The goldfish standard Tuesday was all glass walls, blowouts, and iced teas for Italian model and influencer Giorgia Andriani — who proves that even in a fishbowl, you can still make a splash The big fat fashion wedding In all the mayhem that this month gleefully threw my way, I’ve missed dishing out the deets on Eka Lakhani and Ravi Bhagchandka’s wedding — which, frankly, deserves far more than a passing mention. Because when a top-tier film producer marries one of Bollywood’s most in-demand stylists, you know it’s not going to be a quiet affair. Eka Lakhani and Ravi Bhagchandka For the uninitiated, Ravi has long been a familiar name behind the scenes, while Eka orchestrates the wardrobes of heavyweights like Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar, Rani Mukerji and Trisha Krishnan. Translation: this guest list was always going to be stacked. And stacked it was. Mid-town Mumbai briefly turned into a high-gloss runway-meets-reunion, with everyone who matters showing up — and showing off. Ravi’s close ties with Sachin Tendulkar meant cricket royalty clocked in, while Aditi Rao Hydari and hubby Siddharth pulled an all-night, cross-country dash just to make it. Karan Johar with the bride On the dance floor, Ranveer did what he does best, rocking the night away with solid support from Arjun Kapoor. Meanwhile, Karan stole the style stakes in a breathtaking Anamika Khanna ensemble elevated by intricate gara embroidery — styled, no less, by the bride herself! Of course, it fell to other A-list stylists to dress the remaining guests: Deepika Padukone, for one, delivering a moment in Jigya Patel, with Shaleena Nathani at the helm. Bottom line? This wasn’t just a wedding — it was a full-blown fashion-and-fame summit, where the guest list sparkled, the dance floor didn’t stand a chance, and the bride quietly reminded everyone that when a stylist gets married, she always has the last word. Glamour and gravitas With Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Alia Bhatt among the National Geographic 33 for 2026, the list itself lands on our radar. Announced last week, this honour shines a spotlight on a group of extraordinary changemakers “who are rising to meet the most critical challenges of our time.” Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Alia Bhatt But why 33, you might wonder? Well, when the National Geographic Society was established in 1888, it had 33 founders. Despite this historical connection, the honours are only in their second year, with Björk, Don Cheadle, Selena Gomez, Jason Momoa, and Edward Norton among last year’s honourees. Of course, there are names with less glamour and more gravitas on both lists — adventurer Paolo Fanciulli, botanist Benedetta Gori, and chemist Cassandra Rauert being a few. But back to our girls, PC and Alia. Priyanka points to a childhood memory — a medical camp her parents ran in a small Indian village — as her wake-up call. “Seeing so many people without access to healthcare,” she says, “stayed with me.” Meanwhile, Alia’s love for animal welfare sprouted early, when she was rescuing stray kittens and nursing them back to health — a passion that’s only grown sharper over the years. Clearly, then, impact comes in many forms: from the red carpet to the research lab. Some days you’re saving kittens, others you’re saving lives. Bent bodies and broken promises When people trumpet their quest for “depth” in a shallow world, you would think they’d deliver more than perfumed promises. But fame has a way of masking a void. Take the yoga studio that launched with glitter, a famous endorsement, and more hype than a celebrity wedding going viral — now shuttered, leaving a trail of disappointed souls. Clients hoping to zen out have found themselves lighter only in their wallets. Refunds? Forget it. And it’s not just pampered patrons paying the price. Staffers, too, have been tossed aside like last season’s leggings — no severance, no dues, not even a polite wave goodbye. Meanwhile, the ‘face of the brand’ is still out there flaunting her yoga pants and perfect posture, carefully sidestepping accountability. Glamour might have sold some classes, but integrity clearly didn’t make the syllabus. Comedy Collective Comedy really is a community — and nowhere was that more obvious than when Russell Peters brought his Relax World Tour to Mumbai on March 22. The room wasn’t just packed, it was practically a roll call of the funniest in the game. Nitish Sakhuja — a fellow Toronto export with that same Indian-Canadian crossover appeal — set the tone as the opener. In the crowd, Viraj Ghelani and Atul Khatri were laughing like civilians for once, while the energy kept building toward a mic-drop moment. Russell Peters and Taapsee Pannu Enter Zakir Khan for a surprise cameo — and suddenly it wasn’t just a show, it was a full-blown mutual admiration society. “I pass the torch to you, brother,” Peters declared, in a flourish of elder-statesman swagger, as Zakir stood there grinning — equal parts humbled and ready. Not that the laughs were limited to comedians. Actor Taapsee Pannu and husband Mathias Boe were spotted soaking it all in, proving that when comedy hits right, everyone’s in on the joke. Stand-up might be a solo act, but the comedy world? Totally a squad.
