Latest news with #Viraj
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: K-drama on our plate
It was Viraj Bahl who put it best: The two big rages in India right now, he told me, are wellness and chilli. Chilli crisp is a pantry staple in Korea. (ADOBE STOCK) {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} I am sure Viraj is right about wellness, though I don't know much about the subject. But he is certainly bang on when it comes to the chilli craze. And he has put his money where his mouth is. Veeba, the condiment company he founded, has invested heavily in a new range of hot sauces and they are flying off the shelves. {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} It's a trend that has spread. Maggi, a well-respected brand with no distinctive record of risky innovation in India, is also launching new products, most of which seem to include the word 'spicy' in the name: Spicy Garlic Noodles and Spicy Pepper Noodles are just two examples. Viraj, who also runs a noodle brand, says that the formula for success in today's market is to make it spicy. 'India has fallen in love with chilli all over again,' he explains. 'There is a new generation that just wants spice and chilli.' {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Gochujang is used in many Korean dishes, but less so for Korean food in India. (ADOBE STOCK) {{^usCountry}} The trend is not restricted to India. In the UK, some supermarkets report that sales of hot sauces are up by 20%. At the Tesco chain, Sriracha is selling so well that sales are up by 65% over last year. Ocado, the online UK retailer, says that sales of chilli sauces have increased by 10% and searches for Korean hot sauce are up by an astonishing 850%. The US is experiencing a similar boom with new hotter sauces being launched each year. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} The trend is not restricted to India. In the UK, some supermarkets report that sales of hot sauces are up by 20%. At the Tesco chain, Sriracha is selling so well that sales are up by 65% over last year. Ocado, the online UK retailer, says that sales of chilli sauces have increased by 10% and searches for Korean hot sauce are up by an astonishing 850%. The US is experiencing a similar boom with new hotter sauces being launched each year. {{/usCountry}} Read More {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} You can tell when a market is red hot (in this case, literally) when celebrities want a piece of the action. Ed Sheeran had the UK press excited when he launched his Tingly Ted's hot sauce in 2023, and now the trend has reached such a level that even Brooklyn Beckham has launched his own sauce. Oprah Winfrey has a sauce that combines spiciness with synthetic truffle flavour, a combination that sounds so disgusting that you can see why Kim Kardashian has invested in the product. The vintage rocker Alice Cooper has a whole range of hot sauces named after his greatest hits, though it is not clear whether these sauces are best enjoyed when you are biting the head off a live chicken as Cooper was once rumoured to have done onstage during a concert. (He now denies the story.) {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Because of K-pop and K-dramas, dishes such as tteokbokki have became all the rage. (ADOBE STOCK) While the global boom has many different origins Viraj is clear where the current Indian craze for spice has come from. 'It's because of the younger generation's fascination with Korea,' he says. 'Because of K-Pop, K-Drama and the rest, young people love anything that tastes like Korean food. And that means lots of spice. That's how this boom took off.' {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} He has a point. McDonald's India has introduced a range of Make It Korean burgers and products with a Korean Spice Mix that you can add to all products. (I have no idea what they would make of the Korean McSpicy Paneer Burger in Seoul, though.) Burger King has its Korean Spicy Fest featuring Korean burgers, and Domino's has a new Cheese Burst range featuring Korean flavours. I would call it a Korean food boom, except that despite the names, none of the flavours is particularly Korean. Hardly anyone uses Korean chillis or gochugaru, the distinctive Korean chilli powder, or gochujang, the fermented red chilli paste that is characteristic of many Korean dishes. This is Korean food for people who have never eaten Korean food but have seen it on TV or the internet, and are in love with the idea of Korean food rather than the cuisine itself. For Indian food companies, that translates as adding lots more mirchi, and it doesn't matter if you use our local chillis for the tang. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Corn Yuzu Hot Sauce is made with roasted corn and yuzu. (ADOBE STOCK) We have been here before. This is exactly how the Sichuan boom took off 40 years ago. Indians never really took to Mala, the mix of Sichuan pepper and chilli that epitomises Sichuan flavours, or even to Sichuan pepper itself, because it puckered the mouth and made it tingle. