MIND Mag MAR 2018 Issue #3

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‘You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.’

- Brigham Young

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Team and Contributors Sukiran Singh, Editor Juhi Ali, Editor-at-large Simarjot Wadhwa, Junior Editor Sanjana Prabhu, Content Writer Vrishti Nadkarni, Content Writer Rajat Shukla, Photographer and Re-toucher Soham Dalvi, Photographer and Retoucher Prerana Shah, Marketing

Contributers Ranveer Dua, Photographer Madhu VFX, Photographer Who Wore What When Valene D’souza, MUAH Ruchir Vashishtha Richard Joseph

Thanks to The Urban Foundary Candy and Green, Mumbai Amanzi Sky Deck Lounge, Mumbai Radio One Priyanka Arora

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CONTENTS

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No Country for Women

Eight

S/S 18 Trends

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38

Malishka

Song

44 Modern

Entreprenuers

66

Radio One RJ Interviews

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The Lazy

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The Sparrow

Editor’s note

How strange is it, that we had one of the first female heads of a state, much before than some of the most powerful nations of the world; however her perception might have been, when she continuously won, or when she created a lock down on democracy or even now, when our world is turning for a ignorant spiral.

It’s not that we do not respect women, and neither all the men are rapists, abusers and violent, we just never got a proper sense of what a woman is. As many profoundly quote that ‘She is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a girlfriend, a partner’, but here if you notice, it’s just a designation, in a basic sense of reality.

No one goes beyond the fact of designation, and understand that a female is the real producer of life, be it any species, and shocking to some, the female of our species has a fully developed brain like their male counterparts. The takeaway is that, the life is the reality, nothing else matters if one does not understand the meaning of it. And to understand life, one must understand the XX chromosome.

But then, how would men even think of a woman in such depth, when they themselves have created an empty shell of a society, where they toil for unnecessary artefacts of aimless desire. To understand a subject like a woman and give her the dignity she deserves, is a complicated procedure, one that necessitates time and knowledge; and this is where our baseless education fails us all.

Our March 2018 issue talks about some women that have created a niche for themselves. We wanted to talk to a lot more incredible women, unfortunately we couldn’t. But women are here to stay, and we promise to put forward the best of voices out, in the coming future.

Sukiran Singh Editor, M.IND Mag

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NO COUNTRY FOR WOMEN WHEN THE HEADS WHIRL

by Vrishti Nadkarni

On February 9th ,the box offices were ornamented with Padman posters and the movie did really well. A lot of people have appreciated the movie and the motive behind it. The movie was based on a true story of India’s “Menstrual Man”, Arunachalam Muruganantham, portrayed by Akshay Kumar. Mr. Muruganantham realised that his wife could not afford any disposal sanitary tools, he took the responsibility to develop low cost sanitary pads for unfortunate women. He faced many challenges, from financial back up to support from the society. He had finally developed a cost effective machine which produced pads. It’s been more than ten years since Arunachalam invented a machine to create low cost sanitary pads and began distributing them to rural women across India.

But unfortunately that’s not for what they really were promoted. Startling indeed but of course true, a sanitary pad was being promoted through the ingeniously creative *The Padman Challenge*. If you have been cut off from the internet, it was the campaign in which star-studded army of Bollywood peeps were flashing a pose with sanitary pads in their hands. It was all over social media and everyone knew what a pad looked like. For years, our TVs have featured advertisements with girls in white pants, running around during their periods, and being far too happy for our comfort. Nevertheless, the promotion of a humble pad created a huge popularity for Padman as a movie, not much as an idea behind the movie. Wouldn’t it be better if there was a distribution of those same pads to women who are less fortunate? It’s sad how a movie about a

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noble man has been narrowed down to a pad. And lately, we have seen how a movie omits the big picture (the irony) and makes us feel reduced to so much smaller, a vagina perhaps. But I don’t blame the cinema industry entirely, I blame the society. After all a film is the reflection of the past, present, and the future of a society.

How society understands women, is incorrect! From being suppressed, we have directly jumped to being feared or glorified. No one asked for that. The #Me Too campaign made men squirm at their seats. The objective behind the campaign was to expose the gravity of the number of women who were sexually assaulted or otherwise violated by men. Feminism wasn’t supposed to be solely women empowering. By definition, it’s the equity of the sexes. But when the situation is such where the freedom of choice for women is so restricted then women empowerment is a dire need. At the same time, feminism is a notion that is shamelessly misused by many men and women. The original idea of feminism is the equality of the sexes in all aspects of life. The modern doctrine of feminism has been “reduced” to a mere terminology of ‘empowerment of women’. It’s not even about having men standing up for women, leave chivalry aside.

Feminism has been a misconception of being anti-men or man hating. Feminism is simply the uplifting of the socially oppressed gender. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with a woman expressing what she desires, gender specific or otherwise. A woman wouldn’t mind taking a man on a fancy date and pay for the bill, but she would still appreciate if you pull out the chair for her, being a gentleman. Feminism is not to establish gender roles, and neither to create gender threat to one another.

Earlier female foetuses were aborted and baby girls were killed after birth.

Unfortunately, in smaller regions it is still a prominent practice. They have been surviving through discrimination, prejudice, violence, and neglect all their lives.

This has led to an appallingly skewed sex ratio. Women face threats to life at every stage due to crime, inadequate healthcare, inequality, lack of attention to personal health and well-being. India strongly requires deep-rooted changes in traditional, irrelevant social attitudes for women to be more accepted and secured. There’s a thick layer of patriarchy and widespread misogyny in the country. Politicians have been promising to toughen laws and speed up the prosecution of rapists and perpetrators of crime against women but how? There are members in the parliament who have criminal and rape records themselves.

Lately the reaction to feminism has made us look a little helpless, or some may say high maintenance. There are a few sex-based disadvantages that women suffer in the name of feminism. The intention of forming or continuing a sex classification is to compensate for this disadvantage. The sex classification isn’t particularly based on the archaic or stereotypical notions of gender roles and

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abilities. The idea is not to create an unnecessary burden, its plain compensation for the disadvantaged sex, the women. You can see this in clubs, the dilemma posed by ladies’ nights, entry fees to clubs etc. No doubt, these offers are appealing but it is merely to compensate for the side effects of discrimination, harassment, and conflicts between the sexes. By playing safe there is no solution or even a direction to solve these problems, there is just avoidance. India has been constantly avoiding trouble when it comes to women, which ultimately makes women feel helpless with descending sense of safety.

India has been ranked as the worst G20 country in which women are discriminated the most. What we understand by a safe city or a safe place is where the statistics of reported crimes against women is low, and on top of that they have the freedom to use public spaces as they choose. According to the UN Women website, “A safe city is one where women and girls can enjoy public spaces and public life without fear of being assaulted...one that promotes equal opportunities for men and women in all the spheres of social, economic, cultural and political life.” The risk of encountering violence on account of gender is used to justify the choices women make when living in a city. Safety becomes the ultimate concern for them, and remains even after settling down. Hey man, are you worried about getting on bus with a gang of women who might harass you with a dishwasher ring? The secondary concerns are work, living space, leisure, connectivity. Women carry a constant sense of anxiety where ever they go. And yet in the end, we have to match up for society’s expectations of what parts of the body should or should not be exposed. There are boundaries established for women on their choices to protect themselves.

In our country, a woman is reportedly raped every ten-fifteen minutes. Do the math for the entire year. Along with that there are cases that aren’t even reported. Besides that a woman becomes a victim of a crime every two minutes.

The statistics of crime against women are increasing everyday by the minute, everywhere. This ongoing issue with violence against women, compensatory feminism in the country, and oblivion towards the thoughts of women; raises a serious question. Is India a country for women?

Women have been constantly pushed towards gender-specific roles in their family itself as their “domestic responsibilities”. They are expected to bear children and care for the family alongside their work. They don’t have equal access to autonomy, mobility to outside the home, social freedom that men are privileged with. Women have been considered to be as the key to destruction and hence,weren’t allowed to go out and participate in social activities like men. Still in modern age, women have to face many more problems daily and struggle a lot to establish in their career. Because of such type of inferiority, modern women face problems in their lives. They have to go extra miles than men to prove

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themselves equivalent to men.

We live in a society where national narrative conditions have made people think that women suppression of any kind has no consequences and violence can be unleashed by an imbalance sex-ratio. Where women have little or no cultural respect, it won’t be surprising if this oppressive atrocity against women in India will get worst. Regressive attitudes towards women are rooted deeply in India’s traditional and conservative culture, in which women embody the ‘izzat’ of a family, and the community whereas men are the honour. The clothes women wear, where they go, what time they return, and with whom is strongly controlled to avoid bringing dishonour and disgrace. Women who believe they should be free to live as they wish,are not monsters. Many are hard-working, decent women trying to do the best for their families in very trying circumstances.

