< Previous30 MASALA! Global Achievers MOST INFLUENTIAL Keeping Bollywood fit YASMIN KARACHIWALA @yasminkarachiwala CELEBRITY FITNESS TRAINER, FOUNDER, YASMIN’S BODY IMAGE AND AUTHOR What do Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Preity Zinta, Nora Fatehi, Sophie Choudry, Ananya Pandey and Khushi Kapoor have in common? All these stunners are on Yasmin Karachiwala’s client roster. A fitness expert with 26 years of experience in the fitness industry and pioneer of Pilates in India, Yasmin has earned a formidable reputation as the number one celebrity fitness trainer. While her clientele includes the cream of Bollywood, she has also trained pageant contestants, corporate honchos and even ordinary folks at her fitness studios. A natural on television too, Yasmin can be seen in Get Gorgeous and other fitness shows on television. Yasmin is the life force behind many of her famous clients, motivating them to be consistent in their fitness regimen and advising on the right lifestyle for a healthier and happier life. Harnessing all her knowledge, Yasmin turned a successful author with Sculpt and Shape The Pilates Way which gives you an insight to Pilates and how it facilitates a better posture and positive approach to life. She is also the first Balanced Body Master Pilates Instructor and Fletcher Pilates instructor in India. Apart from her own personal fitness Studio, Yasmin’s Body Image in Mumbai, she also manages franchisees in Dubai, Dhaka and Delhi, with more expected to open soon in Ahmedabad and Indore. WORDS: SHALAKA PARADKAR; PICTURE: SUPPLIED MASALA! 31 Global Achievers MOST INFLUENTIAL Cooking Up a Storm VINEET BHATIA @chefvineet CHEF, JUDGE - MASTERCHEF INDIA AND THE FINAL TABLE The first Indian to win a Michelin Star, Vineet Bhatia oversees 12 restaurants all over the globe including the latest one he is launching in Abu Dhabi, Rasoi by Vineet. He started as a chef at The Oberoi in Mumbai; but in 1993, he flew to London with just £7 in his pocket. Vineet’s first position was at the Star of India in South Kensington, London. He quickly earned a reputation for transforming gourmet Indian cuisine in the UK. In 1999, he opened Zaika, London and in 2001, got a Michelin star – becoming the first Indian chef to receive it . In 2004, Vineet opened Rasoi, taking over a 100-year old Chelsea townhouse. Rasoi bagged a bevy of awards and was awarded one Michelin star in January 2006. Rasoi at the Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, was awarded a Michelin star in 2009, making Vineet the only Indian chef to hold a star both in the UK and outside of the UK. Vineet Bhatia London, designed to elevate Indian food, opened in 2016 and was awarded a Michelin star only eight months after opening. In November 2018, he opened Kama by Vineet at Harrods. Vineet has helped developed top-class restaurants in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Geneva, Mauritius and Mumbai. His books Rasoi - New Indian Kitchen and My Sweet Kitchen inspire chefs towards progressive Indian cuisine. But when he is not cooking or shooting for TV shows, he likes creating offbeat culinary experiences - like the trek up to the Everest Base Camp in 2018 to set up a three-day pop up restaurant! WORDS: SHALAKA PARADKAR; PICTURE: SUPPLIED MASALA! 33 Global Achievers MOST INFLUENTIAL Wellness Messenger LAL CHAND @lcwell_org HUMANITARIAN AND FOUNDER, LC WELL Hailing from a modest background, Pakistani businessman Lal Chand is now a multi-millionaire humanitarian whose mission is to spread the message of wellness though his non-profit organisation LC Well. From conducting free lectures, workshops, seminars and counselling sessions to spreading awareness on mental health issues, LC Well uses positive psychology, mindfulness, neuroscience of the conscious and unconscious mind to create a better, happier world. Lal Chand is also working on two interesting projects – LC Towers, a building constructed with wellness, sustainability and positivity at its core and his autobiography. Lal Chand leads a simple life sans obsession with material things, meditation, practising gratitude and laughter! His dream is to see more countries adopt the well- nation agenda, focusing on providing the right avenues for citizens to develop positive psychology. LC Well’s initiatives have been welcomed by Dubai, especially the meditation studio at DMCC that provides free yoga and classes for stress management. For Lal Chand, his biggest role models are his parents who were deeply into Sufism. Travelling along their path, the philanthropist wants to now dedicate the rest of his life spreading peace and happiness in a conflict-ridden world. WORDS: MASALA!; PICTURE: FRITZ ASURO Trendsetters MOST INFLUENTIAL Style CEO RAZA BEIG @razabeig CEO, SPLASH & LANDMARK INTERNATIONAL AND FASHION DIRECTOR, LANDMARK GROUP In Dubai’s elite circles, Raza Beig’s name is associated with glamour, happening parties, Bollywood fun and a lot of flair. But behind that flamboyant persona is a spiritual, warm and generous person who still