(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Mana and Suniel Shetty tell us about their fund-raising initiative Araaish which combines glamour with charity Mana and Suniel Shetty are bringing their social initiative with a heavy dose of glamour to Dubai. - Supplied Photo
As Bollywood star couples go Suniel and Mana Shetty are known to keep a low profile. Not for them the constant glare of the cameras as they make their way to a select few industry events where they are often seen more keen to blend in than attempt to stand out like certain celebrity couples. Even the news earlier on in the year that their daughter Athiya will make her big screen debut alongside the controversial Sooraj Pancholi in Nikhil Advani’s action film Hero by the end of 2014 has by and far gone under the radar. But there is one cause the couple are only happy to espouse together – Araaish the lifestyle exhibition with a charity initiative at its centre. The annual exhibition Mana co-founded with Sharmila Khanna is now in its fifth year and combines glamour with fund-raising. “A lot of people find it difficult to contribute towards different charities keeping in mind trust and credibility” explains Mana. “Araaish is a fund raiser for STC (Save The Children) India an NGO which was found 25 years ago by my mother Mrs. Vipula Kadri. It has no business angle at all and therefore all the money collected goes straight to STC India. We have different projects - one of them being Pride India (a Non-Governmental Organisation working towards empowering marginalised rural communities to lead lives filled with dignity and self-respect) which the international edition of Araaish contributes to.”
But Araaish is not merely a social initiative for Mana. “Basically it is a tribute to my mother. It was started to bring awareness about our NGO. And what better way than by combining glamour and charity.”
And its USP is of course the fact that it is a total fund-raiser. “It is an extremely personalised and controlled exhibition where designers always come with new collections and are always present themselves. Araaish is always curated by Sharmila and Shaan Khanna who are totally hands on and make sure that the event is successful” she continues.
While she has managed to take her mother’s initiative further she hopes in future her children will do the same. “We have always taught them as parents to be kind supportive and responsible which will help them in their further endeavours.” At the same time she is also quick to credit the Bollywood fraternity for the success she has enjoyed. “Wives of Bollywood personalities and wives of fellow actors who are in different creative businesses have always supported us. For us our friends are always a call away.”
While Suniel who serves as the brand ambassador for Araaish is only happy to help out for such a good cause he credits his close business team with keeping him on the right track. Shetty who made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with the aptly titled Balwaan went on to carve a name for himself as an action hero with his brawn power. But it was his turn as a love-lorn suitor in 2001’s Dhadkan opposite Shilpa Shetty and Akshay Kumar that brought him accolades. The actor-turned producer who is also the captain of the Mumbai Heroes team of the Celebrity Cricket League is today known for his business acumen and has earned the respect of the industry where he is referred to as anna (big brother).
Suniel and Mana are known to enjoy a strong bond in an industry where it is not the norm. “I have known Suniel for more than 30 years and spent almost half my adult life with him. I think trust communication and giving each other space is extremely important” explains Mana when asked to elaborate on their partnership. “Children always add to the bond. Everyone always has to work towards a successful marriage and that’s exactly what has created this amazing bond that we have.”
Knowing the ins and outs of the industry did Shetty have any reservations about Athiya joining Bollywood “Not at all she is extremely passionate and loves what she is doing” says Suniel. “As a father I recognise that and give her a full go ahead supporting her in every way possible. It’s a great industry to be in and I know my fellow actors media and my fans will always be there to support her and show her the way forward.”
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