOL. SOCIETY OBSERVER AT LARGE, MALAVIKA SANGGHVI REFLECTS ON THE WINSOME TWOSOME’S ExTREME POPULARITY WORLDOVER

PRINCESS DIANA’S LEGACY ven as a number of formal monuments and tributes are being planned to commemorate the 20th death anniversary of Princess Diana, who Edied tragically in a car crash on August 31 1997, what has delighted her legion of fans across the world are the intangible and unplanned ways her legacy lives on. For one whose life appeared to be imbued with such a generous helping of magical realism, it is not unsurprising that her death is marked by a phenomena of inexplicable beauty and poetic justice. Consider the evidence: not only has the White Garden at Kensington Palace, planted as one of the tributes in her memory, blossomed into a veritable carpet of forget-me-nots, roses, tulips, scented narcissi daisies and gaura flowers, many months before expected, but Diana’s spirit lives on so palpably in her children, especially her son Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who appear to embody who she was and the values that she had stood for so emphatically. Because from the moment she appeared on the public’s consciousness, as the possible subject of Prince Charles’ interest, the essentially shy and beautiful British Rose captured the public imagination in a way none had before. The daughter of English nobility, brought up in close proximity with the Royal Family, on the face of it, Princess Diana was to the manor born: a girl bred in pomp and privilege, who would make a perfect partner to the future King of England and bear him many heirs. When he married her, Prince Charles who was 13 years her senior, appeared to be making the ideal choice. What neither he nor his mother the Queen, or any one else had bargained for though, was that she would turn out to be such a breath of fresh air, possessing a strong mind and personality Princess Diana seen with a very young Prince William and Prince Harry of her own, which would impact and influence the very nature of British pottering around on a piano. Lady Di was considered a good pianist and did royalty irreversibly. perform occasionally with Prince Charles during their visits to other countries Starting with the sheer presence of Diana’s physicality, her statuesque

30 HELLO! JUly 2017 Prince William and Kate share a happy moment while on an official tour of New Zealand

HELLO! JUly 2017 31 Cover Story

children out and about real environments outside the confinements of Kensington Palace, and even their recently launched website – all of this, speaks of Diana’s legacy, her influences and breakthroughs. “She was our guardian, friend and protector,” shared Prince William, addressing a gathering on ‘Princess Diana Memorial Day’ in 2007. “She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated. She will always be remembered for her amazing public work. But behind the media glare, to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world.” It is no coincidence that he and his wife, Kate along with his younger brother Prince Harry have thrown themselves in to acts of philanthropy and charity that would have made their mother proud. Aware of the scourge of AIDS right from the time he was taken to shelters to meet its victims, by his mother in the mid-90s, William has shown a strong commitment to serving humanity. Right from 2004 when he volunteered at a British Red Cross aid distribution centre to pack emergency supplies for countries that were affected by the Boxing Day tsunami, to when a few months later, he took on the patronage of Centrepoint, a charity that assists the homeless, of which his Prince William and Kate met with PM Narendra Modi during their India-Bhutan visit, in April 2016 (above). mother had been patron, besides supporting Breaking protocol, the Prince provides comfort to a distressed survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire (below) The Royal Marsden Hospital and the Mountain Rescue England and Wales, causes close to his good looks and warm, easy smile, Diana was a understand that.” mother’s heart, William is becoming known for force of nature, in the face of the iron clad and And what is so remarkable is that these his philanthropy and caring. stifling protocol and tradition, that had almost outstanding qualities of heart, head and The Duchess on her part, has proven to subsumed the British throne. personality are what appear to be the be a worthy successor to the mother-in-law For one, the Princess had refused to exist in guiding lodestar in the lives of the young she never met, but must have heard so much an ivory tower, as a cardboard cut out of what royals, William and Kate who appear to be about. Universally celebrated for her effortless, a Princess ought to be. Very early on, she had carrying her legacy forward in a way that photogenic presence and sense of style, Kate demonstrated her easy informality with people suggests that though Diana might have died Middleton reminds many of the young Princess and her instant rapport with the media, which 20 years ago, her spirit lives on and only Diana, multi-tasking across public and charity could not get enough of her. Whereas the gets stronger. engagements, yet being a hands-on mother of other Royals until then had stood on formality, two, and of course, packing it all together in performing their public duties with a marked THE DUKE AND DUCHESS impeccable style. No one has missed the fact distance, Princess Diana would smile happily OF CAMBRIDGE: POWER that with her friendly hugs, her infectious open at the adoring crowds, exchange pleasantries WITH GRACE laughter and her affectionate body language, with them and share laughter and bonhomie This past year, the Duke and Duchess have the Duchess appears to be the very embodiment wherever she went. This in itself, along with attended 328 royal engagements. There is little of Princess Diana, except of course, mercifully her filmstar good looks and celebrated personal doubt that in their public appearances, unfussy unlike her mother-in-law, she appears to be style, would have been enough to win friends attitudes mingling with both the entitled and more content in her personal life and un- and influence people. What no one had disenfranchised, their choices to keep their plagued by the insecurities and demons that had expected was that she would turn out to be haunted the lustrous Princess Diana. such a natural humanitarian, someone who harboured exemplary amounts of courage and KATE MIDDLETON AS THE ‘NEW’ compassion and distinguished herself by her ENGLISH ROSE acts of kindness. One of the key issues in Princess Diana’s “Caring for people who are dying and generation appears to have been a general helping the bereaved was something for which discomfort with empowered womanhood. Diana had passion and commitment. When she Women were then, still unequal to their male stroked the limbs of someone with leprosy, or sat counterparts, especially in traditional British on the bed of a man with HIV/AIDS and held monarchy. “There are three of us in this his hand, she transformed public attitudes and marriage... it got a little crowded,” may have improved the life chances of such people. People been her matter-of-fact statement to BBC’s felt if a British princess can go to a ward with Martin Bashir, but it proved to be a watershed HIV patients, why should I be afraid of doing in the history of grid-locked, filtered royal the same thing?” observed Nelson Mandela in representation in the public domain. Princess Di 2002, about the icon. became the media’s Princess, leveraging it also “Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I for her humanitarian work. Her brand value want to be, doing what I can.” Diana had said rose far above her Princess status, seeing her to her biographer Andrew Morton, “I do things happy to cast it aside later in life. differently, because I don’t go by a rule book, In this far more equitable era, both the because I lead from the heart, not the head, and Duke and Duchess appear equally comfortable albeit that’s got me into trouble in my work, I with the other’s popularity and brand value. It

32 HELLO! JUly 2017 doesn’t seem to bother Prince William that if his wife wears a new dress – be it a Zara or a Lanvin, it may break the internet and record unprecedented sales. Her personal charm and charisma does not threaten a far more relaxed monarchy, either. In fact, with Prince Philip’s recent health issues occupying the Queen, a lot of her official duties are now passing on to the Duchess – one of the key reasons it is believed the power couple are moving to the power centre of London – Kensington Palace. Since 2014, the royal couple have used Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace in London – which underwent a US$7.6 million overhaul in 2014 – as their official residence while undertaking royal duties. Now, it will be easier for them to further their charity engagements, as well. KEEPING IT REAL, EVEN AS A STYLE ICON Kate was not lured into the world of designer labels for some time; in fact, while a singleton, she didn’t demonstrate any great interest in fashion at all. Instead she immersed herself in a wardrobe of jeans tucked into Uggs or cowboy boots, neutral cashmeres and sensible jackets, often choosing practicality over presentation. For her working wardrobe in London she stuck to typical high street numbers, with dresses from Topshop and Jigsaw, where she worked for a while as an accessories buyer. It’s long been known that ‘The Kate Effect’ can see a dress sell out in just minutes, but the impact the Duchess of Cambridge has had on British fashion goes even further than imagined, boosting the industry by a staggering £1billion. Brands such as Reiss, Burberry and Whistles have all benefited from her endorsement, with items worn by the 30-year-old Duchess flying off the shelves – and the internet. Retail analyst Mintel, which came up with the amazing The Duke and Duchess with little Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the £1billion figure, calculated that this is the Trooping the Colour annual birthday parade for the Queen at Buckingham Palace equivalent of more than four million fashion this year conscious women spending £250 a year each on lookalike clothes and jewellery! Princess Charlotte. They choose to release inclusive. Prince Harry had been through severe Prior to their recent move to London, Kate photographs of their children on their own trauma on the loss of his mother, and this is a and William have been quite content to enjoy terms – most of them captured by Kate herself! natural evolution of his own struggle towards romantic walks along Llanddwyn Beach in (Kate incidentally, is an amateur photographer regaining his own equilibrium. “We’re not Anglesey, with their cocker spaniel Lupo, – a passion she explores on their many travels). robots,” he has said, discussing how he’s used cosy suppers in the local pub and trips to the his influential platform to change the stigma cinema in Holyhead. Kate was regularly seen PRINCESS DIANA’S LEGACY around mental health and ‘normalise’ the buying groceries in the nearby towns and even IN ACTION conversation. “What my mother believed in, is if shopping for their love nest at the local branch Kate and William continue to wear Diana’s you are in a position of privilege or a position of of Homebase as William took to the skies on mantle in a way that would make her proud. responsibility and if you can put your name to shifts for RAF Search and Rescue. They made In a London beset by attacks in recent times, something that you genuinely believe in… then a clear decision to send Prince George to a local Prince William has never hesitated to provide you can smash any stigma you want.” Montessori nursery school in Norfolk, and have succor. He went along with his grandmother the Whether it is this generation of Princess just got him admitted to Thomas Battersea Queen to visit the Royal Manchester Children’s Diana’s progeny that has finally eradicated School in London this Fall, a new private day Hospital in the aftermath of the terror attack at the last of purple protocol, easily extending school where the first rule is to ‘be kind’ and Ariana Grande’s concert. Even more recently, compassion and empathetic hugs to souls in where children are discouraged from picking a following the horrific fire at London’s Grenfell need of healing, or whether the world sees a best friend so they don’t hurt others’ feelings! Tower, a visibly moved Prince William broke garden mysteriously blooming in advance of with protocol and allowed a victim to embrace high summer with Princess Diana’s favourite PRIVACY, PLEASE him, burying her head in his chest, seeking flowers – these are all intangible but enduring Prince William hasn’t made any bones about his comfort. This gesture was perhaps more tributes that remind us that though she may dislike towards the paparazzi – hardly surprising, impressive and eloquent than many of the other be long gone, the spirit of the English Rose, given his mother’s shocking death in 1997. But grander monuments being planned as a tribute Princess Diana lives on through beauty he also understands that as a royal and an heir, to her memory. His brother, Prince Harry also and kindness. the paps come with the territory. The young demonstrates this empathetic view, having She was truly, not just a candle in the wind. H couple have found a way around it by keeping founded the Heads Together campaign, with the upper hand, especially with family photos Prince William and Kate, to ensure therapy and INPUTS: SANGEETA WADHWANI; that include the children, Prince George and mental fitness can be available in a way that is JEENA J BILLIMORIA

HELLO! JUly 2017 33 Power of Two

Rahul and Asin Sharma make for a sharp frame. Asin wears a halter gown by Gucci, accessorised with her engagement ring. The ring has a 20-carat-grand-solitaire specially, imported from Belgium. It has a monogram of the couple under the diamond and carries a personal message from Rahul, also engraved with diamonds on the band of the ring

34 HELLO! JUly 2017 bEsT frEinds fOrEvEr RAHUL& ASIN SHARMA TOgETHEr THEy rEprEsEnT THE dynamics Of a nEw agE biLLiOnairE cOupLE. wiTH an EsTimaTEd nET wOrTH Of us$100 miLLiOn, THEir LifE is a cELEbraTiOn Of succEss, pOwEr and Hard wOrk. HELLO! mEETs THE cOupLE fOr THEir firsT EvEr inTErviEw pOsT marriagE

hen HELLO! meets the darling couple, Rahul and Asin Sharma ‘about her strengths, i one bright morning in Mumbai, it is apparent that one year on win their marriage, they are still very much in their honeymoon could go on. first and phase. Rahul is the CEO and CFO of Micromax Informatics, while Asin foremost she is very has had a successsful acting career so far. Their story, which began five years ago, is nothing short of a magical fairytale. They dated for about four caring, very dignified years before tying the knot in a grand but very private – no press access and a greatly positive – wedding in January last year (where Akshay Kumar was the best man). From celebrating birthdays on a private yacht on the Seine River in Paris to force to be around’ driving to the Micromax HQ in an orange Bentley, they live life as one, to – rahul the fullest…

You have been married for a year now. Tell us a little about your relationship and how you complement each other… Asin: “I think we have a great relationship, which is based on friendship, love and respect. He is my best friend. He just gets me. I think what helps is that our core values and principles are the same. Temperament wise he is the calmer, cooler one and I’m more of a live wire (laughs). He is quieter while I’m more verbally expressive.” Rahul: “We are as she said, each other’s best friends. At the risk of sounding hopelessly romantic, it is she who taught me the meaning of love. I thoroughly enjoy her company. She brings stability and balance to my life. She is my fulcrum. She completes me in every sense.” The both of you belong to completely different industries, where and how do you find a common ground? Asin: “The differences at a glance may seem many – region, language, cultural backgrounds, religious backgrounds, temperaments, profession, food preferences etc! But our core values are the same. We share the same personal ideologies and beliefs and we love and respect each other above all. I think that’s most important. We are both simple people. That I think keeps us together.” Rahul: “We have a lot of common friends. Also, neither of us are party animals. Instead, we love spending time with friends at home. We are also both extremely private people and share common interests like travel and sports. We share the love for cricket and Formula One racing. In fact, we were first introduced to each other at an India Vs Pakistan cricket match in Bangladesh, which India won ofcourse!” (The Asia Cup tournament was sponsored by Rahul’s company ‘Micromax’ that year.) Share some early memories of your first impressions of each other… Asin: “As he mentioned, I met him while I was flying to Bangladesh for the promotions of one of my movies five years ago. Akshay (Kumar),

HELLO! JUly 2017 35 Power of Two

‘we have a great relationship, which is based on friendship, love and respect. He is my best friend’ – asin

