Several Bollywood celebrities turned out for a benefit organized by actress Shabana Azmi in Mumbai on Jan. 23. Proceeds from the charity fashion show went to the Mijwan Welfare Society founded by Azmi’s father, the late lyricist Kaifi Azmi. The society works for the welfare of young girls and women.
Wearing designer outfits by Manish Malhotra, about 24 stars walked the ramp at the annual Mijwan Fashion Show, a press release said. Mijwan is a small village in Uttar Pradesh where Kaifi Azmi was born. The Mijwan Welfare Society runs the Kaifi Azmi High School and College for girls, the Kaifi Azmi Computer Training Centre and the Kaifi Azmi Sewing and Tailoring Centre.
“He founded the NGO and I have taken on the task of taking his dream forward,” Shabana Azmi is quoted as saying. “After the phenomenal success of Mijwan-Sonnets in Fabric event last year where 22 top film stars attended, my NGO Mijwan Welfare Society’s benefit event has snowballed into an even bigger fundraiser this year.”
Supporting the cause was Azmi’s family – mother Shaukat Azmi, brother Baba Azmi, husband Javed Akhtar and Javed’s son, Farhan Akhtar.
Farhan Akhtar walked the ramp, and was joined by Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Neha Dhupia, Lara Dutta and Celina Jaitley, as well as newcomers like Anushka Sharma, Ranvir Singh, Monikangana Dutta, Lisa Haydon, Shazahn Padamsee, Aditya Roy Kapur and Prateik Babbar.
According to the release, Ranbir Kapoor looked dapper in a bandgala and dhoti pants. Cheering for him from the audience were his parents, Neetu and Rishi Kapoor. Roshan was dressed in a white jacket and was followed by Kunal Kapoor and Rohit Roy. Karan Johar looked a tad uncomfortable on the runway and away from his couch, the release said.
Anushka Sharma wore a lehenga; Priyanka Chopra a salwar-kameez and Lara Dutta a sari.
Prateik Babbar came to the show in tattered denims and a ganji, still very much in his “Dhobi Ghat” character. He changed into a loose trousers and a longish Nehru jacket for the show.
“I am thrilled to be associated with the project,” Malhotra was quoted as saying in the release. “The women of the village will now be doing the embroidery for my line for a year.”