Latest news with #MrsFunnybones
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Penguins, platonic pyaar and a labubu love story
Twinkle Khanna aka Mrs Funnybones crafts satirical stories and funny fables when she is not running a design business, selling candles or running in circles around her small but rather odd family. She narrowly escaped a gruesome tragedy when Bollywood tried to bludgeon her brain to the size of a pea, but she ducked at the right moment and escaped miraculously unharmed; she is now a popular columnist as well and is currently in the process of creating lame jokes like ' Why do all Hindu boys worship their mother? Because their religion tells them to worship the cow.' She firmly believes that nothing in life is sacred except laughter. (Not even her name, which she is secretly trying to change to Chetali Bhagat so that her columns get made into movies.) LESS ... MORE 8am My younger one and I are debating who gets to hang the Coke-wielding Labubu on their bag today. This is unprecedented in our household — she usually leans toward Mr Beast sweatshirts, and my sartorial attempts are an ambiguous puddle of mostly Zara, sometimes what the Devil Wears (Prada), and God's favourite (if she hasn't lost everything in the stock market) Hermes. My daughter wins this contest with a simple fact, 'Mom, Labubu is a toy. I'm a child. You're an adult. It's like me wearing your big gold ring to school. It's not OK for your age.' Shamed by my own child, I give in. She hangs it on her backpack and rushes off to school. ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: Chad Crowe (USA) For the blissfully unaware, Labubu is a creepy elf conceived by the Hong Kong-born Kasing Lung and turned by Chinese toy retailer Pop Mart into a fuzzy cultural phenomenon. Everyone from Rihanna to schoolgirls in Mumbai are desperate to hang one on their bag. Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning's fortune jumped $1.6 billion in a day because of these stuffed dolls. Trump may keep imposing tariffs on China, but clearly, the Chinese are fighting back one creepy doll at a time. 10am I call my sister to blame her: 'You made me buy this Labubu, and now I'm hooked. In the mornings, I'm studying philosophy. In the evenings, I hang a Labubu on my bag. I don't know who I am anymore.' She replies, 'I do. You're an idiot. You've always been one. Who thinks so much about a bag charm?' 11am I call my older one. Considering he studies fashion, he should have some insights into this Labubu phenomenon. His verdict is, 'I don't get it, Mom. It's ugly.' I try to explain, 'You know, yesterday I just read a bit about Socrates once taking part in a beauty contest. He argued anything is beautiful if it fulfils its function. So, by that logic, Labubu is beautiful. It's designed to evoke nostalgia and the same emotional response we experience when seeing babies or puppies. Acha, forget all this and go to Oxford Street, line up at Pop-Mart and get me some more.' My son reports that it's a futile quest. 'Mom, it's pointless. BBC said that Pop Mart's stopped selling Labubus at high street stores because of all the chaos outside with queues and squabbles.' It's good to know that the BBC has found time between Gaza and Ukraine to cover Labubu sales. 3.30pm Scanning the news in amchi Mumbai, I note a ruckus at the Byculla zoo over the names of three newly hatched penguin chicks — Noddy, Tom, and Pingu. BJP's Nitin Bankar is leading a protest demanding that the penguins get Marathi names. If you ask me, they really should retain 'Pingu'. It fits with our cultural tradition of affectionate 'u' endings. Akhilesh Yadav is Tipu, Hrithik Roshan is Duggu, and Rahul Gandhi is Pappu. Then why not Pingu? Still, it's now a matter of national importance. 4pm A close friend recently diagnosed with a serious illness sends me a picture of her seven Labubus gifted by friends to cheer her up. A furry toy doing the job of Sadhguru and Sri Sri by mitigating the uncertainty of mortality. 4.30pm I come across Sydney Sweeney selling soap made from her bathwater. Better than the influencer who sold her farts for $1,000 and landed in the hospital after producing 97 jars by eating beans and boiled eggs. If Sydney wants her soaps to sell, she should harness the secret of Pop Mart's success — the thrill of surprise. Labubus are sold in blind boxes, so you don't know what you're getting until you open it. It reminds me of that Gold Spot contest when we were kids. We had to collect bottle caps with 'Jungle Book' characters. I don't even remember the prize. We were just chugging Gold Spot. The thrill of discovery trumps the actual reward. Robert Sapolsky, a neuroscientist who trained monkeys to recognise a light signal for a reward, concluded that the unpredictability of reward increases anticipation and dopamine. That keeps the monkey pressing the lever. Or the adult standing in line at 4am for a Labubu. 6pm My perpetually stiff neck has me lying on a hot water bag, interpreting Rorschach patterns on the damp ceiling. If we're being metaphysical, may I suggest that every man who turned out to be a headache began as a pain in the neck. As I reflect on this theory, the man of the house bursts in with two bags and lots of squeals. Like Santa with six-packs, he's pulled strings from Mumbai to Hong Kong to get us Labubus. Now we have an assortment. The purple one in a gold dress I christen 'The Sindhi Labubu,' as she looks like she is off to a wedding to outshine the bride. My headache disappears. My daughter's thrilled. And I realise I now own a collection of things I wasn't even trying to collect. 