Asin: “Hmm… he sketches well. I don’t think many people know that. Oh, and he also cooks for me on most Sunday afternoons.” Rahul: “She sings well but I guess a lot of people already know that. She writes well too and I have been really persuading her to take it further.” A moment of pride – for an achievement of the other? Asin: “I appreciate the fact that he is a self- made man who has come up in life on his own merit and hard work. I feel proud of every recognition he gets.” Rahul: “She is a self-made woman herself, I guess that is why she appreciates that in others. I’m proud of her achievements at such a young age, of how she’s lived her life till now. She started working at the age of 14 along with her studies and has made a name for herself not only in the South Indian film industries but also Bollywood with a lot of integrity and not compromising on certain principles. I respect her immensely for that. My awards are nothing compared to the number she has at home. I couldn’t be more proud of her.” What is the one thing you would like to change about your partner? Rahul: “To me, she is perfect!” Asin: “I love and accept him the way he is.” Do you ever advise one another on important professional decisions? The couple strikes a candid pose exclusively for HELLO! Asin wears a dress by Victoria Beckham and a Asin: “I don’t interfere in his work. If he million-dollar smile in Rahul’s arms, who gazes at her adoringly comes to me for a creative opinion then I give it but otherwise, I don’t like to poke my nose in our common friend and my then co-actor Asin: “Well we are sort of newly married so his business!” introduced him to me. Rahul came across pardon us for all the mush! (laughs).” Rahul: “About her work, again I leave that as an extremely simple and humble person. When there is a conflict of interest, how completely to her. We don’t interfere in each A man of few words! What really struck me do you resolve it? other’s professional space.” that day was, ‘What a thorough gentleman he Rahul: “There’s no question of any conflict of You two love to travel, tell us a few is!’ He is very respectful towards women and interest because, ‘My lady is always right!’” things you have checked off your bucket extremely dignified.” Asin: “(Laughs)” list and what’s next? Rahul: “Asin is unique… she has this fabulous How would you describe your ideal Asin: “Yes, we love to travel. Our travel plans energy around her combined with a lot of evening for a perfect date? are pretty much impromptu though, thanks to grace and simplicity that had me floored from Asin: “Honestly, none of it matters as long him. We did paragliding in Italy last summer. day one. She’s fun loving, charming and as she as we are together. Having said that, this man Flew sea planes over Lake Como and skied the says, quite a live wire!” here is ‘Ah-mazing’ in the way he plans dates! slopes together at Courchevel 1850 in France How do you both maintain on a work- The attention to detail, personal touches, the for New Years.” life balance? romance – one would have otherwise never Rahul: “There’s so much more of the world Rahul: “Weekdays are for working hard and guessed from someone so reserved – but he that we are yet to experience together. Apart weekends we spend together. We have friends would leave any woman impressed. From our from what she mentioned together, we also come over and we watch movies, eat great very first date, to the one just this last week, experience the South African wild life safari, food and play games! We also like to take off you can’t go on a date with him and not be hot air balloon rides over the Swiss Alps, under sometimes on impromptu trips.” floored! He is never out of ideas! On our first water sea-walks in Bali and are planning to sky Share three strengths and weaknesses Valentine’s Day after marriage, Rahul surprised dive next in New Zealand.” about each other… me by flying me on a private chopper to North Where do you see yourself five Asin: “He is level-headed, innovative and Island (a private island in Seychelles) for a week. years from now, professionally and humble. His weakness is ‘me’ (laughs).” Incidentally, it is also where Prince William and personally? Rahul: “You are my strength, A! About her Kate Middleton went for their honeymoon!” Rahul: “Personally, I have all what I wanted strengths, I could go on. First and foremost Rahul: “Like she said, time spent together is (smiles). Professionally, there’s a whole lot more she is very caring, very dignified and a greatly precious. It could be just lounging at home or to achieve.” H positive force to be around! She has a strong going out. Either way, we make sure we have a willpower and is extremely articulate. As for good time.” (smiles) TEXT: ANKITA RATHOD weaknesses, I’m yet to find any!” Share a secret about the other? PHOTOs: suREsH NATARAjAN

36 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 37 Power of Two MAXING THE MOVIES AJAY SANJEEV BIJLI AT THE HELM OF THE PVR CINEMAS MULTIPLEXES COUNTRYWIDE, THE SIBLING-TEAM MAkE A STELLAR PICTURE AS CO-VISIONARIES AND ENTREPRENEURS

Businessmen brothers, Ajay and Sanjeev Bijli tell HELLO! of the close bond they share and how family comes first

38 HELLO! JUly 2017 ‘You become a sounding board for each other. If you dream big, make your enterprise big, you have that much room for each other. In fact, you need each other’ - Ajay ‘Integrity, honesty and hard work are ingrained within us. It sounds clichéd, but it’s also the truth. There is no short cut to success’ - Sanjeev

he theatre business came to the Bijli brothers as a Ajay: “We communicate a lot. We don’t start our day till we have default inheritance after their illustrious father, Kishan had our daily one-on-one morning interaction. We complement TMohan Bijli passed away in 1992. Among other things, each other by first coming on the same page on every issue and he left behind a transport company and Delhi’s iconic Priya wherever we need another opinion we defer to the advice of our cinema to his two sons. In two-and-a-half decades, the Bijlis core group at PVR or our board members and key investors who have expanded their bequest into a multi-crore entertainment have been incredibly supportive.” business owning India’s largest chain of multiplex cinemas. Sanjeev: “I think we have discussed this and are very aware, Ajay took over soon after his father passed on and Sanjeev, that he dreams big and I am more pragmatic and break it down the younger of the two brothers, followed a few years later. to smaller achievable milestones and goals.” Together, they are a team that that drives India’s multiplex Your common interests? business in a direction that spells A-grade sound, clarity, Ajay: “Designing cinemas and watching movies. And of world-class comfort and even IMAX facilities. While success course, we both enjoy good food, wine and travel!” sits easy on them, at home it is the comfort of a filial bond How different are you from each other as personalities? that rides over their professional accomplishments. Ajay: “Sanjeev is pragmatic and calm but also very firm. I tend to get quite restless if there is an issue till it gets settled.” Childhood memories… What are some of the Sanjeev: “He gets stressed quickly, I don’t. For him exercise is a defining moments of your growing up years and way of life, for me it’s a chore.” bonding as brothers? What are the common values that hold you together as Ajay Bijli: “We grew up in the same house, went to the a family? same school and had so many common interests that there Ajay: “Mom has been our only teacher. She has taught us to are countless memories now. Perhaps the most defining was be humble, and never let success get to our heads. We believe in also the most poignant one – when our dad passed away. honesty, integrity and transparency in all our interactions. And That further solidified the bond we shared. We knew we had also believe that there is no substitute for hard work.” to be strong and be focused and ensure that we stay together Sanjeev: “Integrity, honesty and hard work are ingrained and shoulder responsibilities that suddenly came upon us due within us. It sounds clichéd, but it’s also the truth. There is no to such an unexpected and unfortunate turn of fate. Sanjeev short cut to success.” was young but very mature and stood by my side like a pillar Tough times that you both managed to sail together? of strength and ocean of wisdom.” Ajay: “So many – but dad’s passing away at an early age was Sanjeev Bijli: “We went to the same school – it was fun the biggest blow.” to figure out who would get ready first – luckily Ajay always Sanjeev: “There have been many, but challenges are a part of did so I got the extra 10 minutes to sleep! We bonded over life. We pray, seek blessings from our mother, work hard towards usual childhood activities like playing monopoly, charades, resolving it, and move on. I think film production was a phase badminton and basketball.” we realised we were not cut out for, and decided to discontinue Was there any sibling rivalry at any point in the and focus on exhibition. That was the best decision we made.” early years? Biggest triumphs celebrated together? Ajay: “Only while playing dumb charades! We both knew Ajay: “At PVR, the opening of the first multiplex in India, the our movies!” largest one ever seen here, was a matter of pride for us. Getting Sanjeev: “No, not at all. Given the age gap, he’s always been interests from reputed financial institutions to fuel our growth more of a role model to follow, and he has always been just too was a huge encouragement – listing the company, acquisition of perfect – an ideal older brother.” Cinemax and DT as well as reaching a milestone of 500 screens, How did the familiar space transform into a have been victories at different stages.” professional environment – when you both started Sanjeev: “Acquisitions of Cinemax and DT cinemas, Private working together? equity infusions, IPO, the 500 screen mark have been huge Ajay: “As the company grew and evolved, the joint venture achievements for us.” with Village took place firstly and then finally listing PVR Memorable family moments… at the stock exchange was a milestone for us. PVR had to Ajay: “Personally for me, celebrating every family member’s gravitate towards being a highly professional brand to gain birthday, anniversaries and all special occasions are that recognition and respect from all stakeholders. Today always memorable.” it is a highly competitive, cutting-edge brand that hasn’t lost Sanjeev: “Our family cruise on the Mediterranean was just its personal touch or entrepreneurial drive. When Sanjeev awesome. We got to see and visit so many new, small places along joined, he only helped strengthen the brand further and helped the way.” reinforce our belief in making PVR, the best brand.” How do you think the power of two works to your Sanjeev: “I joined work much later, and it takes a while to find advantage as brothers and as business partners? your space and feet, but he guided me through it all.” Ajay: “Well, together you work in tandem. We have each other What do you feel are the other person’s strengths? to ratify our decisions. You become a sounding board for each Ajay: “Sanjeev is brilliant at dealing with the ups and downs other. If you dream big, make your enterprise big, you have that that one faces in life. He brings calmness and stability. I tend to much room for each other. In fact, you need each other.” get quite restless!” Sanjeev: “If you have the same set of values and goals, you Sanjeev: “His strengths are his leadership skills. He’s a become each other’s sounding board – we can ratify strategies, visionary and is extremely innovative and believes in pushing exchange ideas even at home, where perhaps great ideas can boundaries, both professionally and personally.” come from either one of us!” H How do you complement each other in the work space? TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH

HELLO! JUly 2017 39 Power of Two

‘wE arE fOr an arT THaT...’ Jitish REENA KALLAt THEir arTisTic EquaTiOn bEgan wiTH a quarrEL... and LEd TO marriagE! YET, LikE THE quinTEssEnTiaL rumi- EsquE cOupLE, THE arTicuLaTE TwOsOmE LET THE winds Of inspiraTiOn bLOw frEELY bETwEEn THEm as THEY mOvE, prOgrEssivELY, in divErsE dirEcTiOns as arTisTs

e may be a couple, but our works “As the breeze – the subtlest of breezes which “ don’t have to be!” laughs Reena are at the edge of our perception – blew, it wKallat in her husky been-up-all- left blown charcoal-impressions in different night voice. (There was a time when the couple directions. The work essentially recorded a chose to be painting only through the nights, conversation between wind and fire. My role as till they had their son, Ahaan). As she readies an artist then, was just that of a convenor, or a for a shot, Reena responds to a query about transcript of the conversation,” he explains. “A possible cross-pollinations of thought between lot of the work I make, often points to the edge herself and husband Jitish Kallat, especially of our perceptions... that possibility of noticing given they inhabit the same idea eco-system. something you don’t ever otherwise perceive.” Shares Jitish, “As artists, we are interested in We settle down to coffee surrounded by the very different things but the fact that we spend vast open spaces of the Kallat’s two-storey studio our day exploring these questions through the in suburban Mumbai, on the edge of the lush instrument of art makes for an interesting life – Pali Hill. Around us we can hear birds, see a we can’t deny that!” lot of greenery, and generally feel transported We choose to represent both their unique to a space of vital experiment. The frenzy of vocabularies, turn by turn. First, we pose the social appearances and the compulsion to make super-fit couple in front of Reena’s larger- arresting social media posts, have no place in than-life work, from the series Hyphenated-Lives, their disciplined vigil as original observers. It showing a merging of different animal species, feels almost like a concealed rebellion – and flora and fauna across political borders (marked with Jitish, soft rebellion was his calling card as by barbed wires). The work is particularly a student at the JJ School of Art. It possibly still poignant as it is marked by detailed drawings is. “Reena and I actually got closer after we had of hybrid creatures – half-lion, half-mare, half- the biggest all-night quarrel over the phone; she tiger, half-Panda – a clear nod to “our shared was furious with me for this almost transgressive natural resources with our neighbours, a certain performance I did in class. Whenever the teacher energy flow which is inevitable, yet marked by so asked me anything, I said, “I am of an art,” much political unrest and manmade borders all quoting Claes Oldenburg’s writings from 1961, around,” she shares. Jitish’s latest works – against which if quoted, went, “I am for an art that is Reena and Jitish Kallat stand in front which we shoot our next frame – have a coded political-erotical-mystical, that does something of a work from Reena’s new series, quality – almost as if waiting to be deciphered. other than sit on its ass in a museum. I am for an Hyphenated Lives. Varied species of The work has your eye travelling along “a single art that grows up not knowing it is art at all, an flora and fauna are merged to suggest long line covering the entire surface, inspired by art given the chance of having a starting point a flow of genetic and natural history the Hilbert Curve, which was devised by this of zero.” between zones divided politically. mathematician and physicist around 1890. The Recalls Reena, “I was really pissed off, but The couple do not believe in joined line captures every point in space for infinity.” then, when we spoke, I understood his reasoning. exhibits although they have been fellow Jitish took this drawing outdoors and covered the He really felt the institution was too insular. We participants on multi-artist platforms pencil line with an inflammable fluid. He would felt literally sedated, as they said, ‘Chala chala, internationally. Their last two-artist then set the oil on fire in a random sequence. haath chalao.’ Like just keep moving your hand show goes back to 2003, titled Hard Copy, curated by Peter Nagy in Kolkata!

40 HELLO! JUly 2017 ‘The one thing that can happen with two successful partners is when one overshadows the other. but i think that i wouldn’t even go there because as an artist, you are well aware that any kind of acknowledgement, is not something that is so final’ not your brain! There were no discussions, no stimulation to the mind, no ideas.” The young Jitish and Reena instead, embraced the larger artistic environment of a culturally rich Bombay of the 90s. Opines Jitish, when reflecting on those library and art event-hopping days. “I often speak at Universities overseas. When you have such lush environments – lush with knowledge, information, people are also not that absorbant, because they have too much of it. In our case, the deprivation became the drive, our impetus to discover.” Shares Reena, “We attended annual art conferences, visited the Mohile Parekh Centre, where we saw the larger field of artworks by diverse artists like Nalini Malani, Vivan Sundaram, Sudhir Patwardhan, Geeta Kapur, Gulam, Neelima Sheikh. There were a lot of those wonderful artists whose lives, whose ways of thinking, whose approach to culture fascinated us. We would hang out at theatres, like Prithvi, or film festivals, going to see different forms of art – and we’d go together for all of these.” As we speak, it becomes clear that if Reena and Jitish are ‘powered’ by any aspect of their relationship, it’s their essential ‘unity in diversity.’ They are different in the way they look at things, and different in their workstyles. Says she, “He can actually deliver under any circumstances – whether he has to write, whether he has to speak, he can just focus, collect his thoughts. Whereas I need physical space and time to gather my thoughts.” Jitish has a totally unique perspective on what is a ‘distraction.’ “How do you know that the ‘distraction’ you seek to avoid, may actually be your window to a new perspective? The very concept of the external and the internal are illusions, in my book. Like what actually defines the external? It is only us making a subject-object split, wherever we choose. At the core, where the self ends and the world begins – is a perception. We are all connected.” So Reena shares, “We work at our studio in Byculla and Jitish often leaves the house through the back entrance, and says he will see me there! He likes to walk the 15 odd kilometres and have his daily interface with the city at large,” she laughs. The couple wake up by 6.00 am odd, a decision they made after their son Ahaan was born. “Given a choice I would go back,” confesses Reena, “because those are moments where the world is asleep, and something awakens in you. I feel we have now become too normal!” Shares Jitish, “I actually feel differently; in fact she laughs now and says I want to get to bed at 9.00pm. I felt that was like a real villager. Now it’s like 10 – 10.30.” The

HELLO! JUly 2017 41 Power of Two

‘as artists we simply like to hang out together, like in the old days you would have a sleepover with a friend, and this has been like a long- term exploration, considering we got married in 99!’

