Paws for a nap en route
It’s 40 winks time for passenger and streetie dog alike, at the outstation section of Mumbai Central station
JJ Valaya is back after 24 years
We stepped into Jio World Plaza on the evening of JJ Valaya’s long-awaited return to Mumbai and found ourselves at the threshold of two new destinations—JJ Valaya Couture and JJV Kapurthala, spread across 1500 and 850 sq ft respectively.
JJ Valaya
At JJ Valaya Couture, a bridal atelier, menswear and lehengas with signature mixed-metal embroideries take centre stage amid chandeliers, tapestries, chevron-draped mannequins, and the designer’s own photography. For Mumbai, Valaya unveiled EAST — a collection that draws inspiration from the Balkans and the Far East.
JJV Kapurthala, the bridge-to-luxury label, offered a lighter counterpoint with its SATT Autumn–Winter 2025 collection, featuring anarkalis, kaftans, kurta sets, Nehru jackets, and accessories inspired by the travels of the Maharaja of Kapurthala.
The evening saw a gathering from the film, fashion, and arts industries: Raveena Tandon, Mahima Chaudhry, Malavika Mohanan, Meezaan, Jaaved Jaaferi, Chunky Panday, Aastha Shah, Alankrita Sahai, Dalip Tahil, Mozez Singh, Priya Paul and Aarti and Kailash Surendranath joined in celebrating the homecoming.
“This felt like the right moment to return to Mumbai, a city that has always been central to India’s style and cultural narrative,” Valaya reflected. “What makes this homecoming truly special is the opening of two distinct spaces.”
Ssso much art and bling!
Luo Ming, ‘Serpent Teng in the Golden Realm’, 2025, from the Shanghai exhibition
Nowhere else is the snake worshipped as it is in India. So it’s only natural that this year — the Chinese year of the snake — Roman high jeweller Bvlgari brings its multi-cultural exhibition, Serpenti Infinito, to the land of nagas. Following showcases in Shanghai and Seoul, the exhibit, curated by Mumbai art gallery Nature Morte, is making its way to Amchi City. On October 1, the brand will unveil the iconic Serpenti symbol in a multi-sensory showcase, featuring leading Indian and international artists, at the Art House in the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, BKC.
Jean-Christophe Babin
The exhibition also features a curation from Bvlgari’s Serpenti Heritage collection. “India has always been a profound source of inspiration for Bvlgari, thanks to its exceptional craftsmanship, and deep cultural heritage,” says Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari. “Organising Serpenti Infinito in India has been an extraordinary opportunity to bring together diverse artistic voices in dialogue with one of the most enduring symbols in global design history,” says Aparajita Jain, Co-Director of Nature Morte.
The magic of ‘woh pehli film’
Piyush Thakur
The simple act of watching a film can be a revolutionary step, and it won director Piyush Thakur two National Awards for his short The First Film — Golden Lotus for direction and Silver Lotus for music direction. The movie is about a small town where cinema is forbidden for women, and how a 14-year-old embarks on a quest to watch her first film. Thakur tells us, “For me, this honour isn’t just about an award, it’s about remembering why we go to the movies: to dream, to feel, and to share that magic together.” The film which premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival, has received international honours at festivals in Germany and Texas. Indeed, it’s truly about the power of film.
Special silverware needed for India-WI contests
With West Indies and India set to open their two-Test series in Ahmedabad next week, it must be stressed that West Indies was the first team to tour India after independence — way back in 1948-49. Our in-house cricket nut is amazed that administrators from both regions have not thought about naming a trophy to do justice to this long-standing rivalry.
Bishan Singh Bedi, Clive Lloyd, Dilip Sardesai and Rohan Kanhai
Our man reckons that both teams should play for the Bedi-Lloyd Trophy in India-hosted series. Why, we asked him and the reply was instant: “Because Bishan Singh Bedi and Clive Lloyd began their illustrious Test careers in the same 1966-67 series. They were rival captains in 1975-76 too, remember?”
For Test match contests held in the Caribbean, he feels a Kanhai-Sardesai Trophy will be apt. For, Dilip Sardesai played a big part in India’s historic 1970-71 series win in the West Indies with 642 runs while Rohan Kanhai scored 400-plus runs each in the 1961-62 and 1970-71 home series. Tall deeds, impressive figures. Now, over to BCCI and West Indies Cricket.
Chef Manish cooks up his biggest project yet
(Left to right) Amit Khanna, Manish Mehrotra, and Binny Bansal
India just got a fresh buzz in its culinary scene. Chef Manish Mehrotra — the force behind Indian Accent and widely regarded as India’s most inventive chef — has launched his most personal project to date: Manish Mehrotra Culinary Arts (MMCA). Backed by Amit Khanna, Amaya Ventures and Binny Bansal, Flipkart co-founder, MMCA aims to shape India’s culinary future through new dining concepts and chef mentorship.
“At its heart, MMCA is about food as a cultural narrative,” says Chef Mehrotra. The first taste of MMCA will arrive in Delhi by the end of 2025, with a restaurant dedicated to grain, fire, and comfort. And in early 2026, MMCA will expand into catering, carrying Mehrotra’s thoughtful approach from intimate dining tables to big celebrations.
