Actresses Minissha, Delnaaz, Kishwer, Guddi and Chitrashi on a shopping spree in Jaipur

In Jaipur for their play the actresses drove around the walled city, bargain hunted (successfully!), ate jaipuri chaat and mithaai, and more...

Last weekend the local markets in Jaipur saw an unlikely sight, other than the locals that frequent the shops and eateries, actresses Delnaaz Irani, Kishwer Merchant Rai, Guddi Maruti, Chitrashi Rawat and Minissha Lamba, were also seen shopping for local tit bits, eating Jaipur’s famous chaats and mithaais, and zipping about in an e-rickshaw. And Team JT decided to piggyback on their adventure.

The girls gang up on Delnaaz, urging her to try a dupatta (Pankaj Sharma/BCCL)

What brought the ladies to the city? Guddi Maruti said, “Actually, we’re here to perform a play (Hello Zindagi!) but Jaipur has so much to offer that we decided to come a day earlier to have some fun here.” What’s on the itinerary we ask, and Guddi added, “Other than shopping, I want to eat some delicious mithaais of Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (LMB) in Johri Bazaar.” Minissha, the most seasoned driver among the ladies, took the wheels and drove the ladies around the walled city. The first stop: a shop at MI Road, from where the actresses picked up some kurtas, bandhani dupattas, and saris too. Delnaaz, who frequently visits the city, played local guide for the day, she said, “This is a famous shop where one can find the best of Jaipuri fabrics. My Jaipur trip is not complete unless I visit this shop.”

Minissha tries on some jhumkas

Minissha drove the ladies around the city, taking them from one market to another, with Delnaaz’s navigation skills keeping them on track. Minissha said, “We wanted to go to Bapu Bazaar and we were told that all the shops in the market are painted in pink and have their names written in black and bold letters, but, to my surprise, all the markets look the same.” When the ladies finally reached Bapu Bazaar, Guddi picked up some saris, Kishwer some Jaipuri jootis – for herself and hubby Suyyash Rai, Delnaaz and Chitrashi bought Sanganeri bedsheets.

Kishwer is set to buy some kathputli

The shopkeepers couldn’t help but notice the celebrity clientele, and Guddi said, “Aapne pehchan liya hai na bhaiya, ab accha sa discount de dijiye. Kitni duur se aaye hain apke shehar shopping karne,” and laughter ensued. Kishwer hoped she got a good deal on the five pairs of jootis she bought, and said, “They are pretty beautiful and comfy too. I picked up five pairs.” Minissha was content with just driving around, given that shopping isn’t her favourite past time. She said, “I liked Jaipur jewellery. As I wear jewellery occasionally, let me find an exclusive thing. The whole ambience of the Bapu Baazar is amazing.”

HUM TO AISE HAI BHAIYA: While Kishwer called shotgun, Minissha, Delnaaz, Guddi and Chitrashi sat behind (Pankaj Sharma/BCCL)

The actresses took a little break from hopping from one shop to another and had some jaljeera, where they obliged fans with selfies. But the adventure did not end, the girls then went for an e-rickshaw ride to LMB, where they devoured some chaat. And Delnaaz summed up, “You know, a shopping spree has to have a chaat break, or you don’t feel ki shopping ka purra mazza aaya hai.”

Picture credit: Pankaj Sharma