Showing posts with label Ed Sheeran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ed Sheeran. Show all posts
Meet Rushina Mehrotra, the entrepreneur behind Kiara Advani's 'born to shop' birthday cake
2:10 PM
From edible chandeliers to Farah Khan’s inside jokes disguised as chocolate sponge, Rushina Mehrotra turns celebrations and stories into scrumptious cake
Nisrin Saria (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 21, 2026)
A chandelier glows above the stage, its crystal droplets catching the light and sending it pouring over white feathers and fresh flowers that emerge from its centre. As the bride and groom make an entrance, it lowers slowly over the dance floor and the room gasps as one. Nothing about its framework would suggest that under the glass and blooms sit hidden tiers of deliciously moist chocolate cake, one of Rushina Mehrotra’s edible engineering marvels.
Mehrotra, 47, has spent the past 16 years building cakes for everyone from the Ambanis to Bollywood names such as Shahid Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Farah Khan. Yet the founder of Andheri-based Daffodils Creations still describes her career as a happy accident. “I always wanted to start a business of my own, but I wasn’t sure what line I would work in,” she says.
From Mithais to an MBA
She was no stranger to the world of entrepreneurship. Mehrotra grew up in a family where sweets were part of everyday life. Her father, Hasmukh Bhimjiyani, is the force behind Trupti Sweets, one of Mumbai’s longstanding mithai institutions, and conversations at home often drifted from family matters to discussions about quality, customers and the realities of running a business. “Growing up in that environment naturally influenced me,” she says.
But she was also drawn to sport. Back when she was a student at The Bai BS Bengallee Girl’s High School, in Churchgate, she spent hours at the National Sports Club of India in Worli, where she played snooker with her father.
What began as a father-daughter pastime soon turned competitive. Mehrotra went on to play at the national level during an era when women’s snooker in India was still a rarity. “There were probably fewer than ten women competing across the country at the time,” she says.
She even remembers defeating Anuja Thakur, the reigning national champion, a result that remains one of her proudest sporting achievements.
If her business instincts came from her father, she credits her creative side to her mother, Sudha. “She was a homemaker, but had an artistic bent”, Mehrotra says, of Sudha, who would handcraft Ganpati idols at home each year during the festival season.
An MBA in marketing at MET university in 2002 led to nearly a decade in corporate roles, but after the birth of her first child Aaryaman, now 17, she began to question that path. “I could have continued juggling work and family, but it didn’t feel fulfilling,” she says. Around the same time, she began noticing customized cakes gain traction abroad. They were becoming expressions of personality over just desserts. India, she suspected, would not be far behind.
The cake that changed it all
That’s what led to the launch of Daffodils Creations in 2009, “from a small kitchen inside the Trupti factory in CP Tank,” which, often, just delivered one order a week. Things changed in 2011, when filmmaker Farah Khan tried one of her cakes at a party and commissioned one for Abhishek Bachchan’s birthday: a giant burger built around an inside joke, complete with fries, pizza and soda on the side.
“That order gave me the confidence to quit my job and pursue baking full-time,” Mehrotra says. Khan became a regular client and opened doors to a wider circle, resulting in commissions for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s productions to a life-sized guitar cake made for Ed Sheeran during a visit to Khan’s home.
Her husband, Amit, backed the leap, helping her set up a 250-square-foot studio in Andheri, closer to her marital home. “That gave me the freedom to build the business without financial pressure,” she says, of the studio that has, since, grown into an 1,800-square-foot operation with a team of 15, its own delivery service, and a weekly output of 150 to 200 cakes alongside dessert tables of macarons, cookies, doughnuts and French entremets.
The business of wonder
One features a gym enthusiast mid-workout; another balances a construction-themed cake atop a boy performing a headstand. An ocean-inspired creation relies on the tentacles of a giant orange octopus to create the illusion that the entire structure is suspended in mid-air. Her goal isn’t just to make a cake look realistic; she wants it to feel alive.
That ambition often demands as much engineering as artistry. For Prithvi Ambani’s third birthday, son of Shloka and Akash Ambani, Mehrotra transformed a venue into a sugar-dusted Candyland. At its centre stood a jellybean globe surrounded by balancing figures, towering lollipops and gravity-defying sweets. For Kiara Advani, commissioned by Sidharth Malhotra’s team, she created a “Born to Shop” cake complete with miniature Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana storefronts.
Behind every creation lies a lengthy planning process. “Ironically, the planning often takes longer than making the cake itself,” she says. Conversations with clients can stretch across days as details about the occasion, guest list and personality of the celebrant are translated into a design.
