In this issue

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was passed while we were well into conceptualising this issue. And, in the wake of the national rebellion fomented by this political act, the paradox of thinking about ambition, motivation and being inspired became penetratingly obvious. It turned into a lesson in overcoming hopelessness, in retaining faith about the future as we encountered stories of incredibly resilient, strong-willed and innovative people who have forged new paths in their various pursuits and chosen to be driven by optimism.

While still working at venture capital firm Sequoia, cover personality Ankiti Bose co-founded the start-up Zilingo, a digital fashion marketplace that will soon place her in the exclusive list of female Indian entrepreneurs heading a unicorn. We pair her with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of biopharmaceutical company Biocon, role model for young women entering the business world and a leader who is synonymous with self-empowerment. Our latest issue also features former film producer Nikhil Taneja whose digital content platform Yuvaa seeks to erase the stigma that surrounds the notion of asking for/getting help regarding one's mental health, the inspiring journeys of mountaineer Priyanka Mohite, triathlete Solonie Singh Pathania and ultrarunner Anjali Saraogi who have managed to sustain careers and excel in extreme outdoor sports, and dance reality show veteran Alisha Singh trying on the latest Indian streetwear trends. On stands now.

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK

The development of the gig economy has caused a deviation in the usually straightforward career graphs of the urban professionals. An example of the outliers, Pooja Sinha Roy freelances full-time as a French tour guide, content creator and animal rescuer. At the other end, there is the up-and-coming actor Zoya Hussain who, while also in a relatively non-traditional field, has single-mindedly stayed on the path she mapped out for herself. Sadaf Shaikh marks the personal pay-off in both women’s approaches

10+ mins

IT'S NEWS TO HER

In the current national scenario, the economic liberalisation of 1991 – that, to a large extent, shaped our dreams – seems to be a thing of the distant past. Sonia Singh, editorial director, NDTV and mother of three, who has been reporting on the country’s ups and downs for over 20 years, tactfully balances an objective big-picture outlook with her maternal sixth sense. During a Sunday afternoon in her home, she offers Shraddha Jahagirdar-Saxena an even-handed take on re-evaluating history and preparing for what lies ahead...

10+ mins

FAME and MISFORTUNE

Dhinchak Pooja’s eventual fall from the stratosphere of the inexplicably internet famous into the mass grave of fleeting pop culture phenomena is a case study in what happens when self-promotion has no limits. Poulomi Das goes over the cringe pop singer’s brief oeuvre to pinpoint the reasons her 15 minutes ended almost as soon as they began

5 mins

IN GOOD COMPANY

Two women. Two start-ups. Two thought leaders. The result of an impromptu idea, Ankiti Bose’s Singapore-based digital fashion marketplace, Zilingo, is en route to a billion dollar valuation just four years after its launch. Its rapid rise caught the eye of fellow businesswoman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of the over-four-decade-old Biocon, who herself holds an unmatched position in corporate India. She naturally takes a mentoring stance when Verve combines the entrepreneurial powers of the Bengaluruborn disruptors for a reliably impressive exchange of ideas as Shirin Mehta listens in.

10+ mins

Of Love And Longing

Researcher and multidisciplinary artist YSK Prerana photographs traces of the things that people leave behind while building queer fantasies around these discarded objects. In a special photo feature that draws from the Leftover+Pleasures project, three individuals from the capital relate their stories, of questioning society’s moral codes and cultural representations of pleasure by heteronormative bodies, which are visually translated through fragments of their specific histories.

5 mins

GAME FACE

Following a serendipitous opportunity, the girl who once hated cricket is now a fixture on its televised English coverage in India. Over the last 13 years, Mayanti Langer-Binny has commentated on a host of major global sports events, and in a long-overdue encounter, former national cricketer Snehal Pradhan observes the off-camera confidence that has maintained the broadcaster’s steady position in such an unpredictable field

10 mins

An Inside Job

Anxiety and stress at the workplace can be crippling, particularly in today’s high-pressure corporate culture. And the stigma around men opening up about mental illness is shaped by its own set of patriarchal diktats. Entrepreneur Nikhil Taneja leads Supriya Thanawala through his uphill climb to personal and occupational success and proves that showing vulnerability is the first step towards taking control

7 mins

EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF

The menswear retail sector has undergone a visible evolution as it moved from offering just boring basics or expensive designer garments to including multi-designer men’s stores and Instagram brands that are eco-friendly and influenced by street style. Verve gives you an overview of the ready-to-wear market while highlighting a mix of well-established and under-the-radar labels

6 mins

Rebirth of a Nation

Beginning an eight-day road trip down the Albanian Riviera in Tirana, the capital city at the heart of a post-Communist awakening, prepares New York-based Aalika Mahindra to traverse the country’s particular sociopolitical arc and her own progression as a traveller

10+ mins

Bittersweet

The essence of boutique brand Ether Atelier Chocolat is rooted in the founder Prateek Bakhtiani’s lived experiences and the stories of the earth that begat the bean. Disarming Ranjabati Das with his candour, the chocolatier and chemistry savant expounds on the intense interaction between his two passions

10 mins

Read all stories from Verve

Verve Magazine Description:

Going towards its 26th year now, Verve has been at the vanguard of the lifestyle industry in India since its inception. Being India's first fashion and luxury monthly and targeted as the spirit of today’s woman, it celebrates the interests of the multifaceted contemporary global Indian, including fashion,beauty and style, glamour, arts and culture, travel and wellness. The editor and publisher, Anuradha Mahindra, has received top billing in Avenue Asia's list of Indians involved in the media.

More than just a magazine that reports and interprets, Verve is a catalyst for conversations around contemporary Indian culture in the world, and these conversations take place between the pages of the magazine, on the internet as well as through several Verve-organized offline event initiatives:

Verve is a magazine about the international Indian woman who rubs shoulders with the world with confidence and élan. She belongs to a high-income group and is well aware of the latest trends and styles, be it in fashion, the arts, cuisine or world events. Verve appeals to the intelligent, urbane, educated and affluent woman. She would be 25 years of age and above. She is likely to be an independent entrepreneur or a corporate professional or a socialite. She is well-travelled, fashion conscious and appreciates luxury with a side to her that is culturally sensitive with aesthetic sensibilities. Overall a multi-faceted, stylish and glamorous woman. All in all, the Verve reader looks upon the magazine as an invaluable lifestyle resource for the best in contemporary urban Indian living.