swears by his Mumbai roots. (A little-known fact is that Raza was a model in the 80s, with some interesting campaigns for big brands in his kitty.) Currently, Raza heads Splash and LMI, the fashion concepts of the Landmark Group. It has been a slow and steady rise since 1993, when Splash was at a nascent stage. Raza climbed the corporate ladder to become general manager of Splash. Raza’s acumen and dedication led Splash to become Landmark’s core brand in a few years. He also set up Lifestyle, the department chain in India, where his bullish approach held him in good stead in a new market. The next milestone on his CV was being appointed managing director of Splash, being part of the board of directors of Landmark Group and eventually becoming the CEO of Splash. A hands-on leader, Raza is spearheading the brand across the Middle East, Levant and the subcontinent, with aggressive expansion plans for the future. Taking his brands to new heights, he has collaborated with celebrity brand ambassadors such as Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Jacqueline Fernandez among others. Splash currently operates over 250 stores and 55 brand stores across 14 countries. Work aside, Raza’s hospitality and generosity is legendary. He may be the industry’s leading mover and shaker but the indefatigable Mr.Beig isn’t done by a long mile. As his Instagram handle reiterates, ‘the best is yet to come’. WORDS: LEKHA MENON; PICTURE: AJITH NARENDRA Trendsetters MOST INFLUENTIAL Sound of Music ALY RAZA BEIG @alyrazabeig MUSIC PRODUCER AND RACING FANATIC All of 19, Aly Raza Beig is his father’s son in many ways. And quite different in some others! Warm, friendly and ambitious, yet shy and soft-spoken (unlike his gregarious dad), Aly chose a creative career. A self-confessed geek, he started producing music from the age of 12, learning the basics from YouTube. From doing a school project to mixing songs on his laptop and experimenting with a DJ set his father gifted him, Aly was forever surrounded by music. It didn’t take him long to realise that his real passion lay in music, apart from extreme sports. He is now learning sound engineering and music production in a three- year-course at London’s Point Blank Music School. Of course, he was always producing songs, initially as Indianslap but he now goes by the much cooler ‘Slapvibe’. There is a story behind his epiphany. When Ali’s grandmother passed away some time back, on the 40th day of mourning, he heard that one of his favourite DJs was playing in town. To attend or not to attend was the obvious dilemma but his dad encouraged him to go. Watching the DJ perform at the party, soaking in the energy and creating magic, it struck Aly that this was what he wanted to do. Aly released several songs before but he restarted his career this year professionally. 2020 is an important year for him as he plans to upload many singles and an album, starting with the recently released Mood that has got good reviews. His inspirations? Sufi, especially AR Rahman and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. While he listens to a lot of EDM and electro, he also wants to infuse his music with Indian notes. As of now, it’s all about the creative arts for Aly. What about business? ‘Maybe’ is all he will say! Trendsetters MOST INFLUENTIAL Red Carpet Style DIPESH DEPALA @dipeshdepala CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER, THE QODE Having lived and worked in Dubai for over three decades, Dipesh is one half of the duo behind the leading communications, events and digital agency, The Qode, which he founded with business partner Ayman Fakoussa. The vibrant start-up, housed in an uber chic office in Dubai Design District, has now become the go-to agency for luxury brands from the region and beyond. Giving a special touch to every service offered, Dipesh and his team personalise PR and Marketing for luxury brands with their end-to- end services that include tailored event planning, diverse publishing channels and curating elite guest- lists. Over the years, the company has notched up a list of very impressive clientele. A remarkable milestone achieved last year was The Qode’s partnership with global PR and events giants, Karla Otto and K2, taking it from a regional to a global footing. Always nattily turned out, Dipesh – who was raised in Europe and graduated from the American College of Switzerland - is an integral part of Dubai’s smart set. Before The Qode, his blog Red Velvet Nation established him as a well-known social commentator. He is also a fashion and lifestyle columnist, having contributed to leading publications in the UAE and India. Given his keen sense of style, it comes as no surprise that Dipesh is a consultant and advisor for fashion and lifestyle brands. Juggling his life as a businessman and father, Dipesh is also focusing on developing the careers of his two talented children – his daughter Leah, a singer and songwriter, and his son Neel, a budding sportsman. WORDS: SHALAKA PARADKAR; PICTURE: SUPPLIED MASALA! 