The couple are often sounding boards for each other’s work, not always a ‘safe’ process, as it can present early filters, red flags that are not always real. “Yes like for instance about 10 years ago, Reena made these portraits called Synonyms. I thought the whole work was going to be a disaster. These works were composed of about 1,000 or 2,000 rubber stamps, in a single portrait. Stamps made of symbols. I suggested that she first make a portrait from any random stamps, as a test, to see if the portrait even works. But she was already busy ordering stamps from Bengal, Karnataka, from Odisha, so stamps were being made in multiple states around India, so the portrait would happen. But when it got done, I was pleasantly surprised.” “As partners, you can be each others’ worst and best critic. That can be an advantage or a disadvantage. In our relationship, it is like supplementing a practice. Of course you feel support for each other and the other thing that can happen in two successful people is one overshadows the other. But I think that I wouldn’t even go there because as an artist you are well aware that any kind of acknowledgement, is not something that is so final, I don’t see the finality of that as it keeps changing. Success is not a fixed thing.” The couple are now gearing up for their shows in September – Reena with Hyphenated Lives, to feature at the Manchester Museum and Jitish with his wind-fire studies and a suite of Jitish and Reena seen in front Jitish’s new work, titled Wind Study (Hilbert Space), is “essentially a sculptures; which will feature in a show titled, conversation between wind and fire,” he explains. “I prefer to be non-existent when two elements chat!” Covariance in Templon, Brussels. Looking back on their highly synergestic artists indulge in just one commodity in plenty and all that. To me it is about the balance of journey, when choosing art as a vocation was – books. Being concept-idea driven in their the two.” like gambling with life itself, Reena reflects, “We output, it’s a neat detail when Reena shares, “I Says Reena, “To me, an artist is just a catalyst, are in a global space today, the opportunities are sometimes just want to read at bedtime, be in and the more tuned in you can be and the less far greater. But it is still a very uncertain space, the quiet zone, no calls, no interruptions.” Jitish control you exercise on anything, the more and that is something that continues. Our real adds, “So I told her we can be awake the other aware you are of what’s happening around you, motivation is somewhere, somebody is going to side of the night... like 4.00am when people are to receive and perceive.” take notice of your work, that it may outlive our still asleep. It’s another kind of awakening, you Both Reena and Jitish have been extremely lifetimes. These are our primary rewards, people wake up with the earliest birds.” fortunate that even in real life, their coupling feeling a resonance with your work, anywhere in One broaches the eternal conflict between had an organic quality. “We had such the world. The goals have never been financial.” the artistic impulse and the quest for building supportive families from both sides, though “I think our needs are minimum,” quips an artistic brand value for one’s work. “One an artist marrying an artist was completely Jitish. “The more we had, the less we needed, newspaper,” we joke, cited you both as being unconventional. I lost mom when I was very the less we asked for. I may have had a few extra artists who are so powerful, you influence the young, and my father literally prodded us to take pairs of shoes when I was younger – but today art market with every move.” We all laugh. on things we enjoy. While both my brother and I don’t have the illusion that I am a millipede! “I call that fact-free journalistic hyperbole!” I were being pragmatic – I wanted to pursue (laughs). It’s been my ninth, 10th year going with scoffs Jitish, affably, elaborating, “There is an medicine and my brother wanted to pursue these eyeglasses!” ultimate contradiction, because somewhere, to engineering – it was my father who saw that he We leave Reena and Jitish to continue their understand fundamental reality, you push away was much more interested in architecture and highly sensitised renditions of realities most of all ideas of power, and all ideas of self. Yet, when I was much more inclined towards the arts. So us are too busy to contemplate, leaving their you are having an exhibition, you have to talk we were encouraged to follow our heart.” Jitish’s white-washed, high-ceilinged, paradisical studio about your work and yourself. I feel the real father had a normal nine to five corporate job, on Pali Hill. Hyphenated lives? As a couple, essence of exploration, art and the Universe, but never once told his son how the extended you bet! H is the cessation of the Self. We have that sense family was speculating on Jitish’s choices, “till I TEXT: SANGEETA WADHWANI in the studio – its quiet, my phone barely rings, had my first solo show opening. It was only after PHOTOS: KARAN NEVATIA it’s reclusive. But then, when there is a public that he told me this, not wanting that negativity STYLING: SONAM POLADIA interface, then there is the person, the artist, to impact me or my passion in any way.” ASSISTED BY: RICHA MEHTA

42 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 43 Power of Two

gOLdEn dREams SCHAUNA CHAUHAN SALUJA & NADIA CHAUHAN hey exude a sharpness well-reflected in There’s a healthy respect we have for each their identical blunt cuts. A stark simplicity THEy TOOk a Rs 300-cRORE other,” adds Nadia. Tmarks their sartorial style. Schauna and Suddenly the kids’ chatter moves into the Nadia Chauhan chose to be devoid of any LEgacy wiTH PaRLE agRO study. “Mom, can I kiss them?” asks Schauna’s professional make-up during our interaction and sPaRkEd Off a son, Jahan, gazing longingly at the Labs. “No, at the former’s apartment. We are greeted you can pet them…” requests Schauna “or give by adorable Lab puppies – who are on their bOTTOmLinE REvOLuTiOn them flying kisses,” adds Nadia with maternal teething timeline – as we enter the living room THaT sEEs THEm PREsidE affection. We look at the two and ask how they where there is constant banter between the kids manage the kids, amidst all of this? “That’s a enjoying the thrill of challenging each other OvER a Rs 3,000 cRORE good question,” retorts Schauna, “but each one while playing with a toy racetrack. A well- EmPiRE TOday. HELLO! mET of us end up striking a balance. Initially it was appointed staff attends to us all. tough, but then it just fell in place. Sometimes Schauna Chauhan Saluja, Prakash THE cHauHan sisTERs aT they come to work with us. In fact, we have a Chauhan’s older daughter, wears a royal purple HOmE fOR a RivETTing separate area for the kids at work so we can dress combined with an elegant three-lined pearl watch over and see what they are doing while choker. Her confidence is clearly self-derived; cHaT On succEss, famiLy concentrating on our work,” adds Nadia. she cares little about her salt-and-pepper hair as and TEamwORk Diverse as they are in terms of their she introduces her younger sister Nadia, who is personality, united they stand in business. generally a media recluse but makes an exception The latter, in fact, has been the great unifier for our feature. “We work well as a team, which learning experience for me,” shares Schauna, for the sisters. Even as they stand tall today as is great,” says Schauna when questioned on looking back. When some semblance of order businesswomen, their growing up, ironically, was the power of team play. “We strike an excellent had been accomplished, Nadia stepped in. “It never together. After schooling in Kodaikanal balance which really works in our organisation,” was always clear to me that my sister would International School and acquiring a Bachelor’s agrees Nadia as we settle for a chat in the study, eventually join the business once she completed degree from business school in Lausanne, positioned in the centre of the apartment. Their her education,” says Schauna, who is married to Schauna was back home, learning the ropes in unique Parle Agro journey, shared with their model-actor, Bikram Saluja. Parle Agro. “Nadia, on the other hand, was in father, seemed to be organic and seamless. “My Interestingly, 13 years ago when Nadia Mumbai with our parents,” says Schauna. “Yes, father understood our areas of strength,” Nadia entered the scenario, things were still different. I went to Bombay Scottish and then HR College points out. Concurs Schauna, “It makes sense to Regardless of all, the one thing she didn’t want of Commerce and Economics; so I have pretty play to your strengths.” Schauna, for the record, to do is sit and change everything, rather, “I much been around in Mumbai,” says Nadia. takes care of day-to-day operations at Parle took my time to settle down, understand the “We never really grew up together. It’s when Agro. Nadia looks after sales and marketing, culture deeply and spend time listening to my we got into the business that we started working product development, distribution and new dad because it is with his vision that we’ve built together,” says Schauna. business initiatives. “We always knew that we as much as we have. Then, we put a road map Speaking of each other’s strengths, Schauna would get into the business sooner or later,” says down for the next five to 10 years,” says Nadia. admires Nadia for her aggressive way of Schauna, the Chief Executive Officer. “We were Talking about the long way they have come in being, “If Nadia believes in something, she inducted early. This helped because we realised all these years Nadia shares, “I remember back doesn’t stop at a ‘no’ that comes her way. what is to be done, not to be done. Thereby we then we were at about Rs 300-350 crores as She is very progressive in her thinking. She didn’t harm the interests of the company. We a company on the whole. Today, we are a Rs looks after all our heads... (laughs) she is the realised the vision of our father and the role we 3,000 crore company. That itself talks about doctor in the family... the personal one.” had to play to fulfill it.” the difference in terms of the scale. I remember “Who nobody listens to,” complains Nadia, Schauna’s induction was the first, just around handling a marketing budget of four crore “We do the opposite of what she says... but she the time when the split between her father and rupees and today we are talking about Rs 200 is the first one I definitely go to. She is the go-to uncle was at its final stages. “Two decades ago, crores as our marketing budget.” Over all, person,” justifies Schauna. we had to start the business from scratch,” she the two state that they are a company with an Schauna, on the other hand, is extremely says, “Set up operations, new departments etc. aggressive vision. Their focus is on innovation patient, shares Nadia, “She may come across It was a great help to my father when I came and making positive changes. otherwise but she is way too patient with her on board.” Those preliminary years were The bonding between the girls is quite visible. team. She looks into the nitty-gritties. I think definitely difficult but Schauna and her father When in office, they usually have their lunch that’s a special skill because there are only pulled through. “Systems and processes had to together, for instance. In fact that is the time certain people who can go into that level of be put in place. The Internet had just started. when they vibe, debate, discuss issues, strategise detailing. Whether it is at home or at office, she I remember, somebody had come and done a etc. “In Nadia, I see myself as I was 10 years ago is extremely micro at the detailing. Also on a presentation on what Google was all about. I – bubbly, enthusiastic, full of ideas and energy,” personal level she is the most fun between the spent a lot of time building on the organisation, says Schauna. “I think what holds us together two of us. She is actually the crazy one (laughs). building the strength of the people. It was a great is the fact that we are each other’s best friends. If we look at the videos that we have of hers

44 HELLO! JUly 2017 Schauna Chauhan Saluja and Nadia Chauhan pose in the lower seating area in the former’s apartment against a six-piece illusionary painting

HELLO! JUly 2017 45 Power of Two

The Parle Agro sisters, Schauna and Nadia, who share an age gap of 10 years, pose for HELLO! on the couch in Schauna’s living room

on our phone, I mean...” more laughter. “We mother. As years went by and I kept coming back a case for a beverage. It went on for over five to can spend hours and hours laughing… well she from school every vacation… all of a sudden six years. At first we lost, and then we lost again has always been good with Bollywood dancing. after a certain point she wanted to go out to but our belief kept driving us. And then when Even in her wedding all the dancing that she did parties and she was out late. And I just couldn’t it came to the final hearing, we actually won.” and after… but her Hindi is worse than mine.” handle it. On the other hand Nadia would get Nadia adds, “The win was not only for us but the Speaking of old memories, Schauna so frustrated.” Initially, Nadia would wait for her whole company.” Ask them what’s next and they nostalgically remembers the days Nadia used to sister to arrive and “pick me up from school, but have a set plan as Nadia informs, “We’ve built a visit her in Switzerland, “I tried so hard to cook beyond a point I would be waiting anxiously for very strong portfolio… over the next few years for her. And I used to have this specialty of butter her to leave,” reminisces Nadia. we are going to expand our portfolio further,” chicken and mashed potato. The butter chicken Currently, the only common interest apart with an aggressive vision of wanting to achieve was mind blowing – spicy – and the mashed from work for the two is to raise the kids, a net worth of Rs 5,000 crores by the end of potato was usually way too salty,” says Schauna, “Everything revolves around the children. Every 2018. As our conversation comes to an end and with a subtle laugh in her tone. “Yea, she can’t weekend we find each other calling one another the kids then have their mothers to themselves, cook at all,” exclaims Nadia. Ask them about to figure what can we make the kids do, so they the last thing we want to know is what they sibling rivalry and Nadia quips, “Whenever we don’t end up getting too violent staying at home.” are doing this evening. Nadia reveals, “I have a have conflicts, we resolve them as soon as they Sleepovers are something they do very often but school mothers’ dinner to get to,” while Schauna start. We are the fourth generation of Chauhans a ladies night out? “Were we even married when who is quite the social person, plans to “be at now, so we look at taking decisions based on the we last had one?” asks Schauna in a dilemma, home, for a change. I am going to sleep over my larger picture and the interest of the business. “That’s something we don’t end up doing these Monday blues,” says Nadia. Can such a blue- So at the end of the day, resolving a conflict days!” explains Nadia. blooded heiresses actually feel the blues? Hard becomes really easy because we look at what’s Now that they are on an even keel, the task to imagine! H best from the business point of view.” is to take the business forward. The girls have Well, such wasn’t the case while growing up, their hands full in this regard. Their most recent TEXT: ANKITA RATHOD reveals Schauna, “I was way too protective about triumph ended up being an emotional one, PHOTOS: RYAN MARTIS her. I would literally mother her, like a second shares Schauna, “we worked extremely hard on STYLING: SONAM POLADIA

