Glitter ’n’ glam on the ‘spiritual’ plane to Tirupati

What was Raymond bossman Gautam Singhania doing with actress Raveena Tandon, former all-rounder Ravi Shastri, MP Praful Patel and industrialist couple Tanya and Arvind Dubhash? Partying would be your obvious guess. More so, if we tell you they all flew away together in a private jet. But this is far from the truth. They were having fun, yes, but they were on a flight to touch base with God.The celebrity flight was Tirupati-bound.
Perhaps this cream set defined what today’s younger generation is all about — party hard, work harder and don’t forget God. Like Singhania, who can party late and still be at work early next day. He’s mastered the art of hosting successful parties but the Raymond chairman also has new business ideas up his sleeve. About how he manages to maintain such high octane levels, he says, “I guess I have high energy levels, and it’s all about knowing where to stop. There are days when you know you simply can’t afford to have a late night.� He recommends a hangover pill for those who can’t stop and then can’t begin the next morning! But evidently, it’s not as easy for others to keep up with the jet-setting pace. Just like his parties, he has his schedules fixed for Tirupati as well. “I go to Tirupati twice a year — in March and in October. I have faith in Tirupati and enjoy going there.�
Ditto with Nationalist Congress Party MP Patel, who says this was an impromptu trip. “Each of us was planning this holy visit, so we all just decided to go together. The weather this time was so unusually beautiful. The air was slightly nippy and there was light rainfall.We all joked and talked a lot,� says Patel, who went sans wife Varsha. So did Shastri. “My wife Ritu was in Jaipur, so when they told me about this trip I said yes right away.� Sensible. One should never say no to the good things in life.
Says Raveena, “No matter what money and jewels you have, you eventually have to go up to him. So why not start right now?