Zahaan Kapoor33, actor
Why is it that every time we go to the cinema, we end up being thrown out the back door? Always down some long stairs, usually wet, foggy and a little dirty. You walk in through a grand entrance, but walk out looking like you did something wrong. It’s a shame to try to watch a movie.
Sreeja Chaturvedi31, stand-up comic
If couples really care about their friend then they should eat from the same plate at weddings. Weddings are expensive. The cost of catering is determined by the plate. Two plates say you’ve come for a buffet. A plate says solidarity. If you love them, you must adjust; You don’t need individual plates of cheese for emotional support. At least you can share rice. If that seems like a lot, maybe you’re not that close.
And second thing: Fifteen minutes delay in Mumbai should be considered punctuality. People become suspicious if you’re exactly on time, as if you didn’t encounter traffic or existential resistance.
Kowal Bhatia38, Advertising Filmmaker, Producer
Wes Anderson’s movies are, at this point, just a Pinterest board. The symmetry, color and whimsy remain instantly recognizable, but the stories themselves often feel thin, even casual. The fact that his entire body of work has been flattened into endlessly repeated Instagram templates is further proof of this.
Aditi Mittal38, stand-up comic
Please! No more “unfiltered” podcasts. Each Unfiltered podcast just consists of three random people searching for words as they come out of their mouths while recording. Unfiltered also meant something sensational, something condemnable. Now, this means you haven’t prepared, you’re not listening to each other, no one is brave enough to interrupt you, and you don’t have the budget to edit it. Like the water of Indore, we need to filter our podcasts.
Shaunak Sen38, Film Producer
Indian documentaries have consistently outperformed our fiction cinema. They have traveled well, entered international festivals strongly and won serious awards along the way. It is bold, politically alert and emotionally rigorous. And yet, sleeping at home remains unjust.
Pranay Baidya39, fashion designer
Fashion doesn’t have a problem with inclusivity; There is a problem of ageism in this. The industry is not young. It is terrified of aging, masking that fear with clichés, token casting, and serious captions, while designing almost exclusively for those who have not yet lived, changed, or are not seeking comfort. The joke is that fashion’s most loyal customers are women over 40, who have taste, confidence and serious spending power. But they are treated like an embarrassment rather than the backbone of the business. If your clothes only work on a 23 year old body, it’s not trendy, it’s unflattering. Real inclusion requires money, intelligence, and proper pattern-making; Tokenism is cheap, which explains the industry’s enthusiasm for it. Age-blind branding is cowardice in good light. do better.
Meena Kandasamy41, Writer
Writer’s block is bullshit. Read Lenin. The man is thirsty for a revolution, which is almost provoking you. Writing is much more possible than that.
Sasha Jayaram29, Photographer
Celebrity photography works best when it feels a little inappropriate. Not scandalous, just real. Dressing like a disgraced socialite is back. I’m here for it, because Kate Moss was so cool and carefree in her 20s — with her 100-hour parties, tired eyes, and imperfect posture. That moment felt unscripted. The strongest images now feel less like an untouchable fantasy and more like you’ve stumbled upon something you weren’t meant to see.
Karan Mirchandani32, screenwriter and producer
Andaz Apna-Apna works best when you are watching it in bits and pieces on TV, not all at once like a proper movie. Come in, see some scenery, laugh, move on – it’s perfect that way. Sitting still for three hours can be tiring. Each scene is basically one long joke, with everyone trying to outdo each other. Comedy needs a break. After a point, the humor of the film just keeps coming non-stop.
And second thing: A lot of the love stories of the 1990s and 2000s were as toxic as Kabir Singh or Animal, we were just too young to accept it. Stalking, controlling, emotional manipulation… they all got free rein because there was a beautiful soundtrack playing. Nostalgia has a very selective memory.
Srimoyee Chakraborty36, chef and cooking show host
Mustard oil is not a taste, but a solution. Yes, it is fast. Yes, it announces itself. that’s the point. It adds warmth, depth and character without the fuss. Not everything has to be subtle or polite. Sometimes food requires a backbone. He brings mustard oil. Most dishes would be better if they stopped being afraid of it.
