Coke Tales
The arrest and interrogation of a peddler in Delhi reveal that at glitzy parties in faraway farmhouses, money and power go on high with the kick of cocaine. It's the haute drug for the stylish people in black. A peep into the world of the cocaine-users.

Invisible Dialogue
Vajpayee has promised a solution by March next year. But who is he talking to? Nobody knows.

Gunning For Arun
Jaswant Singh's special adviser is again at the centre of a controversy. This one though is not of his own making.

New Metro Hotspots
Establishments combining a rash of activities have taken over from the one-dimensional discos in urban India.

EYECATCHERS

Wedding Wows

Another celebrity model ties the knot. Nethra Raghuraman first met Atlanta-returned actor-singer-standup comedian Ash Chandler at the Lakme India Fashion Week in Delhi last year. Cupid struck and in three weeks, Chandler was on the phone with his sister about the girl he was going to marry. "Things moved so fast," chuckles Chandler, "we knew we were onto something big." The wedding at Bangalore's Tamarind Tree on August 29 was big: a traditional Iyer ceremony (Raghuraman is a Tamil) preceded a "western reception". The bride wore a Kancheepuram sari and a dull gold Ashley Rebello gown. But the press was kept out. Chandler: "An event like this is not up for opinion." Point taken.

Family Medley

Here's one for the family album. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their dance school Natya Tarangini, Kuchipudi dancers Raja and Radha Reddy will bring together seven famous Indian dancers and musicians and their progeny. The line-up for the National Festival of Dance and Music from September 13 to16: Amjad Ali Khan and sons Amaan and Ayaan (sarod), Birju Maharaj and son Deepak (Kathak), Mrinalini Sarabhai with daughter Mallika and her son Rewanta (Bharatnatyam), Kelucharan Mahapatra and son Ratikant (Odissi), Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Rakesh (flute), Ajoy Chakraborty and daughter Koushiki (vocal), Vikku Vinayak Ram and his sons (ghatam). Says Kaushalya, Reddy's second wife: "It's a tribute to the second generation." A tribute to art.

Play It Back Again

She has half a century of playback singing behind her. It's a milestone in her career. But there's another coming. Noted south Indian playback singer P. Susheela, who has some 40,000 songs in every south Indian language to her credit, will act in a film for the first time. Susheela is playing herself in R.D. Narayan's Tamil film Manathai Thirudi Vittai, starring Prabhu Deva and Kausalya. The film isn't complete yet, but Narayan is most impressed with what he has seen so far: "She has been talking about quitting singing and turning a composer. But acting comes so naturally to her." Could this be the beginning of another glorious career?

Get Jiggy With It

Sushmita, Urmila, you have company. Anjala Jhaveri has just made it to the league of hot guest stars. After some rather insignificant turns in no-shows like Himalayputra and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Jhaveri will be shaking a shapely leg for a song in Sushen Bhatnagar's Soch starring Arbaaz Khan, Sanjay Kapoor and Raveena Tandon. The stills of the song look steamy enough. So does Jhaveri. Could be why Bhatnagar opted for her when he could have easily settled for Sushmita or Urmila. He says, "I wanted the song to look fresh. Anjala was really good." Don't know about the box-office, but item numbers are known to swiftly climb up the countdown charts on the telly.

— Compiled by Methil Renuka

MetroScape

Looking Glass

Delhi Restaurant:
Kootub Restaurant

Delhi Dance Festival: Abhinaya Sudha

Delhi Restro-bar:
Buzz, Get It Here

Bangalore Exhibitions: Cinnamon