The Writer’s Flight

  From cryotherapy to courtyard Yoga, there is a rise of new age designer gyms. More than just workout spaces, these are wellness and networking zones where status, style, and social capital converge By Namrata Kohli Walk into D’Monde in Delhi or Fitness First in Mumbai and you realise gyms in India are no longer about treadmills and dumbbells. They’re about status, scale, and sanctuary. From cryotherapy chambers and Turkish hammams to aerial yoga sessions and workouts set to live DJs, India’s gyms are no longer just about weights and warm-ups—they’re reinventing fitness as a luxury lifestyle experience. These high-end spaces are no longer playing catch-up with the West—they’re setting benchmarks in design, scale, and integration. As developers, luxury hotels, and boutique entrepreneurs double down on wellness, the country’s elite now have more ways than ever to sweat in style. As Natasha Narang describes her gym in a luxury Gurugram condominium- "It’s not just a gym—it feels like...

  By Namrata Kohli   Recently, acclaimed theatre personality Sohaila Kapur presented a heartfelt ode to her three celebrated uncles—Chetan, Dev, and Vijay (Goldie) Anand—in a production aptly titled  Anand Hi Anand . Staged at New Delhi’s Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport in association with Media Net Works and  Travel Secrets  magazine, the performance transported audiences into the golden era of Indian cinema through the lives, quirks, and legacies of the legendary Anand brothers. Vignettes from a Storied Legacy Anand hi Anand was peppered with delightful, little-known anecdotes. One of the most amusing: Dev Anand was once “banned” from wearing a black shirt—apparently because he looked so irresistibly handsome in it that women would swoon. His marriage to Mona Singha (better known as Kalpana Kartik) was another secret—so hush-hush that only the cinematographer on set caught sight of her ring. But not all anecdotes were lighthearted. One of the most poignant mo...

From monkey butlers to custom wall murals, statement pieces are those few special things that instantly catch your eye and give the space its personality. This bespoke home décor is no longer just about good taste—it’s about making a statement and telling a story.  By Namrata Kohli A wolf table in the foyer, a chandelier made of wine bottles, or a gramophone-shaped speaker that actually works—statement décor pieces are redefining Indian homes. They're bold, quirky, one-of-a-kind, and unapologetically personal. Designers swear by the power of a single bold piece to transform a room—and lift its mood.  “Don’t clutter your space with too many small things,” says Sidhant Lamba, founder of Delhi-based design studio STRROT. “Choose fewer pieces, but make them count. In a world flooded with mass production, the charm of the one-of-a-kind has only grown stronger.” Lamba believes in breaking the rules, but not at the cost of harmony. “You can go bold, quirky, even rebellious—but t...

  Pickleball India: From Backyard Game to Breakout Sport “Pickleball is my 3F formula—Fitness, Friends, and Fun!” – Says Rihanna Anand, a 35 year old Delhi based homemaker – “I’m no athlete, but even I can smash it on court. Every morning at 8 sharp, you'll find me and my Vasant Vihar gang swinging paddles and laughing our way through doubles. Who needs a gym when you’ve got this?” It all began with a paddle and a plastic ball. Today, pickleball—the quirky lovechild of tennis, badminton, and table tennis—is the fastest-growing sport in India. From luxury townships and corporate campuses to schools and weekend turf courts, the game is sweeping the country with a racket. What is Pickleball—and Why is Everyone Obsessed? Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball was designed as a backyard game for families. Played on a court similar to badminton with a 34-inch net, it involves smacking a perforated plastic ball with a paddle. The rules are easy to learn, the rallies...

                                                                                          If the US shuts its visa door, Europe may just leave a window open. As America turns inward, is Europe and rest of the world, stepping up to woo Indian talent? The Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation was launched on May 6 at The Oberoi, New Delhi, with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar as Chief Guest and Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary as Guest of Honour. Incubated by Ashish Dhawan (The Convergence Foundation), Manish Sabharwal (TeamLease), and Omar Momin (Godrej Foundation), GATI is a non-profit aiming to position India as a global hub for skilled talent. With the world facing a projected shortfall of ...

  Do you look at Art as an asset, emotion or legacy? Know the reasons why you want to buy art With record-breaking sales, Indian Art finds its voice—and value—at home and abroad. From Husain to the next Gen, Indian Art enters a golden phase By Namrata Kohli  There is a new found buoyancy in the Indian art market and excitement amongst artists and art collectors in India. A landmark event was the sale of Maqbool Fida Husain’s 1954 painting  Untitled (Gram Yatra)  for $13.7 million, (about 118 crore rupees),  making it the most expensive work of Modern Indian art ever sold in a public auction. According to Roshini Vadehra, Director, Vadehra Art Gallery and Trustee, Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art, “Overall, South Asian art is having a great moment, with mostly the domestic market driving the scene and people buying across generations and mediums. The masters are of course at the top end because of the rarity of the works. But the collector today is well edu...