• Culture & Travel

The Word. Editor’s Table Launched With India’s Industry and Creative Leaders

The marquee edition was hosted in the imposing The Leela Jaipur.
  • ByTeam The Word.

Drama At The Table Dinner: (from left) jeweller Anu Merton, content creator Nancy Tyagi, actor Sonali Bendre, The Word. Editor-In-Chief Nandini Bhalla, designer Falguni and Shane Peacock, and FDCI President Sunil Sethi.

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Actor Kubbra Sait in pink for the soiree.

The Word. Magazine hosted the first edition of the Editor’s Table in Jaipur, in the company of industry leaders and creative mavens from across the country. At the marquee edition of this closed-door gathering, held in September, actors, style experts, jewellery and watch connoisseurs, culinary authorities, and more came together to engage in meaningful conversations around culture, art, sustainability, and life.

The Editor’s Table was held at The Leela Palace Jaipur, in the company of exceptional people…a special retreat that brought together like-minded leaders to exchange ideas and network. Guests held open dialogues on essential topics—from forecasting the future of their industry to the challenges they face, the effects of social media on creativity, and even what they have learnt from their challenges.

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The Word. EIC Nandini Bhalla with actor Sonali Bendre
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Guests stayed at palatial villas and suites, with private plunge pools.

Guests checked into palatial villas and suites at The Leela Jaipur—from Royal Villas with plunge pools to elaborate suites that married regal heritage with state–of-the-art amenities. The finer details were special, such as the Aujusya snacks and a personalised, edible photograph to welcome each guest.

In addition, friends of The Word. were welcomed with The Leela’s signature luxury, vegan personal care range, Tishya. The shower gels, body creams, and more are in a distinct fragrance of Kumud or lotus and the wonder flower, Neelakurinji that blossoms once in 12 years. And the packaging is entirely recyclable.

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(From left) Akanksha and Tarang Arora of Amrapali Jewels, artist Viraj Khanna, and FDCI President Sunil Sethi at The Editor's Table high-tea discussion.

The Editor’s Table was hosted as a closed-door discussion about crucial, insider insights. Seated in The Jharokha Bar, the high-tea conversation began on what the future of each field would look like, in 20 years. As Sunil Sethi, President of FDCI, shared, “Anyone who is creative will want to express their personal style, not follow trends. People will evolve, they will do what they want to, and not wait for a person to tell them what to do or wear. People want to be who they are, and so, they will do what they want to…”

Sharing a nugget of gold, quite literally, Tarang Arora, Creative Director of Amrapali Jewels added, “We feel that gold will be unaffordable in the next 20 years, and silver will be the new gold. This would lead to a massive opportunity for fashion jewellery.”

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Designers Falguni Shane Peacock at The Word. Editor's Table.

Steering the conversation towards challenges, actor Sonali Bendre spoke up for women in Indian cinema. She stated, “While the film industry has become more inclusive for women as compared to the ’90s, being typecast is a very big issue for us. And it is more difficult for female actors to break out of it. You have to be brave to take a stand, because it would potentially lead to you giving up on work for God knows how long. You might never get work, or have a very long dry spell…and it’s a very difficult choice. On the other hand, if you can’t make that choice, then you’re stuck in a rut, churning out the same kind of work—and that kills creativity.”

Adding to this, Sonali shared, “I also feel like this is part of the churn, and something good will come out of it. Only the creative one who are able to think of something new  will be able to break this cycle.”

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(From left) Kaustav Dey, VP Marketing of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, actors Kubbra Sait, Sonali Bendre, and Aisha Ahmed, and The Word. Content Director Radhika Bhalla, at The Editor's Table discussion.

In addition, actor Kubbra Sait shared, “There is also this division between who is a ‘star’ and who is an ‘actor’… and it’s a concept that we have made in our own minds. It stems from the idea that star equals power. And it’s not something we learnt from the womb, that we need a four-door vanity van… I, myself, don’t sit in it, but I want it. This problem exists.”

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Designer Raghavendra Rathore at The Editor's Table closed-door discussion.
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Facade of The Jaipur Leela, where The Word. Editor's Table was held.

With regards to the impact of social media on creativity, designer Raghavendra Rathore spoke of a future that is customised to each person’s needs.“I think the whole world is going to become bespoke in the future. It will be all cut, made, cooked for you,” he shared, adding, “The very idea of having a passion is going to have to change, because what will kids learn when there will be no need for that skill? I don’t think its a scary thing, though…its inevitable. Each person will have their own agent, and that’s going to take away a lot of our jobs, straightaway. If you dress a particular way, it will know it and just cough that out…you won’t even have to think. And that means it will redefines humanity.”

Further, Pooja Dhingra, pastry chef, author, and founder of Le15 Patisserie stated, “I view social media as a positive tool, if used correctly. For me, it is a great distribution channel–anything I put out, social media helps that content reach a tonne of people.”

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The Word. of the Day: Editor's Table.
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Tea time treats by The Leela for guests.

Self-love was an important topic, too. And two speakers shone the light on themselves, and their ‘haters’. Content creator Nancy Tyagi gave a praiseworthy reply: “While people were saying nasty things about me or behind my back, I was working hard to change my life.”

And Kaustav Dey, VP Marketing of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, added, “My haters have taught me to listen to my soul, celebrate who I am, because there’s nobody else in the world like you. Life is for living!”

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A special performance by traditional dancer in the atrium of The Leela Jaipur.
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A musical performance by traditional performers in the foyer of The Leela Jaipur.

The evening’s discussion gave way to an exclusive cultural performance and special Nakshatra dinner experience by The Leela Palace, Jaipur. Guests made their way to The Hawa Mahal, on the terrace of The Leela Jaipur, for the ‘Drama At The Table’ soiree, which was a pink-themed evening as an ode to the Pink City.

Guests were greeted by live santoor music, and the imposing domes of the rooftop venue. A special performance was held by Flamenco India, where Kunal Om brought to life the Spanish dance form to the beats of traditional, Rajasthani percussionists. This was followed by a round of The Leela Picante, introduced by Sharad Puri, Senior Vice President & General Manager of The Leela Palace Jaipur.

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Drama At The Table: (from left) Kubbra Sait, Sunil Sethi, Nandini Bhalla, Radhika Bhalla,
Falguni and Shane Peacock.
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The decor of the Nakshatra Dinner at The Hawa Mahal of The Leela Jaipur.
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Nandini Bhalla with celebrity chef, Pooja Dhingra at the Drama At The Table evening.

The Nakshatra Dinner was held under a starlit sky, and guests were served a signature, traditional thali of Rajasthani delicacies like Rajwadi Fish Tikka, Jamun Kulfi, Achari Ker Sangria, Masala Baati, and Ghewar and Moong Badam Halwa, among other chef’s specialities. Delightful, local decor elements completed the setting, with handmade, cloth elephants and camels punctuated with flowers.

Music rose in the air, and so did laughter with the merriment of new friendships and shared values.

The Word. Editor’s Table marked a fresh chapter in the landscape of India’s creative force.

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A traditional Rajasthani thali, with chef's specialities.
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A flamenco performance by Kunal Om, blending beats by Rajasthani percussionists.
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Tahir Sultan at the Nakshatra dinner by The Leela Jaipur.
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(From left) Abhimanyu Alsisar, Raja of Khetri, actor Aisha Ahmed, Kunwarani Sanyukta Singh, Nandini Bhalla, Akanksha Arora, CEO of Tribe Amrapali.