7pm I hang three Labubus on my bag as we leave for dinner. When my husband asks why I've taken them from our daughter, I say, 'For philosophical, anthropological, and psychological reasons. You know we're wired to find big-eyed things cute, whether they are penguins with or without Marathi names or Labubus. That reminds me, are you having trouble with the casting of 'Hera Pheri 3'? Forget human beings. Cast the three penguins. Rename them Raju, Baburao, Shyam. The politicians will be appeased, and you will save money on costumes, too, as they are already in tuxedos.' 'Please leave films to me.' he says, 'Focus on your creepy dolls.' I try explaining that a Labubu is simple to chase. Not like ambition or profit margins or self-worth. Real reinvention takes effort — therapy, sabbaticals, new degrees. Fashion is the lazy shortcut to reinvention. The reason we shift from skinny jeans to flares, ballet flats to jelly shoes. Or hang a fuzzy monster on our bags in a quest to update our identities. 'Labubus are the new recipients of my platonic love.' I tell him, 'In Plato's 'Symposium', Socrates says love for a person makes you vulnerable. They may leave or die. But loving a concept: astronomy, justice, literature can't hurt you. It won't leave. That is the origin of the term 'platonic love', by the way. Labubus can't love you back but they can't leave you either. Unless they are stolen. Hey, should we insure our Labubus,' I ask. 'Does this Labubu chap also sell blind boxes for new wives,' he says with a sigh. That's why I prefer platonic over romantic love. The object of your affection, along with not leaving you, doesn't talk back either. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Akshay Kumar says his ‘leg is on fire' as Twinkle Khanna asks him about ‘fighting with Vicky Kaushal over Operation Sindoor film'
Twinkle Khanna, who retired from acting in 2001, turned writer with her books Mrs Funnybones, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, and Pyjamas are Forgiving. Famously known for her wit and sharp takes on current events, Twinkle Khanna penned a write-up about how tensions escalated between India and Pakistan and fake news held a field day. The actor touched on everything from fake paneer and fake headlines in the piece — including coming across tweets that suggested that her husband, actor Akshay Kumar, and Vicky Kaushal were fighting over the rights to make a film on Operation Sindoor. The author wrote that she immediately dialled Akshay, wanting to get to the bottom of it. However, Akshay dismissed it as fake news and told her that his leg is on fire and they will talk later. Twinkle dismissed it as an excuse, in fact hoping that her husband can devise better excuses if he wants to get rid of her. However, on this account, she was proved wrong as Akshay actually walked in later with his a bandage on his calf. 'Apparently, his leg was truly on fire for a scene. Nowadays, it is so difficult to figure out what is true that I look at every piece of information suspiciously,' Twinkle wrote. In the days following India launching Operation Sindoor on terror camps across the border, a film on it was announced by Nicky Vicky Bhagnani Films and The Content Engineer. They received a backlash after the poster of the film, titled Operation Sindoor, was launched. In the poster, a woman soldier was seen with a rifle in one hand and sindoor (vermilion) in the other. She is surrounded by tanks and fighter jets. Later, the makers apologised if they hurt sentiments, claiming they were moved by 'the courage, sacrifice, and strength of our soldiers and leadership' to launch the film. In the column she wrote for Times of India, Twinkle also said that her mother Dimple Kapadia accused her of running her household poorly as the quantity of paneer made at her home is not up to the mark. ALSO READ | Naseeruddin Shah says he did three shifts a day for money: 'No worse torture in the world, no amount worth this agony' She said she had a heated debate with her mother over the phone. 'In her house, one litre of milk yields 250 gm of paneer, and at mine, we get 180 gram.' According to Dimple Kapadia this is not a matter of bovine output but maternal failure. In the same column, Twinkle also took a dig at the decision of Indian Music Companies removing the pictures of Pakistani Artists from album covers. She said, 'I propose that we get all of Abida Parveen and Farida Khanum's songs redubbed by our very own Dhinchak Pooja.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Real paneer, fake news, and what the Mahatma never said
Twinkle Khanna aka Mrs Funnybones crafts satirical stories and funny fables when she is not running a design business, selling candles or running in circles around her small but rather odd family. She narrowly escaped a gruesome tragedy when Bollywood tried to bludgeon her brain to the size of a pea, but she ducked at the right moment and escaped miraculously unharmed; she is now a popular columnist as well and is currently in the process of creating lame jokes like ' Why do all Hindu boys worship their mother? Because their religion tells them to worship the cow.' She firmly believes that nothing in life is sacred except laughter. (Not even her name, which she is secretly trying to change to Chetali Bhagat so that her columns get made into movies.) LESS ... MORE 8am My sister calls, and we make up after our recent quarrel. In the midst of Operation Sindoor, I had urged her to come to Mumbai until things settled down. 