25 March,2026 10:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonali Velinker KamatIf you ever drop by Yacht on Hill Road on a weekend, a waiter will diligently refill handfuls of chakli with Schezwan chutney between your booze. Bandra boy Nathan Gomes not only swears by this adda, but also finds a parallel with the crunchy chaklis. “When I was 17, there was a talent competition at Andrews [St Andrew’s College] and I took stage as the filler between the acts. The job was to keep the audience engaged. That’s how I started performing,” the comedian recalls. Nathan Gomes plays humorous characters in his viral reels Nowadays, you’ll find him in his viral Instagram videos where he rates the best chicken puffs in Bandra, pokes lighthearted fun at church-attending aunties in Orlem, and ranks Catholic wedding songs (Maria Pitache takes #1). “They’re all based on people I’ve met. Sometimes, I meet the aunties in and around church. They love how their mannerisms are going viral,” he laughs. The 25-year-old’s first stand-up show, The Nathan Wants to Know, a dig at you-know-who, opens this weekend. You’re coming, baba? ON March 28; 7 pmAT Jeff Goldberg Studio, Matsyalaya Bungalow, Chimbai, Bandra West. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comENTRY Rs 299 Just for laughs The comedian offers a quick snapshot of his debut comedy set. Toto’s What inspired the new show?Everything about me, this city, and lived experiences. Expect anecdotes from growing up in a Catholic family, my time at college [St Andrew’s College], and timely one-liners. Give us a peek into the one-liners>> Mumbai heat is so bad, when I reply to client e-mails I don’t write warm regards, only regards.>> I’m so Catholic, that I don’t even have any muscle in my body, only mass. Do you think the jokes will fare well with a live audience?After one of my videos, an NRI sent me hate mail saying what I was doing was “blasphemous.” But that’s one per cent of the audience. The community usually doesn’t mind having a laugh at itself. Bandra binge Gomes’s guide to bar-hop like a Bandra bugger>> Soul Fry: Come early, stay for the karaoke>> Road House Bluez: Ideal vibe to keep the night going >> Toto’s: If you love ’80s rock>> Yacht: If all else fails, there’s always room (and a queue) here
25 March,2026 10:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleMumbai Lit Club (MLC), founded by Malliketh Nagda and Bhumika Sankhla, began as a space to swap books, and soon expanded to include a book club. This month, the Bandra-based book club completes two years, with an average of 40-50 readers turning up every month to discuss a pre-decided book. It emerged from the founders feeling a need for rich conversations about characters, plots and themes within a novel. They wanted to listen to nuanced, varying points of view from readers reading the same books. Malliketh Nagda and Bhumika Sankhla Over the two years, the club has read 23 books. Most of the sessions were held at the Crossword Bookstore in Juhu. “Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is one of the contemporary books,” since the film based on it was released recently, Nagda tells us. “However, most of the books we select aren’t contemporary. Everyone is doing that anyway,” he adds. The club sticks to fiction because of the possibilities it offers. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to Elena Ferrante’s The Neapolitan Quartet and Amitav Ghosh’s The Ibis Trilogy, they have read an extensive selection of novels. “Bhumika and I keep reading books,” says Nagda, sharing how the members regularly recommend books too. He feels the diverse background of the members has helped them broaden the range of books over the two years. “We don’t have any criteria. The only one is that one of us, Bhumika or I, should have read the book [before making it the book of the month]. One of us should have the conviction to say that this makes for a great discussion,” he shares. Recalling his favourite memory, Nagda shares, “We read Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend as part of the club, and we were all divided by the end of it.” Later, several members who had read the rest of the series came through; they nudged them to read the full quartet. The club decided to host a special edition for it. They took five months before the meet to read the other three books. “The quartet had become our life; we had months of madness where everyone was a family reading together,” Nagda concludes. At their upcoming anniversary special, the club will discuss Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, and cut a cake to celebrate their journey with fellow readers. On March 29; 11 am At Nomad Silk Route Kitchen, Bandra Log on to @mumbailiteraryclub (to register) Members speak I would have