Down Under Thunder

In what seems to be a totally genius idea, Kylie Minogue will be recording a song written by none other than A.R. Rahman. The Australian pop nymphet is currently in Mumbai filming the song and dance number alongside Akshay Kumar in the Bollywood movie Blue.

I don’t know about you, but I love Kylie. Her over-the-top dance numbers, cheesy pop lyrics, sparkly costumes, and incessant toothy grin seem perfect for the likes of Bollywood. Plus she survived being dumped by Oliver Martinez, battling cancer, and at 40 she’s dating a hot male model 10 years her junior and dancing alongside Akshay Kumar. If that isn’t a Bollywood ending I don’t know what is.

Shiny Hair

Padma Lakshmi is the latest spokesperson for Pantene Pro-V. As an avid watcher of “Top Chef”, I can attest to the fact that I am extremely envious of Padma’s luscious locks. If Pantene can do that for me, I’m in.

Money Money Money

Yesterday on Oprah, the talk show high priestess interviewed young millionaires including Gurbkash Chawal. The desi boy is living the high life after selling his company for millions at the ripe old age of 18. And ladies, he’s still single! And cute! Pretty impressive to say the least, especially considering I spent most of 18 being hungover.

Watch him here on Fox News.

Two Hot Chicks

Mumbai Glitter

Pick up a copy of the March issue of Vogue for “Global Glamour” profile on Mumbai socialite Prenra Goel.

Make Me Over

Check out the profile of celeb surgeon Dr. Raj Kanodia in the March issue of Allure magazine. The master beak tweaker denies working on Ashlee Simpson, Cameron Diaz, or pretty much anyone else in Hollywood. But that apparently doesn’t stop celebs and socialities alike from dropping $18K on a signature “Kanodia”.

www.drkanodia.com

www.allure.com

So In

Africa is sooooo last year. The new vacation du jour is clearly India. Check out the material girl visiting Rajasthan.

Parlez-vous francais?

If you read French or even if you don’t check out Sikh-a-licious Waris on the cover of Jalouse magazine.

Darjeeling Darling

If you're desi (and we're assuming you are), the idea of spending time with your relatives on a cramped Indian train might seem closer to suicide than a spiritual journey.

But then again you probably don't think Deepak Chopra is genius or that Bikram yoga is like really aaaaaamazing.

Thank goodness for non-desis. In the upcoming film, The Darjeeling Limited, starring Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrian Brody,director Wes Anderson follows three wealthy yet estranged brothers on a "spiritual" (what else?) quest through India. Wishing to forge a stronger bond, the siblings hope a train trip on the "Darjeeling Limited" will bring them together. Of course, this is a Wes Anderson film, and nothing is as it seems and it's not long before the hijinks and shenanigans ensue.

The movie also features music by Satyajit Ray, along with cameos by Wes Anderson faves Angelica Huston, Bill Murray and jewelery designer/NY society darling Waris . Waris Ahluwalia.

Let the ride begin.

The Darjeeling Limited, opens nationwide on Sept 29. www.foxsearchlight.com/thedarjeelinglimited

Sit and Spin

"Droppin the bass with the beat of the bhangra a soni kuri asian queen rinsin the dhol for one and all. A cha drinkin, Tweed wearin hip hop to brit pop masala mix tape volume 1-and only Praise be to the magic of music and its musical magicians that allows our minds and souls to expand, beyond the boundaries of our lands. I got some airwaves and I come to you to find, your special sound to bring to new ears and minds."

Yep, just what we were thinking. Not really. But better pay attention because Komal Trivedi is going to make you stand up and listen.

Its not often that you get to hear Karmacy or Rishi Rich on the radio. Fortunately Komal is out to change all that. No longer relegated to the "international" station on a Saturday night, South Asian music is making an appearance on mainstream radio in the form of Komal's radio show "Bricklane Beats".

Although the Asian Underground is quite popular in London (duh), the dearth of Asian music Stateside inspired British-born Komal to start her own show. In her East London-Indian-Caribbean patois, Komal wakes up listeners with her infectious laugh and upbeat personality. Playing everything from Asha Bosle to Talvin Singh, to local rapper One Signata Nach, the DJ brings bhangra, Bollywood, and Asian electronica to the masses on Boston's radio station WZBC 90.3, airing Thursday mornings 7 am to 9 am.

Thankfully you don't have to live in Boston to enjoy "Bricklane Beats". Tune into the live stream on http://www.wzbc.org/listen.html and shake ya groove thang.

Hollllllaaaaaaaa!!!!

Komal Trivedi,
www.myspace.com/greenstreetgirl

Some Kind of Wino

Chapati, channa, and….wine?

Master sommelier and television personality Alpana Singh is more than just another pretty face. Born and raised in wine country Monterey, CA, it might make sense that Alpana Singh would develop an interest in the tasty beverage. Except that wine isn’t exactly the beverage of choice for most desis.

Which makes Alpana that much more unique. While waiting tables during college, Alpana discovered her love for wine and decided to pursue her goal of becoming a Master Sommelier, passing the exam in 2003, (only 3% pass) and becoming the youngest woman to be introduced into the Court of Master Sommeliers.

