Latest news with #Jalsa
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Brew, bite, and viral fame: Why India can't get enough of Dolly Chaiwala and Vada Pav Girl
From a cup of tea to a plate of vada pav, what turns a regular food vendor into a viral icon? Dolly Chaiwala and the Vada Pav Girl, two names that have exploded on social media and now draw crowds more than some cafes. But their appeal goes far beyond what's brewing or frying. Here's a deep dive into why they're winning hearts, and THAN JUST CHAI OR PAV, IT'S A PERFORMANCEYou don't just sip Dolly Chaiwala's tea, you watch it being performed. With sunglasses on, a confident flick of the wrist, and Bollywood swagger, Dolly transforms the simple act of making tea into Chandrika Dixit, famously dubbed the 'Vada Pav Girl', doesn't just sell snacks from her Delhi cart, she's a storyteller, and an online force. In a world craving experiences over products, these vendors deliver SIDE STREET TO SPOTLIGHT AND THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIAWhat once took advertising budgets and media placements now takes a reel and a little bit of charm. Their stories, a tea-seller with film-star flair and a mother feeding her family one pav at a time are made for gesture, every quote, every struggle shared in a short video becomes share-worthy. With millions of views and likes pouring in, fame follows SELLS BETTER THAN BRANDINGDolly and Chandrika are not polished influencers. They're raw, real, and refreshingly unfiltered. In a digital world full of curated perfection, their authenticity feels like a breath of fresh don't chase trends, they become tea isn't about exotic ingredients, and Chandrika's vada pav isn't some deconstructed gourmet snack. Yet people queue up. Why? Because people don't just buy food, they buy EVERYONE ROOTS FORBoth come from humble beginnings. Dolly Chaiwala, a Nagpur-based tea seller with dreams of being in films, and Chandrika, a former Zomato worker trying to make ends meet for her son, are stories of followers don't just enjoy their content, they emotionally invest in their you sip Dolly's chai, you're sipping on hustle. When you bite into that vada pav, you're biting into someone's 'I WAS THERE' FACTORMuch like fans who visit Shahrukh Khan's Mannat, Amitabh Bachchan's Jalsa, or Salman Khan's Galaxy apartments, visiting Dolly's or Chandrika's stall becomes an experience. A modern-day pilgrimage, if you want to click selfies, post Instagram stories, and say: 'I've been there!'It's part of the digital brag economy, where experiences double up as social OF STREET FOOD CULTUREadvertisementIndia has long loved its street food, from chaats in Delhi to dosas in Chennai. But Dolly and Chandrika are redefining what it means to run a street food not just feeding stomachs; they're creating personal brands, turning local into wonder that brand collaborations, media coverage, and celebrity endorsements are flowing their THEM OR TROLL THEM, THEY CAN'T BE IGNOREDOf course, with fame comes criticism. Some call it overhype. Others dismiss it as a passing virality doesn't beg for permission, it simply in that, Dolly Chaiwala and the Vada Pav Girl are reflections of our time: where hustle meets heart, where a street corner becomes a stage, and where the everyday becomes a divided world, a cup of tea and a vada pav are still things people can bond and Chandrika remind us that no matter how digital our lives become, we'll always seek stories, real, raw, and sometimes, those stories are served hot in a paper cup or a bun, right at the corner of the street.- EndsTrending Reel
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Nebula by Titan unveils Jalsa, a 10-piece limited edition watch
A squirrel brush to paint the design using natural gemstone pigments, many trials and errors, and three years later, Padma Shri awardee Shakir Ali's miniature painting graces the new Jalsa. The breathtakingly rare tourbillon timepiece from Nebula by Titan was unveiled recently by Bollywood star Sushmita Sen at a glittering ceremony in Jaipur. One of India's boldest forays yet into global haute horlogerie, Jalsa is also Titan's official entrant to the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) 2025, the world's most prestigious watchmaking forum. CK Venkataraman, managing director, Titan Company, shared that the timepiece's journey began almost three years ago when they attended the GPHG exhibition in Geneva. 