Home Reporting and Opinions Social media and Audience Engagement Photography Videography Podcasts Creative Writing Contact me Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions

Reporting and Opinions

For more articles on Saumya's Substack: Big Brain Time
For more articles on The Indian Express
For More Articles on SheThePeople.TV
The Indian Express •

‘If men and women can play transgender roles, I can also play a straight man’: Sushant Divgikar aka Rani Ko-He-Nur on trans representation in films

From being a powerful voice for the LGBTQIA+ community in India to inspiring others to embrace their true selves, Sushant Divgikar aka Rani Ko-He-Nur is a force to reckon with. Sushant’s story shatters stereotypes and celebrates self-expression, but her rise to fame wasn’t exactly a cakewalk. In a country grappling with traditional gender roles, Sushant faced various transgressions, yet her determination to challenge the status quo and fierce advocacy for equal rights has made her a symbol of co
The Indian Express •

‘Saturation of trends…similar dishes popping up everywhere’: Chef Gary Mehigan on downside of social media

Growing up, I never missed an episode of MasterChef Australia, helmed by chef Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, and food critic Matt Preston. The show became a haven for me, exploring unheard-of dishes vicariously while chomping on a box of cold pizza.

After 11 seasons as a judge, Mehigan left the show. He has since travelled the world, exploring different cuisines and visiting India repeatedly which he now considers his second home.

So, when Mehigan flew to India this time to host an exclusive
The Indian Express •

Dating app dealbreakers: 10 daters reveal reasons why you’re getting swiped left

In the world of dating apps, where love connections are formed with a flick of a thumb, the question lingers: what makes a profile tick? Is it a sculpted physique that could rival Michelangelo’s David? A bio penned by Shakespeare himself? A strategically placed puppy (because who doesn’t love dogs)?

We talked to 10 daters to unearth the hilarious, harmless, and sometimes nonsensical reasons why our index finger swooshes “X” on those little profile squares.

“No pictures, no info — it is an auto
The Indian Express •

With spotlight on toxic workplaces, how can we create a healthier work environment?

There is a growing concern about hostile work environments and the difficulties employees face in such settings. This issue has been amplified recently after the death of a senior reporter at a newspaper in Mumbai. It is important to examine the dynamics of toxic workplaces in order to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

According to an open letter published by the Mumbai Press Club after the death of the journalist, there is “a deeply concerning trend that is seriously impacti
The Indian Express •

As study reveals concerning reality behind North Indian diet, experts offer tips to make it healthier

As North Indians, we pride ourselves on our exquisite cuisine — from the ‘licious butter chicken to a steaming hot plate of chole bhature. However, new research reveals some alarming findings about the dietary habits of adults living in North India.

Conducted by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health India in collaboration with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the study sheds light on the intake of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein,
The Indian Express •

‘Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring; it should satisfy both body and soul’: Chef Amrita Raichand

Celebrity chef Amrita Raichand is a name synonymous with the Indian culinary scene. But she got her start by acting for advertisements, working with brands like Ponds, Parle, Maggi Noodles, and what not. Remember the Whirlpool mom? Yes, that’s Raichand for you. Fast forward to 2024 and you’ll find her hosting cooking shows and sharing simple recipes on social media, which she says has been a boon during the Covid-19 pandemic, “when traditional avenues like television shows were missing”.

With a
The Indian Express •

‘Writing a memoir is a bit like playing God with your own life story’: Gurcharan Das

An old play in a new light — ‘9 Jakhoo Hill’ — directed by Gouri Nilakantan Mehta has brought the story, originally penned by Gurcharan Das, once again before the audience. Das, who served as the CEO of P&G India, before turning to a full-time career in writing, calls the latest iteration of his play a fresh departure from the previous renditions.

Mehta, who runs the Platform for Action in Creative Theatre, aims to bring back classic plays into modern light through her initiative. She believes
The Indian Express •

The rise of robots in the culinary world

Imagine this: You enter a restaurant, you are welcomed by a robot, the robot takes your order and then subsequently serves you your meal. Unfathomable, right? Well, not anymore. The culinary world is experiencing an upsurge of robotic technology. These cutting-edge culinary robots are catering to the increasing demands in restaurants and food industries, thereby streamlining the kitchen operations and revolutionising the future of gastronomy.
The Indian Express •

World Hepatitis Day 2023: Understanding different types of hepatitis, symptoms, treatment and prevention methods

World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28. The day is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage individual actions and engagement and highlight the need for a greater global response.

