Mumbai is in the thick of the fashion world with Lakmé Fashion Week, wrapping up five days of catwalk presentations on Tuesday. It began on Friday with a show by budding young designers including Asa Kazingmei and his collection inspired by fabrics from India's northeastern Naga Tribe. Krishna Mehta presented a mix of traditional and modern bridal wear. While there were a few lehengas and saris in her collection, she also had some modern pieces including a sari kimono with elaborate stitching, and jackets and blouses with lace cutwork. Shyamal and Bhumika Shodhan dubbed their festive collection Maharaja, paying homage to the grandeur and glory of royalty. The collection hearkened back to the Mughal era, with a colour palette of jade, purple and gold. The luxury beachwear brand Shivan & Narresh offered a collection inspired by horses, with fabric inspired by the gloss of equine skin. The label also presented its take on a sari bikini and a piece of clothing it called the Kafsuit - a kaftan-inspired swimsuit. * AP
Al Jabri named the director of Abu Dhabi Film Festival
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival has named Ali Al Jabri as its new director, replacing the festival veteran Peter Scarlet. Al Jabri was previously the director of the festival's Emirates Film Competition and worked closely with Scarlet during the last five years. Noura Al Kaabi, the CEO of twofour54, told Variety magazine: "Today is a very important milestone in the event's history. Ali has been instrumental in developing the Emirates Film Competition, and we are sure he will bring the same level of passion and enthusiasm to his new role." Before heading the ADFF since its launch in 2007, Al Jabri's predecessor Scarlet ran the San Francisco International Film Festival for nearly two decades, then served as the creative director of the Tribeca Film Festival from 2002 to 2009. This year's festival will take place in the capital from October 11 to 20.
Shah Rukh Khan talks about his work with Bollywood newcomers
The Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be seen sharing the big screen with the younger stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in his forthcoming yet-to-be-titled film directed by Yash Chopra. Speaking on Monday, the 46-year-old actor said working with Kaif, 28, and Sharma, 24, is a learning experience: "It's been a pleasure and an honour. It's wonderful to work with actors who come with a new language and a new way of doing scenes. The other day I was in Yash Raj Films [the movie's production studio] and I was told by my director that my acting style is different from before. It changed, hopefully for the better. This is one of the biggest compliments, maybe due to working with younger actors. I'm learning from them." * IANS