In a male dominant society as ours women empowerment is necessary. Women have been the subject of honour killing and have been denied basic rights for proper education and freedom. We need to get rid of all the demons in the society to have women attain self-identity on their own.

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Ft. Aditi Anand (TFM Models) and Saloni Khanna (Purple Thoughts) Photographed by Sukiran Singh Styling by Akanksha Gupta Makeup and Hair by Valene D’Souza Styling Assistance by Mahek Shah & Harshita Jain Makeup and hair assistance by Shalaka Naik Production by Juhi Ali Trends in words by Vrishti Nadkarni

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SPRING SUMMER 2018

TRENDS FOR THE EMPOWERED WOMEN

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1. Pastels Ice-cream hues made a sweet presence in SS18. They featured in the collection of Victoria Beckham and Chanel. Elegant, fun, and petit. They gave a subtle edgy look on the runway. Paired with leather and denim jackets in formal skirts and dresses.

Outfit- AND Footwear- AND

Distort Editorial

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2. All over Denim Crisp deep indigos in full denim sets were featured by Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Adam Selman, and Tibi. Jeans, oversized fits, jeans jackets were dominant moments of the runway. The uniformity in the look gave a clean, professionalism vibe to it.

Outfit- AND Footwear- Globaldesi

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Outfit- Dolly J

3. Sheer This time in SS18 with theme of feminism, peek-a-boo sheer clothing walked down the runway. It was about translucency or freeing the nipple. Giving a new meaning to light and airy. Sheer featured as tulle to net, layers; in gowns and skirts.

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Outfit- Globaldesi Footwear- AND Accessory- Stylefiesta

4. Colour pop SS18 had a bright show of primary colours. It was seen everywhere from Preen to Victoria Beckham. There was a refreshing dominance of yellows, reds, and hot pink. Designers like Barbara Bui, Vetements, Off-white prominently featured the pop-colours in their collection through all clothes and all accessories.

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5. Active Wear Sporty women’s wear is shown to be the new craze with the line-up of polo shirts, gym shorts and retro sneakers. Featured in the collection of Junya Watanabe, Prada, and Marc Jacobs.

The looks on the runway had sports jackets as layering on dresses and onesies.

Entire outfit - Myriad Activewear

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6. Satin Satin was prominent feature of SS18. Designers worked on light-cathcing satin into casual silhouettes, pants, shorts, flowing dresses and skirts, and casual shirts for day. It was part of the collection of Sportmax, Beaufills, Tommy Hilfiger, and Marina Mascone.

Top- Globaldesi Skirt- Urban Accessory- Stylefiesta

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7. Vintage Checks The vintage brown check is everywhere on Burberry’s new season runway: on baseball caps, oversized tote bags and belted coats for both men and women. The infamous vintage check pattern was abandoned during the late 90s. Times have changed and now it’s “in”. It celebrates the British way of dressing.

Top- UCB Suspenders- Zara Accessories- Stylefiesta Shoes- Zara Bag- Burnt soul

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8. Vertical Stripes A unisexual collection from SS18 was the vertical stripes in various forms, in almost all types of clothing and accessories. Stripes have long been a favourite for men since it came into play in the 1800s. Now this fashion trend shared by both men and women. Vertical stripes will draw the eye up for spring — which is both stylish and flattering.

Top- Sameer Madan Skirt- Zara Accessory- Stylefiesta

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‘We can not all succeed, when half of us are held back.’

-Malala Yousafzai

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MYTH BUSTER BRIGHT ON THE DARK

By Sanjana Prabhu

“Let’s scrub out that tan” is a common refrain in beauty parlours in India, where girls grow up with constant reminders that only fair skin is beautiful. Discrimination based on skin colour was most visible in British India, where skin colour served as a signal of high status for the British who actively promoted the idea, which in turn learnt it from our own caste system. There was a time, when in a country like India, where the majority of the population is dark-skinned, a belief was and is still widely held that dark complexions are inferior to fair ones. Strangely, today white women mostly shy away from wearing colour and have found solace in Black.

Younger generations are now starting to push back. Having light skin meant wearing light coloured clothes. Surprisingly though, dark girls on other side of the world, be it Jourdan Dunn or Rihanna, wore pastels, but the world did not stop spinning.

Red is a universal colour, it suits every skin tone. Red is the colour custom made for the dusky girl, it has been used in Indian society for many millenia. Vermillion, which is a version of red, is proudly adorned by women accross India to celebrate their marital vows. You can try a variety of different reds, from deep ones to the ones with orange mixed in it. It’s widely known that red lipstic provide confidence to a subject and gets a person to stand out. Unfortunately, only few dark women have understood that colour is imprtant to lighten mind and bring confidence. Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar winning actress and style icon, looks breath taking in her even-toned and flawless dark skin, with petal lips, the most chiselled jaw, and doe eyes to boot, and never shys away from wearing colour.

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Anything opposite on color spectrum, makes the other color stand out. A dark skin person wearing a brighter shade, takes the perciever’s eyes to the face of the person, which psycologically helps them to stand out in the crowd. This applies to many colours.

For examples, If you think that bright pink is too bright for your skin tone then it’s time to unlearn that little fashion tip. Hot pink looks beautiful on duskier skin. If you’re not used to wearing the shade, try it in accents- in your jewellery, as a separate or even when you layer your clothes Neon hues have very little neutralising dyes like black in them and are pure pops of bright, saturated colour. That is all there is to them, according to the world of colour and art. But according to those fetishizing white skin thanks to a colonial hangover of massive proportions, dark girls cannot wear neon. Well! How wrong they are.

Grace Jones, a supermodel of 1980’s. Image courtesy: Google.com

You can very well wear an all-white outfit and look ravishing in it. Just know which fabric to try it in. We suggest you stay away from stark white in fabrics such as lycra and polyester but try them in chiffon, linen and cotton. You can try off-white or slightly beige whites as well.

While people in India complain about how bright colours don’t suit darker skin tones, people abroad are artificially tanning themselves to achieve the melanin we are naturally blessed with.

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FROM RADIO TO ACTING

Malishka Mendonsa P hot ograph ed by Ranveer Dua , Sty l i ng by Juhi Ali M akeu p an d Hair by Va lene D’so uz a St yling assiste d by Nid hi Sha r ma , Ha r shit a J a in & Ma h e k S h a h I ntervie w by Juhi Ali

‘The Woman of Many talents‘ You made a big jump by entering the movies. You just released your first, it was huge success, great reception. How does it feel? What’s changed after that?

I think things had started changing before that itself. I have always been the kind of person who believes that one should not be boxed in one thing. My choice of profession is of course to be a radio jockey. But I have always believed that you should be able to give your all to whatever you’re doing yet pursuing your various interests with fervor as you can’t limit talent. Even as a kid I used to enact film dialogues, dance and invite adults to create an atmosphere where they could see us perform. While deciding on joining media, I was in a fix whether I should act, sing or dance. I always thought radio would be the right choice. It was never for me to do something else, it was always my main medium. I never wanted to confine myself to only one facet of life as there are always more venues open to soar high. I knew new altitudes could be achieved while remaining true to the core profession. That step was great. I remember the producers of the film calling me for the particular role, asking “Would you like to do it? Because we think you will be perfect”. The perception is that some people thought that it was closest to my character, it being the role of a radio jockey.

But it wasn’t so. The protagonist was just a girl next door leading a normal life.

I could have been a fashion designer or in a dance school or whatever. I would have felt honoured to do that role. Secondly, I always desired to dance in a film once. So I got all of that in my first film. I received a lot of appreciation even though the role was small. Everyone in the film was commended. And to get noticed was not a concern. There was hardly anyone in the film that you could say you did not know.

It must’ve been surreal because you trained Vidya Balan for Lage Raho

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Gown by Ashish & Shefali Earrings, neckpiece and rings- Mk jewels 23 Shoes: Intoto

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Dress by Ritu kumar Skirt by urbane Corset belt by style fiesta Earrings style fiesta , rings by loupe jewellery Shoes: intoto

Munnabhai and debuted with her as your costar?

Yes! It was crazy because in those days radio was kind of new. Also she hadn’t seen radio people as much. So for her it was the first time, she was like, “God ,how do you all talk like this?”. In training her,I also realised that our jobs is one with the extreme skill even though it seems like it’s on the spot. And it’s also a job that will allow you to act and modulate, train you to be other character as well whether you want to be a television host or a film star. Mentoring Vidya! she was totally amazed. In the second movie I didn’t have to train her so much because anyways, she comes in as a house wife who becomes a radio jockey. I may call her the female Bachchan of the movie industry. She is immensely talented, very unassuming, and very down to earth. When you’re nervous as hell and you should be, but she makes it so chill for you. You feel like it’s a college buddy and you are doing a thing. But she transforms you know, and she helps you bring out the best in you as a result.

