Ekta Kapoor walks ramp for rival’s fashion show

Professional battles notwithstanding, Ekta Kapoor says she did it for a good cause, is “fond of” rival Ronnie Screwvala.

For the past couple of weeks, the big Eid clash between UTV’s Chennai Express and Ekta Kapoor-produced Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2 has been talked about a lot (with both the makers pre-booking theatres for their respective films as a package deal). So it was a major surprise when Ekta walked the ramp in Vikram Phadnis’s creations at the Lakme Fashion Week for Ronnie Screwvala (head honcho of UTV)-backed charity organisation, Swades. The organisation aims to improve living conditions in villages.

However, Ekta says that she is “fond of” Ronnie. Actually, it was his wife, Zarina, (Mehta) who had requested Ekta to walk the ramp for the show. “Whatever has been happening (Eid clash, etc) is a professional issue. He is a good friend. Plus, it’s for a good cause. Initially, I had declined it because I had a trip to Cyprus, but the moment it got cancelled, I told them that I am in. People ask me why I did it, so I ask them why not?” says Ekta.

So was there any discomfort due to professional rivalry? “We have personally never discussed it. I know how to keep my personal and professional lives separate. Besides, it’s not as important as the good cause,” says Ekta.

Ask how her experience on the ramp was and she says with a laugh: “I was literally shivering, I can never do it again. I have a lot of friends (from the fashion industry), but I have never attended fashion shows. I never thought of taking out time and attending shows for something as plastic as fashion.”