For all the attention her creations attract, flavour remains non-negotiable. Belgian chocolate remains the bestseller because, as Mehrotra says, “it’s a crowd-pleaser”. Smaller gatherings leave more room for experimentation. Pistachio raspberry, Biscoff mango and mango ras malai rank among her most popular combinations, the last drawing inspiration from her family’s confectionery roots.
At home, conversely, there is no extravagance. Despite growing up surrounded by some of the city’s most elaborate cakes, her sons Aaryaman and Riaan, 11, are happiest with simple birthday cakes like cheesecakes.
And to her, after all these years, what still matters most are the reactions. The videos and messages that arrive after a celebration remind her why she began. “A cake is so much more than dessert,” she says. Each one is built for a moment that cannot be repeated: a child celebrating their birthday, a family reunited around a table, and a couple stepping into a new chapter. By the end of the night, little remains except crumbs and photographs. Yet those moments have a way of staying put, long after the sugar has melted away. “And that’s what makes it so magical,” she says.
Retirement first step in Arijit Singh's new journey; singer builds an indie life from small-town Bengal
10:35 AM
Retirement from Bollywood is just the first step in Arijit Singh's new journey, as he builds an indie life from small-town Bengal
Shamayita Chakraborty (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 1, 2026)
Heshel—a small restaurant serving fish-chicken-dal-rice meals at budget-friendly prices—is an unlikely place to come looking for Arijit Singh. The eatery sits bang on the side of a busy road in Jiaganj, a sleepy riverside town about 240 km from Kolkata, that’s stitched together by narrow, winding lanes, old houses and tea stalls. Jiaganj is far, far away from the glitter of Bollywood parties, where gossip mingles over tinkling glasses of Chardonnay.
But earlier this week, as the world woke up to one of India's most prolific playback singers announcing his sudden retirement, and social media chatter filled with laments and why-nows, the only place to look for the reclusive, enigmatic Arijit was here, in Jiaganj.
Far away from the madding, maddening crowd of Hindi cinema. Heshel is an eatery run by Arijit’s father, Kakkar Singh. The regular clients, mostly students and local workers quietly enjoying their midday meals on a sleepy Saturday afternoon, seem oblivious to Kakkar’s famous progeny, who can often be seen riding around Jiaganj on his scooty. Kakkar, his brother and his son can be found at the eatery at any time, running the business without any fuss.
“His father just took a ferry to cross the river to go to Azimganj,” says Premnath Chowdhury, a sailor of Shibtala Ghat by the Bhagirathi river.
Jiaganj’s most famous “ordinary man”
“Arijit and his family walk around the town just like we do. His sons go to local schools. He rides his scooty, enjoys tea from roadside shacks and smiles, nods and talks when he sees known faces. Isn’t that normal?” asks Premnath, who plays football at a local field that is maintained by Arijit and his friends.
Evidently, Arijit takes his gigantic fame really lightly. His four-storey house is located in the middle of a narrow alley. This is his new house. He grew up in another house just behind the new one.
“He bought another house between his old and new house and joined all the houses to have a free and private passageway—just like his mother wanted it to be,” said Shampa Kundu, his mother’s childhood friend.
Arijit runs errands on his scooty. He runs an NGO, Tatwamasi Foundation, under which he has established an arts residency space, ‘Aditi Sur Sadanalaya’, named after his mother. He is also building a hospital. He is always there for the local people—his neighbours and friends. And he makes music from the not-so-spacious lanes of this town. Mumbai musicians who want to work with him must visit him in this town in Murshidabad, the town where it all began. But there is no hotel here. That means anyone who wants a glimpse of the musician has to stay overnight some 30 km away.
Where the music began
Arijit was a four-year-old when his mother took him to his Gurukul—the Hazari-bari of Debipur. He started his music training under Rajendra Prasad Hazari and his brothers Dhirendra Prasad Hazari and Birendra Prasad Hazari.
Dhirendra taught him tabla, while the other two brothers trained him in vocals. The house that taught music to hundreds of children now stands still on a field. The gurus are all gone but Arijit never forgets to pay tribute to his gurumas, Kalpana and Swagata—wives of Rajendra and Dhirendra, who welcome us with a broad smile.
“He calls us dida (grandmother). Before Shomu (almost everyone in Jiaganj refers to Arijit as Shomu), it was his mother Aditi and her sister Papri who used to learn music here and in the school, Murchhana. When he joined, he was the cutest,” recalls Swagata, adding, “He was calm and polite, without an iota of mischief. My husband always pointed out that he had an outstanding ability to capture music. Arijit is gifted.” Recently, at a classical concert hosted by the musician, Arijit felicitated his gurumas. Humble is that one word that defines Shomu largely,” says Kalpana.