'Delhi could be high up on the target list,' I told her, 'I don't have a bunker, but the building has a large basement. I also have two Godrej cupboards we can use as fortifications. Don't worry about food. I have stocked two months of rations, and the best part is that I have even bought a large stainless steel paneer maker.' She interrupted me, 'To use as a shield?' 'No, to make homemade paneer for us.' I explained that the fake paneer epidemic is somewhat concerning, and the food minister has already written to our health minister J P Nadda about it. 'Just bring your kids and come quickly.''To eat paneer,' she asked. 'No, to be safe from Pakistani missiles.'My sister refused my kind offer. She lives within one kilometre of the PM's residence and claimed she felt safer there than hunkering down in the basement with me. This really is a case of ghar ki murgi daal barabar. However, perhaps this only applies to chicken and not ghar ka paneer. 11am After the recent re-release of 'Sanam Teri Kasam', I have been listening to the songs on repeat. While browsing Spotify, I realised actor Mawra Hocane had been edited out from the album cover. Further digging reveals that other Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have been similarly erased from their online posters. Not wanting to be left behind in doing my duty as a good citizen, I propose that we get all of Abida Parveen and Farida Khanum's songs redubbed by our very own Dhinchak Pooja. That will really teach the Pakistanis a lesson. Photo: Illustration by Chad Crowe (USA) 1.30pm The girls in our office usually have a dabba debate at lunch where there are discussions about the perils of parwal and the tragedy of tindli in the tiffin. These last few days it's all been about the Rafale versus the F-16 and Israeli tech compared to Chinese drones because now we are all combat experts and defence strategists. I am, of course, in the throes of another heated debate with my mother over the phone. In her house, one litre of milk yields 250 gm of paneer. In mine, we get 180 gm. To her, this isn't a matter of bovine output but maternal failure. Clearly, I am running my household poorly, and the proof lies in my 70-gm paneer shortfall. 3pm Social media erupts with stories of Imran Khan's death, and then they claim he is alive. Even Jesus had to wait three days to be resurrected, but Imran bhai has done it in a day and a half. This is not the only instance of fake news in recent times. Some news outlets reported that India had captured Islamabad. Then there was a nuclear leak when we apparently bombed Pakistan's Kirana Hills. Both claims were later refuted. I am baffled. I can test paneer with an iodine solution — but what is the litmus test for the truth? 5pm I come across a flurry of tweets and I call the man of the house and start arguing. 'I just read that you are fighting with Vicky Kaushal over who gets to make a movie on Operation Sindoor.' He sighs and says, 'It's fake news and my leg is on fire, so I will call you later.' He really should devise better excuses if he just wants to hang up. 6.15pm On the family WhatsApp group, my uncle posts a warning. A Pakistani-made malware called 'Dance of Hillary' is targeting Indian users via WhatsApp, Facebook, and email. It steals banking details and passwords. I ask him for a credible source, and he shares links to posts from the handles of Punjab police. A quick Google search reveals it's a fabricated story, yet it managed to deceive the Punjab police. Too tired to debate with my uncle, I reply on the chat with a folded hand emoji. 7.30pm The man of the house arrives with a bandage on his calf. Apparently, his leg was truly on fire for a scene. Nowadays, it is so difficult to figure out what is true that I look at every piece of information suspiciously. It was also quite difficult to believe how our foreign secretary Vikram Misri was being trolled after he announced a pause in the near-war. At the initial briefing of Operation Sindoor, the foreign secretary seated between Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi made for a powerful image. It made Indians feel united, proud, and reassured. Women, particularly, felt seen and represented in a country where we are often placed in a secondary position. To have a member of the same panel threatened by trolls raging for war was disheartening. For all the armchair warriors with their flickering screens goading them to frenzied states, often with manufactured and exaggerated news, war turns into yet another video of explosions and noise. At a distance. They forget, or choose to forget, that war is synonymous with loss. Lives lost at the frontline. Fleeing communities losing their homes. Health and education budgets losing out to defence budgets. Herbert Hoover once said, 'Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die.' It's a relief that our older leaders are wise enough to exercise restraint. 9pm After dinner, I check to see the latest news and am immediately hit by a barrage of manufactured reports. 'Bangladesh closes Airspace to India.' 'Pakistani and Chinese troops celebrate victory.' Gandhi ji once said, 'Fake paneer messes with your stomach and fake news with your mind, both are equally toxic.' All right, he didn't say it, but when everyone is passing off fiction as fact, I thought I should give it a shot as well. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
India.com
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor who was madly in love with this superstar's wife, never married, has two kids...,his name is...
