Bangles and beads

Bollywood glamour — sexy, skin-baring movie star included — captivates Houston at sold-out gala

Bollywood fans and those just introduced to the film industry of India were bedazzled when actress Neha Dhupia, dressed in a glamorous midriff-baring gown, took center stage at the South Asian Chamber of Commerce Gala. The 20th annual awards gala was a glittering sellout at the Westin Galleria Hotel.

The South Asian Chamber of Commerce has long inspired a cohesive awareness of the accomplishments of Houstonians with connections to that exotic region of the world. Each year, the chamber celebrates influential leaders from that community including philanthropists and businesses and political leaders. Overall the chamber encourages and celebrates excellence in various areas including art, culture, film, business and entrepreneurship.

The glamorous evening was punctuated with plenty of national costumes — saris, Thai-print silks, woven fabrics shot with gold threads — including the traditional Chinese gown worn by Mayor Annise Parker. Other politicos in the gathering included Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett with wife Gwen. But probably few caught more attention than Ukrainian ballroom dancer Karina Smirnoff and Dhupia. However, Joanne King Herring and Carolyn Farb held their own in the glamorous international surroundings.

Bollywood dance performances entertained guests as they dined. By evening's end there had been plenty of applause for gala co-chairs Ash Shah and Mustafa Tameez and honorees Javaid Anwar, Business Leader of the Year, and Anthony Melikhov, International Philantropist and Entrepreneur.

Contributing to the South Asian American glitz and glam were Vicky Anwar, Pankaj and Asha Dhume, Gordon Quan, Pooja Lodhia, Munira Panjwani, Shenila Naseem, Farida Abjani, Nomaan Husain, emcee Mo Amer, Naureen Malik, Sannam Khan Warrender, Nihala and Shaukat Zakaria, Erum Jivani Gillani and many others.

Ruchi Mukherjee is a lifestyle feature journalist for TV Asia and host of Lights Camera Action, an online magazine covering Houston South Asian American society news.

Mustafa Tameez, from left, Nomaan Husain, Neha Dhupia and Ash Shah at the South Asian Chamber Gala.

Photo by Shiraz Maherali

Mustafa Tameez, from left, Nomaan Husain, Neha Dhupia and Ash Shah at the South Asian Chamber Gala.

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RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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