“He is an extraordinarily talented human being and yet lives a humble life. His clothes, house, vehicle—everything is like ordinary people. His quirks are, perhaps, less ordinary: he has christened each guitar he owns. One is named Jhora, then there are Jhuma and Sanjbhati and so on. He visits us like he used to. Maybe not as often, but the warmth is still there.”
His gurus have a deep influence in Arijit’s life. Rajendra passed away when Arijit was performing in Fame Gurukul. “My husband saw his success. It was like seeing his son conquering the world. His pride was enormous,” remembers Swagata.
Shampa’s sister and Arijit went to Murchhana together. “He was so small then that he could not reach the harmonium blower. My sister used to help,” remembers Shampa fondly. “Aditi and I went to the same school, literally grew up together. Shomu grew up around us. But I am not sure if Shomu will be happy to see me talking about him. He is a private man and doesn’t like to talk about himself,” she says.
A fiercely private person
That is the general feeling you get from his friends. Everyone talks about him proudly but no one wants to be quoted in a newspaper article. “He does not like to talk about himself,” says Shampa. “We all love him so fondly that we cannot stop talking about him,” she adds.
Ever since Arijit announced his retirement from playback music, the town has filled up with journalists and photographers. Like Arijit, Jiaganj also takes fame lightly. Earlier, locals played badminton with Salim Merchant, silently welcomed Badshah sans the fanaticism, and waved politely at Grammy-winning Ed Sheeran when he travels with Arijit on his scooty. Perhaps because of this chilled out attitude of the town, Arijit could manage to live the life he wanted to.
Singer Ujjaini Mukherjee is a friend of Arijit. Both of them began their journey in Mumbai decades ago. “We, the Bengali musicians, used to live together and jam together whenever possible. We were teenagers then. He first taught me that one can sing, arrange and produce their own music,” she recalls.
“One day he made me sing a Rabindrasangeet, recorded it and within hours made a fabulous piece,” she remembers. According to Ujjaini, Arijit has never been an extroverted person.
“He used to take time to open up. But he had a very strong sense of boundaries. I remember I visited him in Jiaganj once. A local lad came forward to take a selfie. He stopped him and firmly said, ‘Some other time. You see me all the time’. And the boy stopped. I think it is because of his clear sense of boundaries, he could actually manage to live a sane, normal life despite his insane stardom,” she says.
Enormous fandom
Arijit experiences stardom that very few people do. A fan, under the condition of anonymity, said, “Initially, he discouraged any fan club. Till today, we don’t have any registered fan club. But there are fans across India and abroad. We often travel to his concerts. No one from Arijit’s team gets involved in it. We did a reunion once at an Ahmedabad concert. If Arijit sees any of us from the stage he acknowledges.”
Is it normal for a celebrity of Arijit’s stature to live a life of a plebeian? Well, is it even normal for an artiste to retire from playback – the most lucrative performance for a musician—in their prime? That’s Arijit Singh for us. He could give up the comfort of Mumbai at his peak then and settle down in Jiagunj. He could bid adieu to playback singing in Bollywood now and invest in independent music. And it is equally effortless for him to live an ‘uncelebrity-like’ life in Jiaganj—away from the glitz of the film industry.
People who know Arijit closely say such decisions are well thought out. He is very sure of what he wants to do. Arijit is a through-and-through artiste. His music will flow as it always has. ‘A lot is in store,’ he promises. But what does it really mean to retire from playback music? For a musician, especially a singer, a lot depends on live shows. More hit numbers mean more popularity and hence, demand for shows. Bollywood playback ensures a few nationwide hit numbers every year. When one stops doing playback, the number of hits may just dip. But numbers don’t seem to define him.
According to composer Joy Sarkar, Arijit will have a lot more to offer than a few playback songs. “One of the problems in the Indian music scene is that it is largely defined by film music. Let’s not forget, the history of Indian music is thousands of years old, while the journey of film music started less than a century ago. I know Arijit as a musician, not just a singer. He will create magic,” adds Joy.
Anayra did what nobody could...improve my English-Kapil Sharma
8:44 AM
Kapil Sharma with his daughter Anayra Sharma Picture courtesy: Prathamesh Bandekar
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; September 22, 2024)
It is way past Anayra’s bedtime, however, the four-year-old is brimming with joy to pose for the BT lens with her father, actor-comedian Kapil Sharma. As we enter Kapil’s penthouse in Mumbai, Anayra, like a little tornado, welcomes us.
“She loves to get clicked. She is usually asleep by this time, but today she is excited about the shoot,” says Kapil, who has just returned home from the shoot of his comedy show, The Great Indian Kapil Show.