You don’t publisize yourself so much, but you’re a major activist. How is the initiation of these ideas come accross?

You know you’re the third person to ask in recent days asking why you are the way you are. Which is great! I think this is the trait of media persons. I’m a common girl who got into the media circle and I studied social communication which I think somewhere inculcated in us that media should be responsible to the society. When radio started, we didn’t know what private FM was going to be, we didn’t know who our audience was. I am by nature quirky, I like to have fun. I thought these two can amalgamate really well. This is like a common person, any one on the road, will have fun with their friends and if it comes down to taking a stand, I hope they will. Everyone has something, they are passionate about. So for me those causes are vital that effect the society around us in the best possible way. I’m very passionate about animals too. I think when you get to a position where you can make a difference, you should. And I am in that position, which has built up slowly. I can’t always talk about the traffic or film stars. My shows aren’t focused on films or film stars. That’s why, my interviews with them are so casual and so candid. For me, I like to bring out the human side of all actors, and it’s great for people to know them. So for me. being human has always come first. The initiatives are probably just a part of the subconscious. But I’m not going to take all the credit, I have a fabulous team. We together come up with things, like honking, “don’t be horny”. It used to be in my mind for so long.

Why are people honking so much? When I travel abroad, honking is rude there.

For us even at toll naka we honk. This was brewing for very long. When we sat down as a team, this was a great topic to take up. Whatever you say on air is up to you, and you’re a personality. Ideas as a whole evolve and you add your creativity to it.

Taking about your team.You are the head of your team. You must have seen that a lot of women don’t get the right opportunities because they are told they “aren’t flexible enough” for many different weird reasons. since you handle this huge team tell us what goes into keeping the right environment?

When the mike is off, I’m in two modes. One where I’m laughing, we are crack-

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Top by Subhashini Baghel label x stylease Skirt by Roora by Ritam Neckpiece: Stylefiesta Earrings: Mk jewels Ring: Mk jewels Shoes: Intoto

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cracking jokes or the other when I’m getting hectic with them. I’m not an aggro-boss, I only demand that the best goes on air. And my team understands that as I have always been like that. Even when new people come into the system. They are warned a little bit when working with me. It’s about translating the best content on air, and nothing is ever personal and everybody knows this.

I believe in consistent training. I have worked with this team for about three years. I remember the first two years, and even when someone new comes in, they go through a process of training. And this training is only on the job. So if you’re working with me then you’re trained. For Example, Elephanta Island just got electricity after years, and it’s something that our city should know about. It was claimed by someone from the city. I wanted someone from the village and the boys to do research on the job. They found someone and got his number.

I wanted people to know from someone who resides in the village rather than someone from the city. That’s the kind of demand. I won’t say perfection but attention to detail.

Did you at any point think that your influence or the kind of impact you will have, will be so inspiring?

Absolutely not. For me I’m just living my life and I’m very happy. There have been a few inspiring women who have inspired me like my mom. She is a strong person who brought up two daughters all by herself after my dad passed away.

Her story and where she was. I think it was mostly subconsciously. Because deep down I’m like, hey lets have fun. Along the way I got this huge opportunity in my career, things shaped their way that I got the opportunity to inspire. Now I say my motto is to inspire people; just to give water to someone who’s thirsty; who aren’t littering the roads; helping a dog in need. And I have seen and heard feed backs where people say they have stopped honking, carry water bottles with them, or have adopted someone. These small things go a long way. You’ll build up the next generation like that. That small thing is your contribution to the society. And all that while being glamorous as well. It’s profession that allows you glam, not when you’re on the mike. But I have gotten so many opportunities and I hope everyone goes that way. But when you’re in a position people slowly notice you or you grab people’s attention. That is why I have nothing against activists, they are awesome. But activism is a different bend of mind in the society. I’m happy to be called one, but for me it has always been garnering the attention of the populous and then make a change. Because I cannot do Narebaazi or Dharnas. But if it is required and if that is what it comes to me, I would do it. So far in my limited capacity or talent I’m able to do it this way, by grabbing their ears through radio or through Ted Talks, or inspire them by doing stuff myself.

Inspiration comes for you from so many people and it’s never you by yourself. And that is something I acknowledge even while I’m speaking about my achievements. It has never been alone. It’s always a team that lifts you up and I think we should give them due credit at any given point. And there will be individual people also. When I bought my first house I was twenty-five, and I when I stepped in I didn’t think I could do this, because back then you were still a child. My mother said, “Why are you worried? You will only grow.” And that’s the only thing you need to hear because the world is a place that will intimi-

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Gown by Ashish & Shefali Earrings, neckpiece and rings- Mk jewels Shoes: Intoto

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Gown by Aashish and Shefali Shoes by Intoto Neckpiece, earrings, rings : Mk jewels

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intimidate you, pull you down, or wonder where you’ll go because we have seen there is a low availability of jobs. At that age when my mother said, “you will only grow”, I realised it was true. Next few years, I bought that house and it’s mine now. And sometime you just have to take that risk, re-build it all. In fact when I left my first radio station I was again a fledgling, so I was. When I quit, people told me to find another job or people would forget you. So I said, “ It’s cool if they forget me. I will make them remember me again.” This is a passion that comes only with youth. The younger you are, more risks you can take. At that point you shouldn’t pressure yourself that you won’t be able to do something. You will be, with a little faith and a little help. I think people around you play a huge role in making you who you are.

You do a lot of interviews, you talk to a lot of people. Where does the patience, the politeness, the articulateness under pressure come from to keep it that way and to get it done nicely?

I’m not polite at all, that’s one. I’m real. There was this interview with Shahrukh, we waited the whole day. I remember he wasn’t able to shoot then because even Kajol was not available, it was really late. The set was put and everything was ready, Shahrukh didn’t give any excuse for not being able to. Instead, very sweet of him, he said, “ Tomorrow, I will help you out with the set and managing everything.” And it means a lot to just have this assurance from a super star, it’s a big deal. So it’s just that mutual respect to one another that we have.

When you know you’re putting in so many efforts and respect for the other person, you will receive it back from them. I think I expect that from the world.

Even people tell me not to expect so much from the world, the key to joy is not having the expectations. If I didn’t expect, I wouldn’t be able to go on air and expect people to listen. If not everyone but few and that’s good enough for me. You can’t lose hope and faith in the people and in the system. Even though it frustrates you sometimes, this is what will keep you going. Like my infamous song that came out there, I went through the ups and downs of it, and I still get remembered by it out side of this city as well.

You’re an anchor. You’re an actress. You ve been doing theatre now, You’re doing so many other things. How do you make the switch?

I believe in unlearning. This is what my programming head also told me that this is my biggest challenge. Because I am very stubborn and you get used to the place you are in. But I strongly believe in unlearning. So whenever I go to a new place, like when I had gone for theatre I did a character from UP using Urdu words. But I strained myself, because you have to unlearn. Same with television you’re being interviewed and twenty other people are putting in their view points. So I think the biggest thing you can do is to unlearn. Even everyday on the radio I unlearn, in terms of trying something new, something that works better. I’m always up for it. Because you cannot be closed and grow. People say you have to surround yourself with people smarter than you. Even the role of Radio Jockey in the movie I looked at it as an acting job. I’m not saying lines of my own. Even though the director did ask me to give my thoughts.

Talking about growth, people, and organizations. What is your take on (a)

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Harassment in workplace?

It should, completely, not be tolerated. I have been forever in this medium and as a woman I haven’t experienced that being a woman I can’t do this. Even our awards aren’t like best male or best female radio jockey. It would upset me tremendously if that happens. So for me I find this medium much more open and liberal as compared to the others.

What about becoming the Ellen DeGeneres , you want to be?

Thank you for putting it out in the world. It will happen. There’s a road leading up to it I’m sure, let’s hope I get there. I want to be India’s version of it. I always said I wanted to be a mixture of Oprah and Ellen. Because that’s exactly what I do in life. I tackle the serious with a pun or something funny. And I’ve been inspired by these women as well. There can be many people having the same dream. But I’m glad that I can do something right now through the medium I’m in. That’s why I loved Tumhari Sulu, it had such an empowering element.

It did the right things and everybody loved it. When you get out of the medium you’re comfortable with, you won’t necessarily know what your next step is. However I have begun to talk to some people about it. It will be a trial and error method. I think our country is quite ready for it as well. Like I said one’s goalposts keep changing and right now this is fuelling me. Our country can use something like this and I can use my talent and my skills. Tomorrow my goalpost might change, I might want to get married and have six kids. But that’s not the case *chuckles* Impactful, empowering, glamorous, activist, all of these things in one person. Are you also a spiritual person?

