Sonali's Society: Sanya Malhotra's style, Rihanna's odyssey and more

Pic/Shadab Khan

Through the looking glass

While the rest of Mumbai was battling the humidity on Tuesday, Sanya Malhotra was keeping it icy at the Balenciaga store in BKC - serving a look so sharp, it's a wonder the storefront didn't shatter!

Remixed by RIRI

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know Rihanna was in Mumbai this past weekend, on a whistlestop promotional tour for her makeup brand. Of course she flew private, of course Isha Ambani played host, and of course every beauty influencer with a ring light was on hand to witness the spectacle.

Through it all, three moments merit mention. First, RiRi maintained her own time zone, arriving several hours behind schedule and effectively turning a PR mixer into a wee-hours gig. Second, during her Sunday visit to the Ambani home, Antilia, the Umbrella singer traded the stage for the sanctum, bringing popstar panache to a traditional pooja as she swayed along to the aarti. But the crowning moment? Her earnest, albeit slightly garbled, attempt to thank the exhausted press corps. After repeatedly asking for the local translation of "thank you," she beamed at the cameras and shouted a confident "Supriya!" directly at the paps. Delivered with that signature Fenty grin, it was the sweetest case of lost in translation.

‘Inspired' Audacity

Maria Goretti

Prada is finding out the hard way that a ‘Made in India' tag isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card for cultural erasure. After being dragged in 2025 for debuting uncredited Kolhapuris as generic "leather sandals," the brand's latest attempt at reparation - a limited-edition collection priced at nearly $1000 - has only reignited the fire. While Prada touts a collaboration with local artisans and state-backed bodies like LIDCOM, the industry isn't biting. The sticking point? The persistent, sanitised label: "inspired by." As two new posts promoting the line dropped yesterday, designer Nachiket Barve led the charge, demanding the brand stop the linguistic gymnastics and simply acknowledge they are Kolhapuris. Maria Goretti and Mallika Dua echoed the sentiment, while photographer Ishaan Nair slammed the move as "colonial BS," calling out the "audacity" of the branding. Despite high-profile ‘likes' from folks including Rhea Kapoor and Shalini Passi, the consensus is clear: funding a training program doesn't justify rebranding a centuries-old GI-protected heritage as a corporate "inspiration." After all, authenticity isn't a design choice, it's an identity.

The quick-change artiste

Whether you're dodging the desert dust at Coachella or navigating a Mumbai award ceremony, the high-stakes ‘event-to-event' pivot has become the ultimate fashion flex. In Indio this month, we saw the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber master the art of the intentional high-low swap - transitioning from archival Dior to elevated basics faster than a desert sunset.

Bhumi Pednekar

But on April 27, Bhumi Pednekar showed us how it's done on home turf with a level of efficiency that would make even a seasoned roadie blush. She attended a private party in the burbs in a breathtaking black and gold sari; completing the look with that now-signature chic fringe. Turning heads in the dramatic drape, she took to the dance floor like a true Bollywood glamazon.

However, the flight status on her phone clearly had other plans for the night - demanding a wardrobe 180 that most would find impossible to pull off in a pinch. Eschewing the classic ‘car change' (a guaranteed recipe for a drape disaster), Bhumi pulled off a lightning-fast transformation right at the venue - swapping her gilt-edged sari for the ultimate ‘off-duty' uniform: classic jeans and a t-shirt. By the time the paps caught her dashing to the airport, the traditional glam was a distant memory, replaced by the kind of effortless cool that says she's more concerned with sustainability summits than staying for the last song.
In the world of global stars, it seems the real accessory isn't the bag (though hers was Fendi) - it's the exit strategy.

From tenth grade to TMU Curriculum

The collab we didn't know we needed officially entered the chat on Monday, with Diljit Dosanjh returning to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - and for those of you who haven't seen clips, the vibe is pure, unadulterated ‘Aura.'

Diljit Dosanjh

Looking every bit the global icon in a classic Chanel jacket, Diljit took the opportunity to chat about his latest album and touring schedule, but the marketing was dished out in paaji's inimitable style - served with humility, love, and stories worth sharing.

Teaching Jimmy a few Bhangra basics may have been the populist highlight, but I was warmed by his admission of only having got as far as the tenth grade when he apologised for his English. It was a moment alive with irony because Toronto Metropolitan University is literally launching a course on the impact of this self-made superstar this year. What better flex than to become the curriculum without ever having to sit through the lecture?

Backstage, the vibes remained elite as Diljit caught up with fellow global trailblazer Vikas Khanna, fresh off his Time 100 honour. Between the high-profile reunions and tucking into a Koffee with Karan-style gift hamper from Jimmy, paaji proved - yet again - that when you've got this much soul, grammar is optional. The world speaks your language, Diljit.