Shabana, Neha, on the ramp

Fashion shows are a good way to separate fluffy, insubstantial girls from the truly graceful women.

A few days ago, Sushmita Sen hit the ramp and highlighted a fashion show with great panache.

In Mumbai, it is now the trend for fashion designers to call upon their Bollywood star buddies to give that extra dollop of glamour to their collections.

Monday night saw Ritu Kumar launch her latest collection at Mumbai's Taj Land's End hotel.

Neha Dhupia strolled the ramp in a white sequinned sari, but the show was stolen by a much older woman -- the inimitable Shabana Azmi.

Shabana lit up the ramp with maturity and a terrific stage presence, and made the show a truly memorable one.

Just goes to show: there's no substitute for class.

Photographs: Getty Images