Posts in category: Life Style

Being the unpartnered or unmarried friend among a sea of couples is a lot like being a block of Limburger on a charcuterie board of Brie, Cheddar and Manchego. Or a Chanel 22 in a closet full of Flaps and 2.55s. They’re acquired tastes that challenge the guests, most of whom have long succumbed to the marriage-as-a-default way of being an adult. And so, year after year, single and unmarried folks around the world prepare for the wedding season by practising insincere smiles that can successfully camouflage the jaw-clenching and teeth-gnashing that’s underway beneath the surface. Why? Because of all the mostly unsolicited, largely irrelevant and often violently inappropriate advice. If you’re one such out-of-control guidance giver, this year, try something radical instead: stuff a dry-fruit-filled laddoo in your mouth every time you find yourself on the verge of saying these seven things.

Consider it the first rule of modern wedding etiquette.

“I’m sure your person is just around the corner”

While often well-intentioned and meant to be hopeful, ask any single person and they’ll tell you this tedious, meaningless missive could win an award for creative futility. In reality, single women who aren’t single by choice… They have already looked. And looked, and looked. There’s a reason first-date fatigue and swiping burnout are fuelling an entire industry—dating coaches, therapists and worldwide communities commiserating on Reddit and WhatsApp. Equally problematic is the presumption that ‘partnered’ is the default ideal without considering that the recipient of your optimism might not actually be interested in coupling up.

“Have you set a date yet? What are you waiting for!?”

Let us all sit cross-legged, close our eyes, relax our shoulders and bask in the warmth of this revolutionary idea: a relationship is just as valid and solid even if the protagonists choose not to get the government involved. If you must be nosey, at least switch to, “Is marriage something you’re discussing/interested in?” Better still, do the honourable thing and mine mutual friends and close cousins for insider information and leave the happily unmarried alone. Consider it a small but significant act of wedding etiquette.

“You have no idea how lucky you are. Don’t ever get married”

Married folks who run around weddings breathlessly rhapsodising about the virtues of singledom are more uncomfortable than the wayward crystals from tight cholis clawing into the flesh of their hapless audience. Not to mention how embarrassing it is for their spouse to have to joke their way out of their partner’s yearning for the footloose and fancy free days. If you’re guilty of hurling such dire warnings at weddings, let this year be the one when you start keeping your secret desires secret.

“Let me introduce you to…”

Vaguely knowing two single people who might look good together in a photograph is not qualification enough to anoint yourself a matchmaker. Unless you have intimate knowledge of your introductees’ political leanings, values, preferences, peccadillos, eccentricities and icks, resist the urge, no matter how strong, to play cupid. The potential for things going unexpectedly awry is not worth it, especially within the fraught environs of a wedding. After all, how confident can you really be that your demure Excel-ninja colleague does not lead a double life as a monarch of the manosphere, after hours?

“Have you tried…”

The only appropriate and welcome end to a sentence that starts with these three suspicious words is: “…The baked feta in filo with a honey-tahini dressing” or something similar. Not: A beauty or fitness hack. Or this app or that matchmaker. Or an assortment of astrologers, palmists, tarot card readers, crystal ball gazers, coffee grounds or tea leaves readers. Whatever you’re convinced to be the problem, keeping your single friend single, keep the sacred knowledge and its remedy to your wise self, unless said single person specifically asks for your help.

“You need to lower your standards/compromise a little”

All this pronouncement does is make the single person at the receiving end feel a profound sense of pity for the one saying it. Most grown-up women with a healthy sense of self and strong personal boundaries already find the bar for men to be so low that it might as well be a tavern in Hades. Advising them that they need to lower it further can only send one of two messages: Either you think they’re not deserving of a well-adjusted, independently functioning, adequately therapised adult, or that your own standards are miserably low. Neither inference bodes well for the relationship, going forward.

“Any chance of and you getting back together?”

If the answer to this question is a decided ‘no’, it’s inappropriate (and odd) for you to be low-key yearning for your friend’s ex long after they’ve stopped yearning and grieving for the relationship. And if the answer is ‘yes’, you’re just reminding your friend of something they want but don’t quite have, especially during a wistful, emotionally charged time.

