Eating out with Vindu Dara Singh

Click on the pic to view slideshow The first time I met Vindu Dara Singh was at a calendar launch in a Juhu restaurant. Son of Dara Singh the great, film actor, reality show participant, known for his large-heartedness and short temper, with a pretty wife and a cute daughter – I felt I must check him out. When I invited Vindu with his wife Dina to dine with me, his in-laws were arriving from Russia that day. The next time I called to confirm at a Malad restaurant, the Juhu resident expressed his preference for Prashant Chaudhari’s Italian place Le Mangii in Juhu (don’t worry, I will pay the bill, he said) or some restaurant closer home. Yet another week went by and finally when I managed to book a table at Le Mangii, we decided to meet over lunch. Vindu arrived with his beautiful Russian wife Dina who is not a stranger to television viewers as she had participated actively in Khatron Ke Khiladi. Le Mangii, famous for authentic Italian food, sports a very airy and bright look with a sit-out and a cosy restaurant inside with glass door allowing a peek into the sit-out area. Vindu is all praise for this place and a regular visitor here as Le Mangii staff seems to know them. After exchanging pleasantries, we occupy a table near the glass door. I compliment Dina on her strikingly good looks. It is a refreshing start with salads first - Watermelon with Rucola and Caesar’s Salad. Fruit punch and Melon juices are our beverages even as thin-crust Pizza with onion, sundried tomatoes and olives makes its appearance. Vindu’s recent stint with 70mm included Sajid Khan’s Himmatwala and presently is busy shooting for Karanvir Bohra’s Punjabi film. I congratulated him on winning Welcome show where he served a sumptuous meal to his colleagues. Among six children of Dara Singh, if only Vindu is a known figure, he clarifies, “It’s because none of the others are in the entertainment industry. My sister is married and settled in the USA and my brothers are in the North of India,” since they look after the massive film studio set up by their father. Over main course of Pasta Alfredo, Sea Bass and Prawns risotto, our conversation veered towards Dina who has turned an entrepreneur with the opening of a spa where only natural products are used for treatment. The gracious lady invited me to try out the treatments. She could not wait till the last course of our meal for it was time for their daughter who is studying in Ambani’s school, to come home and Dina had to rush to pick her up from where school bus dropped her. Vindu and I made it a point not to miss out on the rich creamy desserts of Le Mangii– Dina’s favorite Banana Caramel pudding for Vindu and Brownie with hot chocolate and ice cream for me. That was a fulfilling, delectable and rejuvenating Italian lunch at Le Mangii, both of us agreed. Vindu tells me he stays just next door to Le Mangii and invites me over to his place. Out of curiosity I accept his invitation. It is a huge compound with a bunglow at the entrance, “We grew up in this bunglow and then this multi-storied structure was constructed. Our family occupies the top two floors and the rest of the apartments are sold out,” says Vindu. I met his daughter who looks like Dina and yes I do recognize the house after having seen it in the foodcentric show Welcome on Life OK. After bidding adieu to Vindu, I prepare myself to dine with yet another actor!