probably never picked up The Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante, if not for MLC; Nearly 25 of us read the entire series and showed up. We split into Team Lina and Team Lenu. There was so much to unpack — from the underlying themes and character arcs to the writing style. The conversation segued into fan theories and speculations, making the discussion even more fascinating. MLC is truly a found family. - Ronnie D’Costa My favourite book was The Vegetarian by Han Kang. The book club has taught me to pause, to look again, admire what once felt distant. It is easy to read what we love; it takes patience to engage with what we resist. In that effort, my reading has deepened and widened. I look forward to the monthly meets; this is a community where I feel I belong. - Shivani Chaturvedi Kashikar I recall discussing Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes with our members. The book was about the frailty and untrustworthiness of memory, and the discussion reflected that. People missed parts that were pointed out by passages read out loud by other members and interpretations that no one thought of. It was a morning well spent. - Barkat Dhanji
25 March,2026 10:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaMiley magic Diya Pingulkar I watched the show in between school, tuitions and everything else. Until then, singing mostly meant Hindi songs, but the show nudged a shift towards English pop. Discovering Miley Cyrus’s music, her performances, both as Hannah and as herself, influenced me and instilled confidence. It was reassuring to see an “ordinary 13-year-old” live an “extraordinary” life. I conquered stage fear; even now, being on stage and singing comes naturally.Diya Pingulkar, 22, student, Chembur Identity matters Lenisha Dsouza My older siblings introduced me to the show. Revisiting it later brought a different connection. I learnt from Miley to balance life as Hannah during my confusing teenage years. In moments when she felt lost, her godmother, Aunt Dolly (Dolly Parton) would appear with relevant advice. In Hannah Montana the Movie, the moment where she removes her wig and chooses to be herself, was significant, and raised questions about identity and expectations.Lenisha Dsouza, 24, student, Mira Road Sense of self Ritu Desai I began watching the show as a six-year-old, and it became an obsession, a world of American schools, friendships and daily life. With the Internet still expensive at that time, I typed out the lyrics, printed it, and shared it with friends. Her music was one of my earliest creative influences. I learnt music and wrote original songs.When I revisited her journey later, it brought a deeper sense of empathy about the difficulties of growing up in the spotlight. The friendships, the desire to live normally and the iconic wardrobe, left a mark.Ritu Desai, 30, educator, writer, musician, Borivli
24 March,2026 10:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani GabhareA designer who, up until a few years ago was unaware that there were fashion brands beyond Gucci and Prada, recently showcased her line alongside the big names at the most awaited fashion event of the world — Paris Fashion Week,” says 20-year-old fashion designer Isha Khanna whose reel-series on her Fashion Week journey has gained over four million views on Instagram. Khanna reveals her dream run, “It came through a programme by Global Fashion Incubator, which brings together students and independent designers to showcase on an international platform. As part of our graduation collection, we get to present a look at Graduate Runway, which is organised by Global Fashion Collective. It’s essentially a platform created to promote and support emerging designers.” Now living in Mumbai, Khanna hails from Chandigarh. Growing up, she heard the usual lines that every girl gets told, “Don’t wear crop tops” or “Don’t wear short skirts”. “So, when it came to my debut collection, I knew I had to revisit those instances,” she says, “I’ve always been known for having a bold style — for lack of a better word, an ‘I-don’t-give-a-s**t’ vibe. That’s the energy I wanted to bring to the collection.” Khanna decided to take back the power from those who tried to tell her what she can and cannot wear. Her line is an answer to the “haters”, called Bite Me. She elaborates, “It’s a response to patriarchy; to control women, and to everything women have had to hear. It’s an unapologetic response. Whatever you’re saying, my answer is ‘Bite me’!” Khanna takes this to the next level by co-opting elements that women hear, by incorporating it into her design. “One of the dresses is called, Zip It. Women are often told that, isn’t it? I took that wordplay and translated it into a garment. I made a dress made entirely out