Femina Miss India, India’s oldest, most credible, and iconic beauty pageant, owned and operated by the Times Group, held its award felicitation ceremony in Mumbai. With its legacy of over six decades, the pageant continues to be a defining institution that has shaped the journeys of young Indian women, offering them a space to dream, evolve, and create impact. It has passionately believed in the power of beauty to inspire confidence, empower young women, and celebrate individuality and self-expression, while bringing together diverse voices from across the country onto one unified stage. The pageants empower participants to engage in social causes and pursue careers across various fields, including acting, fashion, media, and business, among others.

The 61st edition of the pageant kicked off last November with the launch of a nationwide talent hunt to find promising prospects from all corners of the country. The extensive scouting drive and subsequent audition rounds across five zones – North, East, North East, South and West culminated with the selection of 30 state winners, who are currently undergoing training and grooming drills in a specialised boot camp held in Mumbai, facilitated by renowned Industry experts. This season, the pageant found its core inspiration in “Connecting the DOTS”, where DOTS stands for “Daughters of This Soil.” Through this initiative, the pageant underscores the ethos of unity in diversity and remains committed to its legacy of bringing together 30 daughters from 30 states under one unified stage, celebrating the diversity, strength, and spirit of womanhood that truly defines India.

The 61st edition of the contest saw a defining turn with its partnership with KIIT Bhubaneshwar, which, under the leadership of Prof. Dr Samanta, has emerged as one of India’s most respected global institutions. The institution is built on the belief that education is the most powerful tool for social change & empowerment, especially for young women. Alongside it, KISS Bhubaneshwar stands as one of the world’s most extraordinary models of empowerment through education, transforming thousands of young lives. The event is co-powered by Rajnigandha Silver Pearls. This philosophy shines through in every pearl – crafted with the choicest cardamom seeds, delicately blended with pure saffron & coated in silver – coming together to celebrate a refined essence of goodness.

As the journey of ð��Šð��ˆð��ˆð��“ ð���ð��¡ð��®ð��›ð��šð��§ð��žð��¬ð��°ð��šð��« ð��©ð��«ð��žð��¬ð��žð��§ð��­ð��¬ ð�Ÿ”ð�Ÿ�ð��¬ð��­ð��…ð��žð��¦ð��¢ð��§ð��š ð��Œð��¢ð��¬ð��¬ ð��ˆð��§ð���ð��¢ð��š ð��œð��¨-ð��©ð��¨ð��°ð��žð��«ð��žð��� ð��›ð��² ð��‘ð��šð��£ð��§ð��¢ð�� ð��šð��§ð���ð��¡ð��šð���ð��žð��šð��«ð��¥ð��¬ unfolds, the Awards Night held on 9th April in Mumbai emerged as one of its most anticipated highlights, bringing together glamour, talent, and the spirit of the competition in equal measure. The show took off with the 30 state winners strutting the ramp in exquisite designs by ace designer Anmol Singh of Banjara Trail. Following the theme “Connecting the DOTS”,i.e Daughters of this Soil, each outfit featured intricate patchwork made with tiny handmade beaded pieces stitched together. With no single continuous fabric, every look reflected detailed craftsmanship and a modern take on Indian textiles. The show, directed by Sandeep Dharma, was executed with finesse, bringing together fashion and storytelling seamlessly, and was anchored by Pooja Bhamrrah. The gala celebrations witnessed the attendance of key personalities from the entertainment and fashion industry, namely, Anu Malik, Celina Jaitly, Madhur Bhandarkar, Vindu Dara Singh, Terence Lewis, Nehal Chudasama, Pooja Chopra, Tanuj Virwani, Mukesh Chhabra, Ken Gosh, Harmeet Singh,and Abhimanyu Dassani to name a few. 

As the evening progressed, the state winners were awarded the subtitles. With every announcement and every cheer from the audience, their journey thus far in the pageant felt more fulfilled, defined, and closer to its ultimate destination.

