Intentar ORO - Gratis

2000s kids, assemble!

Hindustan Times Delhi

|

October 04, 2025

How much do you remember of the first decade of the millennium? (And the best one. Don't @ us!) Pull up your jeans, fold the flip phone away, put some EDM on and let the core memories flow

- Noor Anand Chawla

Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

1. The muse

Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. This is peak Kareena Kapoor, playing it rich, snotty but impossible to hate. Karan Johar's 2001 film came at a time when Indians were just getting comfortable with their place in the world. There was money to flaunt. And women were owning their power. Actor and content creator Ramona Arena, who played Poo's bestie Sonya in K3G, says Poo became an icon because "her independence was a threat, especially to men and women that expect other women to pander to men."

2. The hacks

The world was opening its doors to India, but not everything was at our doorstep. So the cool kids turned to Torrents to illegally access movies, TV shows, software and games for free. Napster blocked? Turn to Audio Galaxy. Everyone asleep? Leave the computer running, so the peer-to-peer sharing network can upload God of War and download Lamb of God. Everyone still asleep? Download some porn. Siddharth Pasricha, director of the insurance firm Global Admin, says streaming largely killed Torrents off. "The quality of video and music is much better and there's no fear of downloading viruses."

3. The lingo

Chillax, dude. Just talk to the hand. Fo shizzle. Slang terms from the '00s reflect an India that was learning quickly from American pop culture and didn't mind making Yo Mama jokes. PHAT stood for pretty, hot and tempting. It was also the era of SMS - users couldn't send long messages, they were charged for every text they sent. So people just typed lyk dis, lol. Pia Desai, director of Comma Consulting PR, says that her preteen has been picking up tips from that era, opting for landlines, text shortcuts and nonsmart phones. "They're extra cautious in terms of data privacy - it's a good middle ground."

4. The phenomenon

MÁS HISTORIAS DE Hindustan Times Delhi

Hindustan Times Delhi

SWIPING FATIGUE IS REAL, AND SINGLES ARE GOING OFFLINE

Dating-app burnout is pushing young Indians towards mixers, singles fests and real-world meet-cutes

time to read

3 mins

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

Can't say I know better anymore: Manish on new-gen actors

Fashion designer turned producer Manish Malhotra, who has worked with actors across three generations, believes adaptability and collaboration are key to longevity.

time to read

1 min

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

Delhi Assembly sends notice to Punjab cops in video row

A day after Punjab Police registered an FIR against Delhi minister Kapil Mishra and others over an alleged doctored video clip of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi from Delhi Assembly Winter Session proceedings, the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Saturday issued formal notices to the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, special DGP of cyber cell, and the police commissioner of Jalandhar, Punjab.

time to read

1 mins

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

Hindustan Times Delhi

Kamal Haasan, RGV speak up on Jana Nayagan's CBFC controversy

After actor Vijay's final film, Jana Nayagan, was postponed from its January 9 release for failing to receive CBFC certification following allegations that it hurt religious sentiments, several film personalities have voiced their support.

time to read

1 min

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

Gill takes WC snub in stride, for better prep

These are uneasy times for India’s Test team.

time to read

2 mins

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

My audience was manifesting it: Akashdeep on his TV comeback

Actor Akashdeep Saigal, who is set to return to television with Ektaa Kapoor's Naagin 7 after nearly a decade, shares insights into his comeback journey.

time to read

1 min

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

Save as...: How women invest

There is certainly a difference. The choices women make when it comes to investments are generally considered too timid, too conservative, too risk-averse. What's interesting, though, is that the aims of women are also the aims of all cautious investors with a lot to lose. The challenges they face - interrupted careers, unsteady income arcs - are shared by millions around the world (think, gig workers, caregivers, entrepreneurs). Could a shift in how the world of finance views such lives benefit us all?

time to read

5 mins

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

Nature comes alive in urban art strokes

As a child, artist Shashi Tripathi explored Nature with her father, and growing up, she chased butterflies.

time to read

1 min

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

IT'S AFFECTING US BUT WE'RE ACTING AS IF IT'S OK: SHANTO ON T20 WC IMPASSE

Bangladesh

time to read

2 mins

January 11, 2026

Hindustan Times Delhi

5 more hospitalised amid Indore water-borne disease outbreak

OFFICIALS SAID THAT 41 PATIENTS ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING TREATMENT IN HOSPITALS, WITH 12 OF THEM IN ICU

time to read

1 min

January 11, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size