On Daughter’s Day, Kapil talks about the beautiful bond between a father and a daughter. Excerpts:
‘I feel Anayra is growing up too fast’
Anayra was three months old when the pandemic struck. The following months gave Kapil an opportunity to spend time with his firstborn. He gladly traded his mic for diaper duties. “Right from getting her to burp to putting her to sleep at 5 am, I have done everything. When I see her now, I often feel she is growing up too fast,” Kapil says.
Talking about their equation, he shares, “I had always heard ki ek baap aur beti ka pyaar alag hi hota hai. Once you become a father to a daughter, you realize that the love between the two is unparalleled; it is a natural connection. She is the most precious thing to me. She is my biggest blessing. Woh ghar ki raunak hai. Hamare ghar mein betiyon ko hamesha zyaada pyaar mila hai. Now I know why.”
‘I plan my schedule in such a way that I get time to spend with my kids’
Kapil admits that his social circle has shrunk, and he now prefers spending quality time at home, all because of his children, Anayra and Trishaan. As he reflects on the transformative power of fatherhood, he shares, “There are so many positive changes in my life, which have happened organically. My circle of friends has changed. I feel like spending more time at home. Talking to Anayra is like meditation. I have also become far more disciplined.”
This newfound sense of discipline has even turned Kapil into an early riser, a feat neither his parents nor wife Ginni could achieve. “Mujhe meri neend badi pyaari hai, but I wake up to bid her goodbye when she leaves for school. I also plan my schedule in such a way that I get time to spend with my kids,” he adds.
'She makes me laugh the most'
Interestingly, the comedian who has been making everyone laugh at his jokes since decades, found it difficult to make his daughter laugh at home. “When she was a child, it was only Ginni who would make her laugh. And I would wonder, main puri duniya ko hasa raha hoon aur meri khud ki beti is not laughing at me. But she is the one who makes me laugh the most. She is very funny,” he mentions.
‘Anayra has done what no school could - improve my English’
Kapil’s sleeping schedule isn’t the only thing his daughter has improved. “What the universities and colleges couldn’t do, Anayra has managed to do! She has helped me improve my English,” he quips. “When Ed Sheeran was coming on my show, I knew a couple of his songs, but it was Anayra who was excited to meet him. I remember she was sweetly singing his song Shape Of You,” he reveals.
‘My daughter thinks I am a hero’
At 43, Kapil says his children inspire him to do better work. “I am more motivated to do good work so that they understand that papa was not just doing frivolous things,” he says. Ask him if Anayra is aware of his popularity, and he replies, “She knows who I am because her teachers often ask her if she is Kapil Sharma’s daughter. She thinks I am a hero. She once asked, ‘Papa, why do you work?’ to which I replied, ‘To earn money and buy you frocks.’ One day, when I packed up early, Anayra asked, ‘Aaj paise kamayee aapne?’,” he laughs.
Being in love has changed everything for me-Armaan Malik
9:27 PM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 22, 2024)
As a performer, this has been a great year for singer Armaan Malik so far. He shared the stage with international artistes such as Eric Nam, Lauv, and more recently, Ed Sheeran. “It’s been quite a hallmark year for me from a live concert perspective, because I have had the opportunity to do something that probably very few Indian artistes have got,” says Malik.
Besides work, things have been great for him on the personal front too, as he got engaged to influencer Aashna Shroff in October last year. Malik says being in love and getting engaged has impacted his music. “Being in love has changed everything for me. When you are engaged, it’s such a big step in your personal life. It is bound to have an impact on you as an artiste,” says the singer.
Malik, who turns 29 today, adds, “When I sing today, I feel every single word. I don’t think that was true years back when I was not with Aashna. The words of my songs have taken a deeper meaning because of my love life and relationship.”
Ask about his birthday plans, and Malik says, “I am a big foodie, so I would have South Indian for breakfast and Italian for lunch. I have planned different things with everyone. So one is with family, one is with friends and one is with Aashna.”
Since I’ve come to India, I’ve tried to keep up with Bollywood. I’ve watched Street Dancer 3D-Ed Sheeran
3:52 PM
In a candid chat with HT City, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran talks about his love for India and his wish to try some desi food
Shweta Sunny (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 14, 2024)
It’s the third time Ed Sheeran is visiting India, for his culminating concert of +–=÷× (The Mathematics Tour) Asia tour on March 16 in Mumbai, and he still feels excited! The singer-songwriter reveals, “Every time I come back here, it feels more exciting. It wasn’t until 2015, when I came here for the first time, that I realised people really like my music here. Now, it’s clear that India is my biggest market.”
When asked if he follows Bollywood, the 33-year-old tells us, “The first time I came here, I met quite a lot of people from Bollywood. Since I’ve come here, I’ve tried to keep up with it. I’ve watched Street Dancer 3D (2020). Usually, I watch Bollywood films when I am travelling on a plane.”