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Even so, we created a make-believe Sichuan flavour of our own with chilli and masala, and it has become a staple of Indian-Chinese restaurants and kiosks. Viraj's Veeba makes Sichuan sauces and stir-fry seasonings, which sell well. But my own sense is that younger consumers see them as flavours that belong to their parents' generation and have no particular affection for so called Sichuan. The truth is that in today's world, flavour trends move swiftly. Take the example of Huy Fong's Sriracha, the American take on the Thai sauce, which became a global rage over a decade ago. It was hailed as the beginning of a new era of hot sauces that would transform the American palate. It is still around and still sells very well, but it has lost its trendy cachet and is now routinely described as being very mild compared to today's hot sauces. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Brands such as Maggi have launched new products with the word 'spicy' in the name. (ADOBE STOCK) Sriracha damaged the market for Tabasco (a far superior sauce with a great heritage ) that had to survive by launching product variants and even making its own Sriracha. (The name is generic; it's not a brand, so anyone can make Sriracha.) And something similar is now happening to Sriracha itself as newer sauces take over. At the top end of the market, there are excellent small-production sauces that put the industrial hot sauces to shame. The one I use at home is the Corn Yuzu Hot Sauce, a blend of habanero chillis with roasted corn and yuzu, made by Noma Projects (available on the net) that demonstrates how good a hot sauce can be if you put care and precision into its making. Even in India there are small production condiments that are outstanding. Varun Tuli of Yum Yum Cha makes an excellent chilli crisp and I have written before about the Pickle Shickle brand whose chilli products have been a staple of my kitchen for three years now. But regardless of which hot sauce you use, the chilli trend is here to stay. And ironically enough the impetus to add more chilli and call everything 'spicy' comes not from our own gastronomic heritage as the home of spice but from Korean popular culture. From HT Brunch, July 05, 2025 Follow us on SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rupali Ganguly pens down a heartfelt note for comedian Viraj Gehlani's grandmother as she passes away; says, ‘You Will Be Missed'
The Anupamaa actress took to her Instagram handle and shared a recent picture of herself with Viraj's grandmother. In the caption, she wrote, 'You will be missed.' Fans and close ones from the industry also paid a tribute to her. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Viraj's post of Rupali and his grandmother read, 'The moment @rupaliganguly got to know Nani is not doing good with her health, she followed up regularly on call with me and made sure everything was going good. Yesterday, the moment she could squeeze time from shoot, she came home to Kandivali and spent some time with Nani, and Nani, oh my god, she was soo happy. She was like a kid meeting her favourite superhero… Lots of love and thank you @rupaliganguly.' 's starred TV show Anupamaa recently made headlines after the sets of the show caught massive fire. It happened yesterday morning (June 23rd). There were no casualties, but the sets of the show got completely destroyed. The All Indian Cine Workers Association took to their social media platform and shared details about the incident. The post read, 'Massive Fire Breaks Out on the Set of 'Anupamaa' in Mumbai's Film City – AICWA Demands High-Level Investigation and Accountability. A major fire broke out early this morning at 5:00 AM on the set of the popular television serial Anupamaa in Film City, Mumbai. The blaze completely destroyed the set, just two hours before the scheduled shoot was to begin at 7:00 AM. Preparations for the day's filming were already underway when the fire erupted.' It further read, 'At the time of the incident, several workers and crew members were present on the floor. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported yet. However, had the shooting commenced as planned, the situation could have turned catastrophic, potentially resulting in loss of lives. This incident is yet another tragic reminder of the recurring fire outbreaks in Mumbai and its surrounding film studios. Time and again, fires have engulfed sets due to the blatant negligence of producers, production houses, and television channels, who consistently fail to implement even the most basic fire safety measures. This apathy places the lives of thousands of workers at risk every single day.'
