Tweet Nisha at @nishjamvwal
Find her at nishajamvwal.blogspot.com
The adoration, admiration and affection I got from an unbiased child, Theodora Raptakis, Ambassador’s thirteen year old gorgeous daughter, was my elixir all evening, a special treat of appreciation from an innocent little girl and the high point of my evening. And also the love and blessings of friends who traveled so far to be with me and make the evening such a thronging success!
I grew up on the philosophies of the Bhagvad Gita that chronicles and philosophises the teachings of the Hindu God Krishna to Arjun. The take away which I grew up with was that nothing comes before duty and work is God. And so it’s always been about work for me. Work-work-work. The last few years there’s been a shift. Of perspective and priorities. A strange new era in my life. So yes, work is a major focus, but there is another fun-ner one too – that of friendship and nurture. Of people . Special beings. I’m enjoying new magical entrants that enrich my life, give it body. Give it some chutzpah and laughter. The difference between white wine and champagne. I mean yes, work is important, but life, experiences and most importantly friendships and smelling the flowers is the gift I’m giving ˆ. Taking out time to smell the flowers, metaphorically speaking.
Getting to the point of the matter, my Greek party had that fragrance and magic in the air. The joy of beautiful people, who came from near and far to be part of an evening I’d put together. People I cherish and love, who have been with me through many of my journeys, in love and support and celebration. Yes, the evening was work. But part of my new journey of work and a celebration of life. I’m the luxury consultant for Zoya, the diamond boutique by the Tata’s. Where the lovers of Zoya’s jewellery art are invited into an air of luxury, to be lavished in private viewing rooms to lose themselves in a magnificent world of inspiration of fine design. Not mere jewellery but a gallery of exquisitely crafted pieces, souvenirs of Zoya’s journey into Spain, Russia, Egypt and now Greece.
So the evening had a lyrical air, where the crystal, marble and glass Maison played host to Bombay’s beautiful people, who so enjoyed the special cuisine – an extravagant Greek Buffet consisting of watermelon & feta on skewers, Tzatziki with lavash, mushrooms marinated in exotic Greek wine, Zucchini croquettes, Greek olives & cheeses, Greek style slow roasted lamb skewers, Greek marinated pan-seared fish seduced the guests with the taste and aromas.
Together with these special people in my life, we unveiled GREECE, the latest collection at Zoya’s Mumbai store, recreating that moment in time when Gods walked in the gardens of Hesperides, Majestic creatures like ‘Pegasus’ the winged horse roamed the heavens and the unparalleled beauty of Helena drove thousands of mortals to war.
Along with Sandeep Kulhalli, Vice President, Jewellery Division, Titan, the extravaganza had the very dapper Ioannis Raptakis , Ambassador of Greece & his vibrant wife Polyxeni Fermani who by the way is since this week part of my special people. Like I said when Beharam Vakil asked me if I’ve known them before, “yes, through other lifetimes, but we’ve only just got reacquainted last week.”
All of us thoroughly enjoyed the evening with fabulous friends, looking stunning. I mean Ioannis and Polyxeni were enthralled at Bombay’s beauty, the champagne set, precious friends India’s ace lawyer Mrunalini Deshmukh, Gautam Tiwari, Dr. Neel, actor Vidya Malvade, singer- star Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Tulip Joshi with Capt Vinod, Mamta Raja, the gorgeous Shama Sikander with her sister Shama, brothers Shah Rukh and Rizwan, music composer Alexx O’Neil, Rashmi Behl, Anjali Hazare, Sangeeta Mehra, Ayesha, Chitu Aunty, Parvez & Roshini Damania, Krishika Lulla, Luke Kenny, Kunika Sadanand, Dalip Tahil, my producer Deepti Bhatnagar with whom I’ve done some great shows on television, television star anchor and host Simi Chandok, social diva Roopa Fabiani, Devieka & Suresh Bhojwani, designer for Rinaldi, Rina Shah, actor Amrita Raichand, Vanita Bhandare, Sangeeta Harindra Singh, CEO Percept, Gia Sharan, Ali & Yasmeen Morani, Maya Lalchandani, Rishikesh Pai & Rishma Pai, Palak, Sammeer Seth, Dipanita Sharma, Pia and Vishal Ramchandani, Dr Geeta and Rajat Uberoi, Monica and Ashish Gupta, cricketer Sunny Bilkha, Jetu Lalwani, Vinita Lekhraj, Sonal, Asha Sachdev, Rajiv Paul, veteran actor Bindujee with her horse racer husband Champak. I don’t think I’d be exaggerating when I say a good time was had by all and the evening looked like everyone wanted it to go on forever!
Creating a new setting, form and design for diamonds, Zoya contemporarized the famed iconography of the Greek medallion inspired design sensibility interpreted in gold, diamonds & precious stones. Sandeep Kulhalli and Arif Padiath, the mentors to the brand along with Jim Vimadalal who runs the show in Bombay were like proud parents discussing the Zoya journey and speaking of the glorious story in craftsmanship as my beautiful friends enjoyed the Grecian models twirling and sashaying in elegantly crafted pieces from the Greece jewellery line – an ode to one of the world’s most ancient civilizations-GREECE-steeped in rich culture & heritage that Zoya has tapped, and is now renowned for.