If someone so much as says “my boyf–”, on social media, they’re muted. There’s nothing I hate more than following someone for fun, only for their content to become “my boyfriend”-ified suddenly. This is probably because, for so long, it felt like we were living in what one of my favourite Substackers calls Boyfriend Land: a world where women’s online identities centred around the lives of their partners, a situation rarely seen reversed. Women were rewarded for their ability to find and keep a man, with elevated social status and praise. It became even more suffocating when this could be leveraged on social media for engagement and, if you were serious enough, financial gain.

However, more recently, there’s been a pronounced shift in the way people showcase their relationships online: far from fully hard-launching romantic partners, straight women are opting for subtler signs: a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses at dinner, or the back of someone’s head. On the more confusing end, you have faces blurred out of wedding pictures or entire professionally edited videos with the fiancé conveniently cropped out of all shots. Women are obscuring their partner’s face when they post, as if they want to erase the fact they exist without actually not posting them.

So, what gives? Are people embarrassed of their boyfriends now? Or is something more complicated going on? To me, it feels like the result of women wanting to straddle two worlds: one where they can receive the social benefits of having a partner, but also not appear so boyfriend-obsessed that they come across quite culturally loser-ish. “They want the prize and celebration of partnership, but understand the norminess of it,” says Zoé Samudzi, writer and activist. In other words, in an era of widespread heterofatalism, women don’t want to be seen as being all about their man, but they also want the clout that comes with being partnered up.

But it’s not all about image. When I did a call out on Instagram to my 65,000 followers, plenty of women told me that they were in fact superstitious. Some feared the “evil eye”, a belief that their happy relationships would spark a jealousy so strong in other people that it could end the relationship. Others were concerned about their relationship ending, and then being stuck with the posts. “​​I was in a relationship for 12 years and never once posted him or talked about him online. We broke up recently, and I don’t think I will ever post a man,” says Nikki, 38. “Even though I am a romantic, I still feel like men will embarrass you even 12 years in, so claiming them feels so lame.”

But there was an overwhelming sense from single and partnered women alike that, regardless of the relationship, being with a man was an almost guilty thing to do. On The Delusional Diaries Podcast, fronted by two New York-based influencers, Halley and Jaz, they discuss whether having a boyfriend is “lame” now. “Why does having a boyfriend feel Republican?” read a top comment, with 12,000 likes. “Boyfriends are out of style. They won’t come back in until they start acting right,” read another, with 10,000 likes. In essence, “having a boyfriend typically takes hits on a woman’s aura”, as one commenter claimed. Funnily enough, both of these hosts have partners, which is something I often see online. Even partnered women will lament men and heterosexuality – partly in solidarity with other women, but also because it is now fundamentally uncool to be a boyfriend-girl.

Missing the old days? Good, bad or ugly—it doesn’t matter. Pisces, look at where you are now. Just when you thought you wanted to give up, you picked up the last straw and it turned your fortune. And this was because you decided to trust that tiny voice in your head that did not accept defeat. Relax Leo. You may have decided to take it easy in the recent past, and now that your nervous system is easing into a soft flow once again, remind yourself that your million ideas can take flight, as long as you remember to keep reining it in. As long as you keep coming back to your core and as long as you keep bouncing off the guidebook you planned for yourself and your goals. Ask yourself, Cancer, why are you feeling this sense of lack? Perhaps your expenses have hit the roof as compared to before and yes, you may be right, there is little you can do about it. However, the one thing that can be done is for you to take a step back and review your finances and the way you interact with your money and resources. Your heart and your head can merge and nope, you need not be lucky in love and unlucky in money. You can have both—as long as you decide that that is what you want and deserve, Scorpio. Sure, it needs a lot of work back-end, especially when it comes to striking a balance; however, it is not something you cannot do. Get honest with yourself and ask yourself what all you would rather have in your life—no caps. Then ask the universe to help deliver it.

Read on for what the stars have in store for you, and make sure you check out your sun, moon and rising signs for the complete picture.

Why-o-why Aries, have you been going back and forth on this for so long? Love and life are actually meant to be pretty simple—if you love someone, admit it, if you don’t, then admit it. Allow other complications to become part of the mix once you are clear on what you want. So take some time off in your head and stop bouncing around like a directionless ball. Get some honest answers out from the depths of your soul first before you allow the worldly matters to come in the way and wreak havoc.

Cosmic tip: If it is meant to be, allow it to happen.

Swinging between worlds, playing the balancing act and juggling different parts of your life may feel like a feat, Taurus. However, look around—aren’t you already where you wish to be? Now that you hold the golden ticket in your hand, are you going to add your enthusiasm, zest and optimistic outlook towards life to the mix and really strive to make this situation turn around? It is only when you choose to look up you can see the sun shine.

