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Friday, October 3, 2025

PoV

Rajkummar Rao must keep his chin up. Questions will be asked and he’s no victim

Rajkummar Rao now looks pretty much unrecognisable. It doesn’t take much to deduce that eyebrows will be raised, and questions will be asked about his face.

The Beckhams’ PR game is on track. Victoria’s 50th birthday was a pop culture moment

The Beckhams have had the sleekest, unassailable PR game in celebrity town. And much of it rests on their carefully curated social media image, especially on Instagram.

Influencer is a real job. They are shaking up the internet

The reach and impact of influencers are so significant that even politicians such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi have recognised their value—the National Creators Award is proof.

We failed the UP board topper. She should be celebrated, not bullied for her facial hair

The pervasive culture of body shaming, of judging others based on their appearance rather than their character or abilities, is a reflection of the deeper societal fault lines.

‘Keyboard’ meme a reminder internet isn’t just for gyan, toxicity. Sometimes it’s just fun

Even Kolkata Knight Riders has joined the trend to celebrate Shreyas Iyer, complete with an anime-style illustration of him accompanying the tweet.

Ram temple Surya Tilak was spectacular but the puffery around ‘science behind it’ wasn’t

We need to give credit to our attention-starved scientists for their true achievements. Perhaps a good way to start would be to not mix science with religion.

Stop asking fans to explain why they like Taylor Swift. Belittling Swifties reeks of sexism

She’s perhaps the only artist that one still has to offer a ‘reason’ for liking. No one bats an eye if you like Harry Styles or Beyonce. But god forbid you express your love for Swift publicly.

There’s too much Akshay Kumar on screen. Take a break and come back with a Hera Pheri

Every few months, a new release raises the question: Can this film save Akshay Kumar’s career? So far, the answer has been a resounding no.

Swiggy’s paw-ternity policy a relief for pet parents like me—a new PL enters leave calendar

Swiggy is not the only company to roll out such a policy, though. In 2017, HarperCollins India announced five paid leaves for employees adopting a pet.

Haryanvi IPL commentary is more crass than cricket. Don’t waste the opportunity

Haryanvi and Bhojpuri music industry have done enough damage to the culture by shaming women and propagating misogyny. IPL cricket commentary must not join that league.

On Camera

6 reasons Trump’s Gaza plan won’t work—even if Hamas accepts it

On paper, the 21-point plan looks balanced—Palestinian governance, international oversight, reconstruction pledges. But in reality, it is a non-negotiable diktat.

Nodal officers to fast-tracking NOCs, Kerala govt’s heeding investor concerns, and it means business

As many as 21 policy reforms are under implementation following Invest Kerala Global Summit, as LDF govt works to change perception that the state is not conducive to businesses.

Army chief’s big warning to Pakistan: Stop sponsoring terrorism if you want to exist geographically

Amid continued concerns over cross-border terrorism, General Upendra Dwivedi further warned the neighbour that India will not show restraint if there is an Op Sindoor 2.0.

Something’s hidden in the Oval Office photo of Trump, Munir, Sharif. India must look closely

What Munir has achieved with Trump is a return to normal, ironing out the post-Abbottabad crease. The White House picture gives us insight into how Pakistan survives, occasionally thrives and thinks.