Shriya Pilgaonkar honors Smita Patil as our Timeless Beauty this week

Shriya Pilgaonkar

“I have always deeply admired Smita Patil and all that she stood for. There was something about her that went far beyond beauty as we conventionally understand it. Her authenticity made her the most beautiful. She didn’t perform beauty, she inhabited truth. Her face carried stillness, fire, vulnerability and strength all at once. What made her unique to me is how deeply rooted she felt in the worlds she portrayed. There was no vanity, no artifice, only a rare, almost disarming honesty,” says Shriya. A fitting nod from one stellar performer to the ultimate original.

Rest in style, Sir

Over a life spanning eight decades and lived at full throttle, Vijaypat Singhania didn’t just leave a legacy when he passed away on March 28 — he left a slipstream of stories that will be told for generations. He touched countless hearts, often in the most unexpected ways, ensuring that even as the titan takes his final flight, the tales of his grit, grace, and grand style will continue to surface.

Vijaypat Singhania

As a week of mourning draws to a close, this seems as good a time as any to share the story of my own brush with the legend. I was rushing to my seat on a London-Mumbai flight in early October 2022. Trudging down the aerobridge in front of me was an elderly gentleman, walking stick in one hand and several bags in the other — one of which, judging by its distinctive branding, was a generous stash of caviar. 

He was slow but steady. Decency demanded an offer of assistance. “May I help with your bags?” I asked. He declined, his eyes downcast and focussed. As he shuffled to his seat, I couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t summoned a wheelchair when people half his age — and twice as ‘abled’ — demand them for convenience.

The penny didn’t drop until he settled into First Class, diagonally across from me. Surrounded by the city’s power players (notably Vinti and Abhishek Lodha), the avid aviator didn’t need fanfare. He simply ordered a Bloody Mary — perhaps two — and drifted into a serene slumber. It was a masterclass in quiet swagger and grace at any age — a man who preferred to walk his own path, no matter how challenging — caviar bag in hand.

Keeping it wheel

Sometimes the ultimate validation isn’t a trophy — it’s a quiet nod from the competition. And when a German titan stops mid-vacation just to take notes, an Indian carmaker should definitely take a bow. Anand Mahindra, consider this your moment.

Lutz Kothe

While Lutz Kothe, Volkswagen’s Head of Marketing, was recently in town from Wolfsburg for a personal holiday, he couldn’t help but notice Mahindra’s eSUVs making waves on Mumbai’s motorways. From the sleek BE 6 to the commanding XEV 9e, Lutz spotted them all — and he wasn’t shy about grilling his local inner circle for the deets on these home-grown beauties.

Anand Mahindra

Lutz and his lovely wife, Vilde, aren’t just tourists — they are die-hard Indophiles. Having lived here during his tenure as Head of Marketing and PR at VW India, they’ve traversed every inch of our country. With a social circle spanning royalty and captains of industry, when Lutz notices your wheels, you don’t need an official review — you’ve already received a significant stamp of approval. 

The Gaffer’s ground duty

If you thought Matthew Hayden was only in the Gujarat Titans camp to teach the boys how to bully a boundary, think again. The towering Australian legend — and the Titans’ formidable batting coach — just proved he’s still the hardest-working man on the grass, even after the last ball is bowled.

Matthew Hayden

In a move that’s gone viral for all the right reasons, Hayden was spotted meticulously cleaning up the dugout and surrounding stands post-match last week. While most coaches are busy crunching data or heading for the air-conditioned comfort of the team bus, Hayden was seen topping up trash bags and picking up plastic. It’s the kind of ‘lead by example’ energy that defines the GT dugout. 

Clearly, Hayden isn’t just coaching footwork, he’s coaching character. In the glitzy, high-stakes circus of the IPL, this titan just reminded everyone that no one is too big for the basics. And, in fact, attending to the basics is really what makes you big.

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