Style (under)statement

Raja is his middle name and while Mumbai-based industrialist Neeraj Kochchar has carefully avoided making a media spectacle of his frequent and lavish parties, his friends can’t seem to stop raving about the understated elegance of the New Year bash he and his wife Renu organised at their sprawling Juhu bungalow. Some years back, the media shy couple had stunned the Mumbai swish set by getting Ricky Martin to perform at the wedding of their son Dhruv in Jaipur. Incidentally, their daughter-in-law Kanika is the niece of Congress stalwart Kamal Nath. Just a stone’s throw away from Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow Jalsa, the year-end party at the palatial Kocchar residence with its triple height ceilings, giant chandeliers and manicured lawns made even some well-heeled first time guests literally drop their jaws.

Though we’re assuming the pretty firang dancers gyrating sensually in a massive martini glass must have done their bit to stir and shake the celebratory mood, ironically, the Kochhars are best known for hosting what is billed as the best mata ki chowky in the whole of Mumbai. We like.