A grey divorce, or a divorce that happens when couples in their 50s and beyond end long-term marriages, has become increasingly common. We’ve seen it in the headlines: Bill and Melinda Gates are a notable example, along with more recent reports about Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. But when two people (famous or not) who’ve navigated decades together suddenly decide they can’t—or won’t—continue, it’s hard not to wonder: What changed?

There are a few modern causes of grey divorce, experts say. For one, “dating apps have opened up so many more opportunities, and social media has allowed us to reconnect with more people,” Marina Edelman, LMFT, a licensed couples therapist based in Los Angeles, tells SELF. “So definitely, it’s become easier to gamble with finding another forever love.”

But beyond the excitement of new possibilities, grey divorce is often driven by different triggers from the ones that end shorter relationships. Here are the most common reasons, according to couples therapists.

Quiet, accumulated resentment—and a new phase of life for women

“What ends marriages usually isn’t the big, dramatic moments,” Edelman says. “It’s the little stuff that piles over decades”—think, a lack of effort in household chores or mismatched communication styles leading to constant bickering.

For many women, menopause is actually the wake-up period to pay attention to these issues that have been pushed aside. According to Edelman, symptoms like hot flashes, changes in sex drive, restlessness, and suddenly intense mood swings—combined with years of unspoken frustration—can turn this stage of life into a powerful moment of reckoning, a pivotal time to re-evaluate long-ignored dissatisfaction.

Repeated infidelity

While this is a pretty common reason for breakups, Kate Engler, LMFT, an AASECT-certified couples and sex therapist, tells SELF it plays a major role in grey divorces specifically. In many cases, “it’s a longstanding pattern of unfaithfulness that’s been repeated over time,” she says. As you get older, it’s common to reach a place where you’re reflecting on what the last chapters of your life will look like—and whether you want to spend them in the same exhausting loop. “So there comes a point where people are just like, ‘This isn’t changing,’” Engler says. “‘We’ve been through this so many times—I’m finally done.’”

Disconnect after the kids move out

For some couples, parenting isn’t just part of the marriage—sometimes, it is the marriage.

“Often, children become a buffer,” Engler explains. The busyness of packing lunches, organising birthday parties, and prepping for college applications “makes it easy to avoid the problems in your relationship.” But once the kids move out and the house goes quiet, couples are often left facing the reality that their bond may have been built more on coparenting than a fulfilling romance built for the long haul.

Changing political views

In more recent years, Edelman says she’s noticed the current political climate straining even the longest-lasting marriages. “Many couples that are going through grey divorce now met in their 20s and 30s when their values were more closely aligned,” she says. But new experiences—rising gun violence, the restrictions on abortion access, and the global pandemic—have led some people to re-evaluate (or even completely change) their beliefs. And those shifts, Edelman says, can spark conflict.

I like small habits, minimal changes and realistic resolutions. That’s why the podcast by personal growth expert Mel Robbins caught my attention. Under a title promising to achieve my goal, 9 Small Things That Will Make a Surprisingly Big Difference, I listened to it with devotion and found the phrase I needed to hear. “A little walk is the solution to 93% of your problems,” says Robins. Although it sounds a bit excessive, the populariser explains that a 10-minute walk can be the remedy to many problems and stressful day-to-day situations, because it resets the mind and lets you refocus on what’s important. Walking lifts your mood and allows you to cut the negative flow of emotions that you may have at any given time. It helps to take perspective and face problems from a calm and balanced state of mind.

The power of walking isn’t necessarily in taking a long, hard route and tiring yourself out. Andrea Klimovitz, an expert in mindfulness and neuroscience, advocates on her Instagram account- how powerful a walk can be on an emotional level. “Walking is the simplest and most powerful habit we can have.” When asked about Robbins’ statement, “I find it a provocative statement, but very true to the core. Obviously, not all problems are solved by walking, but it is true that a walk completely changes your state of mind. Walking takes you out of the thought loop, activates the body and allows the mind to reorganise. When you move, you literally change your perspective, and that can make you see things differently. It’s a simple and powerful way to reset yourself,” he notes.

