Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in partnership with celebrity fan, the award-winning Indian actress Alia Bhatt hosted a spectacular charity gala in London. The evening of entertainment and culinary delight was in support of Alia’s chosen charity – Salaam Bombay Foundation – which provides education and job opportunities for disadvantaged adolescents in India to complete school and access better employment.
Guests included Alia Bhatt, actress and model Poppy Delevingne, CEO of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Laurent Kleitman, CEO of Chanel Leena Nair, President and Chairman of the Royal Horticultural Society Keith Weed and Executive Vice President of Omnicom group Asit Mehra, business tycoon and Executive Director, Serum Institute of India Natasha Poonawalla, Founder and Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited Anil Agarwal, Sanjay Newatia Founder of SKN Advisor, Hotelier Girish Sanger, film makers Richie Mehta, Gurinder Chadha along with Orhan Awatramani (Orry), Santu Misra, Tania Shroff, Rahi Chadda and more.
The hotel’s iconic ballroom, which has welcomed many esteemed guests over its 135-year history, including Winston Churchill and HM Queen Elizabeth II, was transformed to reflect the warm, opulent and vibrant colours of India, with cultural references reflective of Mandarin Oriental’s Asian heritage.
Commenting on the evening’s activities, Alia Bhatt said: “Hosting my inaugural charity gala in collaboration with the Salaam Bombay Foundation and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has been an incredible experience. I’ve long admired Padmini Sekhsaria’s unwavering dedication to uplifting at-risk youth in India’s slums, offering them hope and opportunity. I’m happy to have played a small part in helping these children reshape their narratives. Furthermore, holding the Hope Gala at such a prestigious venue is a genuine privilege, as I’ve always been a fan of Mandarin Oriental’s exceptional hospitality. Today marks just the beginning of our efforts, and with the support of our generous contributors, I’m confident we’ll make significant strides in empowering future generations.”