The Namesake

Sushmita Sen is the reason why I started liking my name (I used to hate it with a vengeance earlier and had even threatened to get it changed via an affidavit). I remember watching her being crowned Miss Universe, way back in 1994, with my Bengali family members - who were happy that a "Bengali girl" had a chance to be the winner at the pageant - egging her on. When she finally won, everyone around me started clapping, behaving as though Sushmita was a dear friend. I was just happy to suddenly have my name being in the news. In the years that followed, I kept track (being chuffed no end that I was being referred to as "Sush" - like she was) of her film career, which, somehow, didn't do her much justice. Off the cuff, I can recall her in the clingy, red sari in Main Hoon Na, where she played a senior schoolteacher, all chiffon and all brains - and changed (forever) the notion of academicians in India. And her portrayal of the tough cop in the very gritty Samay. But despite a tepid stint in Bollywood, she's always managed to inspire generations with her articulation, her life choices and her common sense. wknd. caught up with Sushmita to pick her brains - and it turned out to be quite a compelling session.
In other news, we have Sana Amanat, Marvel's new wonder woman (DC already has its own!). Sana has created Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American superhero headlining her own series in the Marvel Universe, and she talks about the relevance of diversity in popular culture. Atta girl! Poetry in the age of Instagram: that's our other feature on aspiring wordsmiths taking to social media to pen their lyrical thoughts. Fit at 65: we know 40 is the new 20 and 60 the new 40 and all of that, but here are some folks who are walking the talk like it is an Olympic relay, and being role models for scrawny youngsters.
Dip into some delectable dips in Kitchen Classics. Fine Dining goes on a Roman Holiday in Andiamo!, and discovers a Vespa (a la Roman Holiday) parked right outside. In Travel, we soak in the non-violence of Madrid - no bull runs please, get us the paella instead. All this and much more.
Enjoy reading wknd. and have a great weekend.