March EDITION

How insecure are we, really? Our interview with actor Emraan Hashmi this month got me introspecting. In an exclusive with Hashtag, Hashmi opens up about his insecurities as an actor. He goes one step ahead and boldly states, “I am very insecure. If any actor says he is secure, then he is lying.” The recent season of ‘Koffee with Karan’ saw celebrities opening up about their struggles with depression and insecurities. It’s disheartening to see individuals like Deepika Padukone, who openly discussed her depression, and Sarah Khan, who faced criticism for her fashion choices, becoming targets of scrutiny in our society. Why have we become so vain? Why do we constantly need likes and acknowledgment to feel good about ourselves? Social media has taken this madness to a whole new level. People are so consumed with putting their A-game out there that they no longer know what normalcy is. They are either overdressing, over enthusiastic, or just so over-the-top all the time that they turn vain without even realising it. Now, all it takes is ‘one less like’ to put them on antidepressants. I wonder how people do it, day in and day out. It’s exhausting to maintain this facade of perfection—looking perfect, eating perfectly, adding the perfect song and filter—it’s honestly too tiring! Whatever happened to being candid and simple? Summer is the perfect time to add some shine to our routines. Let’s pledge to stay away from this madness. Let’s meet real people and make real friends; let’s look ugly and flaunt our flaws. Seriously, we need to disconnect from the pressures of social media and groom our minds instead. Let’s connect genuinely instead of getting lost in the pursuit of perfection. Let’s break free from this cycle of vanity, prioritize real connections over virtual likes, and celebrate our imperfections. Let’s celebrate the simple joys of life. To help you do that, we have a range of stories for you in this issue, from travel discoveries to festive Holi foods, pets, and even the latest interviews from our trending actors. Let’s spread the sunshine of this summer into our lives as well.