She then went on to serve as sommelier at a variety of 5 star restaurants and has been cited as one of best sommeliers in Wine Advocate, as well as receiving mentions in Bon Appetit, Wine and Spirits Magazine, and Epicurious, where she recommends some of her top wine choices. Among them are Castle Rock 2004 Chardonnay, A-Z Pinot Noir 2003, and Kunin Zinfandel Paso Robles 2003. Delish.

And when she’s not busy kicking ass as a sommelier, she hosts Check Please!, a Chicago based food review show. And in her spare time, she wrote a book entitled Alpana Pours.

Makes passing the MCATs sound easy, huh?

Alpana Singh, www.alpanasingh.com

Check Please!, www.wttw.com

Alpana Pours, www.amazon.com

Lifestyles of the Fabulous

“Hello Muffy. How are you?”

“Why hello Buffy? May I offer you a spot of tea?”

“No, no, I am off to a polo match with Jeffrey. I really must run as driver is waiting for me.

The life of a socialite is hard indeed. Charity balls, luncheons, wild affairs with the Manny, rehab stints at Promises. All in a day’s work.

It’s enough to make you want to marry rich.

Thankfully, 18-year-old James Kurisunkal’s will entertain your daydreams and whisk you out of the doldrums, with his socialite blog Park Avenue Peerage. The Indian-American college freshman from Illinois, is certainly the last person most people would suspect as interested in the likes of Tinsley Mortimer and Fabiola Beracasa.

Nonetheless, from his far-removed locale in Urbana, he manages to cover the ins and outs of the rich and fabulous, detailing their every move, posting party pics, and in the process coming off as an insider himself. Interestingly enough, James has always been interested in socialites, studying up on the royal families of Europe and socialites as a child.

So next time you’re slaving away at your 9-5 job, wishing you could be sunning St. Tropez, just read Park Avenue Peerage and read about people who actually are.

Here’s to reincarnation.

Park Avenue Peerage, parkavenuepeerage.wordpress.com

**Photo from New York Magazine

It Ain't Easy Being Green

Simran Sethi sure knows that. The German born, North Carolina raised Punjabi, cohosts The Green, on the Sundance Channel, produces weekly radio broadcasts for TreeHugger, and all the while manages to be a stylist jet setter while still remaining conscientious about Mother Earth.

Some of Simran’s tips?

1. Choose non-toxic cleaning products such as Seventh Generation, Shaklee, or Method. These companies use plant based solvents rather than formaldehyde and petroleum ones.

2. At the grocery store, look for products in minimal packaging and buy products in bulk which uses less packaging than individually wrapped portions.

3. Buy a water filter and a reusable water bottle from Sigg, Nalgene or New Wave Enviro, in lieu of buying bottled water.

4. Bring your own shopping bag to the market. Even better, buy an eco-friendly Jute Bag, made from natural Indian fibers.

5. Switch your regular energy vampire lightbulbs for energy efficient ones.

Maybe being green isn’t so hard.

Check out www.treehugger.com and The Green for more eco-friendly tips and of course to catch Simran Sethi herself.

The Pink City

“Pink is the navy blue of India”, Diana Vreeland, once astutely remarked oh-so many years ago. And when you visit Jaipur, you’ll realize she was right.

SLEEP
Liz Hurley threw Arun Nayar’s 40^th birthday here, French Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld is rumored to have stayed here, and well, it’s fabulous. Devi Garh, the painfully luxurious 18^th century palace turned hotel features suites embellished with marble and semi-precious stones, swimming pools with mountain views. This is way better than Uma’s house. Devi Garh, deviresorts.com

SHOP
French jeweler Marie-Helene de Taillac and Munnu Kasliwal of the famed Gem Palace have partnered together to create Hot Pink, the first concept store in Jaipur. Hot Pink brings together the best of contemporary Indian design and fashion, stocking lines such as Abraham and Thakore, Bounipun,Manish Arora, and Tulsi. Hot stuff indeed. Hot Pink, www.hotpinkindia.com

EAT
Hungry out-of-towners like Naomi Campbell and home grown royalty like Amitabh Bachchan eat at Niros Restaurant for some of the best Rajastani food in the area. It’s not exactly the hottest or trendiest spot, but with a menu that ranges from Rajastani to Chinese to Continental everyone is bound to be happy. Niros Restaurant www.nirosindia.com

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi?

So you dream of a wedding like Vikram Chatwal and Priya Sachdev but lack the multi-million dollar budget? Raj Tents can make your dreams a reality.

Calling to mind a scene out of Arabian Nights, the colorful tents come to life with mirrors, tassels, and beautiful embroidery all handmade by artisans from Rajasthan. Choose from the smaller Pergola (9 x 9 feet) to the larger Maharaja (over 700 sq feet). Raj Tents also offers a variety of linings, lighting fixtures, carved wooden tables, exotic cushions, and Dhurrie carpeting. Rentals start at $950 for 3 days and purchases start at $2,450.

Of course the tents aren’t restricted to weddings only. Pool parties, BBQs, the possibilities are endless.

Fit for a rani.

Raj Tents, 310-320-6600. www.rajtents.com