Derby8217;s win-win game

Had there been an award going around for the Made for Each Other8217; couple at the course that day, probably Dallas would have bagged that one too as he strode across the course hand-in-hand with Anna.

Otherwise though, the crowd at the Derby was a bit of a disappointment with the numbers nowhere near the expected figure. Also missing was the oodles of glamour that is such an integral part of this most important racing day. Much blame seemed to rest with the trains8217; schedules thrown off gear that day. And for the fact that the much-awaited live telecast of the races had finally taken off that day making much of the regular Mumbai crowd opt for seeing it all on screen rather than at the tracks. The achievement is yet another first for Pune as this is the first time that races were aired live, albeit only to the Mumbai race course.

Making a rare appearance after a gap of two years was the still enigmatic Bindu, screen star and wife of owner Champaklal Zaveri. Explaining her long hiatus from the races where she was once a regular, she cited her hectic shooting schedules coupled with merely a superficial interest in the game as the reasons. 8220;I like seeing horses run but do not bet. So I guess the pull is just a little slack sometimes,8221; she smiled. And guess being in films is one enough of a gamble already, for anyone to want to take up yet another.

He dances the body music IT8217;S that time of the year when, for nine consecutive days, the city comes alive at an hour when otherwise it slumbers. When darkness is dispelled almost as soon as it descends with the combined force of bright lights, dazzling attires and radiant faces. And as music fills the air in tandem with the dandiya sticks few are not swayed by the infectious fervour and ambience of this merry celebration. Most would, however, agree that while Navratra has been a most festive time, it8217;s only in the last decade or so that dandiya in Pune has attained the glamour and glitz it boasts of today. With youngsters making a beeline to the venue in numbers that could give the most happening discotheque in town a complex. Even ramp shows are put in a shade with titles like The best dancer, Best couple dancers and Best dressed being more sought after than the supposedly coveted Miss or Mr Pune. With the demand for crash course in dandiya becoming more urgent than one in personality development.

And contributing, in a major way, has been Satish Jain, one of the most well- known dandiya teachers in town and also a much-in-demand judge during this festive time.

8220;I am booked for 17 consecutive days as a judge this season,8221; smiles the 33-year-old dancer who has been holding classes in the city for the past 11 years.

8220;I was 15 and studying in Wadia College when went to Vyjayantimala8217;s dance academy and was immediately selected. After training there for six months, she suggested I do a stint with choreographer Saroj Khan too. I studied with Saroj Khan for six months. Once in Pune, I decided to teach dance. I started these classes where I teach dandiya, western, Punjabi folk and rap. Of course, coming from a conservative Marwadi family, everyone at home was aghast at my choice of career and even embarrassed that a boy from a business background wanted to be a dancer. But since dance was an all consuming passion with me I persisted. Slowly the opposition died and now everyone has accepted my decision,8221; adds Jain who is married with two sons and sees to the family8217;s iron and steel business in the mornings and his dance classes in the evenings.

With about 400 to 500 students passing through his hands every year and another 200 doing the special 10-day crash course before the dandiya season, Jain is today the man behind most youngsters in Pune who walk away with the best dancer prize at various venues. 8220; Initially only girls used to come to me for classes but today there are an equal number of boys who troop in to learn dandiya,8221; reveals Jain.

8220;Contrary to popular conception most of the boys who come to learn dandiya are from the upper middle class. Boys from Gujarati, Marwadi, Punjabi and Maharashtrian families come in droves. Only since the past four to five years has this concept of judging the best dancer and best dressed come. At the venues, not many knew what exactly to do. Some even thought that dandiya and garba are the same. This year onwards I take along my own group who lead the dance and guide the people,8221; adds Jain who is a regular at all the Lion, Leo and Rotract Clubs dos.

8220;Some dandiyas that have the correct spirit and ambience. Otherwise seven out of 10 dandiya shows are money-earning ventures theses days with drinks and disco dandiya being the order of the day,8221; he rues. 8220;It8217;s sad that nowadays people seem to want to play more for the prizes than the pure pleasure of it.8221; Something they could well learn from this experienced guru whose sheer love for the dance is more than obvious wherever he goes, as he enthusiastically joins the crowd even if he is judging the show with a spirit and sense of rhythm that says it all.

Pearl pets DAZZLING, beautiful and warm. One could be describing the rows of pearls laid out in the room at Holiday Inn or the organiser of the entire event Sabita Dhanrajgir-Umrigar. With a glow on her face that seemed just a sheen more than the ones on the pearls displayed, the former super model and present super home-maker, Dhanrajgir was all smiles yes, that famous Cuticura smile that remains intact as she enthused about the overwhelming response to this maiden venture. 8220;I have always been fascinated by pearlstheir elegance, beauty and shades. More importantly pearls have always reminded me of my mother as I grew up seeing them perpetually adorning her. To me they are the nostalgic symbols of my childhood, my hometown Hyderabad and my family. Since my uncle and aunt were as it is dealing with them in Hyderabad I decided to hold an exhibition in Pune too with their assistance,8221; revealed the nascent entrepreneur.

And such has been the response to her exhibition of exquisite Hyderabadi pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings in their natural shades of pink, grey, peach and white that she has had to extend the show by two days. 8220;I can8217;t believe it. I did it for nothing but my love for pearls,8221; she smiles.

So is she going to make this a regular feature? 8220;I don8217;t know. Already I feel I have neglected my children for the past so many days. This despite the fact that the whole family has been here most the time helping me out,8221; replied the lady who has made the transition from the role of a much sought after model to that of a loving wife and doting mother with the utmost of ease and will.

8220;I have never, never missed the modelling world. I am so happy being at home and seeing to my family which is all I really wanted to do in life,8221; explains the lady who settled down in Pune three years ago after residing in Mumbai, London and Dubai. 8220;Pune has given us what we wanted- an ideal family life. Both Neville and I are totally focussed on our children, Zahan and Zara we socialise very rarely and only with people we are comfortable with. In fact, we8217;d rather be tending to the plants in our garden than partying. Even while modelling in Mumbaus what we wanted- an ideal family life. Both Neville and I are totally focussed on our children, Zahan and Zara we socialise very rarely and only withpeople we are comfortable with. In fact, we8217;d rather be tending to the plants in our garden than partying. Even while modelling in Mumbai.