Ahead of the wedding season, brides-to-be in the capital were treated to a styling masterclass at Frontier Raas with celebrity stylist and film producer Rhea Kapoor. "Delhi is my soul place. From Aisha that was based in Delhi, Sonam’s character in Khoobsurat to Kareena’s character in Crew, all my films have some connection with Delhi," said Rhea, as she began her first such masterclass.

"Sonam and I were raised in a conservative Punjabi setup. Even though my father (Anil Kapoor) was an actor, my mother (Sunita Kapoor) made sure we didn't go to his sets or attend Bollywood parties or to have cine magazines in the house," shared Rhea on being kept away from her dad's stardom throughout their childhood.

She added, "When I returned to Mumbai after my college and Sonam had become a heroine, being a celebrity stylist was not a job that existed. I was dressing up Sonam anyway. In the 2000s, the idea of a girl expressing herself with fashion was hardly there. For Sonam, fashion was a way to do her own thing and we did it together."

Here's a round up of the masterclass

- Opt for clothes that make you feel the most comfortable.

- There’s no point following a trend that doesn’t suit you.

- Invest in good innerwear, it can help you to look neat. It even affects your posture, how clothes fit and fall on you

- Red can be overwhelming for young brides. Hot pink is a versatile colour for Indian skin. Brides can also go for pastels to experiment Understand the undertone of your skin.

- Choosing an ensemble that’s a shade deeper than your skin’s undertone will enhance your look. So a person with a pink undertone should wear pink

- Hunt for real zari borders, add it to a fabric and use them as second drapes on your wedding ensemble. It adds a sense of drama and balances the silhouette

- Choose a one-of-a-kind highlight piece and let it become the focus

- Mix metals and jewellery types like gold, silver, uncut or cut polki, rose gold, as it gives the jewellery a lot of character

- Dig into your lockers to find the old pieces of jewellery that haven’t been worn in a long time - Weddings are a perfect occasion to embrace heirloom jewellery

- To make sure that the attention is on the face, keep the jewellery balanced

- Hair style must be decided on the basis of your jewellery.

- Open hair can look really good with a bridal look

- Chotis with parandis will look great on brides who opt for traditional looks

- Avoid a messy front. If the neck appears too busy with heavy jewels, pull back the hair from the front and leave it open at the back

Suggesting that brides and their family members embrace their heritage for weddings, Rhea says, “If you are confused about what to wear for your big day, start talking to your grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. Ask them about your ancestors and the region they belong to. Research and discover the crafts and embroideries that come from those regions. Your features are aligned to your roots, so if you opt to wear something that’s a part of your heritage, you’ll look the best in that attire.”

One can also mix and match two crafts from the same region, like bandhani and patola from Gujarat, which will go well with each other, she said at the event held at the ethnicwear brand's South-ex store. "Go timeless for weddings. Choose things that are going to be cool forever, she added.

"I did not buy a single thing for my wedding day. I wore what was comfortable and meaningful to me, like my mom’s uncut pearls set. You will always remember what you carry on your big day," mentioned Rhea.

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“When I was wondering who to go with my three-page pitch, I could only think of Rhea [Kapoor],” says screenwriter Radhika Anand, “My idea was so ridiculous that I didn’t think any other producer [other] than her would have the ba**s to even hear it out. It was love at first sight.” That pitch manifested into Thank You For Coming, which released this Friday.

Starring Bhumi Pednekar and a host of social media creators such as Kusha Kapila and Dolly Alhuwalia, the film directed by Karan Boolani and produced by Rhea Kapoor is about women and their search for the elusive orgasm. “You were so happy last night [at the premiere],” Kapoor squeals excitedly at Anand, who has also written 2023’s Shilpa Shetty Kundra-starrer Sukhee.

“I was going through a moment after Veere Di Wedding. I don’t even do that much press… you know me, you guys have seen me grow up since Aisha. I can’t make movies as projects or to make money,” says Kapoor.

“I want my audiences to have fun, but the movies always have to have some intent. I can’t change my wiring; the only thing that keeps me sane is knowing I am being true to my heart. Radhika’s idea made me feel excitement and fear. I thought ‘OMG, this is the next step’.”

“We needed to speak about this conflict between knowing better and your conditioning—[between] what you are supposed to do, ought to do, and want to do. This movie is like the Hangover, but for orgasms. And Radhika came from a very honest space.”

Kapoor, who has produced Aisha (2010), Khoobsurat (2014) and Veere Di Wedding (2018) has a knack for making it flamboyant yet keeping it real. This is also the first film that doesn’t star her sister, Sonam; but it is the directorial debut of her husband, Boolani who comes from advertising. He has directed ads for Pepsi and Google, and also made the documentary, The Healing Feeling. When we ask Boolani how he prepared himself to direct a female sex comedy written by two women, produced by a woman, and about the female orgasm, he laughs, “I know less about women now!”

But quickly adds, “It was like directing any other movie. In the end, it’s filmmaking. It’s storytelling, and it’s a script. You always look to empathise with the characters. That’s what I did. It’s my first film so I was discovering myself and the tools available to me. And I leaned on my writers and producers for their expertise.”

