Latest news with #Monali
Mint
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Viral video: Singer Monali Thakur shocked to see IndiGo's ‘discount' pricing, says it's ‘very questionable'
Bollywood singer Monali Thakur was shocked to witness the difference in the total flight fare before and after the 'discount' IndiGo Airlines was offering. In a now-viral Instagram video, the 'Moh Moh Ke Dhaage' fame singer shared that she was trying to book a flight with IndiGo via its official website when she noticed its strange discount pricing. Monali, who was giggling in the video, showed that upon applying a 15% discount with up to ₹ 2,000 off on transactions above ₹ 5,000, the total fare of her flight booking went up from an initial booking amount of ₹ 7,272 to ₹ 7,371. The singer found the addition of ₹ 99 to her fare after a 15% discount 'very interesting and questionable.' She then questioned the airline's 'cute' charge and said, 'What the hell is a cute charge?' 'Are you charging me for being cute? ₹ 50? Am I only this cute?' she asked jokingly. Monali Thakur captioned the video: 'Waah' Monali is not the only one who has ever questioned the CUTE charge. There have been several incidents of social media users questioning this additional charge on their flight fares. Note: A CUTE or Common User Terminal Equipment charge, in layman's language, is a passenger handling fee. It includes charges for the use of metal-detecting machines, escalators and other equipment at airports. Netizens got busy debating how the CUTE charge should've been more for Monali, considering how cute she is, and joked about how it'd be 0 for men. ' ₹ 50 rate lagaya tumhari cuteness ka,' a user quipped. 'The way you're explaining plus that adorable giggling ! 'cute charge' should be more for you,' said a fan. A user joked: 'Saare ladke bach jaayenge Cute charge dene se.' While one user addressed the discounting scam and said, 'Inka ulta system chalta hai. (Their systems work in an opposite manner).'
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
IIT Graduate Flags Soaring Cost of Living in Bengaluru, Sparks Middle-Class Concerns
Monali Dambre, an IIT Bombay graduate, recently spoke out on X (formerly Twitter) about how expensive life in India has become. She said that even in smaller cities, the cost of basic things like food is rising fast. She added that her grocery bills in Bengaluru are higher than expected—even though she only buys basic items like fruits, vegetables, and daily needs. What She Said Monali wrote that she's worried about how lower and middle-class families are managing. She said: "I'm slowly realising that life is getting very costly in India—even in small cities. I'm really worried about how people with average incomes are surviving.' She added that she might be overthinking it, but it feels like something is wrong with the way prices are going up. People React Many people responded to her post. Some said shopping in local markets can also be expensive—not just online apps. Others blamed high rent and real estate prices, saying shops charge more because their rent is too high. Some also blamed things like GST, demonetisation, and higher taxes for the rising costs. One user wrote: 'Real estate is the biggest reason. High rent makes everything else expensive. And the government won't fix it because many politicians have money in property.' Another person said: 'After COVID, and with all the new taxes, life has become too costly. There's no time or money left for enjoyment.' Why Are Things So Expensive? Food prices are high – Many vegetables and daily items cost much more now. Rent is going up – People are spending more on homes, which also affects shop prices. Wages are not increasing – Salaries aren't growing fast enough to match these rising costs. More taxes – People are paying higher taxes on many things, even essentials. Final Thought Monali's post is not just her personal opinion—it's something many people feel today. Life is becoming more expensive, and it's getting harder for regular families to manage. People are hoping the government takes steps to control prices and support those struggling to keep up.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Not just Bengaluru. IIT graduate laments soaring cost of living in tier 2 towns in viral post
A graduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and currently residing in Bengaluru, Monali Dambre has publicly voiced her growing unease about India's escalating cost of living. As a core team member of the startup Agno, Monali highlighted that the strain on daily expenses is not limited to major cities—it's now a serious issue in smaller, tier-3 towns as well. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Inside Operation Tupac: Pakistan's secret project to burn Kashmir Who is Asim Munir, the Zia-style general shaping Pakistan's faith-driven military revival 'Looking for partners, not preachers': India's strong message for EU amid LoC tensions According to her, the rapid surge in prices of everyday essentials is placing a heavy burden on the nation's middle and lower economic classes, who may find it increasingly difficult to meet even the most basic needs in the near future. Monali conveyed her concerns through a post on X (formerly Twitter), which struck a chord with numerous working professionals across urban centers. In her post, she candidly wrote that she's gradually beginning to accept how unaffordable life is becoming in India—not only in big cities but even in smaller towns that were once considered cost-effective. She admitted to feeling anxious about how common people, especially those from modest backgrounds, are managing to cope with this financial pressure—and whether they'll be able to continue doing so in the years ahead. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost of Hair Transplant in the Uttar Pradesh May Surprise You Hair Transplant | Search Ads Learn More Undo — monali_dambre (@monali_dambre) She further acknowledged that she might be exaggerating the situation or misjudging it, saying, 'Maybe I'm just overthinking, or maybe it isn't as bad as it seems. Still, something doesn't feel quite right.' Her honesty and introspection added a layer of authenticity to her words, making the post even more relatable. To back her viewpoint, Monali shared a personal example. Despite leading a relatively minimalistic lifestyle in Bengaluru and avoiding costly purchases like imported goods or gourmet items, her grocery bills have become noticeably higher in recent months. She mentioned that even basic necessities like fruits, vegetables, and daily household items are now consuming a larger portion of her income, which feels disproportionate to their actual value. In response, many online users echoed her sentiments. One person commented that they had recognized this trend a couple of years ago and made the decision to relocate to a quieter hometown surrounded by nature and mountains. Another individual pointed out that the income-to-expense ratio in India is significantly worse compared to developed nations, making essentials like rent, healthcare, transportation, and food feel disproportionately costly relative to earnings. Interestingly, someone else observed that in several tier-2 and tier-3 towns in western India, food items such as produce and dairy are actually cheaper and fresher than in metros, adding nuance to the discussion. Monali's post has amassed over 460,000 views and has sparked a meaningful dialogue about affordability and the shifting economic landscape in India.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
IITian in Bengaluru raises alarm over rising cost of living: ‘India is getting really expensive'
An IIT Bombay graduate has raised alarm over the rising cost of living in India, saying it has not spared even the smaller cities. Bengaluru-based Monali Dambre took to the social media platform X to share her concerns. Monali, a member of the founding team at Agno, said that she is genuinely worried about how the middle and lower classes will survive in the coming years. Drawing from her personal experience, the IITian said her grocery bills in Bengaluru are starting to feel 'unusually high'. 'I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that the cost of living in India is getting really expensive—even in smaller, tier-3 cities,' she wrote on X. 'And honestly, I'm starting to feel genuinely worried about how the lower and middle class are managing to survive… or how they're going to survive in the next few years.' Monali, who graduated from IIT Bombay with a BSc in Economics, added that despite living in a relatively well-paying tech hub like Bengaluru, her grocery bills are skyrocketing. 'Even in Bangalore, my grocery bills (which include only absolute staples—nothing fancy or luxurious) are starting to feel unusually high,' she wrote. And this increase is not limited to exotic fruits and imported items - even buying staples and essentials is beginning to feel unaffordable. 'Just basic fruits, veggies, and daily essentials—and it still feels like thing have got expensive than they should have,' said the Bengaluru-based woman. Her post has sparked a spirited discussion about life and cost of living in India. In the comments section, some suggested she step out to shop instead of relying on quick commerce apps. Others, however, countered this argument by saying in-person shopping is as expensive – if not more – than ordering groceries online. 'Initially we used to go to a local market to shop but it's the same price as Qcomm , and inconvenient,' Monali agreed. 'Rupee is collapsing compared to gold. Its showing this in all hard assets. Anything plastic or digital will remain at same price but anything that takes real energy to produce and distribute is increasing in cost. Add to it ultra high tax burden and speculative real estate,' an X user named Harsh opined. 'Yes the inflation on food and groceries is way too high. In general cost of living has increased bar above the usual 5-6% annual year on year limit,' another X user added.