I’m not ritual driven. Spirituality for me is something part of my subconscious. I have never been overly religious or spiritual. But, I think you have to be at some level though I’m sure I can get higher up in that lane. You have to be spiritual to be commune with yourself. Just to find some peace and still struggling with it. But yes, I do believe. I do believe there is God, there is someone taking care of me. I think spirituality, for me, is another form of being grateful. And grateful people go a long way. It is nice to have grateful people around. Grateful people do not expect much from the world and they can be at a place where even the smallest joy becomes a big deal. My team keeps telling me, “Malishka, how do you describe the small things with rosy glasses ?”. But it’s not true. I’m a seasoned questioner and ask about the ‘how ‘of it, the ‘why’, the ‘are you sure’.

At the same time I feel deep down, but not very often, that I am very grateful for where I am. If I’m not , I start to feel weird. Then in few months I’ll check it again, being grateful for where I am. And just be grateful about the small things, like I’ve had a fabulous shoot with you guys. And we’ve had our hitches, I could have chosen *chose not to abuse* What is your opinion about Ganja?

For me drugs have always been a no-no scene. Because addiction is a horrible thing to be with and I have dealt with and have done stories about people who have some hard-core chemical addictions. Now there are also movement of people that I understand. There are shows about it legalizing the substance.

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And these are the people, I assume, apart for using the Ganja….. These people have understood the usage of that. Also they have figured out the pros and cons to it. They are trying to tell that there are pros to it also. I hope they come to consensus because many countries have legalized it as a medical property if we are able to prove that it’s a plant, it’s a herb, and it’s natural. Then I think, I hope they legalize it. Whether I like it not, every second person I know, have seen, and is doing to chill out. So if so many people are doing it shadily. If the legality is clear so these people don’t get into trouble for the wrong things at the wrong time. And people exploit a lot of money. If someone doesn’t know and he lands with a fine of ten-thousand boom on his head. Make it clear with it so everyone’s chilled out with the Kintu-Parantu about it. ***

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THE RIVETING WORLD OF

BODY SHAMING

BY SUKIRAN SINGH

The world is a beautiful place, until you experience its severely camouflaged ugliness, first hand. We humans took millions of years to evolve into these beings that had higher mental function than any being before us ever had. Nature created us to enhance its image, but all we have done is sabotage or criticise its aesthetics. There are 7 Billion of us, 9.5 Billion by 2050, but each one is unique.

Faces might be similar in some cases, but every individual has their own identity and thought process. Every individual might be genetically different from each other, but they are the same species after all. How ones appears to another, is just a matter of perspective that we humans have established over the last 100,000 years, when we started the civilizations. Before that we simply picked mates based on hormones, and the nature was our guide.

The world has changed now. Some for good, mostly for the worst. With the amazing technological advancements that we have created to ease our life, we have shortened our ability to think beyond a certain bubble. Companies like

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Facebook and Instagram have also exploited that sense of approval we yearn for, and all we wish to do now is to be or ‘to look’ better than the other. I think we left satisfaction somewhere on the way.

The very much patriarchal society influenced perspective did not leave women aside either. It rather influenced them to like or dislike other women, under the pretence of ‘impression’. For example, when a prominent male in one’s life or even the men around, look for a particular image in an ideal woman, every woman struggles to be that woman. In case of the Famous Indian Actress Katrina Kaif- The beautiful woman came to India to create a career for herself. The males of India got so fascinated by the way she looked, that they created a vision of an Ideal woman around her. Tall frame, Curvaceous figure, plump lips, ample bosom and not to forget the white skin. It triggered such a phenomenon that every other actress and model started to go under the knife, to achieve a similar persona. To them, it was sellable (not literally). To the men, the ideal woman.

That’s just one example of many. But this is an effect of an influencer. What about the nooks of our society, where a dark person, a slightly disfigured person, or even someone with speech disability (or uneven accent) is looked down upon? One cannot fight against Melanin, when living in one of the hottest places on the planet. Neither one can have a slender bone structure when they are born in a household that consumes wide variety of Protein and Calcium. Then why look at some one, without understanding their background or lifestyle or medical history, and make instant perceptions of what the one being perceived went through? The Answer is simple. We have trained our brains through millennia that the smart fish get the fodder. If we are not intelligent enough to perceive someone quickly, we might lose something out of it. It even works in the case of perception of someone we have never met, and probably live 10k miles away from us. Along with the hidden desire to be like someone, it also boils down to survival instincts, which we have garnered from millions of years of our animal ancestors.

When someone sitting on the internet, comments about how inappropriate the other person looks like, it reflects the deeper desire to be them or either be with them. And since it’s still a very much male oriented society, most of the commenters are males. The idea is to ignore these individuals as most of them are psychologically imbalanced by the above explained phenomenon.

Body Shaming in Fashion Now, this is something relatable to us, pertaining to fashion. Resonating to the desires of their male counterparts or the society itself, we have been told by many celebrities to use a tool in Adobe Photoshop that helps slender their figure. Everyone wants to look thin, when they do not wish to get treated for any medical issues or even walk to the gym for it. Then again, why does one wishes to be slim figured? Many a times we want to go against the laws of nature (genealogy). The culprit here is the usage of ‘sexual desire’ in advertising, that the fashion world quickly understood in the early 20th Century. ‘You look slim, you look young, hence your partner would not leave you for a younger model’ I

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heard that someone drunk say out loud at a party. Survival instincts and ultimately finding the mate.

The fashion magazines wish their advertisers to be happy, advertisers want their products to be sold, and many of the times when an expensive article is bought, it’s bought by the husband or the boyfriend. To continue the scam, the so called supermodels (again, many times, not always), who are unfortunately also one of the biggest society influencers today, are starved, so they look like the anomalies that are inaccessible to a normal man. Thus creating and rolling the illusion.

See, Fair is beautiful, dark is beautiful, stretch marks are beautiful, large nose, short nose, tall, short, heavy bust, petite, and so on, every woman is beautiful in her own induvial self. If the women understand that themselves and stop worrying about the imbeciles they have borne for a million years, the world shall start dancing to their tunes. ***

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‘Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.’ -Cheris Kramarae

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The Lazy Song Ph otog ra phed by R uc hir Va shisht ha Sty ling by Dr isht i Kha nd elw a l & Ta nya A gga rw a l Model - S o fi (A no k hi Ta l ent Ma na geme n t ) Mak e up a nd Ha i r by A a ka nsha Sing h a l Photogra phy a s s i s ta nt - B ijend er Kum a r

FAme Game

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Bralette - Shein , Striped palazzo pants - Zara

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FAme Game

Metallic top - H&M , Skirt H&M , Shoes - Charles & Keith Right- Bikini H & M , Coat - H&M

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FAme Game

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Mesh bottom infinity Dress - SR Store Left- Swim Suit - Shein , Shoes - Zara

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MODERN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.

TANYA SWETTA

by Vrishti Nadkarni Tanya Swetta is the founder and the Joint Managing Director of id8 media solutions Pvt. Ltd, a full service brand-consulting firm headquartered in Mumbai, India.

When you started out in business, what specific idea, purpose or vision was your key driving force behind id8 media solutions?

Id8 media solutions was started with the passion and vision to provide an excellent and quality based communication solution to brands that required the expertise to create visibility for themselves within the Indian market.

The idea behind this was to be able to provide a research based, thought through strategy that would result in high visibility and eventually result in bottom line sales for the brand and most importantly, boost the perception of the brand within the Indian market with innovation in communication practices.

How is entrepreneurship and working women important for modern-day India ?

India is a country that encourages entrepreneurship. When I began this journey over 15 years ago, there were very few women entrepreneurs and it was mostly a male driven industry. Today, of course, things have changed drastically. Women in the workforce are a necessary element as they bring a facet to the business that is definitely an aesthetic which is different and dynamic. I feel women are much better at multitasking versus men who are better and stronger

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at physical tasks and analytical ability.

Definitely effective communication and multitasking is a strong differentiator and huge value that women have over men.

However, I think we have passed the thought process of the battle of men over women and have evolved as a society to understand that each and every individual, regardless of gender has a great value to offer that is unique to them.

What is your company’s culture like? id8 has always been a level ground where talent and hard work is rewarded without any bias. We believe in diversity and encourage collaboration and innovation across all our services.

What motivates you or drives you as an an entrepreneur?

When you work with a brand from scratch and see it grow, see how people begin to understand the brand aesthetics and the excitement that builds around the work you are doing, it brings the most rewarding feeling. This is a driving force for me everyday. To provide a quality, innovative and result oriented solution is a strong motivator.

What is your ideal working environment?