46 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 47 Power of Two TwO dEcadEs Of crEaTiviTy RAHUL KHANNA &ROHIT GANDHI THEy inHabiT a TrEnd-drivEn univErsE, yET bOasT Of a bOnd as unsHakEabLE as THE prOvErbiaL rOck Of GibraLTar. HErE’s a pOrTraiT Of a dEsiGn duO TOasTinG TwO dEcadEs Of cuTTinG-EdGE fasHiOn and an abidinG friEndsHip

here is no doubt about the fact How did you decide to that their favourite colour is black. work together? TAnd they love teaming it up with RK: “Well at a time when everyone was blue denims. That is the striking visual into couture bridal wear, we realised newer impression that Rahul Khanna and Rohit concepts were the need of the hour and Gandhi create – and it’s a telling impression what could be better than starting our own of a design team that has not just created prêt brand. We decided that India needed an edge in India but also globally. Black a brand which focused on craftsmanship, is a colour that absorbs. Rohit and Rahul detailing and value for money. Hence, H20 together, have soaked in a multiplicity of and Cue were born in 1997.” inspirations and created sartorial bibles RG: “Our creative ideas and our design that live to tell many-a-tale. Their journey sensibilities matched a lot. We had similar together has been osmotic – nourishing goals and were extremely confident each other with creative nectar and floating about each other’s talent. This is when in a flash-bulb infested fashion universe as we decided to convert our friendship into free spirits; their outfits make a statement a work partnership, through our fashion filled with elegance and quiet aplomb. labels and the Palette Art gallery.” Together, Rahul and Rohit are a tour-de- How do the rules of interaction force of India’s ever widening design circle change when you are at work and and as individuals with distinguishing at home? traits, they are inseparable – following RK: “I’m a workaholic and I often like each other as their alter-egos, letting their taking work home. Rohit is the opposite, identities merge into each other. Quite he can set a balance between work and naturally. And perhaps, karmically. home. The rules don’t really change, work is life and our best ideas come when we Memories of your first meeting… are engulfed by our passion for fashion What are some of the defining and art.” moments of your early friendship? RG: “At home there are no rules, and at Rahul Khanna: “We met while work we diligently follow all procedures. studying at NIFT and shared great times Usually we are both busy doing our own together – these were the growing days things and don’t get to spend too much of our friendship. In fact, one of the time with each other but our shared love most memorable occasions was when of art and fashion always comes up in we travelled with friends on a European conversation whether at home or work.” vacation, we realised how similar our What do you feel are the other interests and sensibilities were. Our shared person’s strengths? love for travelling and seeing the world, RK: “Rohit’s strengths are editing and was one of the biggest defining moments direction – he is focused and excellent at of our friendship.” visualising the end product. I on the other Rohit Gandhi: “I remember meeting hand, get inspired by the things around me Rahul at a club in Delhi during our NIFT constantly. However, Rohit has absolute days. We had a shared love for art and clarity about how the end product will look fashion which was to define the future on the ramp. His biggest strength is his course of our friendship.” long-term vision and clarity.”

48 HELLO! JUly 2017 Designer duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna of Cue share a passion for art amongst many other things. They are seen at their art space, Palette Gallery, celebrating 20 years in fashion

HELLO! JUly 2017 49 Power of Two

The designers, dressed in Cue, stand against artworks at the gallery RG: “Rahul is my strength for sure. I feel like Are there common family values that you collectively has been a huge triumph.” two hours of quality work time is better than think become a bonding factor between RG: “Everything we do, from setting our spending the whole day working. Rahul on the you two? labels apart in the international fashion scene other hand, loves his work and always motivates RK: “Yes, we both come from similar family to exhibiting Indian contemporary art in Art me and pushes me to work.” backgrounds and we love spending time with Bazaar and Art Miami are all big triumphs How do you complement each other our families and going on holidays with them. In for us. We feel extremely blessed whenever our when you need to work as a team? fact, family values are the first thing that we both work is appreciated and for us every show or RK: “We are each other’s biggest critics. We connected on.” collection is a cause for celebration.” keep editing and fighting over the smaller things. RG: “One hundred per cent, after you work, Memorable moments… We believe that this is the biggest compliment live and travel together your way of thinking also RK: “Walking around the streets of London and in itself as we both are tremendously passionate becomes similar. We both come from households jumping with happiness at seeing our clothes about our work and this absolute honesty which have a great concentration on family displayed in a show window at Selfridges.” with each other is the reason we get good and values – values have been a strong part of both RG: “One of my most memorable moments successful results.” our lives. has been my niece’s wedding, who I’ve seen RG: “First of all, we love contradicting each Tough times that you both managed to grow into a beautiful, successful and talented other. We both believe that positive and quality sail together? young woman.” criticism leads to the best outcomes. And in the RK: “The initial years were definitely the How do you think the power of two works long-term when there is a successful outcome, we toughest. It was difficult to enter the market, to your advantage as friends, partners both agree and understand each other’s views.” India was changing and the fashion industry and professionals? Your common interests? was in its nascent stage. This was the era where RK: “There are infinite advantages to the RK: “Art is our common passion! Other than fashion weeks did not exist. Designer wear was power of two, especially in our case the biggest that, travelling and Netflix.” all about embroideries and bridal couture at advantage is that we see everything with two RG: “Art, watching movies and TV shows. the time, but it all came to fruition with the minds and two sensibilities. I can’t begin to Travelling, going for good holidays and making overwhelming responses we got for our labels imagine how people, singularly handle all great friends.” H20 and Cue. We started from a garage, with spheres of such a diverse business. We believe How different are you from each other two masters and a tailor – the hours were long in our clothes and their potential to change as personalities? and as glamourous as fashion looks on the people’s lives. We walk our own paths and trust RK: “We are extremely different from each outside it was clear and simple hard work that each other’s intellect and intuition. We are also other; Rohit is social and an extrovert. I on the brought us here. We streamlined the fashion hugely passionate about art and fashion both, other hand, love my five best friends. Our ideas show. Earlier it was more about the drama and this power of two allows us the advantage of about holidays sometimes differ as well. I love the gimmicks. Our shows were about the clothes equal commitment towards both.” music and he loves making friends!” and making people believe in them.” RG: “I wonder how people work alone. We are RG: “Our personalities are extremely different RG: “No journey is perfect, we’ve had our shares each other’s biggest pillars of trust and support. but at the same time identical. We think alike, we of ups and downs. Throughout the good times Through all the ups and downs we know we are like the same things. It’s almost scary sometimes and the bad, we along with our families have there for each other and have immense faith in that at work from fabrics to patterns our choices proudly stuck together over the last 20 years.” each other personally and professionally.” H are exactly the same. Another difference in our Biggest triumphs celebrated together? personalities is that I am a people’s person, I love RK: “Starting from establishing our prêt labels to go out and I loose a sense of time. Rahul on in India to winning fashion awards for ‘Best TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH the other hand, is focused and always sticks to Prêt Collection’ and other recognitions like PHOTOS: ABHISHEK KAHNDELWAL his time limits.” selling internationally in 80 stores worldwide STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

50 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 51 Power of Two SISTER ACT RITU & ANITA DALMIA WHILE CHEF AND GOURMAND RITU GETS SET TO LAUNCH HER LATEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN MILAN, HER SISTER ANITA’S CREATIvE FLAIR WITH GRApHIC TExTILES AND INTERIORS, pROMISES A UNIQUE vISUAL SAGA ALONG WITH ALL HER SISTER’S DINING vENTURES. TOGETHER, THEy CREATE A TREAT FOR THE SENSES – bOTH vISUALLy AND GASTRONOMICALLy

he sisters who grew up in Kolkata point in the early years? have one thing in common – despite Anita: “Yes there was – especially when Ttheir professional accomplishments in I was not taken seriously and Ritu was! the public domain, they come without the Somehow I was treated as the baby who frills that success is known to attract. Their knew nothing of the world despite being simple, down-to-earth approach to life the older one and Ritu knew it all!” makes them easily personable. Belonging Ritu: “I don’t know if you call it sibling to a business family with interests in stone rivalry, but I was quite scared of Anita and marble, the sisters chose to follow while growing up. We really were very, very their heart, leaving the security of a different as individuals.” familiar territory, and exploring their own How did things change when you creative calling. Despite the difference they both started working... Your choice quote, their personalities are carved out of careers being so different? of the same bloc – that is rock solid and Anita: “Ritu started working at a very entrenched in family values. young age and I took my time to realise my passion. As we evolved, we realised that we What are some of the defining were expressing creativity in two different moments of your growing up years ways – one chose food and I chose fabrics and bonding as sisters? and interiors, but the essence is the same.” Anita Dalmia: “The best times for Ritu: “I started working much earlier than bonding were when our parents were out Anita did. I was already working when of town. We were our own bosses and Anita was in college. But when she started lived without restrictions! I remember Ritu her career in graphics, she did my menus performing her version of the tandav dance for Cafe Cappuccino, and later my logo and the pelmet falling or her singing in the for Diva...” middle of the night on her karaoke and me What do you feel are the other banging her door to stop singing so I could person’s strengths? sleep. We even had an episode where we Anita: “Ritu is very good with managing broke the drawing room glass door while people and she really uplifts her staff playing. There were times she would take without being a control freak. She’s a multi- me to school to collect her report card on tasker who is focused, committed and takes the pretext that my dad was in hospital on challenges without any fear.” Celebrity chef and because there was a line of red in the report Ritu: “Anita is extremely creative and that restaurateur Ritu card. On other days, Ritu would cover up I think is her biggest strength and talent.” Dalmia with sister and for me when I wanted to sneak out to go to interior decorator, Anita How do you complement each other Dalmia in the living the disco!” when you need to work as a team? area of Anita’s Delhi Ritu Dalmia: “Anita is four years older Anita: “Actually we hardly need to work as apartment. There is than me. But the real bonding was with my a team. In terms of food, I trust her and never a dull moment younger sister, who is just a year younger. let her do what she has to and in terms when the Dalmia Although, when I grew old enough, Anita of design, she just leaves it to me, usually siblings are together was kind enough to take me to the disco after sharing a brief or a concept of what – jokes, happy banter with her.” she wants.” and childlike laughter Was there any sibling rivalry at any Ritu: “She is involved in the aesthetics are in abundance!

52 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 53 Power of Two

Ritu, the Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur of Diva, has carved her own niche (above, left). “There are no rules for me in décor,” says Anita as she poses against a restored seating with colourful digital artworks and cushions designed by her (above right)

of all my restaurants – from the lamp shades, to What are the common values that hold Anita: “Our parents’ 50th wedding the wall paper; it’s all Anita’s work. But I usually you together as a family? anniversary party.” let someone else deal with her as we are both Anita: “Love. We also really believe in ‘live and Ritu: “My parents 50th anniversary which way too strong and would kill each other if we let live.’” was organised by all of us siblings – the whole had to deal directly with each other (laughs).” Ritu: “We may fight and squabble, but if anyone family spent some days together in Goa and it Your common interests? is in need the whole family comes together – seemed like we were all getting together after Anita: “We are very passionate about what we united and strong.” million years.” do. She loves cooking and being creative with it. Tough times that you both managed to How do you think the power of two works I love being creative with fabrics, wall papers and sail together? to your advantage as sisters? interiors. We both like food and travelling.” Anita: “My brother’s accident. That was a very Anita: “It’s all in the house! A designer and Ritu: “We are both very different from each scary time for all of us.” a cook!” other. If you ask for real common interests, I Ritu: “Way too many to recount.” Ritu: “I think I am way too professional and would say there are actually none!” Biggest triumphs celebrated together? like to keep family and work totally separate! So how different are you from each other Anita: “My brother’s recovery and the birth But I bully her into last minute orders to be as personalities? of my nephew and nieces – for us those were done and take it for granted that she will cut me Anita: “We are poles apart and yet very similar. biggest moments of triumph.” some slack.” H We both have a mischievous streak of humour in Ritu: “The opening of my first restaurant was TEXT: SANGHITA SINGH us. We can be childlike and naughty!” memorable – Anita did the graphics for it. It was PHOTOS: MANOJ KESHARWANI Ritu: “I’d say we are totally different... like chalk her first freelance job and my first restaurant.” HAIR & MAKE-UP: MANJARI and cheese.” Memorable family moments… STYLING: AMBER TIKARI

54 HELLO! JUly 2017 HELLO! JUly 2017 55 THE HAUTEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF FASHION Haute in Hello!

Steeped in hues of pink tourmaline and studded with uncut polki and diamonds while composed in 18K gold, this elegantly crafted piece is from the Amara collection; Rare Heritage

56 HELLO! July 2017 Hello! Instagram DIarIes Insta-life HELLO! chronicles OLIVIA PALERMO’s insta-fabulous life

It takes a village #PhotoShootReady

Olivia’s gorgeous husband, Johanneshuebl shares a joyful moment with their pet

Olivia brought in 2017 with this incredible view #SnowCappedMountains

Crystal clear waters make for a perfect holiday #vacationgoals

Olivia enjoys a #CoffeeBreak

This fashionista is always in a #NewYork state of mind

A candid moment #Snapped Ollivia is always #RedCarpetReady

Enjoying some downtime away from her many A regular on the front row of #FashionWeek, professional commitments Olivia is privy to the best the runway has #JetSetLife to offer

HELLO! JULY 2017 57 Hello! Designer-Muse

A Stylish

EncounterMALAIKA And AMRITA ARORA With GABRIELLA dEMETRIAdES The sizzling siblings are joined by their friend and designer du jour for an exclusive visual escapade

80 HELLO! JULY 2017 The sister duo, Malaika and Amrita, are striking in a cut-out dress and a one-shoulder leather detail dress respectively; both from Deme and accessorised with jewels from Minerali

HELLO! JULY 2017 81 Hello! Designer-Muse

t’s a sultry Mumbai afternoon. The ‘set’ is the lavish confines of Amrita IArora’s opulent family home (which she shares with her husband, Shakeel, and her sons, Rayaan and Azaan). Her sister, the scintillating newly-minted singleton, Ms Malaika is the cynosure of all eyes as she gazes into the camera; she is joined by designer-on-the-rise, Gabriella (Gabby) Demetriades whose body-proud, sensuous designs under her eponymous label, Deme, have been worn by Kareena Kapoor Khan, Lisa Haydon and Jacquline Fernandes. As the onslaught of rain hangs heavy in the air, the trio assemble under the sun for an alluring photomontage exclusively for HELLO!

