Glitter-glamour-gilt-n-gold

There was a time when the most popular profession for actresses and their families was fashion designing. Now, New Age Bollywood denizens are hooked on to jewellery designing.

Sandipan Dalal speaks to a few celebrity bling designers…

Farah Khan
Celeb quotient: Daughter of Sanjay and Zarine Khan, and DJ Aqeel Ali's wife, she is a veteran jewellery designer.
Technical background: Completed her professional training from the Gemological Institute of America, Santa Monica, California, in 1992-93.
I have been designing: For 13 years.
My signature line: Farah Khan, which was launched in February 2004, in Mumbai.
My favourite metal: I prefer white gold and platinum.
My favourite stones: Although diamonds continue to be my favourite, I also love working with emeralds and pink sapphires.
I specialise in: Big rings and earrings.
Price range: Rs 35,000 upwards.
Where do you retail? My franchisees are AKM Mehrasons, in New Delhi, Meena Jewellers in Hyderabad and Dubai.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Malaika Arora Khan.

Niharika Khan
Celeb quotient: Known for her exquisite, handcrafted silver jewellery, she's actor Ayub Khan's better half.
Technical background: I did a silver-slitting course from Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle.
I have been designing: For about seven years.
My signature line: Akirahin.
My favourite metal: Platinum.
My favourite stones: Watermelon tourmaline, opal and mother-of-pearl.
I specialise in: Personalised orders.
Price range: Rs 1,500 to 40,000.
Where do you retail? Ishna and Mogra. I also supply to various stores in Delhi, Bangalore, Miami and Seattle.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Dolly Thakore, Adhuna Akhtar, and of course, my husband Ayub Khan.

Neelam Kothari
Celeb quotient: This yesteryear actress has now turned into a successful jewellery designer.
Technical background: Did a jewellery design course under Hetal Patel and received hands-on training from her father, Shishir Kothari.
I have been designing: For more than 10 years.
My signature line: Neelam Jewels.
My favourite metal: 18-karat white gold.
My favourite stones: Diamonds and precious coloured stones.
I specialise in: Large gems and diamond pieces.
Price range: Rs 50,000 upwards.
Where do you retail? Neelam Jewels, Linking Road.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen and Bipasha Basu.

Shahnaaz Randhawa
Celeb quotient: Mumtaz's niece, she is the daughter of actor-wrestler Randhawa (Dara Singh's brother). She has designed jewellery for Natasha Madhvani.
Technical background: Central St Martin's, London; gemmology and jewellery design, 1997.
I have been designing: For 10 years.
My signature line: Shahnaaz Randhawa.
My favourite metal: Gold, any day.
My favourite stones: Diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
I specialise in: Rings and danglers.
Price range: Rs 30,000 to Rs 15 lakh.
Where do you retail? At Anmol Jewellers, Bandra; Kimaya, in Delhi and Dubai.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Malaika Arora Khan, Mumtaz, Tabu and Pooja Bedi.


Shaheen Abbas
Celeb quotient: Known for retailing costume jewellery, she's the wife of TV presenter Roshan Abbas.
Technical background: I started out with sourcing jewellery — jewellery design was the next step. I realised I have a knack for it and enjoy doing it.
I have been designing: For six months.
My signature line: Flower Child, launched last May.
My favourite metal: Silver.
My favourite stone: Pink tourmaline.
I specialise in: Earrings that outlasts trends.
Price range: Rs 800 to Rs 4,000.
Where do you retail? I stock at Mogra, Aza, Cypress, Oak Tree, Barefoot in Mumbai; Congo in Goa and Amethyst in Chennai.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Mandira Bedi, Suchitra Pillai and Mini Mathur.

Ritu Shivpuri
Celeb quotient: Daughter of actors Om and Sudha 'Ba' Shivpuri.
Technical background: Although I've done a course in interior designing I always had a passion for jewellery. And I'm happy about taking it up as a full-fledged profession now.
I have been designing: For about two years.
My signature line: Pink Angels.
My favourite metal: Gold.
My favourite stones: Pink tourmaline and emerald.

I specialise in: Every single piece of my creation is special.
Price range: Rs 20,000 onwards.
Where do you retail? I organise small exhibitions (sometimes at Mogra).
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Anyone who wears my jewellery will feel no less than a celebrity.

Maheep Kapoor
Celeb quotient: She is actor Sanjay Kapoor's wife.
Technical background: She did a one-year course in jewellery design from the Andheri Diamond Institute in 1999-2000. She's always been into drawing and designing, and started supplying jewellery to her friends, after which it actually snowballed into a full-fledged career.
I have been designing: Professionally, for two years.
My signature line: MSK.
My favourite metal: Platinum.
My favourite stone: Diamonds, as they're very wearable.
I specialise in: Heavy chokers, chandelier earrings and huge rings.
Price range: Rs 1.5 lakh upwards.
Where do you retail? Notandas and Sons, Bandra. They have a store in Delhi and are opening up another in Dubai next year.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: Gauri Khan, and my sister-in-law, Sridevi.

Mariam Khan
Celeb quotient: This jewellery designer is producer-director Akbar Khan's wife.
Technical background: I was born in Jaipur, so have a fair idea of stones and designs. I've always tried arming myself with practical knowledge, instead of doing a course.
I have been designing: Professionally, for more than a year.
My signature line: Ali's.
My favourite metal: Silver.
My favourite stones: Tourmaline, chalcedony and amethyst.

I specialise in:

Danglers.
Price range: Rs 800 to 21,000.
Where do you retail? Ishna, Bandra and Fuel's, Chowpatty.
Celebs who carry your jewellery well: I've been lending out my jewellery for telly shows, including Indian Idol (Sony), Fame Gurukul (Sony), Popkorn (Zoom), Filmi Fever (Zoom). Mandira Bedi really stood out wearing them. Others include Aishwarya Rai, Konkona Sensharma, Kirron Kher and Ameesha Patel.