Of course, most of the singer’s Indian fans are interested in knowing if he would be composing a Hindi film song. To this Sheeran says, “I would love to compose a Bollywood song. I’m meeting people this week to discuss that. Your culture is so vibrant and fun. So, I’d love to be involved.”
While Sheeran had planned to perform in other Indian cities along with Mumbai, it couldn’t work out this time. “I think we’ll come back and do Delhi and Bengaluru next time,” shares the Perfect hitmaker, who is in the bay for a week ahead of his performance at the Mahalaxmi Race Course ground on Saturday. He’s been making the most of his visit by going a local school, where he jammed to Shape of You with the kids.
On Tuesday night, he went to a Mumbai-based club with singer Armaan Malik. A viral video showed the two grooving to the latter’s Telugu hit Butta Bomma (Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, 2020).
For any international musician visiting India, exploring street food is a must. Sharing the same feelings, Sheeran says, “That is the one thing that I’m going to do this week. I’ve got a few friends who are Indian chefs. They are going to tell me where to go.”
Ed Sheeran was touched when I gave him pinni made by my mother-Ayushmann Khurrana
2:50 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 14, 2024)
Ayushmann Khurrana met Ed Sheeran, who currently is in Mumbai for his upcoming concert. Sharing a picture of his meeting with the English singer-songwriter on social media, the actor wrote, “A Polaroid keepsake from my time with Ed. Great meeting you (sic).”
Talking to Bombay Times, Ayushmann said, “Ed is a simple guy, and he believes in taking risks. We jammed over our playlist, and not just that, we even shared our upcoming music… that was really exciting. My son Virajveer had performed Ed Sheeran’s song Bad Habits with his band at a school concert, and so, he was thrilled to meet Ed. He idiolises him and was over the moon.”
Ayushmann, who is extremely passionate about music and has many songs, said that his favourite Ed Sheeran numbers are Shape of You, Photograph and Bad Habits. He added, “These songs belong to different genres. He was the first one to explore Afro beats with Shape of You and Bad Habits, which is so unlike him. He tries to be different and nails it every single time, which is incredible.”
During their conversation, Ed also spoke about what brings him back to India. Ayushmann shared, “Ed is in love with India. This is his third tour. He is so fascinated with the country that he keeps coming back here. He likes the vibe and energy here.”
Giving the meeting a personal touch, Ayushmann got Ed some homemade pinni. He says, “I gave him pinni (a Punjabi delicacy) made by my mom. Athithi Devo Bhava is a philosophy that has been ingrained in me since childhood and I look forward to sharing our cultural experiences with people who are visiting India. So, I decided to greet him with the sweet which I savour. I told him about how this is a staple delicacy in Punjabi households, especially during festivities and when guests visit us. Ed was touched by the gesture, especially because I told him that my mom made it at home when she learnt that I would be meeting him.”
Ed Sheeran and I are not restricted to one style-Armaan Malik
8:15 AM
Ecstatic to collaborate with Sheeran on 2Step, Armaan discusses how the Brit icon and he have a shared love for experimentation
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; June 8, 2022)
We tell Armaan Malik that he’s one step closer to his dream collaboration with Charlie Puth. “Actually, two steps,” he laughs, referring to his latest collaboration with Ed Sheeran, 2Step. The celebrated British singer has long featured in the list of pop icons Malik hoped to collaborate with. However, the singer-songwriter didn’t imagine that his dream would be realised so early on in his career.
In 2020, Malik made a splash in the world of English music with Control, following it up with How many and You, among others. His hits presumably made him an ideal choice for the international collaboration. Asked about the inception of the remix, the singer says, “2Step is already on Ed’s album, Equal. In it, he speaks of the lows he has faced as an artiste, and finding strength in those he loved. Since he is so passionate about this song, he wanted to reach out to different artistes across the world. His team reached out to Warner Music India, who identified me as the person they wanted to collaborate with.”
To Malik, his version of 2Step is his most personal work to date. “I was excited to talk about what I’ve gone through as an artiste. A lot of stuff that was bottled up has been presented in this remix with Ed that we worked on, in a short span of time.”
That the song may open doors for more Indian musicians is not lost on him. “I count this as a win for every Indian artiste. It [could be] a gateway for similar opportunities.”
Since his debut album Plus, “man with the guitar” Sheeran has emerged as a force to reckon with across the globe. Having teamed up with him, Malik is delighted to notice that the two musical minds have a shared love for experimentation. “He never sticks to one genre, and is always trying out new things, be it with Perfect [2017], Thinking Out Loud [2014], or The A-team [2011]. I am also often asked about approaching different genres. That’s how I would like it to be, because I don’t want to be restricted to one style of music.”