'We collectively dreamed of this moment at that time, and we lifted our standards of watchmaking to an altogether higher level. From a design, engineering, manufacturing and retail point of view, we wanted to lift the standards and the capabilities of Titan through an ultimate sort of entry into the GPHG. Jalsa is a result of that,' he said. Priced at a whopping ₹40.5 lakh, Jalsa is a 10-piece limited edition watch. Each piece has been painstakingly hand-painted by Shakir Ali, the renowned Jaipur-based artist known for his miniature Persian and Mughal paintings. Being a homage to the 225 years of Hawa Mahal, the painting on the marble dial depicts a royal procession with the Hawa Mahal serving as the backdrop. Quoting Harivansh Rai Bachchan's famous poem Koshish Karne Walon Ki Haar Nahi Hoti, Ali shared that while it was a challenge to paint on such tiny dials, he kept working with different material until they achieved success with marble. The symbolic intensity of Hawa Mahal aside, Jalsa also stands out for its luminous red agate setting encased in 18k rose gold. Within the Jalsa, there's a Titan in-house flying tourbillon movement, made of 144 precision parts and 14 jewels, crowned with architectural bridges inlaid with red agate. There is also a sapphire magnifier counterpoise on the minute hand and a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback. Said Revathi Kant, chief design officer, Titan Company, 'Jalsa is more than design — it is conviction, legacy, and artistry woven into one extraordinary timepiece. It is the clearest expression yet of our intent to place Indian luxury and craftsmanship firmly on the global map. With this watch, we honour our past — and claim our future.' Venkatraman admitted that while there is a generation of people who are 45 and above who have a deep affection for the brand, the younger lot may not feel that way. To bridge that gap, Titan is relying on product innovation, retail transformation and brand building in the premium segments. 'It is presenting a completely surprising, unexpected face of the company to whom Titan may not be an automatic choice. Hundreds of thousands of people in the last five-seven years have bought into Titan through these efforts and we are moving up gradually,' he shares.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shefali Shah cannot get over Brad Pitt's F1, says 'Just go watch it'
Actress Shefali Shah recently caught Brad Pitt 's latest release "F1", and she cannot stop praising the Hollywood sports drama. Urging everyone to 'just go watch it', Shefali posted an appreciation note for Joseph Kosinski 's directorial on social media. The 'Dil Dhadakne Do' actress wrote on her IG, "If you haven't watched F1, do yourself a favour and go right now. Whether you're interested in sports or not, whether you know anything about racing or not, whether you care about racing cars or not-just go watch it." Sharing what "F1" is really about, Shefali added, "Yes, it is about racing, but it's also about rising and falling and rising again. About friendship, drive (metaphorically and literally), unbridled passion, and a wish that drives one to insanity. And it's about team spirit." She further disclosed what one might feel after witnessing the drama. "It's also about very witty lines, comebacks, sexy cars, adrenaline, moments that'll have you dig your nails into your palms, cross your fingers, say a silent prayer, and scream within as you win along with the cast. A choke in your throat and a ball in your stomach throughout-and finally, the explosion and roar of a win, tears of joy, and the strong urge to start jumping and cheering loudly," the 'Jalsa' actor added. Shefali concluded the post by praising director Javier Bardem and protagonist Brad Pitt for their work. "Oh, did I not mention @bardemantarctic and Brad Pitt? Can't. No words to. Just go watch the film," the post ended. Previously, actress Ananya Panday also used social media to shower appreciation on "F1". Kareena Kapoor FANGIRLS Over Brad Pitt after watching 'F1' Dropping an image of the screen, along with a tub of popcorn on her Insta stories, Ananya penned, "I love the movies!! I love f1!! I love caramel and cheese popcorn!! And I LOVE Brad Pitt." Furthermore, Karan Johar wrote, "Familiar Tropes, predictable beats, one-liners you see coming a mile away and Yet. SO MUCH FUN! You can't stop yourself from reaching the edge of your seat or gasping out loud, Brad Pitt seems to have approached the role with a self-reflecting Zen mode movie star swag! So effective and landed every beat!"