He admits to have been party to a lot of girl talk, thanks to hanging out with the Kapoor sisters, and their gal pals, which include designer-actor Masaba Gupta and food entrepreneur Pooja Dhingra. Kapoor confesses that the conversations she had with her single friends during the pandemic added to the core of the movie.

“The movie is about connections and relationships—with others and yourself—and sex is a big part of that. This is the story of every girl; this is how we feel. It’s about looking in, and following your voice.”

For Anand, the process of writing with women and for women was, “the most enriching part. Here was a female producer, and my co-writer was [stand-up comedienne] Prashasti Singh. We became a gang. A lot of it does come from personal experience… strange anecdotes from all our lives. For the first time, I didn’t feel even a bit of hesitation for what I was saying in a scene because I knew they would understand.”

This is where Kapoor chimes in with a laugh, “Writing it was such a safe experience. It has been a masterclass in what it feels like to be a woman.”

She is right.

We have gotten used to making male-centric sex comedies, usually starring even the same actors. Remember Tushar Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh in Kyaa Kool Hai Hum? Anand’s case in point: “We were very candid and raw. And yes, this is how women speak, no matter what you think!”

It also doesn’t stoop to male-bashing. “All the men who may have treated the main character badly, also have an arc. There is a reason why they are how they are,” she says.

The ultimate vote of confidence for Boolani came when his mother, who is a cinema buff and watches a movie every Friday, liked it. “She sounded nervous, and I could feel that. But when we organized a screening for her and her friends, she said, ‘OK, this is great. I can ask everyone to see it.’ That’s when I smiled. Phew!”

Radhika Anand, writer, Karan Boolani and Rhea Kapoor

Satiated with her fill of intense content in digital entertainment, director Rajshree Ojha took up Sony LIV’s Potluck to showcase a light-hearted family drama. While shooting during the pandemic brought its challenges, the director counts it as a blessing. “We had limited crew and everyone doubled up to do extra work. The bio-bubble helped the cast bond and get comfortable with each other because they had no choice, and that [camaraderie] translated on screen,” she says.

Since its release in September, Potluck has been widely appreciated. But Ojha has no time to bask in the adulation — she has already moved on to her next. The director, whose Aisha (2010) was based on Jane Austen’s Emma, has gone back to the author’s work. “Jane Austen has always been my favourite author. She is the quintessential rom-com queen in my head, and I love that space. I would love to adapt all her books into movies.”

Her next will be based on Sense And Sensibility (1811), albeit with a twist. “My script is ready. I am now in talks with production houses and talent for the project. [While the core story remains the same], I will be telling it from a millennial girl’s perspective. The world and women’s mindset may have changed, but we’ll never stop wanting romance,” says Ojha.

Ang Lee’s adaptation of Sense And Sensibility (1995) won writer-actor Emma Thompson an Academy Award. Ask her if she is ready for the brickbats, and Ojha says that it comes with the territory. “Criticism doesn’t deter me from doing what I want to do. I love Ang Lee as a filmmaker and storyteller. I can’t even compare. Furthermore, I am just trying to make a fun film,” she says.

Rhea, 27, is Anil and Sunita Kapoor's younger daughter and the producer of the romantic comedy Khoobsurat. She is energetic, spontaneous and restless. She is a control freak, a thinker, who is passionate. She likes working with people her age and encourages her assistants to come and tell her if something is crap. Over an hour-long conversation, she talks to Bombay Times about the pressures of being Anil Kapoor's daughter, her full-of-love sister Sonam and why her life would be a mess without her mother Sunita. Excerpts:

Why did you choose to produce films?
My mother always wanted us to go to non-filmi schools, so we were sent to Arya Vidya Mandir. I am the official nerd of my family and got through on merit into Dhirubhai Ambani school in Class XI from where I moved on to finishing graduation at NYU. I always worked really hard and was interested more in academics and drama. When I was younger, I was shy and was always a sick child. I developed a patch in my lung, which turned into chronic bronchitis, so I always had respiratory issues. Because I did homeopathy, it didn't turn into asthma. I started opening up when I was 12, loved to imitate people and for me, humour and satire was a big thing and I realised that I was comfortable telling jokes. By the time I went to NYU, I was fully insane. My mother had always kept us away from film magazines and news. In fact, trade magazines were banned from our house. My father would be working 24 x 7 and I got close to him only when I was a teenager. But my parents gave me enough confidence that I could explore my creativity. When I returned to India, I met Ayan Mukerji outside a restaurant and he offered me to assist him on Wake Up Sid. As an AD, it solidified everything in my head and I realised that behind the camera was my home. I realised that the actors come, express themselves and go away but they have no control over that material. As a control freak, I knew that I wanted to produce and made Aisha.