of zips. I used clothing items that are traditionally meant to cover us, but reworked them to give control back to women. Now, the same zip can be opened wherever you want — you can choose how much to reveal or conceal.” Isha Khanna matched her nails and tie to her design with lip motifs everywhere. Pics courtesy/Isha Khanna The top is adorned with a set of bold, over-the-top lips. “My style is sarcastic, so I like to incorporate that into my design. The lips also had a zipper in between, like shutting people up.” Khanna is equally keen to make a statement with her personal style. Her outfit for her show included lip motifs running throughout, with a leather tie embroidered with lips and matching nails. She signs off, revealing her biggest takeaway. “My ideology is to empower women in an unapologetic, sassy, and not victimised way. We are not sad about the system. We can use the system against you if we want, and are smart enough to realise that.” Log on to: @ishakhanna345
24 March,2026 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Akshita MaheshwariMid-way through reading The Curious World of Uncle Tarini (Penguin India), we realise that most of us would have had a similar ‘uncle’ in our lives. He is a raconteur and a storyteller whose tales are dripping with wanderlust and discovery. Tarini Charan Bandyopadhyay or Tarini ‘Khuro’ (Bengali: uncle) was created by the master storyteller Satyajit Ray. He crafted 15 stories from 1982-88 about this uncle’s exploits across India, and ensured his busy work life (he had 56 jobs; see box) takes the reader through all kinds of fast-paced, often oddball plots and mysteries as Paltu, the young narrator, reveals to us. The stories have appeared in three Bengali children’s magazines, and continue to delight readers since then. This new title is the first time that it appears as a collection, translated into English by Gopi and Indrani Majumdar. Sandip Ray, son of Satyajit Ray. PIC/FIONA FERNANDEZ Curiosity got the better of us (perhaps, inspired by Tarini) when we found ourselves at an adda helmed by his son Sandip Ray, in our quest to know more about the cool uncle since he wrote the foreword of this collection, and possibly had the best seat in the house to reveal more. We arrived at the famous address on Bishop Lefroy Road in Kolkata, where Satyajit Ray lived from the 1970s until his demise in 1992. From the boundary walls of this street that display Ray’s film posters as artworks, to the stunningly-lit façade of his colonial home, and the residence itself, every frame deserved a second glance. Ray’s bi-colour illustrations of A Duel in Lucknow published in Sandesh in 1985. Later, he created a variation of the same image for the book, which is included in the relevant story. Illustrations Courtesy/Penguin India In the drawing room, members of the Ray Society trickle in, sharing updates of their recent projects, offering smiling nods to the unknown entity from another city. Soon after introductions by Pinaki De, the book’s cover designer, also a Ray Society member and well-known graphic artist, we prod Sandip da to roll back the years. “My father loved creating characters for children: Professor Shonku in 1961, and Feluda in 1965. After that, he was looking for a character. He created a lot of content for radio and TV programmes, where he would narrate stories to children. He loved that kind of atmosphere, where he could tell weird and exciting stories, and have children listen to them. That idea interested him, and that’s how Uncle Tarini was born,” he reminisces, flipping through the pages of the book. “Uncle Tarini was created from my father’s love for children; he understood them well. If you look at all his films, children are front and centre.” At this point we notice that the members take a break from their mini adda, to listen as a son recalls his father’s craft. “These 15 stories reflect my father’s penchant for unpredictability, which made them exciting. He enjoyed the supernatural, and occult, detective fiction, as well as eerie and macabre subjects. These stories are lean and unputdownable. The reader is tempted to read it at one go,” he admits. Apart from the thrill-a-page storylines, readers can marvel at Ray’s masterful illustrations. Satyajit Ray. Pics courtesy/Wikimedia Commons Talk veers to the translation of the original stories from Bengali to English. Despite the references and local phraseology that are typically Bengali, it resonates with non-Bengali readers. “My father’s stories are identifiable across borders. His craft is his genius while the subjects of his stories are thrilling. If the translations are good, it transcends. Gopa and Indrani Majumdar have done a fine job with this collection, and have done justice to the nuances and tone of my father’s