News18
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Viraj Ghelani's Nani Passes Away, Rupali Ganguly Says 'You Will Be Missed'
Last Updated: Viraj Gehlani's grandmother, who often used to feature in his videos, was a big was of Rupali Ganguly's Anupamaa. Comedian and actor Viraj Gehlani's grandmother has passed away. The news of her death was shared on social media by actress Rupali Ganguly. The Anupamaa star took to her Instagram handle and shared a recent picture of herself with Viraj's grandmother. In the caption, she paid tribute to Nani and wrote, 'You will be missed". Viraj's grandmother, who often featured in his videos, was a big fan of Rupali Ganguly's Anupamaa. She was unwell for quite some time due to age-related issues and was recently hospitalised too. Rupali had visited her in the hospital earlier this month when Viraj even captured the emotional moment and shared it on Instagram, posting a series of touching photos of Rupali spending quality time with his grandmother. In the caption, he wrote, 'When Rupali learned about Nani's health struggles, she regularly checked in with me over calls to ensure everything was okay. Yesterday, she carved out time from her busy shoot to visit our home in Kandivali. Nani was thrilled, like a child meeting her superhero. Thank you, Rupali, for this unforgettable joy!" Last year, Viraj shared a heartfelt video of his grandma crying after viewing a scene from the popular TV series. In the video, Viraj's grandma was seen having an emotional moment after Rupali's character Anupamaa was involved in an accident. Viraj assured her that it was only acting and not real. Later, he went above and beyond, calling Rupali Ganguly and requesting that she talk with his grandma directly. Meanwhile, it should be noted that Viraj Gehlani has not issued any statement regarding his Nani's death as of now. Talking about Rupali Ganguly, she is one of the highest-paid actresses on television, and Anupamaa has consistently been in the top five on the TRP charts since its debut in 2020. The show is keeping fans glued with intense drama lately. With Anupamaa leaving the house to start a new life, the following episodes will be packed with emotional moments, unexpected turns, and heartbreaking decisions that will keep fans on the tip of their seats. First Published:
Boston Globe
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Against all odds, nonverbal autistic Brookline teen gets accepted into MIT
'Oh my God, Viraj,' his father cried out, overcome by joy, before reading out loud the sentence they were hoping they'd hear that day in March: 'On behalf of the admissions committee, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the MIT class of 2029.' While his father's excitement was visible, Viraj Dhanda appeared stoic, almost unresponsive. Inside, however, the teen beamed. The acceptance letter proved wrong every doubt others had about him. Then he smiled. Advertisement The Related : 'If you choose to go down the path I took, you will experience heartbreak, prejudice and doubt,' Dhanda, who communicates through a tablet, typed in an interview with the Globe. 'But it will pale in comparison with the joy of being able to have a voice.' Advertisement Sumit Dhanda, left, sits with his son, Viraj, at his family's home in Brookline on Monday. Viraj Dhanda, who is autistic and nonverbal, was accepted into MIT. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe At age 2, Dhanda was diagnosed with autism. He went through a variety of therapies and interventions, but he couldn't talk, and the adults around him believed he just had low intellectual ability. But when he was 10, a babysitter suggested an His first device looked like a lunchbox and had four buttons: yes, no, stop, and go. 'It was a huge flop. Viraj wanted to have nothing to do with it,' said Sumit Dhanda. Then he tried a dynamic device, which allowed Viraj Dhanda to access other commands and personalizable buttons, such as to request his favorite song or television show. The process was slow, but he eventually started pressing buttons to request pizza or to go to the park. Then, right before his 13th birthday, Dhanda had a breakthrough while watching a Netflix show called 'Super Why,' where animated superheroes spell out words. Related : 'The word 'waterfall' gets spoken out, and before the superhero really spells out the whole word, Viraj says, A, T, E, R, F, A,' Sumit said. 'I can't remember what the next word was because I was so stunned by what was happening. And he does the same thing, speaks out some letters to the extent that he can articulate them ahead of the word being spelled on the screen.' That was Sumit Dhanda's 'aha' moment, when he realized his son was capable of so much more. 'It was just an astonishing revelation,' his father said. 'He wasn't just bright, he was brilliant.' Advertisement A year later, Dhanda started working with letter boards to spell words. Eventually, he transitioned to a traditional keyboard. The first sentence Dhanda remembers typing was, 'I imagine I can speak.' 'It was so incredible to see all these feelings that he had in his head that he was never able to express,' Olivia Henning, his former babysitter and tutor who worked with Dhanda while she was a student at Boston University, said. 