As mega dos go, this one was a topper. Shekhar Kapur and Suchitra Krishnamoorthy hosted a grand party which was meant to coincide with the release of Kapur's Elizabeth. The film got held up by the censors, but the party went on anyway. The leading pair of the Oscar-nominated film, Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes, both clothed in JJ Valaya's best, were the star attractions.

Also, everyone who was anyone was there - Shoba De, Kiron and Anupam Kher, Sangeeta Chopra, Sangeeta Kathiwada, Kapur's uncles, Dev Anand and Ketan Anand; Simone Tata, Boney and Sridevi Kapoor, David Dhawan, Jackie Shroff, Aamir and, in a rare public appearance, Reena Khan. The stars had descended. In the center of the Crystal Room of Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel were displayed the costumes that designers Seema and Jamila Malhotra had embroidered for 'Elizabeth'. And flitting all around it was model Mandira Malhotra, attired like the Virgin Queen herself, holding a glass of white wine. She was heard saying, "Now I know what being in traction feels like!"

Mandira, a finalist at Femina Miss India 1999, has also done shoots for the British Tourist Authority's (BTA) new movie map, dressed in Elizabethan costumes from the film. The map charts a course for visitors to Britain along the 100-odd locations and backdrops featured in films and on television. The experience and knowledge that came with the assignment made Mandira the obvious choice when it came to who'd model the costumes at Kapur's party.

As the BTA sees it, Elizabeth, shot on location in Northumbria, will help create awareness of Britain's heritage and landscape.

Back to the party, Cate Blanchett was positively effervescent in a 'ghagra-choli' (it was rather loose for her, we thought), and Joseph Fiennes, looking darkly handsome in a beige kurta-pyjama. He couldn't quite stomach the oohs and aahs he came in for from the female (and the male) population, demurring, "I can't get used to all this attention!" Shekhar Kapur had no such problem, however.

Guess who went back with a nice, new wardrobe at the end of it all? Designers Seema and Jamila Malhotra gave Cate Blanchett three elaborate Indo-Western outfits as a "welcome gift". "We picked styles that could be worn abroad and yet were distinctly Eastern. We chose bronze, shades of grey and beige for Cate, keeping in mind her complexion," they told us. Blanchett was thrilled with the exquisite creations and told the designers she planned to wear them to the festivals in Venice and Edinburough. Seema and Jamila are thrilled, too.

The other Eastern designs to go West belonged to Ritu Beri. The designer showed off a grand collection of outfits including saris and 'ghagra-cholis' at the 'la Semaine de la Haute Couture' or The Week of High Fashion in Paris recently. Beri used brocades, crepes and satins and plenty of Swarovski crystals in her designs, which received a standing ovation. Other labels at the event included YSL, Kenzo, Versace and Christian Dior.