Less cortisol, more serotonin

In the age when we’re so concerned about keeping cortisol levels in check (we’re a stressed-out generation that has it skyrocketing), we asked Klimovitz about the benefits in that regard. “There are studies that show that walking—especially outdoors, in natural settings-reduces cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone. In addition, it favours the production of endorphins and serotonin, the well-known ‘feel-good hormones’. In short: walking calms the nervous system, lowers stress levels and improves mood almost immediately”. In fact, the expert also refers to a Stanford University study that concludes that walking can increase creative output by 60% because the movement and increased blood flow encourage divergent thinking.

The walk that solves problems does not have to be very long

Robbins talks about a short walk (best if it’s in the morning) and Klimovitz confirms that it doesn’t need to be very long. “With 15 to 20 minutes a day you can already notice changes in your energy and mood. If you can afford more, it is even better: 30 to 45 minutes is ideal to get into that meditative rhythm in which thoughts calm down and the body relaxes. The important thing is to do it consistently and without pressure, as a small ritual to take care of yourself,” she says. In fact, if it’s all about generating endorphins, Andrea Klimovitz confirms that it usually happens within 6-10 minutes of you starting to walk. So the next time you’re overwhelmed at work, try a short walk around the office building. You’re likely to find yourself in a better mood and calmer to cope with the day’s stress, with greater control over your response.

This story first appeared on Vogue.es

Dermatologists may have every treatment and serum within reach, but the ones with that enviable glow often credit something far simpler: food. Good skincare can’t outwork poor nutrition. From gut health to hydration, we asked leading dermatologists to share the foods and habits that keep their skin balanced, their energy steady and their collagen thriving.

“Your skin is nothing but a diagnostic tool for everything that’s happening inside”

For Dr Rashmi Shetty, celebrity dermatologist, author and international speaker, healthy skin begins in the gut. “Your gut is your whole body’s feeding pot, and everything starts from here, so keeping it calm and well-fed is key,” she says. Her advice is simple: remove what doesn’t serve you.

That means no unnecessary sweets, snacks, ice cream or dairy. “If you look at my fridge, there’s no butter at all,” she reveals. Instead, it’s stocked with berries, nuts, cucumbers and baby carrots for when she needs to munch. Her three main meals are balanced between vegetables, protein (usually fish or eggs), and carbs—always rice, “since I’m South Indian.”

“I have rice at both meals, even breakfast,” she says. For cravings, she allows herself a spoonful of whatever she loves. “That’s usually enough to make me happy.”

“I’ve become very mindful about sugar, because I’ve seen firsthand how glycation damages collagen and accelerates wrinkles“

Dr Jaishree Sharad, medical director of Skinfinitii Aesthetic & Laser Clinic, sees daily proof that what you eat shows up on your face. “Premature ageing, inflammation, dullness, slow healing–it all starts from within,” she says.

Dr Sharad avoids processed foods and refined carbs and relies on vitamin C–rich fruits for bright, even skin. Breakfast is soaked chia seeds, nuts, and seeds in almond milk. A vegan protein shake mid-morning keeps collagen synthesis on track. Lunch is starch-free rice, seasonal vegetables, lentils or sprouts, and homemade hung curd. Dinner is light, usually soup or salad with berries to end the day on an antioxidant-rich note.

Her kitchen staples for optimal skin health include berries, soaked almonds, chia seeds, curd and spinach. She has homemade ghee and curd every day to support her microbiome. Even rice stays on the menu, in moderation. Two tablespoons of starch-free rice give me steady energy without spiking insulin.

“I naturally hit 2.5 litres of water daily, hydration is half the skincare battle won“

AIIMS-trained dermatologist Dr Geetika Srivastava, founder of Influennz Skin and Hair Clinic, believes glowing skin comes from clean eating, not costly treatments. “I’ve seen patients who avoid junk, drink enough water, and cut down sugar, and their skin literally glows. They age more slowly and need fewer procedures,” she says.

She’s cut salt, sugar, refined flour and milk from her diet. Her day starts before sunrise with methi seed, chia seed and saffron water. Supplements like omega-3, calcium, evening primrose oil, and spirulina round out her morning. Pre-workout, she snacks on soaked almonds, walnuts, figs and seeds. Lunch is lauki-besan chilla or vegetable-loaded poha. At tea time, she allows herself one teaspoon of sugar—her only indulgence.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s latest appearance showed how traditional craft can feel entirely new. She wore a purple silk sari from Eka, styled by Open House Studio, and paired it with Sunita Shekhawat’s uncut diamond and sapphire jewellery.

