Sonali's Society

Pic/Shadab Khan

Puppy-Razzi

On Sunday, Varun Dhawan stopped by the YODA Hope Carnival pop-up in Bandra, to show his support for a bunch of furry fellows who are a little ‘ruff' around the edges. With all proceeds going to animals in need, his visit not only warmed hearts - it raised the bar(k)!

Written reverence

In an age of instant replies, we remain stubborn romantics for the slow burn of a stamped envelope. And how is one not to love a letter when it comes from one legend, and is addressed to another?

Diana Edulji and Sunil Gavaskar

So, to invite Diana Edulji to this year's edition of the Sportstar Aces Awards, jury chair Sunil Gavaskar writes: "The 2026 edition… will be a deeply special one. It will mark and celebrate the historic ODI World Cup triumph of the Indian women's cricket team - a moment that belongs not just to the players who lifted the trophy, but to generations of women who carried the game forward when recognition, resources, and rewards were far from assured. As a former captain of the Indian women's cricket team, your leadership represents a vital chapter in that journey. Long before the sport found its current visibility and support, it was shaped by pioneers who played, led, and believed often against the odds. The success we celebrate today stands firmly on the foundation built by you and your contemporaries."

Gavaskar goes on to say, "We would be honoured by your presence at the ceremony, where we hope to celebrate not just a World Cup victory, but a legacy that had decades in the making." This could have been a standard summons to the stage. Instead, in letter form, it becomes something rarer: a document of gratitude, inked with memory and meaning - the kind that deserves to be preserved long after the applause fades.

Identity Crisis

Celebrity sightings always generate buzz, but last week's appearances sparked more of a roar than a ripple. On February 20, it was "atithi" Hillary Clinton's intimate arrival at Antilia that broke the internet. From the way Nita Ambani hugged the former First Lady to the time they spent admiring the evening's in-house sitar players, every second of public domain data was dissected over the weekend.

Hillary Clinton and Nita Ambani. PIC/PTI

But just as we were readying to declare Madam Secretary's Mumbai visit the sighting of the season, Taylor Swift became a talking point. Influencer Ahana Raheja and Yash Patel's weekend wedding celebrations in Jamnagar went viral because most folks assumed Taylor ‘twin' (read ‘doppelganger') Ashley Leechin was, in fact, Taylor herself. Belting out Love Story in a fringed frock alongside bride Ahana, Ashley made waves - until, of course, her true identity was revealed.

It's a telling commentary on our times that despite the very real power moves of a former US presidential candidate, it took a Swift illusion to truly shake the algorithm. Online deep fakes are one thing - now it seems we must brace for similar plot twists IRL.

Big picture, bigger stars

It wasn't a social visit but a social cause that had Hillary Clinton jetting into our city last week. Mumbai Climate Week 2026, India's first major national climate conference, had Clinton appearing as a keynote speaker - a session we hear Hillary herself suggested. And while the former US Secretary of State participated in an absolutely riveting fireside chat on innovation, urgency, and inclusion, our attention accelerated spacewards, to celebrities of a celestial sort.

Shubhanshu Shukla presents Sachin Tendulkar with a piece of history. PIC/MUMBAI CLIMATE WEEK

At the event, Indian cosmonaut and space pioneer Rakesh Sharma shared a stage for the first time with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned from the International Space Station only eight months ago. Few are better suited to talk about space, sustainability, and our fragile planet than these two men who have literally looked back at Earth from orbit - far enough to see it as one world, where political boundaries blur and the bigger picture comes sharply into focus.

Meanwhile, another star - this one rather grounded - was invited to felicitate Sharma and Shukla. Taking time out from his son's wedding preparations, Sachin Tendulkar did the honours - and was unexpectedly rewarded for his generosity with a space-travelled certified gift from Shukla. A well-deserved honour for his out-of-this-world service to sustainability.

A star is born

Given how exposed we are to the faces and lives of so many celebrities, it is easy to assume we know them personally. It's a disease a doctor friend of ours finds herself afflicted with. "I meet people who I've seen on TV and assume I know them socially," she tells us - a quirk that has caused several comic misadventures.

Dia Mirza

This tale in particular puts her at Riyaaz Amlani's Bandra Born, in search of her husband, who had already arrived. Scanning the ground floor of the eatery for him, she found herself confounded - turning to a familiar face at a nearby table for assistance. The lovely lady stepped in without hesitation, not only giving directions but personally escorting her up one floor to finally rendezvous with her dinner date.

Throughout, our dear doctor remained blissfully unaware of the lady's identity. Her husband, however, wasted no time in putting a name to the beautiful face. The mystery miss - gracious, unassuming, and utterly helpful - was Dia Mirza.