31102026-LSTL-01.qxd 10/30/2026 8:43 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Life Ananya Verma Chanel’s Hyderabad-raised model Bhavitha Mandava arrived at New York’s Museum of Modern Art on Thursday, wearing a look from Chanel Pre-Fall 2026 for the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards evening honoured several leading names across creative fields, including Chanel artistic director Matthieu Blazy. Mandava’s rise has been closely tied to her journey with Chanel. Spotted by a modelling agent at a New York subway station in 2024 while studying at NYU, she made her runway debut at Bottega Veneta under Blazy. She later followed him to Chanel. — TNS what do I say? ISTOCK Why Gen Z and millennials ask chatbots how to love... The pressure is real: Gleeden-Ipsos found 81 per cent of respondents feel pressure to appear perfect in modern dating. The third reason is loneliness, and it reaches beyond Gen Z. Rashpal Singh, 32, a corporate professional, uses AI too. “It’s tough to process emotions and understand what exactly to say to comfort somebody at times.” Then comes the breakup. “When it comes to dealing with a breakup, we live in times where mostly everyone is alone, so AI becomes a friend who comforts.” eat chandigarh Indian muse LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 31 OCTOBER 2026 Dear AI, I T is 1 am. You have just matched with someone you like. You type “hey,” delete it, and open ChatGPT instead: “Write me a first message that sounds charming, not desperate.” Young Indians are far from alone in this. Aisle’s 2026 survey of 8,240 urban Indian singles found 51.2 per cent run their dating messages through AI. A Gleeden-Ipsos survey found around 65 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women have turned to AI for flirting and relationships. Why are so many people asking a chatbot how to love? Three reasons keep coming up. The first is nerves: starting is hard. Suyash Kant, 18, a college student in Chandigarh, uses AI for that first step and nothing more. “Yes, we do use ChatGPT initially, but we are very aware of emotions, and everybody talks about everything without hesitation. We use AI to initiate a conversation, but when it comes to communicating our emotions, we don’t use it at all. We put time and effort into understanding the other person’s perspective, and try to show our real side.” Dr Abhishek Gupta, psychiatrist, sees little harm in a borrowed opener. “We have always taken help from our friends in approaching someone, so text messages by AI don’t really hamper the real connection,” he says. “But sooner or later, the other person gets to know the real you.” On the receiving end, some notice straight away. Arpita Mehra, a college student in Chandigarh, says she does not reply to messages from men that read as if AI wrote them. In Aisle’s survey, 51.9 per cent of women ignore opening messages that sound AI-generated. The second reason is fear of judgment. Shreya Bhandari, a final-year college student from Delhi, turns to AI when words fail her. “I talk to AI when I don’t know how to explain what I feel to someone else,” she says. “And if I’m going through a breakup, I think, to not sound vague, I resort to talking to AI so that nobody judges me.” Priyanka Chopra Jonas has joined the Oscarqualified Indian short film We Were Here as an executive producer, lending her support to filmmaker Pranav Bhasin’s project. A FOREST BATHING slow, guided forest walk built around the Japanese practice of soaking in nature for health and calm. Choose the 2-hour basic session or a 4-hour one with breakfast. At Nature Trail Lake Forest on October 31, at 7 am. Gleeden-Ipsos also found 57 per cent of respondents feel lonely in their relationship despite constant digital communication. Dr Gupta calls loneliness “the biggest epidemic” and warns AI will worsen it for young people seeking companionship. That comfort has a catch. “A person going through a breakup is vulnerable, and AI gives them validation, which feels emotionally comforting,” Dr Gupta says. “But when it continues for a longer duration, it leads to a sense of WHAT’S HOT learn MOLD & UNWIND A two-hour, no-experience-needed pottery session where you shape clay purely for stress relief and fun. All art materials are provided, and you take your creation home. At Deepakriti Institute of Creative Arts, Chandigarh, starts from October 30 till November 1. When fans meet their favourite stars For celebrities, a chance encounter with a fan can turn an ordinary day into a memorable moment. From heartfelt gestures of appreciation to funny selfie moments, these interactions offer a glimpse into the special bond stars share with their admirers. Stars share their experiences, reflecting on how a simple photograph can become a cherished memory and a beautiful expression of love from fans. GESTURE OF LOVE: Gaurav Singh Honestly, I haven’t had a really crazy fan experience yet, but whenever someone recognises me or appreciates my work, it feels special. I think selfie culture is a lovely trend because a photograph can