writing,” he adds. By now, the adda buzz gets louder, signalling that it’s time to leave the hallowed living room. We are chuffed, of course, after our imaginary adda session with Uncle Tarini and his brilliant creator. From the translator’s desk Indrani Majumdar explains the process and journey of translating Satyajit Ray’s works. ‘Tarini Khuro’ is defined not just by what he tells, but how he tells it. He is the quintessential majlishi (Arabic: sitting room) storyteller — a master of the oral tradition whose charm lies in the performance of the narrative. Here, Ray’s Bengali language is different from the language he adopted to write other short stories, Feluda adventures or Shonku’s escapades. Dated cover of Sandesh, one of the Bengali children’s magazines in which Uncle Tarini’s stories were published The stories are framed as leisurely tales told over tea and biri (bidi). Literary merit lies in maintaining this oral storytelling rhythm while transforming the text from Bengali’s unique idioms to a natural English prose that feels equally ‘anecdotal’. The stories often blend horror, mystery, and comedy. Shifting of the tone is seamless — capturing a ‘chilling’ encounter with a ghost in one paragraph and ‘quick wit’ in the face of danger in the next. Ray adopted the style of storytelling through the innocent eyes and words of the child narrator, Paltu. This perspective is used to subtly critique adult actions, and bridge the gap between child and adult readers through a cultural discourse. Uncle Tarini took up 56 jobs, which means the translator inhabits dozens of worlds in a single collection. The ‘weight of expectations’ is a delight because the reader expects a world-travelled polymath, allowing the translator to use a sophisticated, eclectic English vocabulary that wouldn’t fit the teenaged voice of young Paltu. Multi-faceted Uncle Tarini Uncle Tarini worked in the guise of a secretary, journalist, hotel manager, model, hunter, actor, a double, cricketer, sultan, palmist, and even a paid storyteller. He never held a job for more than 11 months, highlighting his emotional and restless nature and thirst for wanderlust.
24 March,2026 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Fiona FernandezSquad Ghouls Stepping out of a soul-ar powered vehicle would’ve been the ultimate flex for Akshay Kumar as he haunted Ekta Kapoor’s Vile Parle pad with the Bhooth Bangla squad on Monday The feisty front-row At Lakmé Fashion Week 2026, there was an unmistakable twist: there were more celebrities on the ramp than off it — and yet the discourse still circled fiercely around who sat where. Last week’s four‑day fashion extravaganza ended Sunday, but the room’s reverb hasn’t died down, and the chatter is now about who was watching, rather than who was walking. Ananya Panday rocking the ramp for Rahul Mishra last Friday. PIC/SHADAB KHAN The runway saw star turns from Ananya Panday closing for Rahul Mishra, Aneet Padda as a striking showstopper for Péro, and appearances by Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Aditi Rao Hydari, Khushi Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Alaya F — underscoring film’s ongoing influence on fashion storytelling. Meanwhile, the coveted front-row drama continued to ruffle feathers. Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi sat up front for Anamika Khanna, while Mozez Singh made it there for Abraham & Thakore, but for many others, securing a seat wasn’t as smooth. We hear from industry insiders that several stylists and influencers were miffed for being sidelined across shows, despite efforts to secure suitable seating. This is nothing new, of course. When seats are seen as status markers that signal influence, the battle tends to get fierce, competitive, and occasionally theatrical. Year after year, it remains stilettos on, knives out. Walking the talk There’s a magic to Mumbai, where everyone’s got their own lane, and the coolest ones don’t need to announce it. On most mornings, while we negotiate with our alarm clock, you will find Neerja Birla walking the Coastal Road promenade. She hops on at Breach Candy, striding down the whole stretch and back — no fuss, no entourage circus. Just her, her pace, and an attendant trailing discreetly behind like a shy punctuation mark. Neerja Birla A passionate advocate for mental health, Kumar Mangalam Birla’s beautiful wife is big on the idea that fitness is sanity, not vanity. And she doesn’t just preach it — she shows up for it. Year after year, she participates in the Mumbai Marathon, putting in the miles like clockwork. Honestly, there’s something iconic about it. No need for attention, no performance — just discipline doing its thing before most of the city has even had chai. Bad boy billionaire A Mumbai-based