Preeti Panigrahi24, actor and artist
Why is popcorn a movie snack? This is easily the fastest thing you can eat in a quiet theater. Imagine you’re standing on the edge of your seat watching an intense suspense scene and someone in the audience ruins it by being loud. Or hearing a wonderful musical sequence in the theater, but as soon as they cut, someone adds their own beat. I think Bring Your Own Snacks can really help Indian cinemas. Better food, less price stress, happier visitors.
Anand Bhaskar43, musician and composer
people would prefer to spend ₹Rs 2,000 on a film ₹500 at an indie concert. It sounds a little wild. Movie tickets are treated without a second thought, while live music requires some kind of justification. Spending two hours in a theater feels worthwhile, but discovering a new artist in real time feels optional. We say we love supporting art, but only when it’s neatly packaged, familiar, and already validated. Risk is cheap. Curiosity, apparently, is not.
Priyanka Paul27, Artist
People need to start being better friends. come. Reply on time. Check in without pretending to be in a crisis. Friendship isn’t something you’re ready for when life slows down. It requires effort, attention, and basic kindness. Most friendships don’t break up because of big drama, they fade away because people stop trying. And honestly, a little more effort would fix a lot of things.
Aman Khanna48, artist
Pop culture is moving faster than we think and it feels emptier because of it. Trends and algorithms are built for instant approval. No one gets time to sit, get confused, or breathe. Kala used to arrive a little late and ask uncomfortable questions. Now it shows up quickly, blends into the room, takes a few selfies, goes viral and disappears. It is everywhere at the same time, and yet leaves nothing behind.
Tanmay Dhanania40, actor
There is nothing to be discovered. Every actor who becomes a star wanted it very much, and started working on it even before anyone noticed. The idea that success just comes to people is comforting, but it’s rarely true. People don’t become famous by accident. They aim for it, even if they pretend otherwise.
And second thing: The most beautiful (and also the most annoying) thing about acting is that you don’t really need to be trained to act well. Acting does not always reward effort or education; It rewards attitude, attendance and time. It’s humbling and disturbing in equal amounts.
Ahilya Bamru26, actor and producer
The idea of the “man protestor” isn’t that bad. It feels great when a person makes an effort to impress someone. This is lovely. Everyone is performing anyway – taste, confidence, depth, personality. We’re all trying to present ourselves in a slightly better light. So is this a major moral failure? I think it could also just be an effort. And effort is the point.
And second thing: In a movie, just because there’s a lot of yelling doesn’t mean it’s a powerful scene. Sometimes it’s just…loud. Volume is not depth.
Severin Perina39, Celebrity Makeup Artist
K-beauty is trendy, but it still can’t beat cool French pharmacy brands. When I visited South Korea a few months ago, I was curious to know about their skin care, beauty clinics and treatments. I wanted to see how they compared to other countries. Korean products are well-crafted, exceptionally well-marketed, and sometimes exorbitantly priced. French pharmacy brands often perform better at lower prices.
And second thing: Most new products in the beauty industry are, honestly, just ways to sell news. Makeup has existed for hundreds of years without these many categories. Although technology and formulations evolve and improve over time, ultimately it is just paint, packaged in a different way so that it can be repurchased.
Arjun Butani28, Art Gallerist
Most revolutionary contemporary art is actually very humble. We keep calling work “subversive,” but if it fits nicely in an art fair booth, passes three committees, and sells before the opening, it’s not subversive; This is good behavior in expensive shoes. The art world pretends to hate money, while it is excellently trained to smell it.
Shilpa Rao41, singer
The collab is not the names of two artists with X in it. It takes two artists to come together and share their energy to make the song shine. Collaboration requires chemistry, listening, and honesty. And if it doesn’t work, they should shake hands and say “maybe next time” instead of releasing the song.
Dr Tanaya Narendra32, Health Educator and Producer
Self-care isn’t buying expensive candles after being harassed at work all week. Lighting candles won’t cancel your burnout. Real self-care is much less Instagrammable: getting some sunshine, taking real walks, sitting with your thoughts, and creating better boundaries. Log off on time, say ‘no’ without guilt and relax without earning anything. This is how you really practice self-care.
And second thing: Your detox diet is a scam. Your liver and kidneys already do all the detoxing you need for free. “Detox diets” and “detox drinks” force you to have aggressive bowel movements and dehydrate yourself. If something promises to flush out toxins in three days, please leave.
From HT Brunch, 24 January 2026
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