Who do you love the most in the world?
My father and my mother are two sides of the same coin, as they have always functioned as a unit. My father has always treated me like a son, not a daughter. My mother has shaped my innerself, right from my conscience to my compassion, however much it is, it has come from her. From my father has come my drive and my work ethic. I get along with anybody and that comes from my dad. Sonam and my younger brother Harsh are my two weaknesses. They are also my best friends and I also chill with them, but they are both ridiculous people.

What is Sonam like?
She is a warm, loving, generous and an impractical person. She doesn't think, she only feels. People say look before you leap, but she just falls over the cliff. My brother is the opposite of her and thinks through everything. But they are both very emotional and sensitive people.

What is your dad Anil Kapoor like?
He is the most intelligent person that I know. He is sharper, wittier, crazier than any one else. No one has seen him completely. He is shy and he is very very kind and gentle, so he is not outwardly himself with everyone. But to me, he inspires me to be the best person. He wants to be the best in everything, be it as an actor, producer, husband or father. And he shows you that it is not being ambitious to be like that, as look at him. He really wants me to go to the gym, as I don't go at all. I am so much like him in many ways. I have taken his temper, which is that I have none. I am really receptive to my dad and try to implement whatever he tells me to. Also, I have so much to be grateful for. My dad has always taught me to look at the positives from every situation.Whether his film was a golden jubilee or a flop, our house felt the same. So from the beginning, we have been taught to react to success and failure the same way and just keep working, keep doing what you love.

What is your mother Sunita Kapoor like?
Sonu is like the most idealistic person ever and the most loving and she is everything to the family. If it wasn't for her, we would all be a disaster. It may be like that for every girl, but I hope I grow up to be someone like that.She is like infallible. She wants me to be and take care of myself and will tell me why don't you go and get a manicure. Doing manicure and pedicure really gets me restless. It's got nothing to do with vanity , but I feel can't do it as I feel trapped and restless. If I am on the phone and emailing, I can get a blow-dry done. I have my girl moments where I want to look pretty and dress up, but that's for me. I can't dress up for creating an image.

With all your cousins and siblings wanting to be stars, were you the odd one out?
No, I have never felt odd and all us cousins have always been super close, be it Arjun, Mohit or Akshay. They are super loving. People tend to glamourise growing up in a film family a bit, but there is a lot that comes with it, both good and bad. I feel that when you are young, it is really important for you to make mistakes and figure it out for yourself. You are supposed to be falling and picking yourself up, finding your way. But when there is a magnifying glass on you, it is difficult to make those mistakes because the mistakes become who you are and they label you, call you several things and that is difficult for any young person. The mistakes that I have made, if Sonam made even half of them, I don't even know what would have happened. Sonam is an outward person, whereas I live in my world. She started working when she was 18, she had to be out there. I started working when I was 21 and made my mistakes that made me stronger and intelligent. Anil Kapoor has taken 35 years to become Anil Kapoor. And so, I feel it's very unfair to expect these kinds of things when you are starting off. Having said that, we are connected and do know people, but the moment you break into it, they expect you to become better than your parent. That I find a little stifling. As a young person, I should be allowed to grow and make mistakes. When you are doing your first film, you can't be a star. Your father will not come in front of the camera for you or give answers for you. Eventually, you have to go and make it on your own. Having grown up in a film family, I was always asked when are you making your debut and that was so irritating, as it was assumed that it is your dream to do that. It's not, but people assume your dreams.

Do people compare Sonam and you?
People say ridiculous things.They sound as if I am riding on her, but that does not affect me as I know who I am and what I do. But forget that, people will write articles on my family and tweet them to me. I want to know if you come from any background, how would you feel if someone said anything wrong about your parents and made sure that you know about it. People don't consider celebrities as humans. Sonam may be an actress, but she is my sister and I love her and feel protective about her and she is a wonderful person and same with my dad. He has kept a reputation in the industry for so long and I just feel that it is hard er than what people think it is.

You are rumoured to be in a long-term relationship. Any plans for marriage?
Not right now, I don't have the bandwidth for it. I love what I do and I have so many amazing things coming up. And I am giving it all my energy and passion.

Sonam said that she loves you the most in the world.
She and I share a very close relationship and we shared the same room till we were 12. We have done everything together our whole life and the bond that both of us have I know will keep getting stronger. We have always organically involved each other in each other's lives. That's how styling happened. We share all our personal details related to our affairs and everything else. In fact, she will tell me details that I don't want to know, as it's so boring but she will say, 'Listen to me. Talk to me.' And we do and even if she doesn't, I can see it on her face. I too am sensitive like her, but she is more emotional. She is sometimes the only one who can see my face and tell if I am upset. I am not a public crier, she cries on everything. A few weeks back, my mausie's daughter got engaged and she was crying. Now I don't even look at her and will just give her a tissue.

Who is your emotional anchor?
A lot of it is my mom. Sonam is always my surprise anchor. She is so much better in a crisis than in normal life. When it comes to everyday life, she is just sailing along and going with the flow, but she is a chhupa rustam anchor. If something will really be going down, she will be the saviour. She is just a ball of love.
If she could take all the shit she owns, put in a car and give it to me, she would.