Malaika Arora: “Right from a pair of well-fitted jeans to having a great attitude – I’m inspired! It could even simply be just a string of pearls or a ‘killer’ pair of heels or even captivating lips. I love the styles from the 40s, and the 50s – just about everything from those eras of fashion.” Amrita Arora: “I prefer easy fashion – not being over-styled – and bringing my own personality to fashion. My mood dictates my style.” Gabriella Demetriades: “I love to play dress up and I’m inspired (and driven by) my mood.” How would you describe your GQ (Glamour Quotient)? Malaika: “Being glamourous precedes me immediately but there are days where all I want to put on is a t-shirt! (laughs). But I also love to dress up and go out – so my GQ is very mood dependent.” Amrita: “My GQ is centered around ‘street chic.’ I’m someone who likes to throw things together. If I had to translate my GQ into an outfit – it would be jeans, a t-shirt and a very funky jacket.” Gabriella: “Eclectic and sensual.” How has your GQ evolved over the years? Malaika: “Tremendously! With time, I’ve realised that less is more beautiful. I’m now more easy and relaxed in my outlook towards clothes.” Amrita: “Over the years, my GQ has always been to ‘remain true to your self.’” Gabriella: “I now know what works on me and what I like but I still continue to experiment. Fashion is fun and should always be so. I prefer to keep it simple and sexy. Less is always more.” How would you describe your personal style aesthetic? Malaika: “Body flattering silhouettes work best for me – I also prefer to wear shoes that lengthen my legs and my over- all appearance.” Amrita: “I prefer a ‘relaxed’ style statement with a glamourous element added.” Gabriella: “Form and function are both Glamazons, Malaika and Amrita, very important. I love beautiful, well- are captured beautifully in their cut pieces.” ruffle silk chiffon and drape Fashion rules to always live by? cross over gowns from Deme Malaika: “Less is more – be understated. and earrings from Valliyan by Nitya Arora

82 HELLO! JULY 2017 SISTER TALK

A style trick only your sister can pull off ? Amrita: “Malaika can pull off even the most figure-hugging dress.” The best fashion item you’ve borrowed/stolen from your sister? Amrita: “A pair of ripped Victoria Beckham jeans.” Style Advice: Malaika: “I’m usually terribly boring when it comes to my hair styles – I habitually keep it simple but she’s convinced me to play around with my hair and to have fun with it.”

The svelte multi-talented performer strikes a pose in a ruffle silk chiffon flowing gown from Deme

HELLO! JULY 2017 83 Hello! Designer-Muse

Malaika sets temperatures soaring in a silk, satin mini dress with a corset belt from Deme

84 HELLO! JULY 2017 The svelte designer, Gabriella, is seen here in a net bodysuit dESIGnER and a ruffle lace skirt paired TALK with tassel earrings from A designer that continues to Valliyan by Nitya Arora with influence you? her glamourous muses. Gabriella: “Isabel Marant – for retaining Malaika is pictured in a one- the DNA of her brand and attaining a loyal shoulder crop top with a ruffle following that knows what it is to be a ‘Marant skirt while Amrita wears a Woman.’ That is what I hope to achieve with one-shoulder jumpsuit; all Deme – for my vision and reality to become one.” from Deme Favourite fashion film: Gabriella: “Grease! I love the clothing of that era – and who doesn’t love a makeover?” Must have DEME item: Gabriella:“Everyone knows us for our dresses but I’m a huge fan of pants. Our paper bag waist leather pants are something every woman needs.”

HELLO! JULY 2017 85 Hello! Designer-Muse

And red lips – there is nothing better than red lips!” Amrita: “It’s all in the details – every element can change a ‘look.’ A simple dress can be spruced up with a belt or a piece of jewellery.” Gabriella: “There is only one rule – know thyself!” What are your style essentials? Malaika: “A killer pair of heels, some flats – a pair of espadrilles or gladiators, a well-fitted pair of jeans, a white shirt and seamless lingerie. I love Chloé, Chanel, Gucci and Monisha Jaising.” Amrita: “A haute pair of Paige leather jeans, my Rolex watch, an Alexander McQueen belt and a pair of massive sunglasses.” Gabriella: “I love a great white shirt from Dries Van Noten or a Helmut Lang, a great pair of boots by Isabel Marant, a flirty dress by Chloé, a great Acne leather biker jacket and a statement dress from Deme. “ Who are your style icons? Malaika: “I’m fascinated by musicians and they have influenced my style over the years – right from Axl Rose’s bandana to Madonna’s stockings and JLo’s sheer gowns.” Amrita: “Kate Hudson, Olivia Palermo, Sienna Miller and Victoria Beckham – all of whom are effortlessly stylish all the time – on and off the red carpet.” Gabriella: “Sienna Miller for her effortless style, Marni Maxi for being the queen of style and Isabel Marant for her Parisian flair.” Why do you believe Indian women are so intrinsically stylish? Malaika: “We are genetically blessed – our skin colouring, our hair texture and our eyes.” Amrita: “I believe that we have a natural style that sets us completely apart from anyone else – from our artisanal fabrics to the way we drape a saree.” Gabriella: “They aren’t afraid of colour and dressing up.” You juggle a demanding schedule – how do you relax and unwind, while staying holistically healthy in your ‘off ’ time? Malaika: “I like to be busy – I’m always doing something – its cathartic for me and it keeps me fit.” Amrita: “I’m a complete gym rat! Amrita is gorgeous (laughs) And, one-on-one time with in a net bodysuit and my family – there is nothing more H leather corset belt, important than family.” paired with stove pipe TEXT: FARAH PALIA pants from Deme. PHOTOS: TARAS TARAPORVALA She dons jewels MAKE-UP: GEORGE KRITIKOS FROM from Minerali while ANIMA CREATIVE MANAGEMENT HAIR: PRIYANKA BORKAR striking a pose at the STYLE DIRECTOR: swimming pool AVANTIKKA KILACHAND SENIOR STYLIST: SONAM POLADIA WARDROBE COURTESY: DEME

86 HELLO! JULY 2017 HELLO! JULY 2017 87 Beauty GET THE LOOK l EXPERT SPEAK l IN HER BAG Get The LOOK Want to look as glamourous as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone? Read on because you sure ‘Cannes!’

1) Sparkle eyeshadow, COLOURPOP 2) Layered bronzer, INKA 1) Moisture matte lipstick, NARS 3) Royal blush, RIMMEL 2) Texture eyeshadow, MAYBELLINE 3) True match foundation, L’ORÉAL

1) Crease-less 9 to 5, LAKMÉ 2) They’re Real mascara, BENEFIT 3) The Estée edit liner, ESTÉE LAUdER

66 HELLO! JULY 2017 In Her Bag Kubra Sait The actor, anchor and TV host reveals her beauty secrets to HELLO! hat does true beauty mean Wto you? “For me, beauty is the glow that radiates from within. It’s not artificial, doesn’t need effort and is selfless. It exudes an aura, it reflects in your smile and your energy. It’s not forced nor does it beg for acknowledgement, it’s there... and it commands respect.” Your top five beauty products… “Rub Rub Rub – the body polisher, scrub and soap by Lush, L’Occitane’s Cherry Blossom Hand Cream, lipsticks by Natasha Moor, the Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter and Benefit’s ‘They’re Real’ mascara.” A beauty icon for the ages… “Sushmita Sen – this diva always shines! She is knowledgeable, articulate and she doesn’t shy away from bending the rules for a happier self. A self-made woman who stands tall for what she believes in.” Your go-to make-up look... “In the day my go-to essentials include mascara, blush, lip balm, prim eyebrows and now, the new fad – the highlighter. At night, I opt for brown and copper smokey eyes. I barely wear foundation but choose a good concealer paired with nude lips and big lashes. Lastly, a winged eyeliner – and I’m set!” Favourite fragrances… “Tommy Hilfiger’s Tommy Boy, Dolce & Gabbana’s Intenso and Galop d`Hermès (my new found obsession).” Top beauty tips… “Drink lots of water. Moisturise your hands. Invest in a good body polisher. And last, but not least, smile.” Current favourite beauty trend… “The highlighter. I can never have too much of my cheek bones reflecting the light.” What makes Indian women unique and beautiful? “I never cease to be amazed by the diversity in beauty we have from every state in the country. The big eyes of the east, the dusky skin from the south, the big laughs of the north – we are such a beautiful race. We are educated, smart, funny and in recent times I’ve noticed women being adventurous, discovering themselves and breaking boundaries. Need an example? Look at what Priyanka Chopra has achieved representing Indian women on a global stage.” The most beautiful man? “Charming and funny men are ‘beautiful’ men. I would choose two – Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh. SRK is warm and dignified. RS has great energy and is a great conversationalist. His big smile can H always make everything just right.”

TEXT: FARAH PALIA PHOTO: KAUSTUBH KAMBLE MAKE-UP: NATASHA MOOR

HELLO! JULY 2017 67 Beauty expert Speak It’s a Beautiful World Celine Roux, the Fragrance Director of Jo Malone London Creative Studio on all things bold and beautiful…

the British Coast.” Which are the must-haves you can’t live without… “I cannot live without a Vitamin E Lip Conditioner; I always have one on me. Our Dry Body Oil is also a daily must have; it beautifully scents your skin whilst providing a sheen and feels quite indulgent.” The best lesson you’ve learnt Tell us about your role as on your journey so far… Fragrance Director, Jo Malone “When it comes to fragrance London Creative Studio… there is no right or wrong. Wear “I love that my role allows me to something you are comfortable travel as I am constantly finding with and that embodies inspiration in new cities and your character.” landscapes not only through scents A luxury indulgence… and ingredients but also traditional “For me, the ultimate indulgence and local craftsmanship.” is an (uninterrupted) bath, scented

with Red Roses Bath Oil and a Lavender and Lovage Candle.” The hautest trends for fragrances this season are… “We have discovered that people really want authenticity in a fragrance – in the story and the fragrance itself.” A beauty icon for all seasons? “A body crème is an all year round must-have product for nourished skin in cold winters and hydration during hot summers. It also provides a great base to layer your favourite cologne.” As Jo Malone London fragrances launch in India, why do you believe they are the ideal scent for Indian women? “We always make our fragrances with authenticity and each is unique in its own way; whether it’s using unexpected ingredients You are based in London or using new technologies to but traverse the world… capture a rare ingredient, we how do people and places feel this parallels with the diverse influence you? Indian culture.” “Our brand is British and this Which are your favourite naturally is our biggest source fragrances by Jo of inspiration. From fashion to Malone London? art, history to photography. For “My favourite scents are Wood example, Peony & Blush Suede Sage & Sea Salt because it’s took inspiration from Cecils a fragrance for any occasion Beaton’s mid-century ballroom and Myrrh & Tonka for – the wildly extravagant flowers its sensuality.” H and couture. For Wood Sage and Sea Salt, our starting point TEXT: FARAH PALIA was the windswept wildness of PHOTOS: JO MALONE FRAGRANCES

68 HELLO! JULY 2017 Hello! Beauty trends

3 2 4

1 5 Summer 1. Ultimate sun protection lotion with broad spectrum SPF 50+ WetForce for sensitive skin, SHISEIDO Essentials 2. Heat styling protection with heat defence Flaunt flawless skin and hair with these and a perfect glossy finish with argan infused ingredients to keep the hair hydrated and lustworhy must-haves protected from natrual and artifical 10 heat, MORROCANOIL 3. This cream works as a serum, primer, eye cream, neck cream, and a sleeping mask, all of which provide the skin with egg whites, yolks, 8 and inka omega oil, TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL 4. Facial cleanser with a foaming agent to remove make-up without drying formulated with kemel oil, Vitamin E and avocado oil, KIEHL’S 5. Power volume mascara with boosting effect and natrual waterpoof finish perfect for the monsoon weather, BEYU 6. Vintage watermelon lip balm with natrual beeswax and oils for an all day hydration for the lips, TINTE COSMETICS 7. Tinted self tanning mist which adds a slight shimmer to your body and gives it a healthy glow, SEPHORA 8. Aura Botanica is a fizz -free hair shampoo and conditioner with natrual oils-coconut, argan and sunflower. No added weight or coating leaves the hair feeling ‘squeaky clean’ 9 and revitalised, KÉRASTASE 9. Oil based suncare for hair with SPF 30 and high protection used for hair and skin on a daily basis, CLARINS 10. This mega moisturiser is infused with anti-ageing elements, eliminates imperfections 7 for a fine skin-finish and get ready for healthy, illuminating skin, CHARLOTTE TILBURY

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HELLO! JULY 2017 69 FOOD l INTERIORS l TRAVEL

Founders of popular bake house, Confetti, are Priyanka and Priyal Kothari

hen did your passion for Wfood start? Priyal: “While we were growing up, I used to spend hours in the A Perfect kitchen with my grandmother due to her keen interest in baking. This experience introduced me to my hobby that I spent most of my youth Sweetness perfecting. I owe a lot of credit to our grandmother as she taught me some HELLO! discovers its sweet tooth with of the fundamental techniques that I Confetti, a Mumbai-based brand use today.” Priyanka: “I was always a foodie at started by the talented, home baking heart. As I began to travel more and sibling duo, Priyal & Priyanka Kothari more, I realised that the main focus of my holidays was food, visiting

