Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan

Dr Alka Nishar with Hema Malini
Dr. Alka Nishar with Hema Malini

I have to say I was surprised to hear that they’re launching yet another Indo-American cultural association (surely we must have several already!) but this was kinda cool because I got to see Hema Malini perform LIVE with her daughters Esha & Ahana Deol, something magical about that (more pix here). Also the kids from the American School jazz band reminded me of all the high schools I spent my life growing up in all over the world, their music teacher so much like all the super enthu, positive and encouraging teachers I had growing up (shout out to Mr. Pratt from the International Community School of Abidjan in Ivory Coast, he was the vice principal at the American School of Bombay for a while too!) Vidya Balan, always impeccably turned out in her desi best was eloquent and dazzling and apart from a few technical glitches in the sound booth (and wet stage issues which they efficiently sorted via red carpet) it turned out to be quite a fun evening.
Also always nice to see Narendra Kumar (who has exciting plans for me yaay!) and Vikram & Nisha Raizada. I even met the talented Talat Aziz who said he’s seen his picture on my blog, score!
P.S. Oh and Brian Brown tried to show us a party-trick where he pops a lit cigarette into his mouth Rajinikanth style, clearly still a work-in-progress though because he managed to burn both his hand and his jacket without once making the mark, uh oh.

Hema Malini dancing with daughters Esha and Ahana
Hema Malini dancing with daughters Esha and Ahana
Hema Malini with daughters and Alka Nishar
Hema Malini with daughters and Alka Nishar
Paul A. Folmsbee with Vidya Balan and Atul Nishar
Paul A. Folmsbee with Vidya Balan and Atul Nishar
Rocky S with Atul Nishar
Rocky S. with Atul Nishar
Aarti and Kailash Surendranath
Aarti and Kailash Surendranath
Chhaya Momaya
Chhaya Momaya
Shiamak Davar
Shiamak Davar
Narendra Kumar Ahmed
Narendra Kumar Ahmed
Narandra Kumar and friend
Narandra Kumar and Vikram Raizada
Narendra Kumar and friends
Talat Aziz and Narendra Kumar

Also spotted: Chhaya Momaya, Shiamak Davar, Rocky S., Arjun Khanna, Aarti and Kailash Surendranath, Sheriff of Mumbai Indu Shahani, Lilette Dubey and Poonam Dhillon.