Monthly Archives: May 2025

“Influenzaaaa,” a friend jokingly commented on one of my posts, poking fun at how I’d suddenly become so consistent with my Instagram updates. It was meant to be playful, but it made me feel conscious, judged. After the release of my debut romance novel, Red Flags and Rishtas, I knew that building a personal brand on Instagram was crucial to market the book and connect with authors and readers worldwide. It felt like a no-brainer. I started posting every day, stepping out of my comfort zone to experiment with reels and trends. But as I spent more time curating my digital presence, I quickly noticed that not everyone around me was as supportive as I had hoped. What began as a professional effort to expand my reach soon became a source of surprising tension. Some peers unfollowed or muted me, presumably because I was posting too much, others questioned why I was dedicating so much energy online instead of focusing on writing.

And they weren’t entirely wrong. I would have loved to invest all that time into writing my next book, but what’s the point of that if it wouldn’t find its audience? As much as ‘serious artists’ don’t like to admit, social media is the most powerful marketing tool in this digital age, and ignoring it isn’t the smartest decision. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer or artist, visibility is currency. More followers mean more opportunities, more connections, more impact and more sales. And that’s the motivation driving so many people today to build a presence on social media. It’s not about living a glamorous life, scoring freebies or travelling the world like influencers of the past. “People often confuse consistency with craving attention. But building a brand—especially a personal brand on Instagram—takes strategy, creativity and consistency,” says Smriti Agarwal, founder of wedding social media brand Mush Me Too. At times, you may even wonder if your friends are secretly laughing at your feeble attempts to increase your followers or worse, dissecting it on a group chat with you. Put on blinders. “If someone sees it as ‘wannabe influencing,’ that’s their lens. I know it’s passion, not performance,” Agarwal adds.

When your online journey starts moving beyond personal expression and into a more niche, business-driven space, some people—even those you think of as friends—will inevitably drop off, and that’s okay. For Samarth Khanna, founder of fashion brand Kaleshkari, this is a natural part of the process—what they like to think of as digital ‘natural selection’. “If people are not engaging with my content or are unfollowing me, then that means that this is not the kind of content they want to see. I don’t take it personally. It’ll only take me closer to the kind of community that I do want to build,” they explain.

“I am still grappling with becoming completely comfortable with my body,” says Sonam Kapoor. “I’ve always had a battle with body image, and I think it’ll go on for the rest of my life, like most girls and boys.”

It’s a soft, quiet admission. One that feels both intimate and universal, coming from a woman who’s been the subject of endless scrutiny for over a decade. And yet, there’s no drama, no self-pity. She continues, “I truly feel like you need to love yourself and I am constantly trying to do that,” before adding, “I have to stop being hard on myself like everybody else.”

Her beauty rituals reflect that quiet tenderness, an attempt at softness in a world that often demands perfection. “I like my silk eye mask, my silk pillowcase, silk Dior pyjamas. It’s all silk.” A seemingly indulgent collection, but it’s a choice grounded in practicality, too. Silk, unlike cotton, keeps moisture locked in, preventing hair breakage and skin dehydration. There’s an elegance to the simplicity of it all, but also a deeply personal commitment to nurturing herself through comfort and care.

Her hair care is equally thoughtful. She shares a recipe her family has been mixing for years: “Almond oil, vitamin E and coconut oil.” It’s become a staple she turns to more frequently these days. The blend speaks to the simplicity of nature’s offerings: almond oil for strength and shine, coconut oil for hydration, and vitamin E for protection. More than ingredients, they are a part of a ritual, a mindful pause in the rush of daily life.

As for beauty trends, her clear stance is refreshingly grounded. Overnight sheet masks? “So uncomfortable.” Facial icing? “It’s not as good as people think it is. You’d rather go and do cryotherapy on your face.” And a hard pass on heavy contouring. “I’m all for the natural look.” Her preferences feel more like a quiet rebellion against an often loud and aggressive beauty culture. She gravitates towards authenticity, a preference for what feels right over what’s trending.

Motherhood, of course, has brought its own set of shifts. “I was unsettled, so I spent the night with my sister,” recalls Sonam Kapoor, reflecting on a moment of vulnerability while her husband was away. “Companionship is necessary.” The transition to motherhood has altered her routine, too—no longer rigid, but more fluid, adaptive. A change that’s not just physical but emotional. Her wellness rituals, be it oil pulling or drying brushing in the morning, now exist between obligation and self-care, grounded in the chaos and the quiet moments alike.

“I was always keen on getting married in my family home in Chandigarh, which has a beautifully manicured garden and lawns that my mother looks after with great care,” exclaims bride Tripti Singh, who married Rohan Kothari in a traditional Sikh anand karaj ceremony held in her family home’s lawn.

The couple met in 2020, right before the pandemic, when Singh moved to Bengaluru from Mumbai. “It was my best friend who introduced us. I was asked to give her some company and show her around. We met at a party as strangers, and things took off soon after,” reveals Kothari. While Singh works in social impact measurement, Kothari is a lawyer who runs an independent chamber in Bengaluru. After dating for a few years, Kothari popped the question one Sunday morning with a ring. She said yes, and they soon began planning their wedding.

While the reception took place in Bengaluru under the guidance of Kothari’s parents, the wedding was in Chandigarh to honour Singh’s religion. “I am Kutchhi Hindu, but my family and I have never been fussy about the kind of ceremony or rituals we wanted, so we were happy to go along with Tripti’s suggestion of the anand karaj ceremony. Though neither of us is particularly religious, Tripti does associate with Sikhism. There are aspects of the religion, for instance, sewa (service), that have struck a chord with her since she was a child,” explains Kothari.

The celebrations began with a welcome dinner the night before the wedding ceremony, where near and dear ones gathered to bless the couple. Sulakhni Chabba did up the decor using fresh flowers, fairy lights, chandeliers and elegant table setting to welcome guests to the al fresco venue. While Singh opted for a gold and ivory lehenga, Kothari wore a black and maroon attire that matched Singh’s velvet dupatta.

The next morning, Kothari dressed in an ivory sherwani with chikankari work for the wedding, tailored by Y&O, completing his look with a Sikh turban for the ceremony. Singh chose a pink lehenga with work all over from AR by Rhea Kapoor. She paired it with heirloom jewels picked out by her mother, including an antique polki set with emeralds and pearls from Suranas in Jaipur. Singh, who does not typically wear makeup, wanted a soft, minimal look for her special day, and Sangeeta Raj stuck to the brief. She finished her look with her hair tied in a bun, adding fresh flowers, a maang tika and paasa along with a chunni in place.