70 HELLO! JULY 2017 avoid them entirely. When clients are willing to pay a lot of money for our products, the least we can do is ensure the best quality.” What is the most rewarding? Priyanka: “Many clients have called to inform us that our products were well received by their guests. Often, many of their guests have inquired for our number. In fact, majority of our clientele are based on word-of-mouth. To receive such honest and flattering feedback makes us feel proud of our work.” Which chefs are your biggest inspirations? Priyal: “We both love Nigella Lawson, as she can explain the most complex techniques in a simplified manner. Her videos and recipe An array of the visually stunning and delicious treats from Confetti, a brand books have been a great inspiration born from the love of sweets (seen clockwise) to a lot of our work at Confetti.” What are some skills that help restaurant, cafés, pâtisseries etc and pastry chefs succeed? devouring everything gourmet that Priyal: “Patience, planning ahead I possibly could. At home, I spent of time and a lot of practice will a large portion of my time reading help build skills. Until and unless about new culinary methods, recipes you start practicing, you won’t and watching various cooking shows actually start to learn. Also, don’t from Heston’s Feasts to MasterChef. expect to be good straight away. That’s when I realised that I would You have to go through a stage love to somehow incorporate food as of being mediocre which can be a part of my career.” disheartening but that stage is very How did Confetti begin? important. Take the opportunity to Priyal: “Baking always remained a learn as much as you can and strive hobby of mine. After getting a BA to see the improvement with every in Political Science at the University project. Never quit when things of Warwick, I contemplated with get hard.” my family on my various career Favourite pâtisseries in options that lay ahead of me. During the world? our discussions, we realised that it Priyal: “Pierre Hermé would be best to pursue a career and Ladurée.” in an activity that I truly enjoy Priyanka: “Dominique Ansel that is baking. As a first step, I had specialised course. It was probably the menu.” Bakery and Sprüngli.” to learn certain specialised skills the most exciting six months of You play a lot with feminine Ultimate goal? for which I enrolled at Le Cordon my educational experience and coloured desserts and floral Priyal & Priyanka: “The Bleu, London.” cemented my view that this was the motifs; is that your USP? business is now three-years-old Priyanka: “I was an MSc in career I wished to embark on.” Priyanka: “Confetti’s signature and well settled with a steady client Mathematics from the University What are some of your mark is the vintage rose and so base. Looking to the future, we of Warwick after which I pursued favourite items on your menu? we try and adapt it in most of our need to not only widen the menu Investment Banking in London for Priyal: “Confetti has a wide desserts and packaging. A lot of our but also increase our product seven years. However, I was always range of items on the menu. My products are also theme-based. So range. We have now broadened artistically inclined and spent a large favourite dessert is the baked when a client approaches us for a from just packaging of desserts to portion of my time designing and blueberry cheesecake with a twist birthday, wedding, anniversary, various other forms of gifting for painting. Once Priyal moved back, of lime, while my sister prefers the birth announcement etc, we work corporates, birth announcements we decided to follow our passion pistachio cake. Like anything in to create a product that would etc. Besides this, we’d like to start by setting up a business together, life, it all depends on your personal best suit our clients, based on their a chain of pâtisseries like Ladurée where we would combine both our preference. Our closest friends needs. Confetti is as much about the or Dominique Ansel Bakery, as baking and design skills. This led and family will give you a different taste as it is about the presentation. they have mastered consistency to the conception of Confetti in answer (smiles). What we pride Therefore, attention to detail is and quality across numerous chains November 2013.” ourselves on at Confetti, is that if our USP!” and their brands are globally Priyal, tell us about your time the taste is not up to the standard, What is the most difficult recognisable. We’d like to focus at Cordon Bleu… w e do not offer it on thing about this business? on Mumbai as a starting point “While my grandmother had taught Priyal: “As customisation is our but this comes with its own set of me certain basic techniques, I USP, it comes with its own set of challenges. Until we are sure that we realised that if I wanted to make challenges that is maintaining can successfully scale the business, a career of this, I would consistency and quality. At times, we shall remain a home bakery to need to differentiate we have made products that are satisfy our clients every time and myself from the rest of not up to our satisfaction and we send them back with a smile.” the bakers. Therefore, have redone the entire product I needed to enrol at our own cost. Errors rarely H myself into a happen at work but you cannot TEXT: JEENA J BILLIMORIA

HELLO! JULY 2017 71 Hello! RetReat YEARS, SENSES, REASONS Celebrating five magnifique years of Sofitel Mumbai BKC with a luxurious5 weekend staycation ‘Sofitel hospitality is bespoke and brings together a wide variety of luxury experiences. With this staycation offer we have created an oasis in the heart of the city, giving people travelling to and living in Mumbai, an escape from the bustling city and an opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate themselves’ - Biswajit Chakraborty, General Manager, Sofitel Mumbai BKC

The flagship property of Sofitel Hotels and Resorts in India will indulge all the five senses of a guest including taste, smell, touch, hearing and sight with this exclusive ‘Weekend Staycation’ offer. Some of the salient attributes of this staycation include… A Sense of Sight – A luxurious BMW series pickup from one’s doorstep and a walk into Sofitel Mumbai BKC’s resplendent lobby. A Sense of Touch – Couple’s treatment at the 24-hour So SPA by L’Occitane and a glamourous makeover at the Savio John Pereira Salon. The L’OH pool A Sense of Smell – Sinful chocolates and exquisite in-room amenities including fresh ofitel is the elegant answer to a luxury blooms and calming fragrances from L’Occitane. Straveller’s quest for the good things in A Sense of Taste – Breakfast in bed or at the life. Each hotel illustrates an artful blend of all-day dining Pondichéry Café with a wide local culture and French soul. A hundred and range of delicacies, followed by a sumptuous twenty addresses in 40 countries across the five meal at any one of the five eclectic outlets, paired continents appeals to modern status seekers, who with a glass of the finest wine. have something special and unique that makes The Sense of Hearing – An indulgent them stand out from the crowd. Each hotel is experience with a relaxing evening at any of the differentiated by its ‘cousu-main’ service, graceful hotel’s lavish venues, with soothing sounds of design, creative and inspired gastronomy in melodious music. major cities like Paris, London, New York, Rio Over the years, Sofitel Mumbai BKC has de Janeiro, Dubai, Bangkok, Shanghai or nestled set a benchmark for hospitality standards and away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, The Pondichéry Café (above) and the Jyran, personalised services not seen before in the Thailand, French Polynesia. Tandoor Dining and Lounge Bar (below) city. It has also earned a reputation of being a Sofitel Mumbai BKC invites guests to destination in its own right. To express gratitude celebrate their five ‘magnifique’ years with an on Sofitel’s fifth year anniversary, the luxury hotel irresistible Weekend Staycation over the next has announced this attractive package for guests five months, which is sure to pamper all the five to experience the best of luxury and celebrate its senses of a guest and awaken their sixth sense. five glorious years in a ‘magnifique’ manner. A perfect mélange of the French art de vivre The offer is valid for double occupancy rooms to be and warm Indian hospitality, the grandeur of booked now for all weekends until 31st August, 2017 Sofitel Mumbai BKC is reflected in its unrivalled (offer will be valid for Thursday check-in and Sunday facilities and personalised service from the heart. check-out only) www.sofitel.com H

72 HELLO! JULY 2017 Hello! Venue Bespoke Banquets Catering giant Foodlink breathes new life into Jade Garden, South Mumbai’s leading banquet hall

any kind of event. The Jade Sky terrace, with its capacity of 800 guests, is ideal for a grand soirée while the Jade Sea terrace, with a capacity of 400 guests, is perfect for outdoor celebrations. The ver the past 30 years, the Clockwise: One of the spaces at Jade Grden, Hall II (above), deliciously prepared Jade Hall I and Jade Hall II that Oexpansive Jade Garden hors d’oeuvres from Foodlink (above, right), a sky vintage themed do at the offer opulent hospitality for indoor banquet hall has been host to some outdoor section of the venue (below) and the Jade ballroom (bottom) banqueting and conferencing of the most high-profile weddings, spaces, accommodates a total of engagements, anniversaries and 120 and 60 guests respectively. The corporate dos hosted by the top Grand Ballroom at Jade Garden brass of the country. Standing tall has elegant fiber-optic chandeliers in the Nehru Centre Complex that cascade down from a majestic of the prime location of Worli, 24-foot ceiling, softly lighting Mumbai, the iconic location has a sprawling 6,000 square foot now been taken over by Foodlink, space that can comfortably host a company that has been in the 600 guests. The contemporary business of banquets and catering minimalist design can be enhanced for over a decade and serves the with any themed décor for most discerning clients ranging any event. from the country’s blue blooded to Foodlink promises to offer an the star-studded. opulent and premium experience Having mastered the fine art of in its service, quality food and creative fine dining, Foodlink gave presentation style to all events held a brand new innings to the classy at Jade Garden. Sanjay Vazirani, banquet last December, adding CEO and MD of Foodlink Services more beauty and grandeur to the (India) Pvt. Ltd. says, “We are elated Jade Garden. Now, whether you with Foodlink’s association with the want to enjoy the grand expanse iconic Jade Garden. Our association of an open sky or a glorious sunset, will set a new standard of banquet Jade Garden is the perfect location and catering management service with an immaculate backdrop. The with a luxury five star experience, luxurious property is spread over offering views of the Worli seaface.” five banquet halls including three For the grandest weddings, social indoor banquets, two open terraces functions, exhibitions, conferences and a spacious pre-function area. or product launches, you won’t find The venue is generously spread a better setting. across 27,000 square feet and at a height of 77 feet. Each facet For more information on Jade of the venue raises the bar and Garden, log on to: offers a variety of choice for www.jadegardenbanquets.in H

HELLO! JULY 2017 73 InterIor expert Speak Shantanu Garg

Shantanu Garg (left) gets his inspiration from places like the Champs-Elysées (above) and How has the landscape of interiors in repects Norman Foster and Rossana Orlandi from India evolved over the last decade? the interiors fraternity (above, left) “In earlier times, people did not focus so heavily on interiors but today, people demand Your best project yet? perfection and every minute detail is given “I’m still evolving and trying to reach the importance. Clients get influenced by media ladder of perfection. Though currently, exposure, the Internet and being global there are many. My first restaurant project, travellers. An Indian has become Bohemian in RJ 14, a modern Dhabha curated at Jaipur is his approach towards design. He wants all his one favourite.” interests towards design from around the world Are there tricky moments while to be inculcated in his own space. Apart from working on your projects? design, they too have become conscious of “The tricky moments are satisfying my functional requirements.” clients and then making their dream come The best moments of your day? true. Likewise, the Dubai project that we are “The best moment of my day is looking at the initiating is the world’s highest penthouse satisfied faces of my clients, which gives me where the challenge is to combine Indian The Founder of Shantanu Garg immense happiness. Also, when our work flavours in a modest way. Also, a bold colour Design, Jaipur’s leading firm gets acknowledged.” palette that we cherish is at times difficult to A destination that’s an interior convince clients to go for.” for architecture, interiors and decorator’s delight? Interior designers and architects you furniture, has a chat with HEllO! “Definitely Italy, because the architecture admire the most? and interiors inspire me and help me get new “Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster and ideas. With an extension in Pisa and my love Rossana Orlandi.” Did you always want to become an of Tuscany’s intersection between the medieval Three tips to add to a home to give interior designer? and modern, which shows in its design it character? “No, I started my career becoming a chemical sensibility. Paris is another place where I get “Add some contextual approach by engineer at IIT and later with the support, love to see perfectly preserved design history while inculcating art (local), antiques, statement and encouragement of my mother, I pursued walking around the Champs-Élysées, Galleries piece of furniture for making your my dream career in Architecture and started Lafayette etc. The Falaknuma Palace in environment and ambience original and from MNIT Jaipur under B Arch and ultimately Hyderabad is another treat to a designer’s eyes. unusual. Start believing in colours, use established myself as designer – formulating Lavish Baccarat crystal chandeliers, wooden extreme contrast, use a colour of your choice SHANTANU GARG DESIGN.” boiseries and magnificent architectural style is a and blend it with lots of taupe and grey tones Where do you work on your projects? perfect example of royal opulence.” so that you don’t go overboard. If your colour “Primarily, we are headquartered at Jaipur (the goes to gaudy, then use patina finishes instead design capital of country) but also we have our of flat colours.” design extension in Pisa, Italy. Our projects are Advice you’d offer to young designers spread across the country in cities like Jaipur, that they won’t learn in college? Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, “Try and observe as much as possible. Hyderabad, Bengaluru and we will now be Always get inspired from whatever you operating in Dubai as well!” see that’s designed. Use photography as a Do you listen to music when you work, if tool to observe things, compose them well. so what’s currently playing? It improves your aesthetics approach and “Yes, I do like listening to music. Right now, I matures your vision toward proportion. am enjoying The Chainsmokers and Coldplay’s Do some chanting to improve your focus. Something Just Like This.” (smiles) Right now, I am doing Rudram chanting for How would a close friend describe your the same.” work/style? Your ultimate goal? “My close friends would describe me as an “To formulate a design enterprise that aims OCD design freak… always working and too to invent visual parameters never seen before, passionate about my work. They appreciate my yet your soul understands it. I want to get design style because it offers a blending of styles design on the streets.” H and takes care of visual parameters that elevate The foyer of the stunning Taj Falaknuma Palace various human perceptions.” in Hyderabad (above) TEXT: JEENA J BILLIMORIA

74 HELLO! JUly 2017 Hello! Décor FusiOn Fix FurniturE dEsignEr duO, sacHin and nEHa gupta’s EntrEprEnEuriaL vEnturE, BEyOnd dEsigns, BLEnds vintagE styLE and mOdErn ELEmEnts witH smart juxtapOsitiOn

to create spaces where fusion is conventions, but I don’t believe the key word. Beyond Designs in all that. I love to design spaces has captured the residential that have all these elements designs narrative of creating thrown in together. I might put in highly individual and exquisitely a modern straight-line sofa with finished projects, concentrating on Victorian chairs and a Mughal residences, many of them for well- chandelier along with Oriental known personalities. While the carpets and that will work,” duo specialises in luxury interior says Sachin. design and décor in New Delhi Blending vintage with modern and across the world, Sachin and sounds interesting, but it requires Neha’s iconic neutral style has smart juxtaposition of styles and been featured in highly acclaimed elements. For Sachin and Neha, journals. Their design philosophy is luxury is all about those special to keep it stylish yet effortless. Get pieces that make people go, inspired by the old-world charm to ‘Wow!’ or ‘Where did you get that Neha and Sachin create a fusion, contemporary and from?’ It’s about putting Osler Gupta strike a pose timeless design. chandeliers, bespoke furniture, below a beautiful chandelier (above). The Beyond Designs 2017 the most opulent fabrics and A luxurious set collection brings together semi-precious stone overlays of furniture put luxurious, eclectic influences in accent pieces to create a together from the from around the world, creating space with an extravagant vibe. Beyond Designs 2017 new connections with the Indian Exclusive in appearance and high collection (top right) culture and merging them on versatility, Beyond Designs has with another time and place, something for everyone. They encouraging an emotional as well believe in creating products that penchant for Today, along with his wife Neha, as an aesthetic response with the have a timeless appeal and reflect aexperimentation, a love of he works at creating spaces that Indian contemporary aesthetic. the personality and evolved tastes art and antiques, a preference are classy and stylish. The brand The latest collection comprises of of their consumers. for fusion and an eye for the also specialises in custom-made lush sofas – luxurious in texture Address of the Store: extraordinary seems to have furniture and has an in-house unit and experimental in shapes to the Khasra – No. 382, drawn Sachin and Neha Gupta dedicated to soft furnishings, glass finest art elements – dining area Sultanpur, 17, Mehrauli, to the world of interior décor and metal work. and bedroom sets. “I don’t like to New Delhi: 110030 and furniture design. Established The designer duo feels that go by the book. One may say that Tel No: 011-65000697 in 2000, Beyond Designs is the style isn’t something that can be you can’t mix vintage with Indian Email: brainchild of Sachin Gupta. boxed into a category. They love or Oriental or talk about other such [email protected] H

