US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed on Tuesday that the latest missile test by North Korea was with an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
Indu Shahani, Rana Kapoor, CM Devendra Fadnavis and Radha Kapoor with others on the dias
According to sources, it was a visibly enthused CM Devendra Fadnavis, who inaugurated and delivered the key note address last week at the launch of serial entrepreneur Radha Kapoor's ISME ACE, an incubator to support start-ups in the financial and tech world.
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"He spent over an hour-and-a-half across all floors set amidst the six lakh sq ft new-age campus at Lower Parel and met students, faculty and young entrepreneurs, saying this was as good as any facility he had seen anywhere in the world," said the source, adding, "Chairman of Yes Bank, Rana Kapoor, Radha's father, was also singled out for praise for investing his hard earned money into education and innovation rather than self aggrandising efforts."
And as if this weren't enough accolades for one month for the newly-wedded and full-time businesswoman, Radha, later this month she will be joining Sophie Delafontaine, artistic director of a handbag label, to the much awaited launch of their flagship in Mumbai, which is part of her portfolio.
Out to lynch?
'I assume you were being sarcastic when you tweeted that,' was our opening gambit to bon vivant and quip a minute master, Suhel Seth. As expected, he knew exactly what we were referring to: 'I've given up on people's sense of humour or understanding of sarcasm' thundered the Delhi maven. "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn what they say any more," he fumed.
Rishi Kapoor and Suhel Seth
Seth was referring to responses to his tweet, 'Are there any interesting protests planned for this week? Have some foreign guests and they might enjoy them,' which had drawn blood amongst his friends on Facebook ('Sick, sick, sick,' 'May you rot in hell,' and 'Shame, shame,' were just a few), but which oddly, as he'd pointed out, had found some favour on Twitter, (note to self: that's where the loonies hang out) with many tweeple actually commending the ubiquitous marketeer for his wit and drollery.
Could a spontaneous, humane response by citizens to the barbarity of mob lynching be the subject of humour – however dark? Seth did not say. But not all of tweeple had been laughing. 'You tell us? Are there any lynches planned for this week??' Someone had asked him in return.
Of star egos and tantrums
As the run up to a big international fillum awards draws near, the tension writ large on the faces of its organisers gets more palpable. "It's a nightmare," said one lady, a mid-level executive in the event managing company that holds the brief to host the occasion on foreign shores.
"You cannot imagine how petty and egoistical the stars behave. From demanding all kinds of extras (like presidential suites at hotels and private limos and shopping expeditions while they are there), to accommodating their epic tantrums about not wanting to share hotels or stage time with their peers, it's like being placed in an emotional spin dryer for us," she wailed.
What's the upside? The upside is that it's all over within a week and we have a whole year to pass before the nightmare begins again." Oh dear. Everyone looks so happy on the TV broadcasts.
New beginnings
A few weeks ago, when we had dropped in at gallerist and arts consultant Anupa Mehta's cozy gallery, The Loft at Kamala Mills, to view some inventory that she had put on sale, we sensed that change was afoot. The stunning canvasses had been lined up against the wall and were being offered at unbelievable prices.
Anupa Mehta
Was this a closing sale? And what were the plans for Mehta, a dyed in the wool culturista, whose other hats were of author and personal story coach? Yesterday we got our answer. After eight years of running The Loft at Lower Parel, this week Mehta has announced the launch of an arts advisory that will amongst other things gestate arts projects, be they museums or fundraisers.
"Given my varied experiences in the art world as curator, gallery owner, writer, and my training in arts management, I feel qualified to offer strategic inputs to a range of projects," she said just before stepping into a concert. Does this move confirm stories that have been swirling for some time now of a crisis in the art world and an absence of sales?
"It's a flailing market, tightly controlled by a few galleries and auction houses, all selling to the same 100 odd buyers," she replied. "As an advisory my interests are broader in that I am less invested in promoting just a small coterie."
And then she added, "Of course, my love though is fiction, and my book of short stories, Unseasonal Rain, (which we have read and enjoyed recently) is set to go into its second edition.
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