IT'S a steamy September night in the Meatpacking District, and Waris Ahluwalia leans against the counter at the crowded-to-capacity Earnest Sewn denim store, casually chatting with the Oscar-winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan. Ahluwalia is one of the newest additions to Wes Anderson's curio cabinet of characters. Following a small role as a crew member of the Belafonte in "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou," he has been cast as the chief steward aboard "The Darjeeling Limited."

Thin and regal, with a full beard, jet-black turban and wide smile, the 32-year-old Ahluwalia is the kind of quirky overachiever Anderson would create, a Manhattan mover and shaker, a world traveler, accidental actor, muse and designer of astronomically priced jewelry for men and women that sells in some of the planet's most exclusive boutiques (www.houseofwaris.com).

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