The handwoven drape featured sheer organza panels and a gold-piped border, with subtle jacquard butti motifs scattered across its length. A sharply cut blouse with a plunging neckline and fine vertical zari stripes brought structure and contrast to the fluid fabric.

Her jewellery, including an arresting choker, complementary studs, and stacked gold bangles, completed the composition, adding texture without overwhelming the look.

Hair and makeup followed the same direction with Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s side-parted hair styled into a soft updo, dewy skin, shimmery eyes and a glossy lip. The result was a composed and modern approach to evening wear.

From Vogue’s fashion desk:

“Samantha stuns in this handloom sheer purple sari. Nothing quite says regal like a violet or a navy. To make this your own, why not pair a violet drape with a sharp cropped jacket instead of a blouse? Worn with tousled hair and a bold cuff instead of heavy jewels. The trick? Let the transparency do the talking and keep everything else a tad bit undone,” says Vogue India fashion associate Divya Balakrishnan.

Also read:

Isha Ambani Piramal makes a scarlet statement in a sequinned co-ord set for her birthday celebration

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan channels old Hollywood glamour through Manish Malhotra’s lens at Vogue World 2025: Hollywood

Mira Rajput Kapoor revisits a decade-old Anamika Khanna lehenga in black and blue threadwork

What has been up with you, Sag? Something that once felt like a wish fulfilled may now feel like a headache of sorts. It is almost as though you have been running around in circles to find answers to the same questions and challenges, and are now exhausted. This is your cue to take a break and levitate above your life for just a moment. Su, are you in a rush to create what you are creating? However, ask yourself if the point is the creation or the process of creation. What is meant to be will happen eventually; however, what you already are holding, would it not make more sense to nurture it for a moment too?

Cosmic tip: Create from a space of contentment to achieve your goals faster.

Now that you have given the Universe a cue, watch how it picks up steam on everything that falls under this purview, Capricorn. It knows you are a sucker for consistency and constancy, and hey, that is how your dishes and wishes are served. This current phase might feel a tad chaotic with no clear direction of things and how they will conspire; however, keep clocking in that work and aligned intentions, and you will be better for it.

Cosmic tip: With every ending arrives a new beginning.

Fear what? Fear who? Aquarius, now that you are done feeling stuck in life, have you found your mojo back? Oh yes, you’ve finally decided to not only let the cosmos take charge but also added on a screw-this vibe to it. And wow, it seems to have worked wonders for your vibe and your mindset all at once. Now that you have found that pep in your step and that song in your heart once again, let’s get the cameras rolling, okay?

Cosmic tip: This is not a time for quick fixes; instead, it is a time for you to invest and grow.

This thing you are contemplating needs you to act quickly, but in a well-thought-out, creative and curious manner. Pisces, great things await you; however, whether or not you reach your destination depends on whether or not you decide to begin your trip. So remember that while you have some amazing dreams lining your eyes, you must also be willing to back them up with a plan that will help you bring them. After all, what good is a cracker of an itinerary if you are not willing to see it through?

Cosmic tip: Find that middle ground and stay persistent.

The new generation of cherry perfumes has developed quite the attitude. Not limited to candy and nostalgia, it’s tart, boozy and slightly unpredictable. The sweetness is still there, but sometimes shadowed by smoke, spice and syrupy depth.

Even when it isn’t the star of the bottle, cherry adds a flash of that velvety, addictive warmth that lingers just beneath the surface. A note you can’t quite place, but can’t forget either. This revival fits neatly within the rise of modern gourmands, fragrances that smell edible, emotional and impossible to ignore. Cherry captures that tension perfectly, fruity without being frivolous and rich without being cloying. It has become a statement of sensual confidence, the scent of someone who wants to leave a trace.

From smoked woods to ambery roses and liqueur-like reds, these are the cherry perfumes worth indulging in.

Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl Elixir Eau de Parfum

Black cherry and bitter almond open into a heart of rose and tuberose, before melting into vanilla and cocoa. Ambery, floral and rich, it’s lush without being loud.

Tom Ford Cherry Smoke

Dark cherry laced with saffron and osmanthus, with its apricot, olive and leather undertones, unfolds into smoked woods and Peru balsam. A scent that moves from fruit to fire, leaving a lingering warmth on skin.

Juliette Has a Gun Juliette Eau de Parfum

Dark cherry cut with pink pepper and jasmine absolute, wrapped in cashmeran and ambroxan. Fruity, floral and faintly woody, it lingers like skin after a night out.