HELLO! JULY 2017 75 Hello! InterIors Simply the BEST! If you want to live life in king- sized surroundings, read on as HELLO! picks the top spots for GOOd EartH interior satisfaction USP: Sustainable, rustic and Indian-inspired Owner: Anita Lal Casa ParadOx One of the first places that comes to one’s USP: Luxurious, elegant and contemporary mind when they need a new set of table mats, Owner: Raseel Gujral and Navin Ansal glasses, cushions, crokery (or on a side note, While one needs several pennies in deep pockets even ethnic clothes), is probably Good Earth. to step in to this posh store, few will leave truly Over the years, products from this much- appreciating all it has to offer. Casa Paradox loved store has found its way into the homes embodies quiet sophistication and the furniture of many Indians – and has also served as the and furnishings can be customised according to perfect go-to place for gifts for friends overseas your taste and style. Modern, contemporary but because of it’s native elements that showcase tasteful, this store will signature any home with a ‘India’ on print, beautifully. classy flourish. Stores: Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Store: Delhi Chennai and Bengaluru

addrEss HOmE USP: Polished, delicate and premium home décor Owner: Rajat Singhi If you are unable to visit any one of their many stores, all you need is a manicured finger from the comfort of your home to look them up online. From German hand-blown glass vases, European crystal lights, to planters and décor pieces from Bali, the sky really is the limit at Address Home, that constantly updates itself with the current international looks of the season. Prepare to be majorly complimented when people visit your home if there are elements from this store that pepper it. Store: Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nagpur

andy HOmE USP: Bespoke furniture, classic and plush Owner: Umesh Anand and Geetanjali Anand Griffe of Italy for opulent glassware, Gien of France for elegant tableware, Annick Cormery of France for handmade accessories, Mis en Demure of France for gorgeous table lamps, and simOnE chandeliers Belgian tapestry cushions and throws from The Netherlands by USP: Elegant, comfortable and larger- the famous artist Thierry Poncelet and than-life bespoke Murano home accessories... are Owner: Simone Arora just some things that one can be proud Covering 8,000 square feet in south Mumbai owners of once they’ve set pedicured no less, Simone is a luxurious treat that feet into Andy Home. Does one need to respects sophistication and elegance in all be born with a taste for European décor, its products. Soft furnishings, furniture, have a special place in their hearts for artefacts, home accessories, bed and bath antiques and believe they are to the linen, tableware, art and lights… one can get manor born? Yes, yes, yes! lost in this interior paradise that tempts you Store: Delhi H visually and even emotionally. Store: Mumbai TEXT: JEENA J BILLIMORIA

76 HELLO! JULY 2017 Hello! InterIor 1 10 2 9

Perch In Style These stylishly diverse chairs will add a vibrant pop to 3 your home… 1) Dining couch, INHABIT 2) Italy’s Alumito collection stackable chair, VECTOR PROJECTS 3) Traveler Outdoor Bridge, ROCHE BOBOIS 8 4) Outdoor chair, CANE BOUTIQUE 5) Azita chair, BENT CHAIR 7 6) La Conca Blondie armchair and pouff, VISIONNAIRE 7) Purple armchair, Homestudio.com 8) Velvet chair with brass legs, ESSENTIA ENVIRONMENTS 9) Momenti Black Attitude chair, OTTIMO 4 10) Bold chair, BEYOND DESIGNS 5

6 HELLO! july 2017 77 Hello! InterIors PARADISE IN THE PALMS BEARING THE MOST CUTTING-EDGE INTERFACES BETWEEN LUXURY CONCEPTS AND BESPOKE ACCESSORIES, HELLO! ENTERS THE ATELIER HABIB SIGNATURE VILLA IN THE PALMS, DUBAI TO CAPTURE A GLITTERING MIS-EN-SCENE. AAKIF HABIB, THE INTERIORS EXPONENT BEHIND THE VILLA, SHEDS LIGHT ON HIS DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

legendary, bold prints, exuding an air of noble aristocracy. Lalique, Lladrò, Daum & Bacarrat were the obvious choice of brands for hand-picked accessories.” You mentioned that it has been a joy to work with Andrea Voltolina who made a bespoke chandelier for this property. How impressed were you by the Murano maestro? “Andrea brilliantly transformed my vision of a grand centerpiece into a reality worthy of admiration. From the very first time I shared my concept of an exclusive piece of art rather than just a chandelier, Andrea went to s a specialist in luxury great lengths to create this bespoke Ainteriors, what are some chandelier befitting the distinctive of the most unique branded personality of this Signature elements you have worked Residence and its residents! As a into this Signature villa? designer, I know how wide the gap “Luxury brands promise an is between conceptualisation and experience rather than a product. production but Andrea gracefully This luxury lifestyle is not only welcomed this challenge and put limited to fashion but also flows his imagination and technical seamlessly into the living spaces expertise into the process of of those living this lifestyle. As researching, drawing and one’s home is an extension of sampling for this unique piece of one’s personality and style, it is lighting. Interestingly, this fusion only natural that the elements in of both our visions is now part one’s environment are branded. of their collection and is dubbed The owners of this Signature ‘The Habib!’” Villa luxuriate in a regal Do you feel there is a opulence and the Versace Home greater awareness of the Signature Collection personifies international ‘branded’ it comes to awareness and buying directly or with exclusive tie-ups this grandeur, making it ideal décor sensibilities in Dubai, power. Empowered by social with luxury interior designers. My for the living room and home as opposed to our cities? Or networks and their digital devices, own Atelier Habib facilitates this office. Steeped in classic Italian better access? consumers in India, over the last design dialogue.” design, every detail is exquisite. “Dubai personifies the word decade specifically, are evolving to You say, “This project Throughout the spaces, run the luxury. This ‘branded’ lifestyle appreciate and demand ‘branded’ establishes a new iconic motifs of Versace, such as has always been arterial to the spaces in their homes and offices. equilibrium of interior the Medusa head and the Greek city and a generally accepted Consequentially, global luxury design and architecture, Key. The furnishings feature standard for those living there. brands have made their interior of texture and space, of uplifting colours of turquoise, blue, Given this, India’s tier one and tier design collections available classicism and modernity; beige, gold and red in the house’s two cities are not far behind when and accessible to Indians either where fantasy is tempered

78 HELLO! JUly 2017 ‘From the strength of their coffee to the colour of their toast, everything is controlled via a simple smartphone app. While I do incorporate technology, I personally am not a fan of intensive integration of digital interfaces’

the interiors.” smart speakers, users can now How important is it for a tailor every aspect of their lives, space to be ‘compatible’ with making the sci-fi fantasy of a its inhabitants? virtual personal assistant a bizarre “Well, I encourage clients to share reality. From the strength of their their stories, as the homes they coffee to the colour of their toast, live in are their private oases; everything is controlled via a and must truly define them. simple smartphone app. While This understanding of the client I do incorporate technology cannot be achieved in one formal to a certain extent, (keeping in interview but is accomplished over mind the dangers of hacking), I a series of interactions that may personally am not a big fan.” seem light-hearted but actually We see a Krishnamachari provide key points. The anecdotes Bose artwork on the wall. are often wondrously transformed How do you select art? into a detail – an architectural “As an art enthusiast and alumnus detail, a family heirloom, or a of the Sothebys Institute of Art, collection of art can become the London, I incorporate art into creative DNA of the project.” every project and, in the process, What are some commercial have turned many clients into trends that you like, in art collectors and artists into international interiors? friends. At Atelier Habib, we are “Furniture as Art is a concept that constantly opening new doors we have been incorporating in by collaborating with established our Signature Residences for over artists, designers and brands and, a decade. Simply put, furniture at the same time encouraging isn’t merely a utility article but a talent. There is phenomenal functional piece of art that adds talent all over the world that is life and dimension. It is accurately usually applauded locally but selected to elevate the overall deserves global recognition. I design and aesthetic of the space. constantly endeavour to give this While this trend is relatively recent talent an international platform... in international interiors, Atelier I take pride in promoting Indian Habib emerges, yet again, as a artists abroad and simultaneously, trendsetter rather than a follower! encourage international artists All aspects of our daily life are to expand their horizons towards gradually becoming digitally India. It’s a magical process.” H connected via smart devices. With bluetooth-enabled home TEXT: SANGEETA WADHWANI The chandeliers throughout this appliances and voice-controlled PHOTOS COURTESY: ATELIER HABIB Signature Villa are blown Murano Glass by the Venetian brand, Voltolina Lights. The Venetian Red cascading chandelier has been collaboratively custom made, by Andrea Voltolina and Aakif Habib, exclusively for this property (above). Well-known for fusing classicism with modernism in his designs, Christopher Guy’s style blends Art Déco, Neoclassics and Rococo, seen in the dining Room (left). The living room (right) carries the same design story in mood by discipline and innovation this project. The grand bespoke is inspired by the natural chandelier that has been created properties of materials.” for this residence illustrates how, Can you elaborate? with a collaborative effort, we “The core design influence of this took advantage of the natural property is contemporary, with light-reflecting properties of the classic values. The luxury brands exceptional Murano glass and – Versace Home, Christopher fashioned a multi-tier chandelier Guy, Atelier Habib and Voltolina for the two level entrance so that embody the same design aesthetic, this extraordinary centerpiece making them an optimal blend for radiates light all across

HELLO! JUly 2017 79 Hello! Travel Diary The fantastic travels of a foodie The Founder of celebrity-favourite Le 15 Pâtisserie, Pooja Dhingra, explores Brazil and Peru for a remarkable culinary tale exclusively for HELLO!

TOP TRENDS: “The Fasano Hotel.” best meal I had on my trip was at HIGHLIGHTS: “The best part of Central in Lima. The restaurant my trip was visiting Machu Picchu. explores Peru’s biodiversity by creating Food-wise, it was discovering new a menu based on ingredients found at flavours and textures. I tried a lot of different altitudes. Central is voted the ceviche in Peru, which was new to best restaurant in South America and me and, of course, trying different lived up to the hype.” concoctions with Pisco.” STREET STYLE: “I love Brazilian HIDDEN GEMS: “I highly street food. I am obsessed with Pao recommend the bar in The De Queijo, which is baked cheese Monasterio Hotel in Cusco and bread. My other favourites include breakfast at Da Casa da Táta and Chicken Coxinha and Pastel. In Peru, The Slow Bakery for their sourdough I gorged on the pork sandwiches in Rio.” and Picarones, which are a sort of FAVOURITE SHOPPING doughnut made with sweet potato SPOTS: “In Rio, I loved the food and pumpkin.” store at Leblon shopping mall (great CHEF MUSE: “In Peru, I was lucky for local spices and treats) and the to meet Virgilio Martinez. He’s the market at the Copacabana beach man behind Central. A chef that (for little souvenirs and gifts).” Happy traveller, Pooja, strikes a has put Peru on the food map is THE CHICEST MUST- pose with a Llama (top), a chilled Gastón Acurio. He’s probably one VISITS... “The Barancco is refreshment to beat the Peruvian heat of the most important chefs in the known as the Soho of Lima. (above), the sunny beach of Ipanema world. In Brazil I met and ate with It’s full of art galleries, quaint (top right), at the Christ the Redeemer Chef Paolo Lavezzini who heads restaurants and great bars. statue (right) the Italian restaurant at the famous I stayed in Ipanema in Rio

80 HELLO! JULY 2017 Machu Pichu (top), breakfast at Da Casa Da Tàta (top, inset), with Chef Virgilio and the neighborhood is chic, close Martinez (above left), Cental Restaraunte to the beach and shopping. Kitchen (above, right), Peruvian Picarones BACK TO BASE: (below, left) and Sourdough bread “Peru is the land of quinoa and (below, right) corn and I got to taste both in their different forms and am pretty excited to incorporate both into my menus.”

TEXT: FARAH PALIA PHOTOS: LE 15 CAFÉ

HELLO! JULY 2017 81 LifestyLe Buzz

HELLO! gives you the low-down on what’s making headlines in Haute flash the fashion and luxury hemisphere A BRIDAL DELIGHT: JADE BY MONICA & KARISHMA Fans of JADE by Monica & Karishma bridal interactions. On display are have had a lot to be happy about lately, also the designer’s personal collections what with the sought-after bridal of fabrics collected from all over the couture label opening a stunning world. An array of fabrics and sarees, new store at Peddar Road, South most of which are old, are a testimony Mumbai as the label embarks on their to hand-crafted skills handed down 10th year journey. The flagship has over centuries; handwoven, hand been conceptualised in keeping with embroidered, block printed and tie- JADE’s DNA of taking inspiration dyed masterpieces that make this from India’s heritage and reinventing space a treasure trove of textile crafts the use of age-old techniques to as well. The new flagship store houses make it relevant for today’s brides. all of JADE’s lines under one roof, Handcrafted artefacts have been making it convenient for a bride to juxtaposed against an otherwise sparse plan her trousseau. ‘Amoh by Jade,’ space and installations compliment the popular new luxury pret line is JADE’s couture collections. Designed displayed in the very first section, personally by Monica Shah, the new followed by the couture line which couture studio is a sprawling expanse, is for occasion wear and lastly the almost haveli like with specialised Signature Bridal Heirlooms atelier niches, jharokhas, trunks, almirahs that which is by appointment only and make the most stunning backdrop for contains all of JADE’s bespoke different bridal looks, trial areas and collection for brides.

INTERSEKT LAUNCHES FLAGSHIP STORE IN THE CAPITAL ANDRE AGASSI: 10-YEAR Intersekt, an experiential design ANNIVERSARY AS LONGINES showroom encompassing a wide AMBASSADOR OF ELEGANCE array of products that is home to floor Since 2007, Longines has counted the tennis and wall coverings, and bathroom legend, Andre Agassi, among its Ambassadors and wellness products from various of Elegance and to support the foundation he exclusive brands (like Porcelanosa, founded in 1994: The Andre Agassi Foundation Sicis, Zucchetti, Villeroy & Boch, for Education. The same year, the brand became Florim, Inkiostro Bianco and more), the Official Partner and Timekeeper of the has launched its flagship showroom prestigious tournament of Roland-Garros, in Delhi. Spearheaded by Vidur claimed by Andre Agassi in 1999. To mark this Arora and Ridhi Arora, Intersekt anniversary, Longines has launched an exclusive is the retail venture of the parent charity sale of 10 Conquest Roland Garros company Marmo Home, a national chronographs, created by the Swiss watch brand level wholesaler and distributor of as a tribute to the Parisian tournament. This imported tiles primarily sourced from timepiece displays touches of orange on the Spain, Italy, Germany, China and hands, the dial or the flange indexes subtly hint Malaysia with a distribution network at the iconic clay of the French Open courts, of over 300 dealers spanning across while the case back is engraved with the logo of 90 cities in India. The showroom, Roland Garros. Customers were invited to receive with a surface area of a flabbergasting their watch from Andre Agassi himself during an 30,000 square feet, is distributed over exclusive reception held in Paris last month, at the four floors with retail space over three Longines boutique located at Rue de Sèvres. H floors and an exclusive floor dedicated to their corporate headquarters. The COMPILED BY: JEENA J BILLIMORIA unique façade, designed using a new large format tile from Italy, enhances the vibe of the overall atmosphere and adds timelessness to the architecture. Says Vidur Arora, “For us, it was important to create a space that could help the client visualise their space with ease and for that reason we have invested and dedicated a lot of space to create these complete moods and settings.” Ridhi Arora said, “We wanted to show clients and architects that tiles are a versatile product that are not meant to be used just in the bathroom. The purpose of Intersekt is to educate the customer about the endless possibilities of the usage of tiles.”

