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 [ Images ], 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 [ Images ] launch her latest collection at Mumbai's Taj Land's End hotel.

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

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