become a beautiful memory for a fan. As actors, we often get so busy with our work that we forget how much a character might mean to someone watching us. So, if someone wants a selfie, I see it as a compliment and a gesture of love. Of course, mutual respect and personal space are important. Kislay Dutt, Sherleen Dutt & Gaurav Singh SELFIE PLEASE: Sherleen Dutt FLATTERING SCENE: Kislay Dutt One of my funniest fan experiences happened when I was shopping with my mom at a local market in Jammu. I was in my most unglamorous avatar, with no makeup and a messy bun. Suddenly, a girl spotted me and came running towards us, shouting my name. My mom grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her because she thought something was wrong! But when the girl asked for a selfie, my mom’s whole personality changed. She went from being my bodyguard to my personal photographer in seconds! She started fixing my hair and saying, “Ek minute, aise photo mat lena, thoda achhe se!” And I was like, “Mumma, relax! It’s just a selfie!” After the girl left, my mom said, “Dekha, maine bola tha na thoda ready hoke chala kar!” We laughed about it the entire way home. I genuinely find selfie culture very sweet. Selfie culture has transformed how fans and actors interact. It can sometimes test our boundaries, especially when we least expect it. One memorable incident happened at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple. I was immersed in my prayers when a fan spotted me and clicked a selfie while I was still praying. Even after I stepped outside, he continued following me through the crowd, hoping to take more pictures. Although the situation caught me off guard, I chose to be patient. I stopped and calmly let him take the selfies he wanted. Looking back, the experience made me smile. MAGNETIC PULL: Delnaaz Irani Recently, I was dining out with Percy at a restaurant when fans came up to me and recognised me as Gulshan Taraporewala from my latest Netflix series Chumbak. They were Delnaaz Irani & Adrija Roy c m y b so excited to see me and even remembered my dialogue, ‘Gelsappi!’ What made it even more special was the way they recalled these little details and connected with me through the character. As an actor, it feels wonderful when your work leaves such a lasting impression. These experiences remind me that a character can continue to live in people’s hearts long after they have watched it on screen. REAL CONNECTION: Adrija Roy Playing Raahi in Anupamaa has been a blessing, and it fills my heart with joy to see how deeply viewers connect with my character— even when they excitedly call me “Raahi” instead of Adrija when they see me out at cafes! It is incredibly beautiful to see how much people emotionally live this journey with me. I find this new era of direct fan interaction so sweet because it allows us to share a real bond. chandigarh A two-day music festival, titled HOME, is set to take place in Goa on December 29 and 30. Arijit Singh and Karan Aujla are set to headline the debut edition of the festival. On board chandigarh MUSIC TO THE EARS... dependence on AI and poor decision making.” Dr Prannay Gulati, psychiatrist, Vardaan Clinics, Chandigarh, offers a rule. “AI can be used judiciously to overcome the initial anxiety and start the conversation. But we must not fall prey to constructing a false persona that cannot be followed through in later conversations. We must reflect our own thoughts and emotions into the relationship.” AI can help you say hello. It cannot sit across the table from you, or hold the silence that follows. That part, still, is yours. dance D SPOOKY BEATS J Max Smacks spins Bollywood and hip hop for five hours of Halloween fun, with bowling, arcade games and VR gaming on the side. Costumes encouraged. At PartyDay by HopUp, Mohali on October 31. Back to the 70s Radhika Apte says she sought inspiration from Zeenat Aman for her look in Akka Radhika Apte says veteran star Zeenat Aman’s onscreen persona served as a reference for the styling of her character in the upcoming series Akka. The period crime thriller series, set in a fictional world in the South of India, is ruled by Bhavani, played by Keerthy Suresh. Apte plays her nemesis Rudra, a ruthless rebel who is eyeing Bhavani’s land and legacy. “When I was doing costume and hair, I was looking at Zeenat Aman because of her hair, her fringe and all that. It is a character reference; it was just costume and hair,” Apte said in an interview. “The clothing references that they had, and the wig I’m wearing and all that, it sort of leaned into that time (referring to the 70s period). And she’s (her character) also from Bombay, so just some of the references were like some of her roles on-screen,” she said. Apte said she was instantly drawn to the matriarchal world of Akka, which explores themes of power, legacy, loyalty, family and revenge. The show is written and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty. “For me, it is a whole fictitious world. But he (Shetty) has worked really hard to make it very detailed,” she said. — PTI