Uncomplicated, strongly driven and creative environment with motivated individuals collaborating to create some great results. This is the ideal environment we strive towards everyday. However, when you can work through the daily chaos and achieve great results and not have to hurt anyone’s feelings or step on another’s toes to get things done is the ultimate reality that we at id8 achieve everyday.

Why do companies need public relations, especially new businesses?

All business, new and established require Public Relations. A strong Public Relations exercise allows a company to speak to all its stakeholders and builds trust, confidence and gives opportunity for more and more people to connect with the Brand on a perceptual and emotional level. A characteristic you will see with most successful brands.

How do you measure the results of PR campaigns?

There are multiple tools to measure PR campaigns, the most important is the feedback from the client themselves. A strong two way communication is the foundation stone for a great PR partnership.

According to you what personality characteristics are most important to be

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be successful ina PR firm?

Intuition, Research, Ability to read between the lines and timeliness.

How has social media changed the face of PR? PR and Social media have the same foundation - Relevant Content. Social media has opened a new avenue to do some great PR, it is a form of online PR, h owever, it must not be misused to deceive the public about a brand or product. A strong code of ethics is required. Social media is a world of PR by itself, a deep understanding of the different platforms and how they can be used most effectively is important.Content creation is the key basis in being able to drive conversations, conversions and increase engagement.

What has been your most creative and effective PR campaign?

We have had the opportunity to launch some very prestigious brands within the Indian market. One example is that of Evian Water, we were able to create a strong connect between the consumer and the brand by allowing them to understand the key reasons why drinking Evian was so much better than other brands. We did this by using a very strong on ground influencer marketing campaign and complimentin that with a press campaign as well as a product placement campaign where we placed the water at select events across the country resonating the brand values and ethos. The launch of the Mahatma Gandhi pen

by Montblanc was another campaign we are extremely proud of. We worked with the team in India to campaign to Montblanc International to create a pen that honoured Mahatma Gandhi, the brand accepted our request and the pen was created as a limited edition globally, a small way to pay respect to a great thinker and father of our nation.

What advice would you give to women who want to start a business?

Think it through, understand that there will be ups and downs, don’t give up, keep your eye on the goal, have a business plan, don’t be afraid to ask for advice, be positive. ***

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Outfit - Punit Balana Earrings - Aldo Belt - Veromoda

MODERN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.

SUNISHKA GOENKA

by Sanjana Prabhu Sunishka Goenka is the Fashion Director and owner of India’s newest activewear brand, Myriad, that everyone is talking about.

When you started out in business, what specific idea, purpose or vision was your key driving force?

When I started Myriad, the idea and the intention was to create something different and carve a niche in the industry and to work on that the fashion industry is lacking in India. I have studied in London and adapted to that culture there along with the fashion and fitness lifestyle there. I wanted to bring that in India. People over here are too busy; they are so engrossed in their work lifestyle and personal lives but they still fail to give attention to their well being. So the idea was to create a clothing line that fits into everyone’s needs and adjusts with their lifestyle. Our clothing line offers you to wear fitness wear to a formal meeting or a casual night out with your friends.

I had seen it working in London and the street style trend is within people’s wardrobes. I thought this is something people could adapt in India as well. I was obviously passionate about fashion and it gave me a lot more exposure to the Indian market.

How would you define true entrepreneurship?

I have studied a lot when it comes to entrepreneurship and understood the core basics of the term as well. My true definition would be on being passionate when it comes to doing something you like on a daily basis and how you can

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develop that organising your ideas and skills; and developing that and nurturing that into a business. We have to make it more monitory, at the same time you make it more valuable for your skill set. You need to learn how you put yourself out there in the crowd and stand out. You have to be self driven and confident.

How is entrepreneurship and working women important for India as a whole?

I feel today, women working is such an important thing. It’s so powerful and uplifting. It feels liberating seeing women from different backgrounds come together and put in their efforts. It very encouraging and enforcing to see them develop and grow. It’s not very conservative now day for women working and standing out and being by themselves. Women are now portraying themselves very powerful to stand amongst the crowd of all men.

What were the main challenges you faced early on in your online ventures?

And do you still encounter them to this day?

The major challenge was just to get myself out in media and public. It was to get my brand more visible because obviously I will be known through my brand.

The challenges titled towards ‘how my brand could be more visible?’ or ‘How can I get it connected to people socially?’ Till date I still find trouble because by the end of the day it’s all about the way you market yourself and PR you have.

It’s all about the relations you maintain with the customers. As an individual I have learnt how important customers are. As a buyer it’s very easy for me to purchase but as a seller it is difficult to convince a buyer. That’s what I am still learning. There are also challenges you develop with time so you strategise in terms of how you can easily convey your message to the customers. We would like to create brand loyalty amongst our customers.

Do you think your mindset has anything to do with your success?

Yes, of course. My long-term reach for my brand contributes to my mindset.

I plan on growing with and for the brand. It does play a positive role for my brand.

What is your company’s culture like?

Being a female entrepreneur, I prefer working with encouraging women. We have a lot o female staff. We all work together in generating ideas and concepts that would work well for our client base. We all are super passionate about what we work on. There is no stress, hard feeling or pressure when we come together.

It’s a very family-like culture. From my tailors to cutters to my assistant; we are all very sisterly with each other. We get along really well, we celebrate when things have marked success so that’s what is important in a company when it forms and see the long-run of the company. You really need to connect with your staff because they are the ones behind the brand.

How has social media come to your aid?

Social Media plays a very big role in building brand awareness and building an identity for your brand. Although our company has a super logo and super brand name, it just needs to be very clear for people to understand. The super

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As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

What motivates me is fitness. Going into fitness wear and gym wear, I have developed a taste and it makes me work even harder. That motivates me to get my brand up and going.

What are your plans for the future?

Myriad has a lot of plans. We are aiming to expand with online portals and stores in India. We are doing a lot of collaboration as well with other brands and designers. We are starting a mens-wear line as well since we have been getting a lot of requests from men. People like our designs, prints and graphics. There’s is again a niche in the menswear as well.

What advice would you give to women who want to start a business?

Just be passionate in what you do. Feel happy and satisfied with your work. By the end of the, feel like you have conquered what you have to do and how you vision yourself and your company to be in the long run. Put your 100% into it. Be confident and adventurous. Don’t be afraid if anything goes wrong because it’s supposed to go wrong. That’s how you will learn. ***

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MODERN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.

DEDEEPYA REDDY

by Sanjana Prabhu A Harvard University educated, Ms Reddy is also the co-founder of an amazing creative agency called Fruitbowl Digital.

What was your mission at the outset?

When you look at the city, there is no clarity and you see that the majority of the population live in slums. Even when you look outside there is the concrete jungle where the slums just don’t fit in. I am not trying to make a point by saying that the slums should be permanent but till the time they are there, I feel like they should be a part of the city. The major gap that exists should be bridged. That’s when the idea came in and Mumbai was witnessing a major development. When I looked outside the metro one day there were these huge slums that look beautiful on landscape but looks really dull when you go closer. That looked like a blank canvas to us and we thought ‘why not do something creative to make it stand out?’, ‘why not change the way it looks?’ It just sort of fits in the whole area of the city we call Mumbai.

How did you advertise “Chal Rang De” campaign?

Honestly to most advertisers, if the concept is good, it just sells by itself. Because the idea for ‘Chal Rang De’ was different and new, it was received very well. We really didn’t have to go ahead and talk to anybody about it. Once the word got out and people started noticing it, more and more people were attracted to it; it was all totally organic. Before we started this project, we put the

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post because nobody knew about what exactly it was so we had a before picture and an after picture, giving them an idea of the end product with the Photoshop rendition of the whole play. That’s how we got a lot of volunteers who wanted to help the city look like the goal. We got tremendous response; we got about 2000 volunteers in the span of 5 days. We didn’t need so many people. We needed only 450 people. We took them over the first weekend and painted the entire place in three days.

What made you choose this type of campaign?

When I was travelling I saw the slums and it looked breathtaking. I just thought how it could stand out in a positive way if we painted it. That was the whole commencing point of it but once we went there and spoke to the local masses, we started asking them questions about the locality for our knowledge and at the back of your mind all you can think of is poverty which is sad and depressing. Even after all of this, the residents over there, were so nice and humble, it changed our perspective of them. The more time we spent with them, we realised how much they are like us. People had a negative approach towards them but now when you go and meet them, you can notice how much they have opened up; the media keeps covering the area and that has led to more response from them. Another reason why I wanted to do this is because I found a creative agency and we wanted to do something for the community rather than a particular brand. This is something that is close to us and we wanted to give them the knowledge that we had.

What had been your biggest challenges while initiating this project?