billionaire had everyone buzzing about the beauty he brought with him to a recent celebrity wedding. “Pretty brazen,” most folks muttered, given how widely the event was covered. Worse, perhaps, was the fact that the guest list was crawling with the couple’s common friends — so word getting back to his wife was almost inevitable. “She doesn’t care enough, and he couldn’t care less,” say those in the know about the arrangement. Their rocky relationship has dominated headlines before, so this isn’t the first rumble in what’s clearly been a long-running storm. Another scandal? Just another day at the office for him, apparently. Shelling out for Sunday brunch Step aside, small fry — the big fish owned brunch this weekend. While the rest of us ate A1 samosas in our cinema seats, watching the sequel to his blockbuster hit, Ranveer Singh gorged on GSB-style crab and prawn tawa masala at Maaslli Seafood Restaurant in Worli on Sunday. By his side, the stunning Deepika Padukone looked effortlessly chic in a white t-shirt and jeans — dangerously pristine for a meal that promised to be deliciously messy. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone As we hear it, this unexpected outing came courtesy of a restaurant tip from Deepika’s parents, Prakash and Ujjala Padukone. Though Bangalore is their true home, the badminton legend and his better half clearly know where to get our city’s best seafood — having visited Maaslli a fair few times. This was a first visit for Ranveer and Deepika, though, and the powerhouse couple made quite the splash — doing justice to their food and even stopping for a picture with the eatery’s elated owners, Rajesh and Prasad Nayak. Almost in keeping with the theme, the actors left the restaurant only to find an ocean of eager fans waiting outside — proving that whether it’s on screen or at brunch, Ranveer and Deepika always command a crowd.
24 March,2026 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonali Velinker KamatThe sweltering temperatures make the commute to Kemps Corner even more challenging. Yet, as soon as we enter the Todywalla Auction gallery, close to the old China Garden, it feels like a door into the past. Malcolm Todywalla is busy working on the details of the fourth auction from the house, Classical Indian Art, when we dropped by early last week. A 10th Century bronze idol of Durga Mahishasura-mardini from South India “My father [Farokh Todywalla] set up the auction house 55 years ago. We were mainly dealing in collectibles, coins, and antiquities among others, before expanding,” shares Malcolm. At the warehouse, the difference is noticeable, emphasised by the rare artefacts and paintings that mark the space. The auctioneers spend over a year gathering the provenance, and background checks before each auction. Each addition to the catalogue is carefully vetted, and curated to a theme. “Our collections have a planned chronology. The Journey through Classical Indian Art auction, for instance, had paintings, sculpture, Indian silver, and jewellery that represented art from the whole country,” he shares. Malcolm Todywalla While auctions are not everybody’s cup of tea, Todywalla notes that one can always browse through these works, before they go under the hammer. “We hope that more people learn, and walk in to get a glimpse of such rare artefacts, as they might hardly have another opportunity,” he points out. At Todywalla Auctions, Om Chambers, Kemps Corner, Babulnath, Tardeo.Call 8169542596 (to schedule a visit) Bronze figure of Vishnu, C 8th/9th Century AD Todywalla reveals, “Stone sculptures are more likely to survive than bronze idols. The latter were used in daily worship, and wither away with time due to daily usage.” This rare bronze traces its roots to the region that is today’s Himachal Pradesh. Bust of Male deity (Vishnu), C 10th Century AD This large sandstone bust is decked with ornately carved tiara and necklace. Pointing to the two and half feet tall bust, Todywalla remarks, “Imagine the size of the entire standing statue.” Silver stemmed bowl, C 1880-1890 Ornate, and in kashkul form, “the etching of the leaves of the Chinar tree on the bowl are a running motif in silver from Kashmir,” Todywalla reveals. Ganga on a Makara, C 10th/11th Century AD This sandstone carving hails from Central Indian plains. Probably part of an ornamental arch, it depicts the goddess Ganga riding a makara. Kushan lion, C 2nd to 3rd Century AD With gaping jaws, protruding teeth, the sandstone Kushan Lion, tracing its origins to Mathura, closely resembles the Winged Lion Capital now at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The battle of Rama and Ravana, C 1840 This Kangra work captures the chaos and dynamism of the climactic battle through a dense, but intensely detailed canvas.
