After a not-so-thrilling IPL season for the Gujarat Lions, where was "champion" all-rounder Dwayne Bravo? The cricketer from Trinidad was a packet of energy at the wonderfully laid out Rixon resort in Ras al Khaimah, an hour-and-a-half away from Dubai. With no bat or ball, he was in his alternate avatar, bringing the audience to their feet as he belted out Waka waka and even did the "Lungi dance".

After all those not-so-favourable reports of her unprofessional ways with event managers, where was Bipasha Basu? She was there at the same beautiful Bab al Bahr property in Ras al Khaimah, proving that she could fulfil a commitment (especially if the buck was right) without being difficult. Bipasha looked sexy in a sari for the inauguration of a global convention in the morning, talked of marriage, fitness et al in the afternoon, and cheerfully stood on four-inch heels, dressed in a fitting beige gown, giving away a host of awards late evening. Three appearances in one day and all of them with a big wide smile? That was the new Bipasha on Monday in the UAE. There were no demands that Karan accompany her on a business-class ticket, no tantrum over standing and giving out awards, and she looked smashing too. "That's because of a happy marriage, it's fun," she dimpled to me. If this is the reformed Ms Basu, it's good news for celebrity-seeking organisers and they were there in large numbers to attend the convention on weddings and events.

After setting off a Twitter war with Sushil Modi (BJP leader, Bihar) and Lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi (deputy CM, Bihar), where was Shatrughan Sinha? He was cooling off at the same resort in Ras al Khaimah, miles away from the state where the war of words raged on. He was at the global convention to talk about his biography. Up in his suite, he had his next set of tweets ready, advising people (i.e. Sushil Modi) to desist using unparliamentary language and took a swipe at SM's dismal part in bringing the BJP to its heels in Bihar. Downstairs, the largely Gujarati audience gave Shatru a thumping ovation, especially when he made references to marriage or to the "dashing Prime Minister" from the state.

Incidentally, organiser Jaydeep Mehta is from Ahmedabad, and it's an indicator that there's a larger agenda out here. While the spotlight is on the PM's international trips, there's a less-noticed programme of taking India to international platforms through such events. A "Hey, world, India's here" kind of focus. Clever, because it came packaged with celebrities and entertainment.

It was at this convention that one discovered that Mika Singh could hold an audience even when he wasn't smooching Rakhi Sawant or belting out Jumme ki raat hai for Salman Khan. In a serious discussion on his journey, he hilariously talked of his struggle when he bought himself a Land Cruiser because SRK had one, then a Hummer "because people see your car, they don't come to see where you live". But his brother, Daler Mehdi, was so worried that he sent someone to Mumbai to check whether the Land Cruiser was his or borrowed. "Ten months later, he reported to Daler paaji that the Land Cruiser is still parked here, it is his." Laughter.

Is he married? Can he sing one of his songs please, asked a girl from the audience. "If I were married, I wouldn't be here," Mika quipped. "You can either be married or successful." As for a song, he naughtily burst into, Sun raha hai na tu from Aashiqui 2, which was Ankit Tiwari's chartbuster and not his own. Great fun.

Back in Mumbai, I sped through immigration and customs to reach the premiere of Sachin: A Billion Dreams. Still running, I bumped into SRK on the red carpet. A quick hug, a neat, "You okay? All well?" from him and it was back to India in all its splendour.

Bharathi S. Pradhan is a senior journalist and author