Sonali's Society

Tiny shorts, big energy

You could call it a celebrity encounter, but truth be told, it was almost a collision when yours truly spotted Sara Ali Khan heading into Soho House Mumbai on Tuesday. Dressed in the tiniest blue shorts, clutching her trusty tumbler, Sara was clearly on a mission — rushing in for her regular gym session like the rest of us chasing our dreams.

Sara Ali Khan

Now, I recall her once saying Jacqueline Fernandez has great legs, but honestly, Sara’s aren’t too shabby either. And it’s even more impressive when you remember her 96-kilo starting point. She’s been vocal about the fact that fitness is a daily grind — no magic, just Pilates and a lot of discipline.

She has joked in the past about loving pizza, chocolate, and ice cream (same, Sara, same), but things shifted when the fitness bug bit in senior college. Since then, she’s mastered the art of putting in the hard yards. Balance is key, says this young star. Not perfection, not punishment. Just showing up, doing the work, and still making room for the things you love. And honestly? That’s probably the most relatable part of all.

And then there were three

Typically, one doesn’t put the cart before the horse, but we’ll make an exception for Dipika Pallikal and Dinesh Karthik. The power couple shared stunning snaps from their Seemandham (a traditional baby shower) on Monday — just days after announcing the arrival of their third bundle of joy, baby girl Raaha.

Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal

Flipped timeline aside, the celebration was an absolute masterclass in mood-boarding. Dipika was a vision in a regal lilac sari, her hair coiffed to perfection and woven with fragrant fresh flowers. Gifts and goodies flowed, while dad Dinesh made sure their two boys, Kabir and Zian, were front and centre for the festivities.

Three kids, two sports icons, and one gorgeous celebration. Whether it’s cricket or squash, the Pallikal-Karthik legacy is clearly in very capable — and very cute — hands.

#Metoo on the  HMU circuit

The brightest in the hair and makeup biz were in an uproar on Tuesday, when a junior makeup artist took to Instagram to call out a well-known film producer for assaulting him.

In a detailed post on the platform, the MUA said, “I was recently assaulted by a known producer who was also making sexual advances on me. He called me to a friend’s house under the pretext of work, and when I asked about the budget, he physically assaulted me. He also threatened me, saying that if I spoke up or made any official complaint, he would ‘handle’ me because of his political connections. I am choosing to speak up because I don’t want anyone else to go through this kind of abuse. It has broken something inside me, but I refuse to let it define me. I came to this city to build something for myself, and I won’t let this take that away from me.”

As we hear it, the young artist hasn’t filed a police complaint because many of his closest confidantes have advised him against it. He has, however, kept a record of his injuries, should he choose to change his mind. In the absence of an official complaint, we won’t name names. After all, allegations aren’t adequate. But, just to be clear, Mr Producer, we know who you are.

The fomo frontier

With Q1 nearly in the rearview mirror, we’re already mentally boarding a flight to anywhere with a better AQI and a stiffer drink — and clearly, we’re in good company. Despite having already clocked enough air miles to earn her own zip code in 2026, Alia Bhatt confessed this week to the one destination still haunting her bucket list. “I really want to see the Northern Lights. I think that would be such a spectacular experience,” she shared. It seems even for a girl who has the world at her feet, the Aurora Borealis is the ultimate FOMO frontier.

Alia Bhatt

Take it from the OGs, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sanjay Dutt chased the glow with his wife and kids in March 2025, while Delhi Crime diva Shefali Shah spent her 2025 year-end witnessing the magic in Norway. Even cousin-in-law Kareena Kapoor Khan famously traded her beloved Gstaad for an Iceland expedition to ring in a birthday some years ago. Time to take a few notes from the family travel archives, Ranbir Kapoor — so Alia can trade her summer linens for some chic winter layers soon.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!