23 March,2026 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar1 Indian Videshinis (Roli) This curation by Ian Magedera makes for a fascinating insight into the lives of women of foreign heritage who made India their home. The list is a who’s-who of personalities who’ve strode India from politics to activism and business. These include Sonia Gandhi, Simon Tata, Dr Annie Besant. Sister Nivedita and Princess Niloufer, among others. 2 The Rain-Maiden and The Bear-Man (Seagull Books) Easterine Kire’s stories in this collection represent the oral narratives from the people of Nagaland. Some were narrated by local storytellers, while others were based on Naga folktales. Each story, brought alive by Sunandini Banerjee’s art, beautifully depicts its rich traditions that respect the natural and the spiritual worlds. 3 I See The Promised Land (Tara Books) This visual storybook about the life of Martin Luther King Junior by Arthur Flowers and Manu Chitrakar, is a must-read in these cataclysmic times. The stunning art and sharp text will take the reader on an interesting path, where Flower’s lyrical prose and Chitrakar’s Patua scroll art works offer a fresh look at King’s heroic life.
23 March,2026 09:55 AM IST | Mumbai | The Guide TeamFor millennials, Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) wasn’t just a restaurant: it was often their first brush with global pop culture. In the mid-2000s, the Worli outpost became a gateway to experience rock, memorabilia, and a certain “coolth” that Mumbai hadn’t tasted before. Gen Z, however, inherited a different vibe. By the time they came of age, the brand had already been overtaken by newer nightlife and music formats. For them, it was less a groovy destination and more of a legacy space. We hit the rewind button for some regulars and industry observers. Wow Wednesdays Legendary Nachos Back in 2007-8, their Wednesday Media Nights were a ritual. If you flashed your press card, you earned generous discounts that made those early-career salaries stretch further. As a gang, we’d order massive platters loaded with onion rings, BBQ wings and finger food; the blue cheese dip was unforgettable. The music was always on point; you’d even jam alongside people from rival publications. It felt like being in the press club; this was louder, livelier, and unmistakably, Hard Rock Cafe. - Supriya Kantak, photographer Rockin’ good times Tirthankar Poddar performing at HRC In 2005, as the lead singer of Vayu, I reached out to Hard Rock Cafes around the world, receiving only one reply. A year later, Hard Rock Cafe opened in Worli, and on November 9, I played my first show, and everything changed. I’ve had 200-plus shows with them, drawing audiences of over 1,00,000. They gave me a life, a home, and a reason to keep singing. So, I remain grateful. That night, Jackie Shroff was in attendance. And we’ve been in touch ever since. No matter what the future brings, legal wars cannot silence the sound of rock ‘n’ roll. I look forward to my show at Hard Rock Cafe Hyderabad (Banjara Hills) on Saturday, March 28. - Tirthankar Poddar aka 2Blue, singer, actor, writer, producer Milestone moments Fish and Chips HRC was a big part of my growing up. At a time when Mumbai didn’t have such spaces, it felt the closest to experiencing rock ‘n’ roll culture. I’ve always been obsessed with classic rock, so hearing those iconic track-fed playlists felt like being a kid in a candy shop. Even the food was outstanding, from its Barbecue Chicken Wings to its blue cheese dip, the burgers, the steak, the fish. It became a regular spot during my articleship, and while working in Lower Parel. It was one of the few places that supported live rock gigs. I remember watching tribute gigs — from Linkin Park to Metallica — and local bands covering Dire Straits and Guns N’ Roses. Those were