We invited those who tether on the edge – between being known and not being known. No famous faces here, no Page 3 incumbents. Rather, the ‘New A-List’, as Verve sees it. Kids who work hard and party hard, some of them descending ‘home’ in droves every summer from far-off jobs and universities; others, homebound, getting into the spirit of things. This is a phenomenon that hits the Mumbai social scene every summer when pubs, lounge bars and party places fill to bursting and a new season, as it were, shifts into party gear. Welcome to the world of the young, brave and beautiful!

Our party venue was perfect – a young restaurant with a brave new concept and viewpoint – business lounge by day and tapas bar by night – spacious, luxurious, loungy. The newly opened Valhalla in South Mumbai is serving up stylish competition to the couple of established nightspots in the area, watering holes for this motley crowd. And our co-organisers are a couple of young ‘entrepreneurs’ Rishad Mehta and Vanraj Zaveri, who have conceptualised the ‘A-List Club’, a fun venture and concept that brings together a group of hand-picked young individuals who are emerging in film, business, fashion and community service. These then are the buzzwords of the new mix of party kids…. They know what they are doing and get out there to do it. With the world becoming a smaller place, their universe has expanded to include whatever they wish it to. This, we firmly feel, is the ‘lucky’ generation.

Verve juggled its own guest list and quickly got into the act with a list of those who had skimmingly appeared or not appeared on our pages. Fashion kids and industrial toffs in the making, verging onto a new arty and corporate aristocracy. And the crowd all blended into a fine cocktail of fabulousness, all of one age and belonging to a mindset dictated by future plans, dreams and ultimate successes. This is what the new young are all about – direction and dedication even while they may drive their well known and publicity jaded parents to distraction.

Gorgeous daughters all! Divya Mahindra, student at Parsons the New School for Design, daughter of the industrialist family and Verve contributor of cutting edge illustrations. Anjali Mody, recently graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, eldest daughter of legal consultant and expert on corporate mergers, Zia Mody and Jaydev Mody who set up India’s first shopping mall, Crosswords. Shraddha Kapoor, Bollywood villain Shakti Kapoor’s daughter and Amitabh Bachchan’s new leading lady. Nidhi Jani, a graduate in gemology, who flaunts her jeweller mother, Varuna D Jani’s earring creations. Malika Mehta, art historian and writer, Tasneem Mehta’s daughter, is into comparative literature and political science and is already deeply involved in human rights issues. Vidhi Kejriwal extends her father’s footwear business that creates shoes for the known European brands, by introducing her own line. Karishma Grover, with brother Kabir is intent on adding zest to the Grover wine industry. Nishka Lulla is stylishly following in her designer mother Neeta’s footsteps but with a brand of her own. Avni Jasraj, music maestro Pandit Jasraj’s granddaughter, is a stylist for reality shows on TV. Shaan Khanna extends her mom Sharmila’s business to plan events and weddings…. And, the list is endless.

	Who: Nishka Lulla Daughter of: Fashion designer Neeta Lulla What: Fashion designer Inspiration: Kareena Kapoor, Selena Gomez, Isla Fisher and “every young girl who wants to be trendy and yet keep her own identity.” Party time: Weekends Accessories: Large hoop earrings, chunky bracelets, sling bags
	Who: Shraddha Kapoor Daughter of: Bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor What: Actor debuting opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Teen Patti The experience: Surreal Lesson learnt: To be patient and calm Favourite movie: Pyaasa Favourite actor: Aamir Khan
	Who: Sanea Sheikh What: Ramp model Where: Rome, Milan, Mumbai, Delhi... Comment: “Manish Arora is by far the best Indian export.” Favourite: Tarun Tahiliani Accessory: Chandelier earrings Drink: “I don’t drink.” Time taken to dress: 15-30 minutes Comment: “It is the age…everyone wants to achieve so much....”

The dress code was, well, hip and youthfully sexy. The young ladies not fashionistas yet – should we call them the ‘fashion futuristas’ – meriting a fashion watch for the future. They have learnt much from their mothers who after all have dressed through the innocent ’60s, the daring short-skirted ’70s, the hippie years, the Beatnik days, in bell bottoms, pointy-toe boots and skinny tights. Has any other woman carried herself through so many layers of fashion? So many decades of shifting style? And their daughters love vintage (Rita Dhody, in our Best Dressed feature, claims that she discovers her daughter, Nadine, in her closet more than her clothes), they understand true fusion dressing and bridge decade gaps with greater feeling than any other generation. Don’t believe us, just look at the pictures.

The young and the hip arrived only post 11 p.m. the contemporary witching hour, when the night revelry famously begins. The restaurant had their pulse firmly in hand, setting lose a barrage of tapas, finger foods that can be handled in skin-fit hipster jeans and silhouette hugging dresses. No one, I am informed, would have touched dinner! A round of perfect and ingenious martinis, the cocktail of the moment, kept the pretty young things entertained, laughingly matching fruit colours like raspberry, to ensembles and complexions. Some of the happening guests created their own dance floor between tables and shook a leg to the progressive house and electro sounds that grew in volume as the night progressed.

And I realised, these are partygoers with a difference, a big difference. In that they hope, in their youth and innate idealism, that somehow, somewhere, each of them will make a difference. And, they probably will!

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