Parineeti Chopra and Urmila Matondkar walk the ramp for a cause

India’s leading fashion designer Manish Malhotra last night stunned London fans as his breath-taking collection appeared on a London catwalk for the very first time. The award-winning designer showcased his collection at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane, in aid of The Angeli Foundation, a charity that works to empower the Girl Child in India. The 450-strong audience at The Angeli Foundation Gala Fundraiser, were on their feet with rapturous applause as Malhotra’s Bollywood buddies Parineeti Chopra and Urmila Matondkar walked the ramp to support the designer and the cause. Amongst the celebrities attending were: leading soap stars Shivani Ghai, Jimi Harkishin, Sunetra Sarker and Ace Bhatti ; BBC Sports presenter Sonali Shah; TV and presenters Anita Rani and Nihal; actor Adil Ray better known as Citizen Khan; as well as the stunning actress turned signer Preeya Kalidass. Malhotra’s collection was organically Indian with Kashmiri & Chikankari work woven onto traditional silhouettes and styles such as the lehngas, his signature floor length anarkalis and lehnga anarkalis in colors inspired from 50's such as exclusively dyed corals, pinks, blues. The breath-taking collection was reminiscent of contemporary India and its Craftsmanship. The two leading ladies certainly did Malhotra’s collection justice. Ms Matondkar who opened the show was dressed in a beautifully fitted and styled navy lehnga woven with white chikankari, with Parineeti Chopra adding fabulous glamour to the finale in a glittering floor length, red and gold anarkali lehnga. The beautiful stars walked the ramp in true style, giving the models a run for their money! Malhotra selected The Angeli Foundation as the charity of choice for his UK launch after the horrific rape of Jyoti Singh Pandey in Delhi highlighted the shocking inequality and attitudes towards women in our country. The Angeli Foundation works to ‘Save the Girl Child’ and redress the balance for women who are treated as second-class citizens throughout their lives. From female foeticide to limiting healthcare and education in favour of male siblings, to bride burnings, unreported rapes and acid attacks, inequality exists from womb to woman. He said of his support for The Angeli Foundation and the response on the evening: “I can think of no better partner to have worked with for my debut show in London. The Angeli Foundation works so hard at a grass roots level to change the lives of young girls in the hope that their voices will eventually be heard and that attitudes in our society will change. As celebrities, it is our role and responsibility to lead by example and if I can make some small change by lending my support to this invaluable case, then I have achieved something.” Parineeti Chopra added: “As a former PR person I know the value of celebrity and how they can help raise awareness and start to drive debate and discussion. After the tragedy in December I don’t think there is anyone in our industry that doesn’t feel strongly about gender inequality and the terrible treatment of women. When Manish asked if I would walk the ramp for the Foundation, there was no doubt in my mind that it would be an honour to play a part in something so important.”