INDIAN INTERIOR DESIGNER PROFILES

DIMPLE KAPADIA

Born in 1957, Dimple Kapadia made her screen debut in 1973, playing a thirteen-year-old school-girl in Raj Kapoor's seminal teenage love story, Bobby. Despite becoming a star overnight and winning best actress awards at the age of sixteen, she then retired into family life until the mid-1980s.

Kapadia had played opposite the director's son Rishi Kapoor in Bobby. The two appeared again together in 1985 in Ramesh Sippy's Saagar and it was her brilliant and award-winning performance in this film that relaunched her career.

Many successes followed, including Gulzar's Lekin in 1990; Govind Nihalani's 1990 art house success Drishti; Rudaali, a moving story about a professional mourner directed by Kalpana Lajmi in 1993; and Mrinal Sen's absorbing 1994 drama about a failing marriage, Antareen. Kapadia's filmography includes both outstanding dramatic performances and great singing roles: her song 'Janne Do Na' from Saagar remains a favourite today. Famous both for her beauty and her dramatic range, the actress still attracts starring roles, and 2002 sees the release of Leela, an English language production made in Hollywood, directed by Somnath Sen.

ABU JANI AND SANDEEP KHOSLA

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla (Jani-Khosla) combine contemporary design with haute couture and the most luxurious elements of traditional Indian style. Known both for their fashion creations for men and women and for interior design, their reputation extends far
beyond India, where their clients include the legendary stars of Bollywood. Indeed, entire rooms designed by Jani-Khosla for the Hindi film star Dimple Kapadia, for her home in Mumbai, are to be transported to London for display at Selfridges during May 2002.

Along with Dimple Kapadia, Amitabh Bachchan, Jya Bachchan and Parmeshwar Godrej, many international celebrities wear Jani-Khosla creations: Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Sophie Marceau and costume designer Lindy Hemming are all regular clients.

The team first came to prominence in the UK and the USA with a range of sumptuous shawls marketed under the Shakira Caine label. With each article intended as an 'heirloom', rather than simply as a garment or object, the emphasis is always on the unique quality and preciousness of each piece. Clothes may be made with fine crushed coloured silks, richly embroidered and beaded with crystal, while chairs, tables, lights, cushions and even ceilings aim to capture India at its most opulent. The brand values consummate craftsmanship, beauty and comfort ­ and classic design with a contemporary twist.

BABA ANAND

Graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi India and after 8 successful years in the fashion industry, Anand decided to switch mediums. "Over the course of the following 6 years, I taught myself how to paint experimenting with various techniques and mediums", he says.

Baba brings with him his experience of the fashion world. Using mixed media and embellishing them with crystals, beads, sequins and other glitzy material from the fashion world, he gives a three dimensional feel to old Bollywood film posters that impart a richly textured quality. "I have worked over different films and film stars bringing out the real kitsch, which is a very strong element of the Indian silver screen."

The posters that he has worked upon are retro from the 1940's through to the 1970's. The artists that express themselves through this medium are few. He has delved into the world of cinema, appropriating directly from a defined visual metaphor, amalgamating it with his own training as a fashion designer and developing a trajectory which is dramatic and totemic of popular culture.

A new genre of visual art is being formed in the contemporary world. Baba Anand's work is an amalgam of these visual encounters. So the apt term for his work would be 'Collision' of 'Collisionist'.

RAGHUVENDRA RATHORE

Born in Jodhpur, India and a cousin of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Rathore studied at Parsons School of Design in New York. After graduation, he gained experience working with Donna Karan, Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta. This exposure enabled him to refine his design knowledge before setting up his own label, Rathore in India.

Dividing his time between home in Jodhpur and work, Rathore is always on the move working on assignments and projects all around the world. Working in various design mediums such as web page, interior and home furnishing, iron and wood furniture and fashion, he works towards pushing the boundaries and setting newer standards in the design arena.

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