'He had a really strong spelling, way of writing,———— and speaking that just came from learning from constantly observing the world around him without being able to actually participate in it.' The journey to communicate took time. Dhanda struggles with fine motor skills stemming from a condition called apraxia, which affects the brain's ability to coordinate movement. The teen now communicates through a Lenovo tablet with a 10-inch screen and regular keyboard. He types using his right thumb only, producing about eight to 10 words per minute. As Dhanda started to communicate using full sentences, his father decided to have him tested again. This time, he scored in the 99 percentile of a neuropsychological test, suggesting he was ready to take college-level math, his father said. Viraj Dhanda during his graduation ceremony from Fusion Academy Newton. He is a nonverbal autistic student who was accepted into MIT. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff It was only in the past few years that Dhanda's academic skills flourished as he found support from educators at attended traditional public schools, but Sumit Dhanda said they didn't fully accommodate his needs. Educators often wanted the child to focus on functional skills rather than academic ones, his father said. Advertisement 'At first, I wasn't necessarily sure if this was a student that we could take on,' said Jessica Pechhold, head of school at Fusion Academy Newton. After evaluating Viraj, the school created a personalized plan for him and matched him with teachers willing to develop lesson plans with rigor above their usual curriculum, Pechhold said. 'I've heard from all of his teachers how much he's able to express himself, and they're able to see his brilliance, his insights, his perspective and opinions,' she said. 'The challenge really may not be as insurmountable as it appears.' Dhanda quickly dove into his fascination with numbers. Calculus became his favorite subject. 'Calculus allows me to apply math to real-world problems like optimizing the dimensions of a rectangular shipping box or a cylindrical can,' he said. 'I loved how Fusion immediately embraced my intellect and welcomed me with open arms.' The teen nearly aced the ACT college entrance exam, scoring a 35 out of 36. He graduated high school Friday in an intimate ceremony where one veteran teacher described him as 'both the most disabled and the most accomplished student I've ever taught.' Dhanda will take a gap year but plans to join MIT in the fall of 2026. The father and son duo will move to Cambridge together. While the teen is still deciding what to study in college, he sees his future self as an economist, a writer, or a disability advocate. 'There is hope,' the teen said, 'despite what the experts may have told you.' Marcela Rodrigues can be reached at
News18
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Comedian Viraj Ghelani's Nani Gets A Surprise Visit From Her Fav, Rupali Ganguly
Last Updated: Viraj's grandmother is known to be a huge admirer of Anupamaa and Rupali, and the content creator captured the moment. Rupali Ganguly, renowned for her exquisite role as Anupamaa in the popular daily soap, continues to win over audiences with her stellar acting. However, it's her recent off-screen gesture that has truly melted hearts. Despite her demanding schedule, Rupali made time to visit the ailing grandmother of content creator Viraj Ghelani, a passionate fan of both the actress and her show. This heartfelt act showcased Rupali's genuine care for her admirers, leaving a lasting impact. Viraj captured the emotional moment and shared it on Instagram, posting a series of touching photos of Rupali spending quality time with his grandmother. In his caption, he wrote, 'When Rupali learned about Nani's health struggles, she regularly checked in with me over calls to ensure everything was okay. Yesterday, she carved out time from her busy shoot to visit our home in Kandivali. Nani was thrilled, like a child meeting her superhero. Thank you, Rupali, for this unforgettable joy!" A video showed Rupali chatting, joking, and holding Nani's hand, offering the warmth and attention every fan dreams of. This gesture underscores why Rupali remains a beloved figure both on and off the screen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viraj Ghelani (@viraj_ghelani) Last year, Viraj shared a heartfelt video of his grandma crying after viewing a scene from the popular TV series. In the video, Viraj's grandma is seen having an emotional moment after Rupali's character Anupamaa is involved in an accident. Viraj assures her that it is only acting and not real. Later, he goes above and beyond, calling Rupali Ganguly and requesting that she talk with his grandma directly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Meanwhile, Rupali is one of the highest-paid actresses on television, and Anupamaa has consistently been in the top five on the TRP charts since its debut in 2020. The show is keeping fans glued with intense drama lately. With Anupamaa leaving the house to start a new life, the following episodes will be packed with emotional moments, unexpected turns, and heartbreaking decisions that will keep fans on the tip of their seats. First Published:
