Malavika’s Mumbaistan: Sparkling nuptials

It would not be wrong to say the best and brightest of Mumbai and Delhi had converged at NSCI Dome to celebrate the sparkling nuptials of the pretty Poorna Patel, daughter of Praful and Varsha Patel, to Namit Soni. After all, the bride’s father, Praful Patel, enjoys a unique position being one of the few independently successful industrialists (he is heir to his late father’s enormous tobacco conglomerate) as well as that of a leading politician, whose tenure as Union minister for civil aviation was as high profile as eventful.

It would not be wrong to say the best and brightest of Mumbai and Delhi had converged at NSCI Dome to celebrate the sparkling nuptials of the pretty Poorna Patel, daughter of Praful and Varsha Patel, to Namit Soni. After all, the bride’s father, Praful Patel, enjoys a unique position being one of the few independently successful industrialists (he is heir to his late father’s enormous tobacco conglomerate) as well as that of a leading politician, whose tenure as Union minister for civil aviation was as high profile as eventful. But, even more compelling than his two careers is the quintessential south Mumbai born-and-bred, Campion School and Sydenham College alumnus’ famous charm; his friendships are known to cut across party and political affiliations and camps, and he appears to be universally popular.

Praful Patel (second from right) with Daisy Shah, Nisha Jamval, Ketan Desai and Sangeeta Bijlani.

Supriya Sule, Meghna Singh Deo, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Niharika Singh, Anukant Dubey and Charu Jayant Singh at the wedding.

As to be expected, his youngest daughter Poona’s wedding saw the cream of India’s politicians, film and sport stars, industrialists and royalty in attendance, both at the energetic and throbbing Friday night Sangeet, where Salman Khan performed with great gusto, and at the lyrical, flower-bedecked classical reception the next evening, where an orchestra struck up Indian and Western medleys. “What was particularly interesting was the subtle competition between the Delhi and Mumbai crowd,” said our Oolong Tea Serving Hostess friend, who had attended Saturday evening’s reception and hadn’t missed a beat. “The entire Patel family made sure each and every one of their friends was taken care of with the bride’s father himself stationed at the door receiving every one,” she said. “It was quite dazzling; if there was an ethereal, Bollywood legend or superstar in one corner, there was an equally dazzling political heavy-weight or intellectual for whom people made a beeline,” she said, adding “and the jury’s still out on which city boasted the better-dressed women.” (Perhaps the winner is Kolkata — many of the best-dressed were observed to be wearing Anamika Khanna?)

What were the highlights of this maha Delhi-Mumbai confluence, we enquired of the OTSHF. “ The likes of Jayant Singh, Dushyant Singh, Anurag Thakur, Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Ajatshatru Singh and Jammie JamVal debating politics wee into the night,” she replied. “And Subroto Roy, Venugopal Dhoot, Daisy Shah, Sangeeta Bijlani, Katrina Kaif among those in the VIP lounge, chatting over coffee.” However, the OTSHF, an impassioned Mumbaiite, could not help tilting the age-old Delhi-Mumbai ‘who’s cooler’ stakes in Mumbai’s favour: “The stampede accompanying Salman and SRK’s entries with guests wanting selfies with them, took us all by surprise,” she said. “After all, when it comes to stratospheric cool, it’s advantage Mumbai still.”

MODERN DICTIONARY

Hug (verb): To clasp someone, especially a national or world leader in an awkward, vice-like grip, mostly against their wishes, for as long as possible, so as to communicate either how much one loves or hates them — or both. Eg: ‘And the Lord said love thy neighbour but hug thy enemy’

TRUE LIES

Could the whitewashing and airbrushing of this senior and much-loved Bolly star be the subject of a concerted overall strategy? Many people at a high-profile city event were heard wondering the same. “Everyone knows he’s a ‘jeans and sneakers kind of guy’ they say, “and yet, on this occasion, he was looking particularly uncomfortable in an OTT designer sherwani full of gold, that seemed straight out of Bhappi Lahiri’s wardrobe.” They add, “It must be part of the campaign…” The Campaign? “Yes, you know, when a guy’s wife is out to clean up his image? First a book, then a film and then his wardrobe…”

Oh dear…

THE DOPPELGANGER

(LtoR) Diwan Rahul Nanda and Vijay Mallya.

Of course, if he’d been in India, or in any position to fly in, there would be every reason to expect Vijay Mallya at the nuptials of Praful Patel’s daughter Poorna. After all, Mallya was one of those whose nascent dream to start an airline were given wing by Patel when he had championed the opening up of the Indian skies, way back in the 2000s as civil aviation minister. Not only that, both men share interests in sports and have friends in common. Except that, of course, as is known, Mallya is presently in London besieged by financial woes and fighting off extradition charges to India. Nevertheless, there were those overheard wondering if the flamboyant spirits baron would manage a Houdini-like escape and a dramatic appearance to mark his presence at the occasion. Which is why, there was a gasp and a flutter when a certain silver-haired, flamboyant gent made a dramatic entry at NSCI at 10.30pm. Bulky silhouette? Check. Expensive haircut, perfectly coiffed silver-mane? Check. Designer threads and accessories? Check. Impressive security detail? Check. Could it be VJM himself? Until of course, they realised it was none other than his doppelganger: his equally high-profile fellow Londoner, Dr Diwan Rahul Nanda, executive chairman of TOPSGRUP, who frequently appears on The Sunday Times Rich List.

But for a moment, many had rubbed their eyes...