BDK Parfums Rouge Smoking

Cherry accord, Italian bergamot and pink berries give way to black vanilla, heliotrope and tonka bean. Musky, creamy and lightly powdery, it smells like satin in motion.

YSL Black Opium Over Red

Coffee and white florals meet a juicy cherry accord that adds a liquorous, red-tinted depth. A familiar classic turned bolder, sharper and more nocturnal.

Elie Saab Elixir Love

Damask rose essence and cherry accord lead into neroli, jasmine, patchouli and oakmoss. A warm, floral chypre that feels sensual and slow-burning.

Dolce & Gabbana Q Intense

Dark cherry, heliotrope and amber form a dense, ambery mix that feels regal yet restrained. A modern gourmand in a crown-topped bottle.

Initio Parfums Narcotic Delight

Cherry, pink pepper and cognac open into rose and hedione, deepening into tobacco, vanilla and cedar. Warm, spiced and indulgent, it’s the most decadent of the bunch.

Kayali Lovefest Burning Cherry 48

Burning cherry and raspberry meet caramelised praline, smoky palo santo and patchouli. The mix is sweet and woody, with a heat that feels addictive rather than soft.

Also read:

12 monsoon perfumes that bloom on rainy days

From sexy-spicy to fresh florals: the best vanilla perfumes for every mood

10 modern rose perfumes that reimagine the flower in all the right ways

Writer-actor Pooja Tripathi is used to people being afraid of her. After all, nearly 200,000 Instagram users’ first impression of her is as Thyme: the perpetually unimpressed, aggressively anti-establishment, eye-rolling barista behind the counter at the fictional Brooklyn Coffee Shop. Tripathi’s character plays into the internet stereotype of the hipster barista, a “pretentious jerk” too cool for most conversations—and most coffee orders. At BCS, you hardly ever get what you want. Thyme does not look up from her book—Can We All Be Feminists? (2018), The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904), Resisting AI (2022) or a favourite, ‘Yass Kapital’—when you enter, and if she does, it is only to scowl at you. Her co-worker, Kale—played by Darryl Gene Daughtry Jr—constantly makes jokes at your expense. The prices are outrageous, timings entirely random and the space dimly lit to prevent photography (as an act of rebellion against the surveillance state). Forget about your basic black coffees and cappuccinos. Brooklyn Coffee Shop only serves intricate drinks with substitute milks: raw-avocado-pit, barley, flax, melon-seed, acorn and, of course, breast milk. (If their in-house goat Felicia isn’t too emotionally exhausted, goat milk is also an option.) Being a customer here is harrowing, but to be a barista, there is only one requirement: to have mastered “the glare of disgust”.

“When DJ and I are out and about, sometimes people will say they didn’t recognise us at first because we’re smiling and they’re so used to seeing us scary and frowning,” Tripathi reveals. When I admit to her that I was also nervous at the prospect of this interview, she laughs. “I think that right now, on the internet, the line between reality and fiction is blurry and many creators—us included—play with that line. Because of that, people don’t see you as an actor if you’re a content creator online,” she observes, “But I consider this a show and Thyme is a role I wrote for myself.”

When you first discover its Instagram page, Brooklyn Coffee Shop seems to be a real space. “Artisanal coffee shop in Brooklyn, NY. All milks made in-house,” reads the bio. Creating content for social media has many advantages. To Tripathi, the short-form format—each episode is approximately a minute long—hardly feels restrictive. In a competitive ecosystem where brands, influencers and celebrities alike fight for attention, she is confident in the show’s ability to keep people hooked. “If you watch a sitcom like 30 Rock, it’s all set within the studio yet, to my amazement, they keep coming up with more and more ideas without it feeling monotonous,” the 32-year-old marvels, “I actually like the challenge of keeping it short. Sometimes these restrictions fuel creativity because they force us to think about what else we can do within a limit.”

She concludes that TikTok and Instagram have been nothing but beneficial to her creative pursuits: “If it wasn’t for social media, this wouldn’t be a show at all. The thing that’s really hard about traditional media is that you need so many people to say yes to you and even to get to the room where they can decide yes or no is a long road.” Creating a social show was Tripathi’s way of democratising both the creation and consumption of art and taking control back. “It was a way of saying I would love to have a TV show but here is something we can do in the meantime. But then along the road, I realised that this, in and of itself, was an interesting project.”