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Monday, February 23, 2026
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Mumbai Memo

Hema Malini showed us how to grieve with dignity

Hema Malini’s quiet, unbent presence with her own family and close friends made the most poignant statement amid the noise surrounding the passing of a man who belonged to everyone.

Desi weddings are now fake, vapid, meaningless extravaganzas. Billionaires pop out of nowhere

Once you sign up for a celebrity-driven destination ‘event’, you are held hostage for three days that test your sanity and stamina, unless you are Ranveer Singh, who always looks like he is having the best time.

The day Dharmendra ‘died’

Incredible how rapidly the rumour of Dharmendra's death spread, and how many responsible people believed it—from Rajnath Singh to Yogi Adityanath. Who are we in comparison?

SRK is more Johnny Depp than Depp

SRK's impromptu party looked refreshingly ‘normal’ and as cool as the Birthday Boy himself. King of Kool could be another tag for the man who once declared himself 'the last of the stars'.

Lobbying for invites to hugs from Rekha—Diwali parties are Bollywood’s power games

There are big-ticket gifting specialists these days who curate the most creative presents—for a big, fat fee. It’s a lucrative side hustle for socialites.

Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai handholding the billion-dollar desi makeover of global luxury

Pity none of the well-behaved guests attempted India’s favourite 'Nagin dance' when Italian brand Bvlgari 'saap' slithered through The Art House in Mumbai.

Bads of Bollywood can’t get more brazenly nepo. The joke’s on us

After watching the most discussed series on Netflix, I was planning to write an asterisk-heavy column. As a tribute to the asterisks in its...

Mumbai measures everything in Bollywood box office terms. Even Ganesh Utsav

The ‘Saiyaara Effect’ has shaken up Bollywood, unable to decode or deconstruct its massive success. Take a look at the staggering numbers: Rs 576 crore on a Rs 40-60 crore budget.

Ravissant high tea in Mumbai, Rahul Mishra’s couture conquest—and Bappa’s arrival

Can haters and doubters kindly stop spilling the tea about a possible successor waiting in the wings to replace Mr Cool Cat? Who can be cooler?

Mumbai-Delhi fashion weeks need a revamp. Not Dharavi and Girgaon

Bless Mr Adani’s kind heart. So glad his view from the private jet will improve by 2032.

On Camera

Indian judiciary must stop panicking over AI

To assume courts weigh every word committed to paper is to ignore reality. The Indian judiciary has long had a "Control+C" problem.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

India eyes 6th generation FCAS, looks at tying up with France for possible collaboration

Initial talks held on the possibility of India entering the programme that was started in 2017 between France, Germany and Spain to ensure European sovereignty in defence and security.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.