In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, love is always shown big and loud on the golden screen, and one person who has defined this in Bollywood is Karan Johar. Whether it's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham or Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Karan Johar has given love in all its complexities. But what happens beyond the reel, in real life, is a lot more than the Bollywood tale portrays. Speaking of Karan's life itself, the man who has convinced millions to believe in love is still single. While Karan has accomplished everything in his professional life, whether its money fame or success, he never married, but there was a time when he fell in love and even proposed to this superstar's wife. Before Karan Johar became a well-known figure, he led a simple life. He was studying in a boarding school, and that's where he met the person who stole his heart. She was none other than Twinkle Khanna, the sassy and charming daughter of superstar Rajesh Khanna. She eventually became a renowned author and the wife of actor Akshay Kumar. But at that time, she was simply Twinkle, the classmate who made Karan falls heads over heels for. Unlike any other childhood crush, Karan was quite infatuated with Twinkle, so much so that when Twinkle shifted school, he trailed behind her. He changed schools to stay close to her. With a friendship that had everything – fun, leg-pulling, and emotions, what Karan felt for Twinkle was quite deeper than that. He even once plotted to cut school simply to see her, though he couldn't follow through. Years later, Karan openly confessed at a public function that Twinkle was the only girl he'd ever loved. Twinkle herself disclosed at the launch of her book, Mrs Funnybones, that Karan had popped the question to her in school in the most hilarious manner. 'I like you,' he told her, 'I like your moustache—it's hot.' Born on 25 May 1972 in Mumbai, Karan Johar was born into the world of films since the late director Yash Johar, his father, was the head of Dharma Productions. But even though he was very much indulged in the film world and knew countless stars, his heart made room for only Twinkle. Never again did he fall in love with another woman after her, and he settled down alone. In 2017, Karan achieved his dreams of parenthood and had twins through surrogacy—son Yash and daughter Roohi. Even if he didn't discover romantic companionship, Karan discovered love in its purest form through his kids. His experience serves as an emotional reminder that love does not always arrive in the shape of a life partner—it can also remain alive through remembrances, friends, and family.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Twinkle Khanna recalls confronting her mother Dimple Kapadia for forcing her to pursue acting: 'I wanted to be a CA'
Twinkle Khanna may have begun her public life under the glare of Bollywood arc lights, but today, she's widely celebrated for her sharp wit and literary voice. In an interview with Divya Jain, the bestselling author of Mrs Funnybones , Pyjamas Are Forgiving, and Welcome to Paradise reflected on her unconventional journey from actress to writer, and why acting was never really her dream to begin with. 'Like many people here, I'm sure, whatever their parents did… if they had a mithai shop, you became a mithaiwala. It was as simple as that,' she said, recalling how her foray into films was driven more by family expectations than personal ambition. 'I had applied for my CA entrance exam, because that's what I wanted to do, strangely. And my mother told me, 'This is the only time that you can become an actress, and later you can do what you like.'' 'I could have been a writer from the start' Twinkle, who is the daughter of Bollywood icons Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia , revealed that she eventually confronted her mother over the decision years later. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Essential Tips for Navigating Morocco Celebrities' Educational Journey Undo 'You know, what the hell? You forced me into something. I could have had a successful career as a writer right from then,' she recalled saying. Her mother's reply, unsurprisingly laced with her trademark sass, was: 'Well, what would you have done now? You would have become obsolete.' 'So yeah,' Twinkle laughed, 'she used to have the last word even then.' Twinkle Khanna's Stylish Santacruz Outing A message to parents Moving beyond her personal experience, Twinkle also addressed the pressures many children face due to parental ambition. 'I think as mothers, our ambitions and ideas often get passed on to our children. And we shouldn't do that,' she said. 'You look at your child, you look at your child's strengths and skills, and just go by that—not what you think is best for them. Because eventually, they will shun that and shine in the way they can.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
