All paws on deck
A friendly streetie named Vikram stands amongst passengers on a boat docked at the Gorai Jetty.
Bonjour, bienvenue!
There’s a charm to doing things the old-school way, and after 130 years in the luxury world, Paris’s famed Galeries Lafayette knows this. And so, in an age where social media influencers often get the ‘first show, first row’, this diarist was pleased to hear that the French department store was inviting mid-day and other media for the first look at its debut in Mumbai. With less than a month to go to the store’s official launch, we head to Kala Ghoda, Fort, where the historic Turner Morrison building now houses Galeries Lafayette’s Indian flagship.
(From left) Views from the newly opened French department store
Spanning 90,000 square feet across five storeys, the store’s interiors have been designed by London-based architectural firm Virgile + Partners. Launched in partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, Galeries Lafayette brings the international department store concept to India, with 250 global designer brands, as well as offering in-house personal styling, private lounges, concierge services, and curated cultural programmes.
“With Mumbai as our anchor point, we are proud to introduce an experience that brings together French heritage, creativity, and innovation, while embracing the energy and cultural richness of India,” said Nicolas Houze, executive chairman, Galeries Lafayette Group. “We are creating an iconic destination in the heart of Mumbai,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman, Aditya Birla Group, adding, “For the first time, India will welcome a luxury department store, housed in landmark real estate, executed with precision, and infused with the elegance of Indian sensibilities.”
Keeping up with Piyush Mishra
Piyush Mishra doesn’t want you to remember him as the unmistakable voice behind Aarambh, or by his pivotal work in Maqbool (2003) or the Gangs of Wasseypur anthology. “Younger audiences have started venerating me as some sort of a saint. I’m far from that. I’ve made my own share of mistakes,” Mishra had said in 2023 about his book, aptly titled Tumhari Auqaat Kya Hai, Piyush Mishra.
Piyush Mishra. Pic courtesy/Ganesh Vanare
His confession is set to reach a wider audience now, with the launch of the English translation by Shilpi A Singh (HarperCollins India). Slated for release in November, the memoir will unpack stories of fame, betrayal, self-sabotage, and the perennial quest to find meaning in life through the medium of art, all of which has shaped the artiste into his contemporary self.
From a throwback to his childhood in Gwalior, to navigating the world of expectations, and the intoxication of celebrity life, Mishra reveals all in the tell-all autobiography. “Readers will find vulnerability, rebellion, and questions we often avoid asking ourselves. This book is not an answer, but an invitation…to question, to feel, and perhaps, to find a part of your own story within mine,” he shared ahead of the release.
Mumbai’s children are ready to rollercoaster again
Installations made by groups of children for the 2025 edition of the festival. Pics courtesy/Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
With the Kala Ghoda Children’s Installation Competition scheduled for January 31 to February 8, 2026, during the 26th edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF), opportunities are limited for schoolchildren in the city to unleash their out-of-the-box thinking. Each year, groups of children are chosen from schools across Mumbai.
Only the first 25 are eligible, submitting one installation per school. Brinda Miller (right), Honorary Festival Director of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, shared with this diarist, “The children who participate are usually aged between five and 15, with younger ones making up most participants. Younger children are almost always much more enthusiastic, have plenty of ideas, and have more time than older ones. We give a measurement for installation height and width for them to follow; though, they can make a taller installation if they wish. Most of the work is completed at their respective schools and brought readymade to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya [CSMVS].” She added, “The 2026 theme for the children’s section is ‘Rollercoaster’.”