With the latest number, he has ventured into uncharted territory. “It has a hip-hop feel to it. I [had to] bend my artistry, and let people hear me in a manner that they haven’t so far. When you get a collaborator like Ed who gives you space, you enjoy the freedom to be as creative as you like.”
Post concert, Ed Sheeran gorges on paneer bhurji, garlic naan, chole bhature, biryani and chicken tikka
7:52 AM
Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; November 21, 2017)
After a successful gig on Sunday night, Ed Sheeran didn’t do what Justin Bieber did to the event organizers and his fans in May. While the Canadian, who was supposed to travel across India after his show, made a hush-hush exit from the country, the Shape Of You singer chose to explore by way of experimenting with the country’s culinary treats.
A source reveals, “Ed retreated to his hotel after the show. Having tasted Indian fare at Farah’s [Khan] party, he was keen to try out more delicacies. He gorged on dishes like paneer bhurji, garlic naan, chole bhature, biryani and chicken tikka.”
The singer also took the time out to interact with some of his fans. “He met three physically challenged teenagers, who had dropped in at his hotel.”
As Sheeran headed out to Dubai last morning, we hear he took the blue kurta that he sported at the gig, with him as a memento. The source adds, “The kurta was gifted by Farzana Cama Balpande of [ NGO] BookASmile. He loved it so much that he took it along.”
Farah Khan teaches Ed Sheeran desi moves, gifts him a sherwani
7:57 AM
The choreographer's party for the Brit was a lot of naach-gaana, khana and khilana
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 20, 2017)
The pool-side terrace lawn of Farah Khan's suburban residence was lit
up in blue and white with a lavish buffet of continental, oriental and
Indian delicacies for her filmi friends and British singer and
songwriter Ed Sheeran, who arrived in Mumbai on Friday for a concert
that is a part of his Divide Album Asia tour. Farah had spent two days
finalising the sumptuous menu, making sure that all of Ed's desi
favourites, including spicy curries, were prepared to perfection.
Baker extraordinaire, Rushina, created a life-sized chocolate and
butterscotch "standing guitar cake" on Farah's orders — a replica of
Ed's signature guitar. The singer was impressed with the detailing on
the cake, which also featured a side 'x' sticker that's on his guitar
too.
"It was an insane night as Govinda's hit tracks, including
the Coolie No. 1 chartbuster "Main To Raste Se Ja Raha Tha" to "O Lal
Dupattewali Tera Naam To Bata" from Aankhen played on. Farah and Ed had
everyone on their feet," laughs a guest from the bash which continued
until sunrise.
Farah donned her choreographer hat and had Ed
dancing to songs from her directorial, Om Shanti Om and tracks by
rappers Honey Singh and Badshah. She laughed that "Ed is in love with
the shape of me!" Farah called out to Vishal Dadlani when "Malhari" from
Bajirao Mastani came on and was quick to inform Ed that the
singer-composer had delivered this chartbuster. By the end of the night,
the Brit admited to being completely in love with India and joked that
he was ready for his Bollywood debut," the source added.
Shah
Rukh Khan arrived later in the night, as did his co-star Katrina Kaif
(the duo is presently shooting for Aanand L Rai's dwarf film together),
and were received with kisses from the hostess who got them dancing
immediately. Farah later shared a picture of herself getting cheeky with
the badshah with the caption, "Any chance to kiss my handsome friend...
always the highlight of any party... loving the shape of you since 25
years."
Also at the receiving end of her kisses were Shahid Kapoor and wife Mira Rajput who made a quick entry and exit, making sure to shake a leg with Shahid's younger brother, Ishaan Khatter. Ishaan stayed close to his Dhadak co-star Janhvi, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor's daughter, as also Sara, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh's first-born.
Abhishek Bachchan, who had hosted the ginger-haired singer during his
2015 Mumbai tour, arrived with close friend Sikander Kher and
brother-in-law Kunal Kapoor. Athiya Shetty drove in with Mubarakan
costar Ileana D'Cruz, Sushant Singh Rajput arrived with Kriti Sanon and
Rajkummar Rao with girlfriend Patralekha. Other guests included Karan
Johar, Punit Malhotra, Malaika Arora Khan, Bhumi Pednekar and Neha
Dhupia. Aftab Shivdasani with wife Nin Dosanj, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor,
Nandita Mahtani, Rhea Kapoor, Rahul Khanna, Goldie Behl with
actresswife Sonali Bendre, Shaan, Shreyas Talpade, Vikram Phadnis,
Harshvardhan Rane and Aditya Thakarey were there too.
