India Couture Week: Day 1

Day 1 October 11, Sunday India Couture Week loses Big B as Abu-Sandeep back out

Day 1

October 11, Sunday Spicezee Bureau India Couture Week loses Big B as Abu-Sandeep back out Mumbai: Organisers of HDIL India Couture Week are in a fix. Major crowd-puller Amitabh Bachchan was to be the showstopper for designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla on Day 1 of the fashion extravaganza, but they have reportedly decided to back out at the last moment. The designer duo has cited disrespect shown by the organisers of the gala fashion event as the reason of their withdrawal. "We regret this announcement on the eve of our show, but cannot risk our guests being offended due to unorganized seating. After 23 years in the business, of perfecting craftsmanship and customer service it was better to withdraw based on principle rather than risk a show," Abu Jani and Khosla were reported to have said in a statement. In turn, the organisers of the Couture Week are extremely miffed at the ‘unprofessional’ move at the last moment, leaving them in a hitch. The event has been delayed by a day due to this. The organisers voiced their disapproval in a statement, saying, "To back out a day before their show is most unprofessional and regrettable. The rest of the event will continue as per the schedule and the Couture Week will now begin on Monday." Besides Big B and his `Cheeni Kum` co-star Tabu, stars like Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik and Suzanne Roshan were to walk the ramp for Abu-Sandeep, who were to kick-start the six-day fashion event on Sunday. "Mehmaan nawazi is not an obligation; it is an understood happy assurance from our end always and in a scenario where we are not assured of it, we consider it better not to invite our guests and withdraw from the show," the designer duo made their stand clear. With fashion fraternity prone to frequent disagreements and clashes, this can prove the beginning of an ego clash between the film and the fashion worlds