How do we save this precious predator?: Farah Ali Khan

What do jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali and environment minister Jairam Ramesh have in common? Don’t know the answer? Well, you would if you were going to Vladivostok, Russia, next month — because that’s where Farah has been invited by the minister, to the international summit to support the cause of tiger conservation.

“At the beginning of the year, I was watching a program on tigers and I realised the tiger, as apex predator, is on top of the ecological chain — and he was dying out. I began thinking — how do we save this precious predator?” Farah chose to use the resource closest to her— her jewellery line — to further her cause.

“I thought, let me do a line of jewellery inspired by the tiger, which I could then auction and let the proceeds go towards the cause,” Farah says.  And then, she decided to meet the environment minister. “I went to meet him last week. I told him I had this idea…” To her delight she was then invited to participate in the Vladivostok conference. He asked me, “How would you like to come to the international Tiger Summit?” She keenly accepted, adds that November 21st will see her take her jewellery line there.

Till then she is busy with her commitments here — to her business, and to her children, Fizaa (5) and Azaan (8). In fact, daughter Fizaa has just starred in her jewellery campaign, with actor Dia Mirza. “My daughter is an eternal poser,” she says fondly, “She’s everything I’m not — I was a tomboy!” 

She narrates how Dia jokingly complained while shooting the campaign that she ‘felt like a prop’ in front of 5-year-old Fizaa’s posing. Farah is also excited about her new venture, the first store she has opened after 17 years in the business. “I’ve always been very passionate about whatever I take up —and I felt it was time. I’ve built trust and respect in the market, and I’ve done it on my own. You can be a celeb’s son or daughter, but if you’re not good enough, they won’t come back to you. The fruits of success are much sweeter when you work hard.”

She says she share a birthday with business icons Dhirubhai Ambani and Ratan Tata. “December 28th —my friends say that’s why I’m so ambitious!”

Meanwhile, for relaxation there’s always Twitter. “Do you know I met some of my Twitter friends — I didn’t know any of them, but I actually had a party for them. They make me believe there is goodness in this world: the love there is amazing.”