Later, the celebrations transitioned seamlessly into a performance by sister duo Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar.Their act beautifully blended rhythm, expression and energy, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained and enthralled. Elevating the experience further, percussionist Rituraj, DJs TECHTRONIX and BENJ kept the energy soaring with their electrifying performances.

The 30 state winners will further compete to win the title of 61st Femina Miss India at the Grand Finale, which will be held on 18th April 2026, in KIIT Bhubaneswar. The winner of KIIT Bhubaneswar presents 61st Femina Miss India co-powered by Rajnigandha Pearls will represent India at the Miss World pageant.

Continuing the legacy that saw Five Miss Worlds who made us proud by marking their presence on the globe- Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000) and Manushi Chhillar (2017), the country awaits the crowning of the new title holder, who could take the legacy of our great nation forward.

Also Read: Nandini Gupta makes it to the Top 20 at the 72nd Miss World Festival!

Filmmaking is often a balance between art and commerce, but for director Aditya Kripalani, the scales always tip toward the soul. Known for his raw, human-centric storytelling, Kripalani is back with his latest project, Main Actor Nahi Hoon, set to release in India on May 8. The film, which connects Mumbai and Frankfurt via a video call, explores the deep isolation of the digital age.

In an exclusive chat with us, Kripalani opened up about the technical hurdles of shooting across continents and the dream come true experience of collaborating with a powerhouse like Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

One of the biggest highlights of the project is the involvement of Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Kripalani revealed that the film was originally titled Impulse but changed once the actor came on board. Interestingly, Nawazuddin’s dedication to the craft went beyond the camera.

Kripalani shared, “He was an absolute professional. He even bought his own ticket to reach Frankfurt, all by himself. He didn’t come with his manager.” Perhaps the most important validation for him was the fact that Nawazuddin did not charge a fee for the film.

Kripalani said, “Him not charging a fee is a big thing—really big. In India, there is always that pressure of ‘how much are you earning?’ When someone like Nawaz doesn’t charge money, you can actually turn around and say, ‘This is my earning.’ It’s one of the high points of my career.”

Real Pain and Real Locations

While Nawazuddin brings his seasoned brilliance, Chitrangada Satarupa delivers a performance rooted in deep personal truth. Kripalani mentioned that while the script was pre-written, Chitrangada imbued her character, Mouni, with her own frustrations and experiences in the industry. He recalled, “There is a scene on the terrace where she speaks of her childhood—she surprised me a lot there.” 

The film’s shoot was as unconventional as its story. To capture a scene where the characters talk while traveling, the actors simultaneously rode a Mumbai local and a Frankfurt tram.

The director explained, “We did about 22 takes over two days for an 18-minute scene. They had to start from the same stations each time because the network would drop beyond certain points. In Mumbai, it was Jogeshwari to Mahim, and in Frankfurt, Messe to Hauptbahnhof.” 

Seeking Purity

For Kripalani, moving from advertising to indie films was a quest for honesty. He described the mainstream film world as disillusioning due to the heavy focus on business over art.

“Indie cinema has been a good space where I could hold on to creative purity,” he says, adding that he hopes to eventually explore theatre and return to writing novels, much like the multifaceted Manav Kaul.

As Main Actor Nahi Hoon prepares for its Indian premiere after a successful international festival run, Kripalani is eager to see the local reaction. He concluded saying, “The detailing of the characters is rooted in Bombay and the experience of being an Indian Muslim in Frankfurt. That specificity makes a big difference.” 

Also Read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui to Return As Inspector Jatil Yadav in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders

KATSEYE, comprising Sophia, Lara, Megan, Yoonchae and Daniela are preparing for their upcoming Coachella debut. The group is preparing to perform without member Manon, who is currently on a hiatus. Amid the preparation, the group unveiled their new single, PINKY UP. The edgy and high energy track is all about confidence and being playful.