among my earliest live music experiences. - Sreejata Gupta, music geek No metal, only rock Legendary Steak Burger The first time at HRC was for a dinner my boss from Furtado’s had asked me to attend. We had supplied nearly 100 saxophones for their iconic chandeliers, so we were invited. It was quite an experience, especially the food. The Buffalo Chicken Wings stood out, along with the steak nachos, the Legendary Burger, and the steaks. Unfortunately, over the years, the quality of the food declined. As a musician, HRC started with an “only covers” policy, which didn’t sit well with me as an artiste. It also largely excluded heavy metal from its live music scene. So, I didn’t connect with it. That said, I played some good shows with my comedy-rock band, Workshop. Overall, it didn’t often welcome music beyond mainstream rock. There was a phase when they opened up for Channel V’s Launchpad in the afternoons, which worked well for many bands; it was one of the few times that metal music was heard here. Towards the end, things didn’t go well for many musicians. There were issues toward artistes that left a sour taste with many, myself included. - Sahil Makhija, metal musician; food creator
23 March,2026 09:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Nasrin Modak SiddiqiA March 2026 report on the elusive Banksy sent ripples through the art world, though not quite as dramatically as his own stunts. A detailed investigation with corroborating accounts from associates, and signed police records has pointed to a 53-year-old Bristol resident, Robin Gunningham, as the man behind the myth. While we await Banksy’s confirmation — which might never come, now is a good time to check out India’s own Banksys. Harder, Harsher, Tougher. a piece that superimposes a young female tightrope performer on the Olympic Games logo. PICS COURTESY/GUESSWHOSTREETART GuessWho If Banksy was born in God’s Own Country, his works would look something like GuessWho, who works in the neighbourhoods of Fort Kochi. Frida Kahlo In A Saree. This cross-cultural work is inspired by a dated photograph of the Mexican painter in a saree in Mexico City, 1947 The artist intersperses his takes on socio-politics with lighter works that blend world pop culture and desi iconography. Check out his takes on Van Gogh and Leonardo Da Vinci classics.LOG ON TO @guesswhostreetart The American Dream, painted on a piece of plywood found on Mumbai’s streets. The hair is made of artificial fur. The piece went to auction with a starting price of Rs 1 Tyler Mumbai-based street-artist Tyler aka the Banksy of Mumbai takes his name from Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden from Fight Club. Passersby in Juhu click a selfie with a work that has now been painted over. Tyler had a run-in with the civic authorities while painting the graffiti. PICS COURTESY/@TYLERSTREETART The street artist works swiftly and anonymously in areas like Versova, Andheri, Bandra and Goregaon. Keep an eye out for his topical takes on politics, media culture, and urban life, that have often ruffled feathers among the powers that be.LOG ON TO @tylerstreetart Blow Your Own Trumpet. A trumpet bears icons of social media platforms. “Just because you blow your own trumpet, doesn’t mean people like the sound,” the artist says about the piece Smish Designs City-based illustrator Smish channels sharp, thought-provoking commentary into digital works tackling women’s rights, censorship and LGBTQiA+ advocacy. A timely artwork takes a stance against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. PICS COURTESY/@SMISHDESIGNS In 2023, the artist managed to pull off an anonymous exhibition at a Kala Ghoda gallery with sculptures and immersive installations.LOG ON TO @smishdesigns
23 March,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleADVERTISEMENT
