Exploring Stories, Culture & Society.
Exploring Stories, Culture & Society.
What do U.S. Olympic champions like Michael Phelps, Simone Bilesand Caityln (formerly Bruce) Jenner have in common? Or Hollywood celebrities like Will Smith, Jiim Carrey, Justin Timberlake, Adam Levine, Paris Hilton, Will.i.am? Or entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson, David Neelman…
In the biography Priyanka Chopra – The Incredible Story of a Global Bollywood Star, Aseem Chhabra, India’s leading film journalist attempts to find some answers to her worldwide success. The Global Indian Superstar Priyanka Chopra is everywhere. She is on…
Traveling is about more than just visiting new places, it’s about creating memories that last a lifetime. Whether it’s the breathtaking landscapes, unique cultures, or spontaneous moments with friends, each adventure is filled with moments worth preserving. But with so…
I must confess that I was sceptical when I first picked up the book and wondered if Kareena’s pregnancy experiences would be whitewashed to make her seem extraordinary. I was glad to discover she didn’t go down that route. Essentially,…
I watched “Noshtoneer”, Season 1 & 2 back-to-back on Hoichoi thanks to SheTheSaga Founder, Vedaprana Puryakastha’s insightful post. Veda raised her concerns about raising a daughter and son. Citing the Bengali webseries “Noshtoneer”, she said how it can be tough…
I’m a Swiftie and Nadine, my daughter is a Lanatic. Before you think we’re a lunatic mother-daughter duo, let me explain. My daughter and I couldn’t be more different in personalities. I like Taylor Swift while my daughter likes Lana…
I’ve been familiar with Nora Fatehi and her journey for a long time. So her statements on feminism on the BeerBiceps interview didn’t come as a surprise at all. Nora has always been a highly sharp and ambitious woman. What…
There was an old interview of Nushrat Bharucha, Hindi film actress, where she said she was rejected for “Slumdog Millionaire” because she was considered too good looking to play the role of a slum girl. Repeatedly, I see several biased…
I had envisioned a relatively cooler Easter as it fell on March 31 this year. But little did I know this Easter would be one of the hottest ones I’d ever experienced. Hyderabad is a fiery furnace already. What was…
“Mummy! Why do you have to be so nice all the time? Why can’t you be like X’s mom and have a meanie expression on your face? “Mummy, why can’t we show-off too?” These are some questions my daughter asked…
Real-life Incident 1: 2016 Fellow lecturer: Politeness doesn’t work for our students. You’ve got to be strict and even rude. Also, what do you get by being kind to your students? None of them are going to help you in…
We’ve grown up on an emotionally healthy diet of fables that’s ingrained with timeless wisdom. Such as this Aesop’s Fable, The Hare & the Tortoise. Who hasn’t escaped this gem of a tale? Yet, many of us, including me, have…
Writers are usually solitary creatures. Okay, we can be social too, bordering even on the wild side. But, hear me out! To be a writer, you need to cut off from the world, go inside, and write till you bleed.…
So I watched my second Koffee episode this season with Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Such a bore listening to privileged people talking about their silver spoon babies and their families. No offence, but it’s tedious to watch it for…
Is it real-life Gehraiyaan white-washed to be Hum Saath Saath Hain? Koffee with Karan Season 8 started with a bang and how! People cannot stop talking about the first episode with Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Here’s a quick roundup! …
I had the most difficult time saying “No” for the longest time. So, I said yes to everything that came my way (even when I didn’t want to do it) with a benevolent smile. Somehow I associated the word “No”…
As beautiful as parenting is, the fact remains that it’s a responsibility. You’re responsible for nurturing and protecting your children until they become responsible adults. Just when you think it’ll get easier, you realise that it only gets tougher. Much…
It’s concerning to note how we talk so much about diversity and inclusion, and in the same breath, shame women for something as natural as ageing. Aishwarya Rai has always been at the forefront of attention ever since her modelling…
It was an Instagram notification that birthed this article. One evening when I logged into the social media app, I got a notification where I was tagged in a comment by Niyati Tamaskar, author of “Unafraid” on Twinkle Khanna’s YouTube…
September is special to me and if there’s one word I’d give it, it’d be Spiritual. Yesterday, Sep 8 was the Feast of Mother Mary, who’s a big influencer in my spiritual life. My mornings start with the Holy Rosary,…
“He loved constantly, instantly, spontaneously, without thought or words. That’s what he taught me. Love is not something you think about, it is a state in which you dwell. That was his gift.” – Christopher Moore, Lamb. Love. A simple…
There’s so much taboo around women drinking alcohol. Even today, in some circles. I can speak only about my experiences. I’m fortunate to have grown around people, especially women, who have a healthy attitude towards alcohol. Born in a typical…
The Indian film industry, specifically Bollywood, has a bad reputation for being a notorious copycat. But in the recent years, the trend’s been reversing and by the looks of it, it’s here to stay. Here are 10 international songs that’ve…
I know many women who’re shamed for putting themselves first, especially after marriage and motherhood. Beauty, even more so, makeup, is seen as superficial. But beauty is not mere vanity. It’s sanity. Beauty is important, as it’s a sign of…
I had a virgin mouth, much longer than I’d lost my virginity. I’m cursed with a baby face and being the mother of a teenager hasn’t changed that. But, some people have the art of bringing the Annabelle out of…
What happens when two writers come together? Sparks are bound to fly. We have a very special guest in our inaugural episode of “Spill The Ink” show with Aashisha Chakraborty. About Aashisha Chakraborty Aashisha is a PM-YUVA author and Write…
Shahid Kapoor shared his thoughts on marriage in an interview with Film Companion. He said he finally figured it (marriage) all out. Marriage is how a woman enters a man’s life to ‘fix’ him. “This entire marriage thing is about…
If Marathi and Hindi film actor Sonali Kulkarni’s speech on most modern Indian women being lazy left me shocked and enraged, her apology post left me deeply saddened. I’d shared my thoughts on her problematic speech in an earlier article.…
As much as I like Sona Mohapatra, I am seriously wondering if she’s turning out to be a soft bully like Kangana Ranaut. What’s with the slut-shaming of other women from the film industry and calling them talentless? Seriously? You…
It’s that time of the year again to reflect on the year gone by. Right away, if there’s one word that’d describe my 2022, it would be gratitude. I remember penning the year-end review exactly last year, this time with…
“Mummy, are you an astrologer?” my teen daughter asked. “No!” “How do you always know what’s going to happen in the future?” My daughter revealed how something I’d casually said a few months ago turned true. She laughed it off…
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead) I enjoyed watching “Maja Ma” thoroughly. I’d always been a diehard Sridevi fan and had never taken to Madhuri Dixit in her peak dancing heydays. But, I’ve been warming up to Madhuri Dixit, especially after her comeback…
Looks like Karan Johar has been paying close attention to the backlash his current season is facing. And did some quick damage control by having Akshay Kumar and Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s interview as episode 3 of Karan Johar Koffee with…
For me, the Koffee With Karan show was getting insufferably predictable, boring, and even borderline mean in the last few seasons. There were a few exceptional guests though like Nargis Fakhri and Twinkle Khanna on Koffee With Karan who lend…
Summers are here! As the sun’s scorching rays fall upon us, it highlights the need to shift and update your hair care regime. Under the summer sun, the prolonged sun exposure and excessive heat can damage your hair, cause dryness,…
The infamous Will Smith-Chris Rock controversy in the Oscars award 2022 will never die down. It’s tragic how celebrities we’ve always looked up to fall to such depraved standards. Will Smith, for me, is like the embarassing first crush that…
I bring you the ‘Read of the Day,’ a short story in English, so that we can indulge in the joy of reading together. You can visit my site for a short story with analysis and participate in the discussion…
Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who was the Telugu Film Industry’s sweetheart until her recent divorce with Naga Chaitanya, is again the target of hate for simply living her life. From various speculations that Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Pushpa, the pan India…
It doesn’t take conservatives to get butt-hurt about the most random trivial things. Gehraiyaan movie is the new punching bag for conservatives for various reasons, from promoting infidelity in our society to it being a pornographic film and how Ranveer Singh can…
Gehraiyaan is a mess. And not the kind of beautiful mess that’s highly esteemed in art forms like Kintsugi and Wabi-sabi. When you think of Gehraiyaan, visualize chicken broth with the choicest assortment of vegetables and herbs in a pressure…
It’s that time of the year again! The time for reflection on the year gone by. My word for 2021 was “Wisdom,” and I think I have grown a bit wiser this year owing to the tough circumstances. If you’re interested…
The Holiday season is in full swing, and we are less than 45 days from entering a whole new year, 2022. While this is a cause of celebration for the Pollyannas of the world, many are suffering and smiling through…
As I watched the horror of the remix of the song, “Tip Tip Barsa Pani,” I couldn’t help but wonder that the song would have been more apt, and nicer with Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal, her rumoured boyfriend. Or…
I distinctly remember a conversation with a fellow mother while our 5-year old kids were playing together in the park. She asked me what my dreams were for my daughter when she grew up. I asked her to explain further,…
Learn how to write better and faster even if you’re not confident about your writing skills with these five simple tips. One of the most common questions I get asked is, “How do I write better?” I remember my first…
Art can empower the world. Music, in particular, has the magic to move us to the core and wear any mood we want to. So, it’s not surprising that when I want to feel empowered, I turn to music. Here’s…
Nothing unites the world more than their mutual hatred for feminists. Let’s dig in the top 5 reasons everyone hates feminists and why you should never ever make the cardinal sin of being one. Let us explore the failures of feminism…
Here’s discussing the social networking disadvantages and advantages and how to use it effectively to build your personal brand and business. Social media is a double-edged sword. The sooner you realise this hard truth, the better it is for you. …
I bring you a ‘Read of the Day,’ a short story in English, so that we can indulge in the joy of reading. You can visit my site for a short story with analysis and participate in the discussion in…
It’s terrible to read the news of yet another rape of another woman, this time a bright, young medical doctor by Sanjoy Roy, allegedly a civic volunteer, but truly a monster of the highest order, who was addicted to violent…
Recently, an old interview of Neetu Kapoor re-surfaced on social media. It justifies her husband Rishi Kapoor’s alleged physical infidelity. She says in it that initially, she would argue about it until she gave up and said, “Go ahead, let’s see how long…
While I’m yet to watch all the episodes of Koffee with Karan Season 8, there was no way I was going to miss the episode featuring Zeenat Aman and Neetu Kapoor. Both the actors have been strong household favourites. Zeenat Aman is…
Big Boss 16’s notorious host, Salman Khan and the Colors Channel has welcomed with open arms filmmaker and comedian Sajid Khan, who’s accused of sexual abuse by not one, two or three, but nine women to date, on the show.…