Mint
07-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Premium watches have started to play a larger role in our overall business: Titan MD CK Venkataraman
Last year, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, Titan released its Flying Tourbillon watch, developed entirely in-house. The tourbillon is considered one of the most prestigious complications in watchmaking. It was invented over 200 years ago by the legendary Abraham-Louis Breguet to counteract the effects of gravity on timekeeping accuracy. Watchmakers around the world create tourbillons as statement pieces, a showcase of their technical prowess. This year, the complication features in Titan's recently released Jalsa, its second flying tourbillon in the Nebula line. Jalsa will serve as Titan's official entry into the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), the world's most prestigious watchmaking awards. This comes at a time when Titan's watches and wearables division has grown nearly 20 per cent in FY25, crossing ₹ 4,500 crore in revenue, a reflection of its strategic push into premium timepieces alongside its core businesses. The Jalsa combines a flying tourbillon movement, comprising 144 components and set with 14 jewels, with a marble dial that pays tribute to Jaipur's rich artistic heritage. (Unlike a regular tourbillon, a flying tourbillon is mounted only from below, giving it the appearance of floating within the watch.) The dial's artwork, painted by Padma Shri Syed Shakir Ali, one of India's most renowned masters of traditional Mughal miniature art, depicts the Hawa Mahal and a royal procession. Executed entirely by hand using natural pigments and a single-strand squirrel hair brush, the miniature painting is set within a 44 mm, 18k rose gold case inlaid with red agate. Titan MD CK Venkataraman The minute hand doubles as a magnifying lens, sweeping across the dial to momentarily enlarge sections of the intricate artwork beneath. The watch, limited to just ten pieces, is priced at ₹ 40.5 lakh. In this interview, C K Venkataraman, managing director of the Titan Company, talks about the development of the Jalsa, the growing luxury and premium watch segment in India, and Titan's ambitions on the global horological stage. The whole 'tourbillon movement' thinking is, of course, years old. Our team developed a very powerful concept and then actually engineered it and built it in a very short time. The tourbillon watch was launched about eight months ago in its first version. Now, this one is a very special watch. And there are three basic parts to it. One is the special materials. The second is the complication: the flying tourbillon. And the third is the dial. These three coming together is what makes this particular watch very special and worthy of entry into the GPHG. Recognition, of course. This is the pinnacle of horology. But more than that, everything we've done to complete this project has helped us raise our overall standards in thinking, capability and global partnerships. That capability-building will impact the watch business across all segments. This was about creating the best, but also about making us much better and stronger across the board. The flying tourbillon movement is very much a Titan creation. That said, like with most high-end watch complications, there are certain highly specialised components that are sourced from expert partners, particularly in Switzerland. These are parts that even top global brands don't always manufacture in-house, simply because it's not efficient or practical to do so. So while we collaborated with a few global suppliers for select components and for finishing the movement body, the intellectual ownership and engineering integrity of the movement are entirely Titan's. The luxury watch market in India is strong and growing. Even with the first tourbillon, which was around ₹ 26 lakh, there was a strong response from aficionados, believers in India's ability to play in the top leagues globally and those with a deep affinity for Titan. It's a mix of these, and maybe a few more traits, but it's a large and growing segment. Very much so. If we set aside Nebula, our gold jewellery watch brand for a moment, Titan's premium watch play largely sits in the ₹ 25,000 to ₹ 2,00,000 price range. We see this as a significant and growing opportunity in India. In fact, we consciously reimagined this space about three years ago. That involved not just a structural overhaul, but also a renewed strategic emphasis, including a few important collaborations. Premium watches have started to play a larger role in our overall business Today, we have three key lines that operate in this premium space. The first is Edge, a design-led collection that has seen several successful iterations over the years. The second is Nebula, which blends traditional Indian craftsmanship with solid gold cases and jewellery-like aesthetics, and can go all the way up to ₹ 7–8 lakh. And then there is Xylys, which has a more contemporary, global design appeal and caters to a different aesthetic segment. Together, these three brands have helped us make substantial progress in the premium category. More importantly, this momentum has contributed meaningfully to the overall premiumisation of Titan's analogue watch portfolio. Origin is just one part of the story. Real product value matters at any price. Take the Squircle, a design from a few years ago using the Edge platform. I think it retailed at around ₹ 40,000. You'd be hard-pressed to find anything close to that design, finish, durability, and engineering from any brand globally at that price. There are people for whom the brand name is very important. There are others who value what's actually being offered. And there are many who care about both. So someone might very well buy a ₹ 3–4 lakh Swiss watch, and also buy a Titan because it offers real value. Both markets will continue to exist. And we see a huge continuing opportunity, even if imports become easier and prices come down.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Power couple's precious abode
Krishna Raj bungalow Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's dream home is under construction for many years now, even before the duo got married. The iconicis now built and both Ranbir and Alia have meticulously planned every detail of their dream home. Ranbir, Alia along with Neetu Kapoor have been spotted often at the construction site of their new house. Pictures and videos of Ranbir and Alia's luxury mansion is now ready for them to move in. The pictures of it are doing rounds on the do you know that now that their new home is ready, it's the costliest celebrity home. It has beaten Shah Rukh Khan's 'Mannat'and Amitabh Bachchan's 'Jalsa' as per a report in Business not just a luxury home but it also is a heritage property of the Kapoor family and a legacy carried forward by Ranbir and Alia. IT's located at Pali Hill's platinum belt and is a six-storey mansion with gardens and vine-draped balconies. This house costs Rs 250 crore. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan's 'Mannat' is worth Rs 200 crore. Amitabh Bachhcan's iconic Jalsa is worth Rs 120 crore as per this mansion belonged to Ranbir's grandparents, Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor.