Early detection and diagnosis are key to better treatment outcomes for deadly diseases like hepatitis often presenting silent and vague symptoms. So, we turned to experts to understand the different types of viral hepatitis, their signs and symptoms, treatment methods an
The Indian Express •

‘My mother would often say I began singing before I talked’: Vidushi Sumitra Guha opens up on her classical music journey

Renowned vocalist Vidushi Sumitra Guha is known for her expertise in Carnatic and Hindustani schools of music. Her boundless talent and rich repertoire, which comprises everything from Carnatic classical music to devotional music to Rabindra sangeet and much more, make her a real-life nightingale.

The Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee has conceptualised and composed a musical extravaganza titled “Veer Meera”—with an aim to spread the message of women’s awakening and liberation by bri
The Indian Express •

Shraddha Kapoor opens up on her fitness routine, beauty secrets, favourite cuisine and biggest learnings in life

With more than 20 films under her belt, Shraddha Kapoor has come a long way from her debut movie Teen Patti. The actor, who recently starred in the movie Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, has slowly and steadily become one of the most loved and sought-after stars of her generation in the industry. She might be a star kid, but Shraddha Kapoor has managed to carve a niche for herself with her back-to-back stellar performances. But beyond her on-screen persona, her bubbly nature, candour and charm make her t
The Indian Express •

Kajal Aggarwal and sister Nisha channel their inner queens in a bridal collection

Taking to Instagram, Kajal posted a reel featuring her and Nisha embodying grace and royalty in the modern lehenga sets and opulent jewellery. (Source: Kajal Aggarwal/Instagram)

Looking regal as ever, actor Kajal Aggarwal and her sister Nisha turned muse for Kerala-based renowned designer brands T&M Signature and M.O.D Signature Jewellery.

The duo looked surreal in the contemporary bridal wear from the La Naina collection. Taking to Instagram, Kajal posted a reel featuring her and Nisha embody
The Indian Express •

Deeya Bajaj on climbing Seven Summits with father: ‘When outdoors, challenges don’t discriminate based on gender’

ver since Deeya Bajaj saw her father, Ajeet, a Padma Shri awardee undertake adventure sports, she, too, wanted to follow in his footsteps. Her father skied both North and South Poles, making him the first Indian to ever do so. Soon, at the tender age of 17, Deeya became the youngest individual in the world to finish a cross-country skiing expedition across the Greenland Icecap, creating a feat of her own. However, the father-daughter duo began undertaking outdoor expeditions together as well. La
The Indian Express •

‘Going Solo’: A documentary on two women cyclists and their pursuit of freedom

All of us crave freedom, however, only a few of us are able to break the shackles of societal norms and experience a taste of freedom. More often than not, it is women who are bound by matrimonial obligations, household responsibilities, and caregiving duties, making it difficult for them to pursue such freedom. But breaking these norms are two Indian women – Gareema Shankar and Renu Singhi – who ventured out in the pursuit of freedom and took charge of their own lives.

Defying conventional norm
The Indian Express •

What is ‘micro-cheating’, the latest dating term on the block?

With time, dating has changed. And with new ways of dating, there are new terms and trends that have emerged which we are gradually learning to wrap our heads around. One such fascinating dating term which is the new kid on the block is called ‘micro-cheating’. Unlike traditional cheating, micro-cheating is used to describe behaviours that are not usually considered true infidelity but may have some indicators of infidelity such as dishonesty and secrecy while in a committed relationship.

While
The Indian Express •

All you need to know about ‘possible carcinogen’ aspartame and products it is used in

Aspartame, one of the world’s most common artificial sweeteners, is set to be declared a possible carcinogen this month by a leading global health body. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), will list aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time in July, as per a Reuters report on June 29.

“Following this, the joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives will update its risk assessment exe
The Indian Express •

Age-old art of Lambani embroidery was languishing, but now designers, NGOs are giving it a firm push

Asha Patil and Seema Kishore had one goal in mind when they founded their brand Banjara Kasuti – to revive the age-old craft of Lambani embroidery that was slowly dying. With a passion for traditional art and a vision to empower marginalised communities who had practiced the craft for long, the two founded their label in 2017.

“In the midst of the era of fast fashion, I couldn’t help but notice a disheartening trend among the Lambani community. I observed that the women were gradually abandonin
The Indian Express •

Designer Shruti Gupta on creating Kriti Sanon’s mythical ‘Ayodhya Tales’ shawl for Adipurush promotions

Kriti Sanon is creating a lot of buzz over her recently-released movie, Adipurush, which also stars Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan in leading roles. Sanon, who plays the Sita-inspired role of Janaki, has left everyone impressed with her sartorial choices during her appearances. Her latest pick is a stunning ethnic ensemble, which included an Anarkali with a resplendent shawl drawn from the legends of Ayodhya.

The regal ethnic attire featured an Anarkali set adorned with intricate embroidery. However
Load More