Farah had
also invited all the participants and crew members from her TV reality
show, Lip Sing Battle, as well as brother Sajid Khan, who she took
several digs at, starting with, "How about showing Ed Housefull!" The
Khan siblings were at their hilarious best, laughing over some of
Bollywood's biggest flops and pointing out to Ed that many of them were
created by guests at the party. "Farah's triplets — Diva, Anya and Czar —
who are fans of the "Thinking Out Loud" hit-maker were fast asleep
downstairs while the party rocked on the terrace. Ed decided to surprise
them and the 10-year-olds had a meet-and-greet session with the special
guest in their bedroom. "It was beautiful," smiles the source.
While many stars handed Ed and his team souvenirs from India and letters from fans as they queued up for selfies, the singer's eyes lit-up when Farah handed him her special present — a custom-made Manish Malhotra sherwani.
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 20, 2017)
The pool-side terrace lawn of Farah Khan's suburban residence was lit
up in blue and white with a lavish buffet of continental, oriental and
Indian delicacies for her filmi friends and British singer and
songwriter Ed Sheeran, who arrived in Mumbai on Friday for a concert
that is a part of his Divide Album Asia tour. Farah had spent two days
finalising the sumptuous menu, making sure that all of Ed's desi
favourites, including spicy curries, were prepared to perfection.
Baker extraordinaire, Rushina, created a life-sized chocolate and
butterscotch "standing guitar cake" on Farah's orders — a replica of
Ed's signature guitar. The singer was impressed with the detailing on
the cake, which also featured a side 'x' sticker that's on his guitar
too.
"It was an insane night as Govinda's hit tracks, including
the Coolie No. 1 chartbuster "Main To Raste Se Ja Raha Tha" to "O Lal
Dupattewali Tera Naam To Bata" from Aankhen played on. Farah and Ed had
everyone on their feet," laughs a guest from the bash which continued
until sunrise.
Farah donned her choreographer hat and had Ed
dancing to songs from her directorial, Om Shanti Om and tracks by
rappers Honey Singh and Badshah. She laughed that "Ed is in love with
the shape of me!" Farah called out to Vishal Dadlani when "Malhari" from
Bajirao Mastani came on and was quick to inform Ed that the
singer-composer had delivered this chartbuster. By the end of the night,
the Brit admited to being completely in love with India and joked that
he was ready for his Bollywood debut," the source added.
Shah
Rukh Khan arrived later in the night, as did his co-star Katrina Kaif
(the duo is presently shooting for Aanand L Rai's dwarf film together),
and were received with kisses from the hostess who got them dancing
immediately. Farah later shared a picture of herself getting cheeky with
the badshah with the caption, "Any chance to kiss my handsome friend...
always the highlight of any party... loving the shape of you since 25
years."Also at the receiving end of her kisses were Shahid Kapoor and wife Mira Rajput who made a quick entry and exit, making sure to shake a leg with Shahid's younger brother, Ishaan Khatter. Ishaan stayed close to his Dhadak co-star Janhvi, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor's daughter, as also Sara, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh's first-born.
Abhishek Bachchan, who had hosted the ginger-haired singer during his
2015 Mumbai tour, arrived with close friend Sikander Kher and
brother-in-law Kunal Kapoor. Athiya Shetty drove in with Mubarakan
costar Ileana D'Cruz, Sushant Singh Rajput arrived with Kriti Sanon and
Rajkummar Rao with girlfriend Patralekha. Other guests included Karan
Johar, Punit Malhotra, Malaika Arora Khan, Bhumi Pednekar and Neha
Dhupia. Aftab Shivdasani with wife Nin Dosanj, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor,
Nandita Mahtani, Rhea Kapoor, Rahul Khanna, Goldie Behl with
actresswife Sonali Bendre, Shaan, Shreyas Talpade, Vikram Phadnis,
Harshvardhan Rane and Aditya Thakarey were there too.
Farah had
also invited all the participants and crew members from her TV reality
show, Lip Sing Battle, as well as brother Sajid Khan, who she took
several digs at, starting with, "How about showing Ed Housefull!" The
Khan siblings were at their hilarious best, laughing over some of
Bollywood's biggest flops and pointing out to Ed that many of them were
created by guests at the party. "Farah's triplets — Diva, Anya and Czar —
who are fans of the "Thinking Out Loud" hit-maker were fast asleep
downstairs while the party rocked on the terrace. Ed decided to surprise
them and the 10-year-olds had a meet-and-greet session with the special
guest in their bedroom. "It was beautiful," smiles the source.While many stars handed Ed and his team souvenirs from India and letters from fans as they queued up for selfies, the singer's eyes lit-up when Farah handed him her special present — a custom-made Manish Malhotra sherwani.
Farah Khan to host Bollywood bash for Ed Sheeran?
