Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives S3 on Netflix will star Kalyani Saha Chawla, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Shalini Passi along with Neelam Kothari Soni, Bhavana Pandey, Maheep Kapoor and Seema Sajdeh. Kalyani, a Calcutta girl and a true-blue Bengali, shone brightly in Giambattista Valli at the announcement at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai recently. t2 dialled the former VP, marketing and communications for Dior in India for over a decade, and the founder of Rezon Luxury Silverware, for a quick chat. What transpired was a heart-to-heart. Like always.
What was your first reaction when you were approached for the Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives?
When Karan (Johar) asked me, it was daunting in a way, but I also felt very fortunate to be asked. I have never shied away from opportunities and have taken risks. I am very grateful for the opportunity and that I was one of the chosen ones. For the first time... two cities (Delhi and Mumbai) have been integrated. It’s going to be special.
You looked stunning at the announcement in Giambattista Valli...
Fashion has been a very integral part of my life since I was very young. It’s just something which is in my DNA. I wanted something special for the announcement. Giambattista Valli is one of my favourite couture designers and a very dear friend. He sent me this entire look from Paris, head to toe, from my accessories, shoes and of course the dress. It fit beautifully. It was a purple reign (laughs). The look is sophisticated and elegant. I hope to bring the same sophisticated elegance to the screen. I am so grateful that I have these amazing friends and they are all excited about the show, even in Paris.
The poster look has you in Gaurav Gupta...
That particular look is from his Paris collection and he took the trouble to get that for me. It fit like a dream even though it was a model size, which was thrilling and was the perfect drama for a title image. Since I am sitting in the poster, the outfit can’t be seen in its grandeur. This was a Nitin Desai set previously which had a massive table with these gigantic chandeliers, very ’80s. I jumped onto it and took some shots which turned out to be spectacular, almost editorial shots.
You feel 20 in your head and that’s why you look the way you do...
(Laughs) I am 20 in my head! I am young at heart and I work hard and enjoy my life, live every day to the fullest. I don’t think about age by numbers. It’s mind over matter. That’s been my mantra. I have a 24-year-old daughter (Tahira Tara Chawla) and I am a mother before anything else. There are so many lives dependent on me at work and I have massive responsibilities. Sometimes, I get bogged down by it, but I enjoy my life. I do what my heart desires. It’s the advantage of being single! (Laughs) I travel when I want to and I do whatever gives me joy and happiness. It’s the spirit and also my joie de vivre, which motivates me to do more. I have wonderful friends around me in Delhi, which was not originally my home maybe. My father lives in Calcutta, whom I go meet so often. I am a people’s person.
Iris Apfel was 102 and look at her! She didn’t stop dressing up for a day. She had her own style and enjoyed her life. She had fashion and she did fashion. I am adventurous and take risks. And my failures have been my best lessons. Mental health issues are a massive issue. We don’t talk about it as often as we should. I, like most around me, recognised it and sought help. It’s a longer conversation and a serious one. There is plenty of help around and I would like to spread the message for creating awareness. We live in a world of so much competitiveness and negativity. Social media is full of vitriolic negativity. Nobody seems to be happy for anyone any more. And so much complaining! My mother always told me to count my blessings, more than my complaints. It’s the most valuable advice I keep reminding myself about.
And, on International Women’s Day, you wouldn’t have it any other way, right?
Being a Bengali woman, having lived with very strong women growing up, my thakuma and dida being my biggest influences, taught me resilience and to recognise the strength of a woman. We are all Maa Durgas, with 10 hands, multitasking in so many roles. When I was pregnant, I prayed every single day that I would have a daughter. Tahira is a strong girl with great values, which I inculcated in her from a very young age. I am very proud of her.