The most important one was how to go about it. Because it was very new and I’m not from Bombay so I didn’t know Marathi or how to speak to people. I didn’t know how to approach this kind of a project; like did we have to go to the BMC first or the SRA or who could help us out with the legal processes. These questions stuck for the longest time and then one fine day I thought about going to the slums myself and see how it feels along with conversing with the residents there. The first challenge was how to get the permission sorted to an activity of this stage and second was how to convince these guys that what we are doing is going to convert the place drastically. Now these guys have got a huge identity and they are extremely proud of the surroundings. They have this ownership that speaks out for them and to keep it clean. Another challenge was to explain them how to keep it neat and tidy. Now it’s very easy to go to other slums and explain what our process is because we have proof. Before, it was very difficult to get whole process under control.

Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to become a successful entrepreneur?

I would say that there is no pattern as such but there are these few things a person has to stick with. One is focus. Second, if you want do something, you figure it out; you don’t really have to listen to 20 different people with 20 different opinions. You can definitely take in their insights but you don’t have to do the exact thing they tell you to. That is a clear picture I feel. Over the period of time you figure out your own pattern. Every person has their own style. It is honestly

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Is there a difference between women’s empowerment at the individual and community levels?

Absolutely, I think the more number of people are speaking about it and it has some force. I know that the term Women Empowerment has become extremely cliché these days but to be very honest I feel like sine there is a lot of talk around it, there are more people speaking about it. It has bought in a certain change in people. They are more open to fermenting it now than before. They feel like ‘I am a woman and I can still do it. I don’t really need your permission and I don’t have to worry about everything’ so that has really changed extremely.

Why is measuring women’s empowerment important in development of work?

It really is important because there are these things that we are brought up with.

There are times when we aren’t allowed to do things because of gender discrimination. There is always something we hear within those lines. When I was at my first job, I was 22 years old and I was heading a team of 27-28 year olds and they were all men. I was not only younger to them but I was also a woman. There was a weird friction. They would always question what I did on the bases on my gender and age. I was handling social media. Social media 7 years ago was brand new and I knew how to work it out. It was very difficult for me to work my way and work it around in general with these guys. Now I feel in my own company I have people who are women handling a team of men. Things have changed and the mentalities of the men have also changed. They don’t mind being head by a female anymore or if she’s younger to them. It just doesn’t matter anymore.

These changes are emerging only because people are speaking about it and becoming more open to the culture of women working around them and leading them.

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Do you think that more women on boards equal better performing companies?

As a woman I think our strongest trait is empathy. We can empathise with people in comparison to men. We are better at it; we can put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and understand where it’s coming from. That also helps in the humanitarian level, negotiation level and decision making level. We need to have equal number of women, not more. It does bring change in perspective. It gives people a different thought process. Women can probably make an easier shift in the pattern of doing a particular work. We give different approaches which also benefits the company.

What other projects are you working on ? Could you give us an insight?

We are all about changing perspectives so when we see something that has a certain level of perspective to it, like the Chal Rang De campaign, we worked on that. Our next project is on police stations. As a civilian, I am often scared to approach a policeman or go to a police station. There is a certain level of fear that is associated to it so we took over the project of Saki Naka police station and pitched in the idea of beautifying the entire property that makes it look extremely friendly and stands out. The only people that should be scared of the Policemen should be the criminals. We want to change perspectives in the future as well.

What would you say to the youngsters venturing into starting their own company?

Do it! A lot of people have this thought about doing something and they talk to people but they think that their idea is not good enough or it’s stupid and not going to work. To everybody who has thought it was stupid; stupid is the new smart. Look at Elon Musk. His ideas were out of the world (Pun intended) and he is one successful guy because of that. It is just how it is. If somebody says something negative about it, it doesn’t matter. As long as you really want to work on it and are passionate about it, go ahead and do it!

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Full look Zara, belt The source, earrings - Eurumme

cover

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The Sparrow Cover Story

cover

Ft . MA R C E L I N A ( I ne g a M od e ls) , Ph otog rap h e d b y Madh u VFX St yl i ng b y W h o Wo re Wha t When, M ak e u p an d Hair b y R ich ard Jo se ph S t y l i n g A ssistan t - Shub ha m Ja w a nj a l

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Top- Pinnacle by Shruti Sanchiti, skirt - Zara, shoes zara, earrings- H&M

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Outfit - Zara, belt- shienne, earrings- H&M

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Top Zara, pants Zara, shoes Charles and Kieth, cape jacket Mad Glam, earrings Varnika Arora, glasses Forever 21

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Glasses - forever21, jacket - H&M, pants - Siddharth tytler, earrings- eurumme

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Top- @labelmorm corset - sameer Madan, pantsZara

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Top: splash fashion Skirt: splash fashion Shoes: intoto Jewellery: Earrings: style fiesta Rings: style fiesta

MODERN INDIAN RJ’S - IN ASSOCIATION WITH RADIO ONE MUMBAI

Erica D’souza Exclusi v e ly Sh ot at CAND Y & G R E E N, B rea c h Ca nd y P hot ograph ed by Ranveer Dua M akeu p an d Hair by Jit u C ho ud ha r y I ntervie w an d S ty l ing by J uhi A li A ssistant Sty l ists- Har shit a J a in & Nid hi Sha r ma How did you enter the world of Commercial Radio broadcasting?

Quite by chance really! I have always been involved in the Entertainment biz as a child and had a passion for music , singing and the stage . I grew up singing for Ad jingles (courtesy Mr Louiz Banks) and had tons of fun modelling for a few as well ! During my senior study years in Melbourne, Australia I used to return to Mumbai for holidays and on one occasion heard that the medium of radio was opening up to private broadcasters, so applied for a casual Radio Hosting position at Times FM (again just for fun) and that was that. I was hooked!

Were you aware of the nuances of being a radio host before becoming one?

I had NO clue! It was all learnt on the fly as we had no formal course or institute in Mumbai that offered professional training. But in retrospect, that was the best way to learn. Let me also add that we trained in analogue formats then and gradually moved into digital. So from ¼” spools and Vinyl , to CD’s , Dats, MDs and then to today where all programming and production systems are software driven. So, my craft has evolved with technology. Commercial radio broadcasting today is excitingly different and as vibrant as it was two decades ago.

Being a radio host / presenter, is not easy for sure. How do you manage to cover up a glitch/mistake/wrong info that you might have said or shared on air?

You have to rely on your wit, quick thinking, super-fast reflexes, practise your comeback lines, apologise for the snafus if you have to and present yourself like a human who makes mistakes like everyone. Yes, it does take years of practice and you might be surprised. But listeners can be very accommodating and forgiving !

In terms of TRP’s and engaging more audience, what is the plan of action like?

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Commercial Radio Broadcasting today has evolved into including more digital engagement – whether it be streaming live as with 94.3radioOne’s www.1cast.in or using social network platforms like Facebook. Instagram and Snapchat. This engages newer audiences and allows for exponential growth. But at the heart of it, it’s the combination of picking the right talent to drive the right content and 94.3Radio One , does this effectively across its entire network to strongly differentiate itself from the herd. Today, 94.3RadioOne, India’s only international radio network, has emerged as a premium brand that influences the influencer in every one of its cities where its present.

How would you justify the fact that the job of a radio host is not as lucrative as other professions?

That’s a general misconception. Remunerations are determined by a combination of factors, from Station Format and market size to the persons experience and skill sets. It would be detrimental to the employer if they don’t invest in the right talent, support career growth, ensure job satisfaction and reward performance. All this will reflect in the on air and off product and contribute to the industry enjoying a robust future.

Does your personality differ when you are on air compared to when you are off air?

Yes it does. At the heart of it, it is showbiz. When it comes to the kind of radio that I do i.e Mainstream Commercial Broadcast, you are a performer and you ‘put on a show’. For news, talkback etc. it can be very different and requires a different set of skills nuanced towards ‘reality’ hosting.

Being a modern age working woman, how do you prioritize your professional life with personal life?

I have to say that the team at Next Media Ltd. (parent company of 94.3RadioOne) has been super supportive of me and my ambitions to be a successful ‘modem age’ working woman. I returned to the workforce after an 8-year sabbatical and had a seamless transition. Next Media Ltd, supports my flexible office timings, my personal family commitments, any health emergencies and my work-from-home arrangement. It’s been 6 yrs. already and the fun has just begun!

Being in a country where women are expected to be indoors early, how do you feel upon hosting a show that airs at night?

I live in Mumbai city that has a record of being safe for women and have never felt threatened or uneasy about travelling at night. With the necessary precautions in place I have had no cause to feel any different.

How do you feel about this in the current climate, where women tend to be overlooked in the industry?

I don’t think women are overlooked in the Broadcasting Industry per se. It’s been an endemic social malaise for as long as we can remember. Having said that, and to quote the legendary Bob Dylan .. “Times, they are a- changin’ ” Lots of change in the horizon thanks to global exposure, digital platforms for

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expression and women with louder voices!

