When a show featuring eight of Bollywood’s biggest stars starts on time (or rather, only an hour late), you know you’re in for a good time if not a lesson in high fashion. As style doyennes and sundry guests watched Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif strut down the ramp for Salman’s charity foundation Being Human at the HDIL ICW, it became obvious that the show was more about the glitz of Bollywood than the nitty-gritty of couture.

The loudest cheers went for Salman, dapper in a suit (we wish he’d go formal more often) and Aamir, who kept it casual with jeans and tee-shirt. The clothes ended up being incidental.

The collection that did manage to grab our attention was the Shane and Falguni Peacock line featuring prints of Salman’s paintings, with a special mention for the flowing gown with the embellished, illusion neckline worn by Kaif. Most of the film fraternity turned up in support of the foundation. The Khan family was in full force with Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Salma Khan and Helen, along with close friends Farah Khan, Manish Malhotra, Ameesha Patel, Sushmita Sen, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor. Leading the front-row cheering charge was Preity Zinta, who showed her support by wearing a Being Human tee-shirt with a mini skirt, sleek Christian Loubotins and a delicious Zagliani clutch. The effect, sadly, was more like rock-chic-gone-wrong.

However, it was Pallavi Jaikishan’s show earlier in the evening that really brought “couture” to the week. Our particular favourites were the saris in lace and tulle and the uber-hot chiffon sari-dress. The grandeur of the clothes was beautifully set off by mounted jewellery, also created by Jaikishan — every component collected by the designer from around the world. She added drama by having showstopper Noyonika Chatterjee sashay down, wearing a veil lit up with fairy lights.