13 February,2026 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonali Velinker Kamat
Pics/mid-day archives
Our weekly ode to beauties from a bygone era - handpicked by Bollywood's brightest new stars - begins with the truly ageless Rekha. The Umrao Jaan actress is Kriti Sanon's chosen icon. "There's absolutely no one like Rekha ji. It isn't just about her beauty, her poise, or her grace - those are timeless. But there's also a certain warmth and kindness that she carries in her heart, which reflects in her eyes and glows on her face. She has always given me the warmest hugs and spoken to me with so much love every time I've met her. She is someone I admire, adore, and truly respect!"
Colston Julian (second from left) with Rahul Khanna and the Wet Nose Foundation team. PIC/SHIVAM RAWAL
As if we needed another reason to swoon over Rahul Khanna, it turns out The Americans actor is a full-blown animal softie. And not just the pause-to-pet-a-stray kind. Last week, he donated his day (and considerable charm) to shoot with longtime friend and photographer Colston Julian for the Wet Nose Foundation - an NGO championing strays and abandoned pets. "I've always loved animals and have a soft spot for our beautiful local indie dogs. I was overjoyed to help support an organisation that is working so tirelessly for them," Rahul tells us. Colston, the campaign's quiet catalyst, has been working with Wet Nose since COVID; first picking up his camera to help speed up adoptions. "I lost my dog, Buddy, in an accident several years ago, and I do this in his honour," the ace photographer explains. In 2020, he rescued a jet-black cat hiding under a car. "I wear black perennially, so it felt like destiny. A year or two down the line, the girls at the foundation decided my cat must have company. Now I find myself parenting two!" Colston laughs. As for Rahul, it's a commitment he has resisted so far. "With my travel schedule, it's impossible," he admits. "But I constantly borrow dogs from friends and family to take on hikes, walks, or just for an afternoon hang!" No commitment, all the cuddles. What could be cuter?
The ultimate comfort food for the soul? Quality time with your girl gang. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's affable wife Alyona clearly knows the recipe, because she spent all of Thursday with a handful of her oldest girlfriends (pun entirely unintended). The boisterous bunch, all turning 60 this year, threw a joint milestone celebration: languorous spa sessions, lunch at The Taj santacruz, and even high tea, before ending the day with a sleepover at Sanjeev and Alyona's Juhu home. While the ladies whipped up some fun, Sanjeev, we hear, was in Australia on work. A good bit of play, while the chef's away!
Krishnaraj, the Kapoor home on Pali Hill. PIC/SHADAB KHAN
Palaces are symbols of dynasties - and âKrishnaraj' is exactly that for the Kapoor family. Originally home to the legendary Raj Kapoor and his wife Krishna (after whom it is named), this iconic bungalow in Pali Hill was reborn as a multi-storey building last year. Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir, wife Alia Bhatt and cherubic daughter Raha are its current occupants.
There was a flurry of activity at the Bandra landmark in November, with the family moving back in (from their apartment in Vastu just a few doors down). And it seems the activity continues. Last week, the plaque at the entrance was perched into place by a crane: â56 Krishnaraj' etched in stone to stand the test of time. Diametrically different from the hand painted Portuguese-style nameplate that graced the old bungalow, this one is subtle and elegant. And with its installation, another chapter of the Kapoor dynasty quietly claimed its address.