7:59 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 18, 2017)
Before he gives Mumbai a taste of his unmatched singing skills, Ed Sheeran will get a taste of desi mehman-nawaazi. And that too, from the ones who do it best — our Bollywood stars. Midday has it that Farah Khan will be hosting a lavish rooftop party for
The Shape Of You hitmaker tonight at her Andheri residence.
Understandably, the who’s who of B-Town — including her friends Deepika
Padukone, Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt — will be in attendance.A source close to the choreographer-director reveals, “Initially, she toyed with the idea of throwing the bash at a suburban five star. But, on second thoughts, she wanted to give it a personal touch. So she went ahead with the idea of having it on the terrace of her high rise.”
The source adds that Khan has put together a desi culinary treat for the Brit sensation, with whom she forged a friendship during his last visit to India in 2015. “Special chefs have been flown down from Hyderabad to prepare mutton biryani and chicken tikka, among other Indian delicacies.”
Sheeran is no stranger to Bollywood stars — the Bachchans had hosted a gala at their residence during his last visit. This time too, the guest list is expected to be as star-studded. “Deepika Padukone, Karan Jhar, Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Sushant Singh Rajput and Malaika Arora are expected. Shah Rukh Khan too might drop in. Farah has also lined up a surprise performance for him which will be the highlight of the party,” adds the source.
The do will kickstart early evening as Sheeran wants to be well-rested for his gig tomorrow. After his performance, he will head to Antilia, where Nita and Mukesh Ambani are said to host the after-party.
Compared to Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran has modest set of demands?
7:34 AM
Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; November 17, 2017)
When Justin Bieber visited India in May, his endless list of requirements included a convoy of 10 luxury sedans, a yoga casket containing aromatic essential oils, a dressing room draped with white curtains and a Jacuzzi backstage, among many other things. In stark contrast, Ed Sheeran, who is set to enthral his fans in India as part of his Divide Album Asia Tour this Sunday, has a modest set of demands. The singer only expects nando’s Hot Peri-Peri Sauce and dry fruits in his dressing room.
A source close to the organisers tells mid-day, “Ed Sheeran’s backstage requirements are more like a mix of after-school refreshments. He simply wants bottles of Robinsons fruit squash, passion fruit juice, milk, beer, a six-pack of fizzy drinks, a jar of Manuka honey and a plate of assorted sliced fresh vegetable and fruits. He also wants a special peri peri sauce that is being sourced from Malaysia.”
The insider adds backstage room keeping his interests in mind. “Since Ed is a cat and bicycle lover, the room will be done up in animal and automobile graffiti,” adds the source.
Marking his second visit to India, the event will see Sheeran belting out hits like Shape Of You, Galway Girl, Photograph and Thinking Out Loud. “We can’t wait to deliver a stand-out experience to fans, making sure that India is recognized as being at par with the global entertainment destinations,” says Kunal Khambhati (Head, Live events and IP, Bookmyshow). More than 10,000 fans are expected to attend the show.
Bollywood stars, Ed Sheeran attend Kunal Kapoor-Naina Bachchan wedding party
7:54 AM
The British pop sensation dined with the Bachchans and gave the gathered stars a private concert.
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 3, 2015)
Popstar Ed Sheeran, found himself surrounded by Bollywood's who's who after Farah Khan showed the 24-year-old how to crash a Bachchan party in Mumbai. The singer-songwriter had wrapped up his concert at the Mahalakshmi Race Course on Sunday and was looking for some entertainment. Pushed by her young cousin, Farah, a guest at the concert, took it upon herself to give the redheaded boy from London, a taste of Mumbai's nightlife. She called up buddy Abhishek Bachchan who was hosting a dinner for newlyweds Kunal Kapoor and Naina Bachchan, and told him, "I'm with this singer called, Ed Sheeran. Do you know him?" An astounded Abhishek retorted, "What's wrong with you Farah? Ed's one of the top five pop stars of today." To which she quipped, "Then can I bring him along for the party?" Junior Bachchan was only too happy to welcome the unexpected guest.
Kunal and Naina had quietly wed in Seychelles on February 9 and Abhishek had decided to play host to the newlyweds with wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and sister Shweta. The guest list included Karan Johar, Gauri Khan, Goldie Behl and Sonali Bendre, Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh. Hrithik Roshan flew down from Gujarat and organised an impromptu garlanding ceremony for the couple. Aamir Khan, who had walked the ramp earlier, then drove to Jalsa with wife Kiran Rao.
However, the star of the show was undoubtedly Ed. "After dinner there was dancing and then Ed performed for the couple. I left around 2 am but Ed, who seemed to be in love with the Bollywood gang and our city, partied till dawn. Abhishek and Ed really hit it off." The duo are ardent fans of football club Chelsea and have made plans to watch a match together.
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