Where do you see #Me Too and Time’s Up campaigns going next ? What’s next for the women’s movement?

I see it translating into more awareness, more demands being realised, stronger advocacy, more women friendly policies and importantly more trust and respect across the gender lines.

Do you think it is a compensation for females when we get free entries and drinks in bars? Where do you think sexism lies there?

It all depends on the woman. It should be up to her as to whether she chooses to accept the freebies or not. She should feel empowered enough to make that decision for herself without being judged for it.

Did you feel that the mechanics working, when you started out, like the media and industry were kind of objectifying you or treating you differently ever?

Nope, never felt that. The onus is on you entirely. You should empower yourself to be able to make your own decisions and live by the consequences of your actions. If I did feel objectified or singled out because of my gender, I will speak up loud enough to make myself heard.

Which artist you absolutely loved to interview at Radio one?

I have a few – Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Bryan Adams, Slash, Global EDM stars like Diplo, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix, David Guetta , Kygo etc .

And there have been other priceless interviews with the likes of the Legendary actor Sir Ian McKellan, the gorgeous girls Sonam Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra, Young entrepreneurs like Bhavish Agarwal from OLA cabs, Women influencers like the Late Leila Seth( first woman to become Chief Justice of a state High Court) , educator Dr. Indu Shahani, politician Priya Dutt , WWE Superstars like Big Show , NBA Stars , Scientists and Astronauts, Authors and poets , Start up wiz kids and award winning innovators. Every day the #Drive Mumbai team work tirelessly to bring my Radio One listener new connects and new stories from across our city, country and the world !

Where do you think your listeners come from and how do you use your voice to influence the audience?

They are mostly senior students and working professionals , who are globally aware, traditional modernists , forward thinking, digitally connected and opiniated . I often refer to their social media profiles to give me sense of who I may be talking to that evening and skew my thoughts, my lingo, my stories and my interactions around that.

What will be your legacy and what sort of future would you like to see?

My legacy would be ‘real radio’. I would like for Commercial Radio to be given the same freedom of expression as other media in our country vis.a vis Television and Digital, which means we should be allowed to deliver the news, to be allowed to encourage informed debate, and to deliver high quality content.

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MODERN INDIAN RJ’S - IN ASSOCIATION WITH RADIO ONE MUMBAI

Annie Marwaha Exclusi v e ly Sh ot at AM A NZ I SKY DE C K L OU NG E , Ba n d r a P hot ograph ed by Suk ir a n Sing h M akeu p an d Hair by Va lene D’so uz a I ntervie w an d S ty l ing by J uhi A li A ssistant Sty l ists- Har shit a J a in & Nid hi Sha r ma When were you introduced to radio industry? How did you enter the profession?

I started my career as a Live Show Host with Planet-M, the largest music retail brand a few years back, that brought every Indian and International event to the fore. I travelled with the brand to different cities hosting both Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities. At one such event is where Tariq Ansari, Executive Director & Owner of the #Mid-Day group spotted me and offered an opportunity at #GO92.5, Mumbai. It sounded like a cliche but it was a straight-out-of-a-movie incident and the rest is history.

Is there a difference in the outlook of a female RJ and a male RJ? Is the content of the two RJS similar ?

Radio is where you display your own personality n connect with listeners. Every RJ male or female has their strengths and weaknesses. So if a female RJ is good with finance, sports or real estate, she is allowed to explore that facet. This is also where the radio station and its protocol for the design of the brand comes about.

What kind of issues and topics you talk about on your show?

Food is an integral part of my show ‘Foodie Chat’ with #Kalyan Karmakar. He is a topline blogger who visits new restaurants and events and also does ‘food walks’ that become a juicy chat about the best places one can explore for food in the city. Fashion is something that I have to be updated with, so ‘Swank It Up with Annie’ is a segment that throws open the wide array of styles and trends that one would love to follow and stay apprised with a fashion blogger #Aanam Chashmawala of ‘What When Wear’. Travel segment called ‘Travel Junkie’ with a travel blogger #Lakshmi Sharath talking about how the beauty of some of the places in India have taken her by surprise and such places have to be on our bucket list. Amidst all this, regular feature is of interviews with individuals who have inspiring stories of indomitable spirit and dauntingly venture out to

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take new and risky paths. Then again ‘Jam Sessions’ with musicians and singers bringing in the realm of musical notes, that’s simply astonishing.

Does your personality on air match your personality off air?

Yes, it’s what helps me formulate my thoughts and exact my words to communicate on various topics including civic issues or movements all over the world. I think it’s crucial to what your disposition is on a particular subject that you then translate on-air and help build engagement with listeners which then also has a positive response because I’m relatable.

What according to you is the kind of vibe or persona one should maintain as a RJ? You can try and emulate people or artists you’ve looked up to in some way but the best is always ‘Just be yourself’.

I’m sure doing live radio shows is no cake walk. How do you deal with technical glitch, miscommunication, or even funky calls?

It’s not easy to deal with glitches especially the kinds when the system fails or you’ve missed a line or worse still come anywhere close to uttering the blasphemous words. Not like it has happened with me but a bit of muttering under your breath (pun intended) and a lot of practice puts you in a good position to tackle any situation.

You have the roles of a producer, manager, and you host shows. Can you give us an insight at what quotient is a show impromptu and scripted ?

Does this vary in recorded and live shows?

No show is scripted really. Every show has to be approached as a fresh new story that one wishes to talk about but when there are client led activities or segments, we do have the lines/thoughts shared by the clients. Then we try to communicate in words that are closest to their requirements, tag lines for instance cannot be changed. You want right !

We hear that you are a travel enthusiast. What excites you the most as a traveller?

Well my bucket list is getting longer and I haven’t done justice to it yet but when I travel I look for experiences, memoriesand learnings that I can take back. It mostly stems from the fact that I love interacting with people and places and am always curious to know what makes this place or person different from me and my beliefs. It’s not just about visiting the tourist places, I prefer planning my own travel than take up readymade plans.

Have you ever been on solo trips? Do you think it’s challenging for a women to travel alone?

No not yet, soon enough though. But from the talks I have with my travel blogger Lakshmi who’s on solo trips most of the times. She tells me of how one needs to be planned and one very important thing she adds is that you should as much as possible try and blend in with the crowd or place you are in.

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Being a modern day working woman, have you been affected by the stigma of gender roles from the society or your family?

No, my parents, to begin with, were of the firm opinion that every child in the family has to strive to be independent and the same is with my in-laws. Here I must add that my husband has been my strength with unwavering support.

You’ve hosted the #superwoman campaign on Radio One. What are your thoughts on the #MeToo and Time’s Up campaign? Where do you see women movements going next?

Superwoman, is a segment to acknowledge women who’ve overcome the very gender biased tests of time, rudimentary ideologies and pushed their boundaries to come out winners. The #Me Too and #Times Up campaigns are the stark reminders of how women with the rampant serial sexual predation being suppressed for decades, stood up and made their voices heard. Back in Hollywood going by the activism it’s translated into new and stricter laws for women in the industry. In India while there has been awareness and little warning I don’t think it’s affected much.

In current climate where women are working towards empowerment and freedom, what kind of a role should a man play in this, according to you?

Men have a lot to do. In fact, I’m of the firm belief that both genders need to work hand in hand to work things out for each other, it’s not really a fight to win over the other, instead, it’s the argument of acceptability, acknowledgement of women’s rights and skills which can either be as good or better than men. Most of this stems from insecurity. It’s about complementing each other but as most things in our country stand and if we have to start with patriarchy, unjust social statuses of women then it’s the men that need to pull up their pants (pun intended) and pave the way for empowerment and true freedom, freedom of being able to function as an individual with unequivocal ideals.

Feminism is a notion that has become subjective. Everyone has their own outlook or definition of the term. What is feminism to you? How do you think it should be implemented in a third world country like India?

Should I say it’s over-rated and less acted upon. In our country the issues stem from the conditioning we receive, based on archaic societal norms. The impact of this set-up is seen more in the rural areas than in the urban cities. If in feminism it is about fighting for ‘equal’ rights, we need to start talking about it. It might sound elementary in nature but in a third world country like ours where prejudice and hypocrisy are worn as medals, we have to start conversing about issues that affect us with an honest opinion and let that trickle down in the pyramid ensuring you have more people to join in.

Any piece of advice or tips for female artists for trying to get into this industry?

Never ever undermine yourself when it comes to your talents or skills set to your male counterpart. Keep working on your strengths and don’t let failure fail you cause that’s the only real step to moving ahead and achieving success. Optimum self esteem is crucial.

