Verve People

Mountaineer Priyanka Mohite, triathlete Solonie Singh Pathania and ultrarunner Anjali Saraogi use their day jobs to sustain second careers as part-time semi-professional athletes. Verve comes away inspired by the women’s impressive stamina to push their bodies for high-intensity outdoor sports while maintaining a regular 9-to-5 schedule
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It is hard not to factor the environment into any long-term plans for the way we live. Three urbanites from different age groups and walks of life — Reem Khokhar, Karishma Sehgal and Aditya Dubey — have opted to stop being passive and made irrevocable choices that align with the well-being of the planet. By respectively sticking with a decision taken in her teens to not have children, choosing to design a sustainable personal wardrobe and juggling an education with climate change activism, these determined citizens of the Earth share how their tomorrows have been affected by the deterioration of the natural world today.
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Anxiety and stress at the workplace can be crippling, particularly in today’s high-pressure corporate culture. And the stigma around men opening up about mental illness is shaped by its own set of patriarchal diktats. Entrepreneur Nikhil Taneja leads Verve through his uphill climb to personal and occupational success and proves that showing vulnerability is the first step towards taking control
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In the current national scenario, the economic liberalisation of 1991 – that, to a large extent, shaped our dreams – seems to be a thing of the distant past. Sonia Singh, editorial director, NDTV and mother of three, who has been reporting on the country’s ups and downs for over 20 years, tactfully balances an objective big-picture outlook with her maternal sixth sense. During a Sunday afternoon in her home, she offers Verve an even-handed take on re evaluating history and preparing for what lies ahead...
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Motivational social media accounts have emerged as an unexpected champion of emotional and mental health, providing a much-needed shot of positivity to those seeking to manage stress, grief and anxiety. Best-selling author, speaker and serial social entrepreneur Neeta Bhushan leads Verve down a path of self-introspection
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The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for the young (or rich), just as learning a new language doesn’t have to be limited to classrooms. Anandita Bhalerao explores the stories of six individuals and the eclectic mix of languages acquired between them
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Having grown up as a member of the Stolen Generations -- indigenous people who were forcibly erased from the fabric of Australian history -- Larry Walsh is imbuing contemporary vigour into the lost tales of his ancestors
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Creative consultant Ekta Rajani and businessman Suresh Rajani may share the same blood, but their approaches to style are hardly related. The daughter’s downsized and minimalist-yet-original wardrobe has inspired young consumers to re-evaluate their purchasing patterns, while the equally couture-conscious father follows a more outlandish school of fashion. Verve spends a day observing the pair’s tailor-made modes of self-expression
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Five years after learning how to swim, Sukhada Tatke finally tests the waters outdoors and contemplates the existential uncertainties of nature while floating in the rippling Schlachtensee in Berlin
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Ever since the American sneakerhead subculture was co-opted by the mainstream and luxury fashion industries, global Instagram feeds have been filled with images of Nikes, Yeezys, Balenciagas, or whichever brand has dropped the season’s It shoe. But to sneakerheads, they are more than the latest fad. A number of women are in the vanguard of the burgeoning movement here in India, and Rushmika Banerjee speaks with five of them to get some diverse viewpoints on what makes this footwear staple an aspirational commodity.
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In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the male-dominated comedy industry is transforming into an inclusive space. Anuradha Menon, still recognised for her iconic alter ego Lola Kutty, spends an afternoon with Prashasti Singh, the show stealer from last year’s Comicstaan lineup, and the two women pull back the curtain on inherent biases and the evolving scene. Between generous doses of laughter and nostalgia, Sadaf Shaikh has a front-row seat for this unexpected yet synergetic interaction.
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In a compelling collaboration arranged by Verve, Puja Sarup, an actor pushing the boundaries of Indian mainstream theatre with her portrayal of a drag king, plays muse to Pulkit Mogha, a photographer who uses Instagram’s shiny grids as windows into stirring queer stories. Megha Shah discovers a common heart that beats in anticipation of a more accepting audience
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