82 HELLO! JULY 2017 HELLO! JULY 2017 83 Hello! Art FUSING REALITY AND THE ARTS IN INDIA VICKRAM AND TUSHAR SETHI SYNONYMOUS WITH INSITUTIONS THAT SHAPED THE INDIAN ART WORLD, CONNOISSEUR VIKCRAM SETHI AND SON, TUSHAR, ARE A TESTIMONY TO THE POWER OF TWO IN THIS MULTI- LAYERED UNIVERSE, FILLED WITH PERSONAL TIES AND EXQUISITE TASTE

rt connoisseur Vickram Sethi was Sethi onwards, as he wandered about the few of tea and pakodas which Prabhakar insisted on always drawn towards the world of art galleries which existed in the late 60s, such paying for! Aart, and today he is the driving force as Jehangir Art Gallery, the Taj Art Gallery, Soon, thereafter, Vickram found a soul and visionary behind The Arts Trust, ICIA the Bombay Art Society and Chetna Art. The connect with art collector and enthusiast Harsh Gallery and Chairperson of online auction world of art was unchartered at this point in Goenka. Their sojourn took adventurous turns house Astaguru. Few may be aware that his time, and in his explorations, Vickram had a as they interacted with artists on a personal initial passion lay in wielding the brush, an idea chance encounter with revered abstractionist level, gaining insights directly into the processes not well received by his family, which led him to Prabhakar Barwe. Their friendship honed and ideas embedded in their works. All along abandon any academic pursuits in this direction. Vikram’s quest in many ways. They would his journey, Goenka has always been a source To keep close to the arts, he shifted gears, a discuss and analyse the works which they viewed of support and counsel for Vickram. After move that resonates well with the Osho proverb together at various exhibitions, often entering having been involved in the art scene for more “If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if into animated debates that encompassed the than a decade, new pathways opened up and you pick it up, it dies and ceases to be what you ideology and driving principle of the artwork, Vickram’s association with various artists such as love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not to the deftness or lacklustreness in techniques Krishen Khanna, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jehangir about possession. Love is about appreciation.” applied, to peripherals such as the placement Sabavala, MF Husain to name a few, culminated Thus began his journey with a view to imbibe and the framing of the work. Vickram still with him curating his first show, ‘Masters of India’ and appreciate the nuances of art. Curiosity cherishes their numerous meetings which took which took place at the Oberoi Hotel under the and passion propelled the 30-year-old Vickram place at Cafe Samovar over copious amounts branch of The Arts Trust in 1992. It was at this

84 HELLO! JUly 2017 innumerable art gatherings which took place at their home in Colaba. Eventually the creations started to speak to him. Tushar Sethi’s primary concern was to be able to draft the exegesis of the piece for his own reference, a task which has now borne fruit, considering he is a major influencer within the booming Indian art marketplace. Showing prescience about how the world would transact in the future, he launched Astaguru in 2008, as an online auction house. A frictionless transition from the brick and mortar school of thought to the digital space symbolises the cross-generational synch between Vickram and Tushar Sethi. Astaguru has been a superlative success. The house hosted six online auctions in 2016; and recently celebrated the milestone of a highly successful 25th auction in 2016. Their ‘power of two’ story has brought about multiple entities to shape-shift into newer dimensions. The Arts Trust was founded to educate patrons about the nuances of Indian art, and is now one of India’s leading online sources for analytics and data pertaining to the Indian art market. ICIA Gallery is India’s largest grassroot level gallery and hosts multiple museum-standard shows, and finally the shared passion for art of this father and son duo, resulted in the spawning of India’s premium auction house, Astaguru. A shared journey, born out of sheer passion, has metamorphosed into a conglomerate. However what is and will always be the core driving force for Vickram and Tushar Sethi, is their passion for art and their vision to share the same with the myriads. H

The father-son duo have a strong personal connect with many artists, and own works that are extremely rare, at times privately commissioned (opposite page). Here, we see an oil on canvas work by Krishen Khanna titled Pieta, 40 x 30 inches, from 2005 (above). An acrylic on canvas ‘Bindu Series’ work by S H Raza, titled Germination, 48 x 48 inches, from 1996 (right)

juncture, that Vickram directed his passion into something higher; building a conducive environment for Indian Modern Art. After all, this was a time when securing a sale of Rs 10,000 for a painting was a feat! Subsequently, he also organised various art camps from 1993 onwards, inviting participation from both seminal and budding artists. The camps transformed into a crucible of sorts, blending, melting and forging the artistic cognizance of all present. The next seismic shift happened when Vickram collaborated with Tina Ambani to curate the Harmony show in the year 1996. Their association followed through till 2005. Vickram Sethi’s passion for art was easily absorbed by his son, Tushar Sethi. While growing up, Tushar was constantly surrounded by paintings, assimilating sensibilities from the

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Siddharth Malhotra with a friend and Alia Bhatt

Shah Rukh and Suhana Khan

Manish Malhotra with Karan Johar

Gauri Khan

Sonam Kapoor Natasha Poonawalla Anil Kapoor and Farah Khan Jaqueline Fernandez Sussanne Khan

90 HELLO! JULY 2017 Diary of the Month

Omprakash Mago, Sanjay Mago, HH Maharani Hemalata Rajye, Kaveree Bamzai, HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur, Amita Baig, Ajay Mago and Rahul Mehrotra HERITAGE LOVING WHAT: The book launch of Taj Mahal: Multiple Narratives by Amita Baig and Rahul Mehrotra in New Delhi. BUZZ: The stunning tome was unveiled by Chief Guest HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur. A swish set of heritage enthusiasts were present on the occasion to encourage the authors. Meera and Muzaffar Ali Amita Baig and Sharmila Tagore HIGH SpIRItS WHAT: The launch of Zorawar Kalra’s freestyle bar and kitchen, KODE in Kamala Mills, Mumbai. BUZZ: The largest spirit library in the country with 150 selections of whiskey and extensive selections of gin, vodka and craft beer enticed the guests who were in attendance to celebrate.

Amrita Raichand

Dildeep and Zorawar Kalra Amrita Puri Ashiesh Shah Narendra Kumar Ritika and Sameer Dattani

HELLO! JULY 2017 91 Horoscope July 2017

Cancer: The success of a new relationship depends on you letting go of a past relationship first. Aquarius: Problems with a family member Ofer Cohen can be solved if you are patient and are ready to compromise.

Aries 21 mar - 20 apr Leo 24 jul - 23 aug Sagittarius 23 nov - 21 dec Your career will make positive progress This is a period of new beginnings. You Your career is moving in a different this year. Expect good news regarding will explore new career options and take direction. Many of you are considering a a project that has suffered delays since decisions based on your past experience. job change or relocation. When it comes the beginning of 2017. Your business This month, Jupiter will end its retro to finance, you feel very confused and ideas are looking good and others and you will be back on stage. Live a insecure. Due to Saturn, you will often are interested in working with you. healthy lifestyle as minor health issues feel that things are moving too slowly The past few years were complicated are predicted in the coming months. In however, it will eventually pay off. It is for relationships. It might be because your personal life, you are feeling more only a matter of time till things fall into of loneliness or disappointment from confident and are looking for stability. place. You will be able to reduce expenses someone who you still have feelings for. You are making new friends and as Venus by changing your list of priorities. Your This year, you will become emotionally and Mercury are in a good position, a personal life has suffered from instability stronger and more focused on your new and exciting relationship is on the for a long time. As of now, there is goals. Finding love this year is likely to cards, although it can be the end of one nothing much you can do but a time will happen after September 2017. chapter and the beginning of a new one. come when this problem will get solved.

Taurus 21 apr - 21 may Virgo 24 aug - 23 sep Capricorn 22 dec - 20 jan New career opportunities are coming You will focus on career and finance. This is a period of career challenges and your way and a new business venture can Travelling will be refreshing for you new responsibilities. With hard work and help you to improve your income. Your and will improve your relationship with determination, you will get through this career is on a crossroad this year, however clients. Family expenses are high and you period. Until the year-end, you will learn the coming changes are predicted to be need to find efficient ways to manage to be more efficient while organising a positive. If you are looking for a new job, your budget. In your personal life, you better work structure for your business. your skills will get you the offer you have are confused and are doubting yourself. During travels, you will be introduced been waiting for. In your personal life, Avoid focusing on your personal to people that will have a great impact things are looking good. Your partner problems and try to be more involved on your future. In your personal life, you seems very different and you will have in your partner’s problems. Your loved are likely to be affected by your partner’s to adapt to their different spending one is going through an unusual period actions. Career changes can take you habits and independent approach to and that may be the reason you keep Actress away from home or have a great impact family commitments. feeling insecure. Priyanka Chopra on your current relationship. turns 35 on 18 July Gemini 22 may - 22 jun Libra 24 sep - 23 oct Aquarius 21 jan - 19 feb This is a very unpredictable period. At You are busy looking for financial This is a period of new beginnings. You work, there is a lot happening and your solutions to your business problems. are working on a new project or creating family needs your full attention. From Changes in your current work activity a new platform for your current business. now until the end of the year, you will will affect your plans and you might even It will be wise to research well before you find better ways to improve your income consider closing a business. Financially, buy a new property or invest in something and take your work to the next level. If you will continue to play safe. Your Ofer Cohen, a new. If you are planning to buy a you are looking for a new job, chances horoscope shows that you might need renowned tarot property or start a new business, give are you will get one which will require to take chances if you want to end up card reader, was special attention to location and possible a higher responsibility or travelling away earning more. This is a very important born in Israel, competition. In your personal life, things from home. If, single you will interact period for relationships. Your financial into a family depend on you. You sometimes prefer to with interesting people and feel attracted situation can affect your family life. You deeply rooted ignore a problem rather than confront it. to someone from a different background. regret being involved with someone who in Kaballah and Problems with a family member can be Travelling will increase your chances of keeps disappointing you but you also feel mysticism. His solved if you are patient and are ready finding your perfect match. unable to detach from them. grandfather to compromise. was an expert in the secrets of Kaballah, Cancer 23 jun - 23 jul Scorpio 24 oct - 22 nov Pisces 20 feb - 20 mar match-making, Career and money matters are keeping In the coming months, you will focus herbs and There are career changes that are you busy. At work, you deal with a lot on your career and finances. Many of their recipes. coming up and you may feel confused. of politics, work commitments as well you are involved in a new work project It was he who Work relationships should improve this as family duties. You will be successful that has suffered delays since last year. predicted that year after a long, difficult period. If you during travels and business negotiations You will be successful in job interviews Ofer would carry feel frustrated and are seeking a career will be fruitful. A family member will and with your vast experience, you will on his legacy. change, offers coming from abroad are need your support and you will find find it easy to excel. Income may come Ofer divides his probably your best option. When it yourself compromising. The success of a from more than one source while your time between comes to family issues, avoid taking any new relationship depends on you letting daily work schedule will take most of Mumbai and decision while being under pressure. go of a past relationship first. Spend your time. Spending most of your time Tel Aviv. He can This is a difficult period for marriages. quality time together and be sincere. at work can affect your marriage. Your be reached at Your spouse seems to be very disturbed Some of you feel stuck in a relationship spouse might suddenly decide to take www.ofercohen. and needs your attention otherwise that seems difficult. But getting involved a new career path and you need to be info or the situation will deteriorate. You can in an extra marital affair this year is the more involved in their final decision. +919820571003 heal your relationship if you are ready last thing you need. (mob) to communicate.

92 HELLO! JUly 2017 Drinks With Andrea Voltolina The CEO of the Venice-based legacy-brand Voltolina Lights, this chandelier- visualiser and creator has had commissions from royals and celebrities worldover. HELLO! gets insights into his bespoke work

ou have inherited the Venetian family where you paid a great amount of attention legacy, as a creator of bespoke glass to detail? Yblown Voltolina chandeliers. What is “A very recent commission was by Atelier Habib; we the family brand’s DNA? had to develop one bespoke chandelier which was “We are Italian, we live in Venice and are involved to complement a luxury villa interior and reflect the in the crystal and glass market since 1984. In personality of the client. Our lighting had to continue 1995, I started to develop light production in the to speak the same design language in all its rooms international market, managing an inhouse and salons. We had to create and install something design team and increasing our international impressive but with an elegant, luxurious sense presence. We’ve added new aspects, like of kitsch.” Murano Wall Tiles to Roof Glasses, but So how does the creative process usually go? lighting is our core business.” “We go through analyzing different projects from We believe your clientele include the past noting the key requirements of the interior royalty and celebrities from designer. Here, we had to conceive something full of around the world? history but not too classic, so we used our Murano “Yes, today we sell in about 60 knowledge. We chose a contemporary design, adding countries and export upto 70 the Venetian Red colour and some shining crystal per cent of our bespoke lighting touches through a few crystal pendelogues. Our creations. We have supplied to drawings went through several modifications. Then Sultans and Kings (expecially we prepared samples of arms and cups, with different in the Middle East countries), tones in red, for maximum choice. We even called it worked on set lighting for major the Habib Chandelier!” TV shows, worked with movie What distinguishes your family practices producers, well known football and brand values from other Venetian houses players, fashion houses or ateliers? like Ermanno Scervino, “I personally think that one of the main differences Lanvin, and even is that we really try to satisfy our clients100 per cent. global giants like H&M We also send our Italian technicians to assemble the have commissioned chandelier onsite, so that there is no error and no chandeliers. At times, we reduction on the quality of our artpiece.” also supply chandeliers to How easy is it to maintain such other top brands who resell bespoke chandeliers? our work under their own “We normally take care of our chandeliers, offering brand name.” the cleaning service to our clients worldwide. Can you share an example Morever we are active in repairing and rebuilding old of a recent commission chandeliers. We created a tailor-made department in our company, just for this.” What are some evolutionary trends in your industry? “We are focusing on taking inspiration and materials from the fashion and jewelry and bijoux markets; it means that there will be soon a great infusion of materials not often used in lighting, hence making it a piece of fine art.” What next are you looking forward to? “In the second part of this year, we are working with Murano pearls, gold leaves and Thaiti colored pearls for a one-of-its-kind chandelier, again for Atelier Habib. We are also working with more LED sources, creating new kinds of glasses which can be enriched from such environment-conscious lights.”

TEXT: SANGEETA WADHWANI

HELLO! JULY 2017 93