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MODERN INDIAN RJ’S - IN ASSOCIATION WITH RADIO ONE MUMBAI

Anita Naidu Exclusi v e ly Sh ot at RA D I O ONE M U M B A I P hot ograph ed by Suk ir a n Sing h M akeu p an d Hair by Va lene D’so uz a I ntervie w an d S ty l ing by J uhi A li A ssistant Sty l ists- Har shit a J a in & Nid hi Sha r ma How did you enter the radio industry? What or who was your inspiration?

I started with BBC in England when i was a kid, with kids programs and then entered the Radio Industry with All India Radio , Bangalore, producing programs for school , college and then radio hosting with AIR & FM Rainbow.

Three people inspired me in radio. As a kid ,radio host Tony Blackburn on BBC1 in the UK became my first inspiration. I used to listen to his Countdown the BBC top 100, then came Indira Yesupriya Gajraj (ASD) All India Radio,Bangalore and then international host Ryan Secrest.

Having been a programming professional is a big responsibility, how did you overcome a crisis during recording or shows? How do you plan your strategies of engaging audience?

A programming manager is the one who plans and strategises for the programming team in advance along with the Station Head , Marketing Team , Sales Team and Client Solutions Team . Campaigns are planned in advance keeping in mind a calendar of events , properties , special days and client campaigns , such that every team member is ready with their content , music and the product in totality that will play on air . A crisis rarely happens and if it happens on air it’s handled with finesse , we have an emergency button for any unwanted content to be aired , that immediately stops airing of content and in technical situations if something goes wrong , we have back up shows ready to broadcast.

With new media and new technologies coming in like the internet, how do you plan on coping with the modernization of media to keep the radio culture alive?

Radio has been around for more than a century and will continue to co-exist. It’s one medium of communication. It is connecting people in the smallest of towns and places to the remotest areas through FM Radio, Community Radio etc. Radio on the internet, is an extension of most of the radio stations .It broadcasts

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content and music of these stations. Most of them do have social arms of communication, be it FB , Twitter , Podcasts, Clouds , streaming etc . We at Radio One believe it’s a constructive medium where we have our very own streaming of radio on www.1cast.in. Radio is here to stay on both the air waves and the world wide web.

Radio has transformed from being an audible medium to the visible one. Today the internet has extended its services, making the radio host more interactive and providing an added advantage of content being put out there in an extended entertaining way.

When you host a show, does your personality on air and off air contradict or complement each other?

Well, i host a national show Chill Weekends that plays across Mumbai , Delhi and Bangalore and my personality pretty much reflects the same on air .

So my personality off and on air actually complement each other .

You’ve worked for the programming of Bollywood and international music for radio. Is there any difference in the methodology of picking playlists for the two genres? How do you cope with the dominance of Bollywood listeners?

Programming playlists for a Bollywood Station and an International Station are two different ball games altogether. The mind set , the music are completely different so the programming on both fronts require a lot of knowledge and understanding of music to fit the genres , categories and playlists you want to play out with respect to the shows you have curated and keeping in mind the audience you want cater to. So, music managers of stations work on curating the music accordingly here, be it Bollywood or International, so no 2 stations would be alike , or try not to be alike. Bollywood listeners are my listeners too. Infact we do curate Bollywood content on air for English speaking and listening audience ,so the competition here is not in music but in how well we procure and deliver premium content that is Bollywood and Entertaining for every listener with a twist of class.

What do you think is the ideal personality or vibe of a show and show hosts suits radio one and its listeners?

Radio One keeps in mind the international Indian which is its Listener , and promises to deliver content thats International , intelligent and interactive on all shows , by all hosts across its international network of Mumbai , Delhi and Bangalore How do you handle your professional and personal life being a modern day working woman?

Well its a great sense of time management and organisational skills, and if you are on top of your job , are passionate about your work and the medium , you will always find a balance , the truth is you want to make it work both ways , its like Radio was my passion, became a hobby and turned into a career I never gave up on. I’m always learning and gaining knowledge , I always say you can

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take the radio away , but cant take the radio out of me.

You have held the post of programming head of Radio one Mumbai in the past. Do you think in media industry women are overlooked?

In the Media Industry women may be overlooked in certain sectors but overall , especially in Radio they are not overlooked at all , if you see in every Radio Station today women do have prominent leadership roles and its growing day by day be it in Management , Station Heads , Programming , Sales, Marketing , Creative Directors or Radio Hosts , women do have prominent and decision making roles to reckon with.

Have you been effected by the stigma of gender roles in terms of your professional and personal life?

Well the truth is Media has been an effervescent industry , and 15 years back from me it was difficult to get leadership roles, male colleagues did get a better pay and a better role and designation, it was always considered that the male was more analytical and technically more sound etc etc but today the roles have reversed women are just as good if not better . Takes me to the song “Anything You Can Do� composed by Irving Berlin for the 1946 Broadway musical, Annie Get Your Gun. Today its more of who can do better .

Radio one airs #superwoman campaign and celebrates woman and their success. #Metoo was a campaign that exposed the horrors of the number of women victimized of harassment of all kinds. Do you personally believe in celebrating a women or protecting them?

Feminism is a notion that has become subjective. Everyone has their own look out or definition of the term. What is feminism to you? How do you think it should be implemented in a third world country like India?

I think the first thing we have to really understand is women are women , they need to be protected first not victimised , why are women harassed? , why do we need to fight for equal pay or rights? ;when at the end of the day we are all humans and just a gender difference. I would be celebrating the day a woman can walk and talk her mind freely without the fear of being attacked or discriminated, that would be a celebration of change and sensitisation of mankind.

Sensitize a nation ,how can you do that ? Well simple ,it all starts from home.If as parents we bring up children to protect , be safe , to sensitize them , be compassionate and have empathy, we automatically start with a better mind set , we bring in life skills rather than a male vs female domination, we might then stand a chance of nurturing a better tomorrow.

You have worked with the development of educational programs with schools. What are your thoughts about the current educational programs that our country follows? Any changes you would like to make?

We need to incorporate life skills and communication skills into our educational programs and most important nurture great qualities into children .Our teachers are the ones who inspire and create the basic templates of education to our children to grow up with and to become who they dream to be. I feel teachers should be the highest paid professionals today and not otherwise.

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‘A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.’

- Irina Dunn

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DANIEL WELLINGTON STORE LAUNCH COVERED BY PRERANA SHAH

Sander Van Der Stroom,Roger Kylberg CEO, Parineeti Chopra, Magnus Toveberg, Executive Director IMEA at the Daniel Wellington store launch in Fort, Mumbai

Daniel Wellington, the Swedish watch brand known for its sleek, stylish and minimalistic designs celebrated the opening of its first store in India at the historic Fort area of Mumbai with an exclusive party at the store. Present on the occasion were Roger Kylberg, CEO of Daniel Wellington with the stylish actor Parineeti Chopra and Magnus Toveberg, Executive Director IMEA, Daniel Wellington.

Sprawled across an area of 1000 sq ft, the store will house the brand’s timeless accessories for Men & Women. Worldwide best-sellers, such as the Dapper Collection, Classic Black Collection and the beloved Classic Petite are available in the store, along with a wide assortment of accessories including classic cuffs & trendy interchangeable watch straps.

City’s well heeled, stylish, young and uber Adah Sharma, Ritvik Dhanjani, Bruna Abdullah, Vin Rana, Sharad Malhotra, Asha Negi, Vikas Gupta, Priyank Sharma, Kishwar Merchant were seen coming together for an evening of celebration.

Commenting on the brand’s foray into the Indian market, Roger Kylberg, CEO of Daniel Wellington, says: “India is an emerging and vibrant market with huge potential. Our increased presence enables us to accelerate our global expansion and it further reinforces our commitment to grow our business in the region”.

Daniel Wellington has established itself as one of the fastest growing and most beloved brands in the watch Industry. In the recent years Daniel Wellington has grown its global

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Asha Negi

Adah Sharma

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market share exponentially and accelerated the store openings worldwide.

About Daniel Wellington: Swedish watch brand Daniel Wellington was founded in 2011 by Filip Tysander. Since its inception Daniel Wellington has sold over 7 million watches and established itself as one of the fastest growing and most beloved brands in the watch industry. Its social media community has quickly evolved into global movement that every day, photo by photo, helps growing, defining & developing the Daniel Wellington Brand. Daniel Wellington is partnered with distributors in over 100 markets and represented in over 8000 points sales worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.danielwellington.com Daniel Wellington Store: Brady House, 12/14 Veer Nariman Road, Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai

Kishwer Merchant

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Nitibha Kaul, below- Rithvik Dhanjani

Vikas Gupta & Priyank Sharma

Parineeti Chopra & Magnus Toveberg, Exccutive Director (IMEA) of Daniel Wellington

Parineeti Chopra

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Sharad Malhotra

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