37 Trendsetters MOST INFLUENTIAL WORDS: SHALAKA PARADKAR; PICTURE: SUPPLIED Bohemian Rhapsody MINNA JOSEPH APOSTOLOVIC @minnajoseph FOUNDER, EDIT BY MINNA AND ART FOR ALL COLLECTIVE Born and raised in the UAE, Minna has immersed herself into a career in the arts while being an active presence on the region’s fashion scene. Recognised as one of Dubai’s most beautiful people, with her breezy, Boho personal style and gorgeous looks, Minna has also worked with some of the world’s top fashion brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Peter Pilotto and Kate Spade and collaborated with several international stylists including Brad Goreski. Minna relaunched DIFC Art Nights in 2010 and managed programming of the event until 2015, establishing it as one of most prominent art events in the city. She has worked with several leading art galleries in the region. She recently started ‘Art For All Collective’, an initiative rooted in the idea of making art less elitist and more accessible by empowering people to buy art, support artists and develop a sustainable creative economy by providing interest-fee installment plans for art buyers. The stylish mom of one (and another on the way) is the founder of Edit By Minna, a womenswear brand that draws inspiration from her travels and embodies her playful yet sophisticated fashion aesthetic. With a background in the arts, her approach to fashion is culturally and artistically tuned into the zeitgeist. With clothes that exude quality and craftsmanship, Minna aims to bring a fre sh, fun edge to womenswear in the region.Trendsetters MOST INFLUENTIAL Love Yourself UMA GHOSH @umagd ENTREPRENEUR, ANCHOR, PRODUCER, WELLNESS EDUCATOR AND HEALTH COACH A TV industry veteran for 15 years, Uma’s career has traced a brilliant trajectory. A pioneer of television broadcasting in the Middle East for the South Asian diaspora, Uma helms Queen Bee Production, a top- of-the-line production unit that has launched eight successful shows across various channels in the Middle East beam. Passionate about health, beauty, fitness and wellness, Uma is now a certified holistic health and wellness coach, helping people achieve a balanced, healthy and stress-free life. It’s not just the outward looks that she focuses on but Uma’s approach helps them change their lifestyle and behaviour positively to make a lasting impact. Uma believes in practising what she preaches. A fitness fanatic herself, she has incorporated every aspect of wellbeing including having a wholesome diet, positive thinking and minimalistic living into her life. Always seeking new horizons, Uma has captured her own niche in the digital space through her lifestyle and wellness channel, The UMA Show that has more than 300,000 + subscribers on YouTube, with over two million views per month. A recent foray into online education has resulted in the launch of a course on holistic skincare. With informative videos online and masterclasses and consultation offline, Uma has made a significant contribution to the wellness realm in the UAE. A true woman of substance, Uma has supported charitable causes galore, including fundraising for children with special needs, girls’ education an d women empowerment. WORDS: SHALAKA PARADKAR; PICTURE: SUPPLIED MASALA! 39 Trendsetters MOST INFLUENTIAL The Iedea-Tor MALINI N. MENON @malininmenon MD, IEDEA, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, ABLF AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON, IMPERIUM VENTURES Malini has carved a unique niche for herself in the world of leadership and business with IEDEA: a business ideation, global outreach and network facilitation agency. She produces high-profile networking initiatives and activations in the MENA region. In association with the UAE Ministry of Economy is IEDEA’s flagship event series, the Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF), a platform with a 12-year history that brings together statespersons, business leaders and private investors from around the globe. Since 2011, Malini has served officially as Advisor to government, private and social sector initiatives across Asia, driving massive funding programmes, supporting state investment requirements and providing investor outreach solutions. Some of the biggest government events sign up with IEDEA as outreach partner, given her expertise and huge network built across 30 years in the UAE. In 2018, Malini was appointed Chief Advisor for Outreach and Funding Initiatives at Dubai Cares, the world’s leading philanthropic organisation. In 2019, she launched ABLF Talks, a three-minute leadership TV series and a cutting- edge business magazine, expanding the reach of ABLF. Malini also serves as Vice-Chairperson of the UAE’s Imperium Ventures, a successful incubation cell for technology-led global companies that works to fund and promote innovative projects in the UAE. Coming up next: IEDEA, in partnership with Dubai Cares, prepares to bring in the first-ever benefit event series in the UAE during the Expo 2020. PICTURE: SUPPLIED Next >