Lavina writes about trends, leisure, higher education, culture, communities and real-estate.
Articles by Lavina Mulchandani
How much sugar are you really taking in?
Even if you’ve resolved to cut sugar from your diet, it makes its way into your system in disguise. Can you spot hidden sugars in ordinary foods?
Published on Jul 27, 2019 05:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Union Budget is not all good news for young homebuyers: experts
Renting may be easier. Paperwork simpler. But taxes and land reforms are still stuck in the past.
Updated on Jul 29, 2019 01:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Commercial spaces make a splash in smaller cities
Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will see fast growth in the retail sector, with premium brands choosing to open shop and cater to rapidly changing consumer tastes.
Updated on Jun 25, 2019 04:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
#Fashion: How to rock curly bangs
Sandra Oh flaunted them on the red carpet, Natasha Lyonne brought them to life on screen. Here’s how to get the look.
Published on Jun 22, 2019 05:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Lights, camera, upload: A sneak peek into Mumbai’s newest acting hub
As digital entertainment platforms boom, a quiet area called Aram Nagar has been overrun. There are casting agents in the cafes, audition announcements pasted on tree trunks, studios in old cottages.
Updated on May 30, 2019 04:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
People you can expect to run into in Mumbai’s Newest OTT production hub
Aram Nagar is the place where you meet every struggler stereotype. Here are some key traits that will help you spot them.
Updated on May 25, 2019 08:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Developers are batting for the sports enthusiast looking for a big-city home
Townships are now offering coaching programmes by Cricket Australia, bouldering zones, and gyms designed by global sportstars.
Updated on May 31, 2019 05:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
New scheme kicks off, gives Indian students a chance to work in labs abroad
A central government scheme called SPARC, announced last year, has sanctioned funds for 600 joint research projects between Indian institutes and top-ranked universities around the world.
Published on May 01, 2019 02:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Home prices dip in UK, US & UAE. Grab the chance to invest
The slow-moving domestic real-estate sector has led High Net-worth Individuals and Ultra High-Net-worth Individuals to consider overseas options. The primary reason is an expectation of good returns.
Published on Apr 27, 2019 06:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
The DIY route to redevelopment
Self-redevelopment is more feasible for housing societies in Mumbai now, thanks to easier norms for loans and sanctions.
Published on Apr 20, 2019 03:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Inside India’s Hogwarts: magic schools hidden in plain sight
From lessons in making a friend disappear, to cutting an apple in half on a man’s head, blindfolded; the courses at magic schools draw on science, comedy and drama to groom students into master performers.
Updated on Apr 07, 2019 03:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Study abroad: Why Lithuania, Slovakia, Qatar are emerging as hotspots
Diversity policies and attractive govt scholarships are among the key factors drawing Indian students.
Published on Mar 28, 2019 12:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Aggregator apps for realty are connecting buyers with multiple service providers
New platforms let you search by service, identify plumbers, painters, housing society managers; monitor accounts and keep records too.
Published on Mar 16, 2019 06:38 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Traditional tales with a twist: Check out what’s streaming in non-metro India
A gay love triangle in Bengali, drug-themed docu dramas in Punjabi. Digital entertainment platforms are going multilingual, experimenting, as they cater to regional audiences.
Updated on Mar 09, 2019 09:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Slash in GST has buyers hopeful but experts ask to read between the lines
There is still no clarity on some key factors, such as whether there will be a corresponding change in levies on input materials like cement and steel.
Published on Mar 06, 2019 07:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Niche courses are in focus and they’re helping fetch unusual jobs for students
Now you can watch horror movies as part of honing analytical skills, learn about the comedy business and study how cities operate.
Published on Mar 04, 2019 09:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
What’s up, doc? The market is opening up for a new breed of PhDs
Professionals with doctorates in mass communication, tourism, architecture and design are being courted by companies looking for innovators, researchers, problem-solvers.
Updated on Feb 07, 2019 12:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Lateral entry: New institutes are prepping students for government jobs
Fellowships, consultancies and even senior positions are now open to graduates and executives.
Published on Jan 17, 2019 04:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Everyone’s a rockstar in Mohali, the city at the heart of a Punjabi music boom
There’s dancing on the streets, recording in the bylanes, music videos being shot in parks. New songs are released on streaming apps every day. It’s a struggler ecosystem, but imbued with a lot more hope than, say, LA or Mumbai.
Updated on Jan 08, 2019 06:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
A place of her own: Tracking the growing number of women realty buyers
Sops such as lower interest rates on loans and minimal downpayments are seeing more homes bought in the woman’s name.
Published on Dec 08, 2018 06:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Starting young: Meet professionals buying homes before 30
Higher incomes, entrepreneurial opportunities and easy access to information are factors helping guide their decision.
Published on Nov 17, 2018 04:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani & Aishwarya Iyer
Lesser-known universities find place in QS India rankings
Separate rankings for Indian institutes mean you now have more options to choose from and institutes get a larger platform too.
Published on Nov 15, 2018 09:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Move over Batman, Bajrangi takes on supervillains
India’s new comic-book avengers are rooted in the present. They’re taking on the system, fighting rapists, corruption, terror and even the caste hierarchy.
Updated on Nov 04, 2018 12:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Why are there ‘education malls’ in Ranchi? Inside the new Kotas of India
The craze for engineering is fading in the metros, but in small-town India, it’s still the only thing to aspire to. And so in places like Madurai and Patna, coaching for admission tests has become a booming, assembly-line business — even though only 1% of aspirants ever make it into an IIT.
Updated on Oct 20, 2018 08:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Big bites in small cities: Why posh restaurants are looking beyond metros
A Hoppipola in Ranchi, a Farzi Café in Chandigarh, a Flying Saucer Café in Lucknow, and a Mocha in Raipur. Tier-2 cities are developing a taste for big-city dining, changing the way India eats out.
Updated on Oct 13, 2018 08:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Krutika Behrawala and Lavina Mulchandani
Space upgrade: Premium living in cities comes in diverse shapes
From horse stables in Ahmedabad and golf courses in Bengaluru to designer flats in Mumbai, the definition of luxury homes is changing.
Updated on Oct 08, 2018 05:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Pull up a chair: Co-working spaces are changing again
Players are moving into high-end malls and five-star hotels to offer integrated ecosystems that let you shop, read, eat while at work.
Updated on Sep 12, 2018 03:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
‘You can go out at night with friends and yet feel safe’
Twenty three-year-old Sameera Syed lives in Mumbai’s Andheri and has been a flight attendant for three years.
Updated on Aug 30, 2018 11:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Lavina Mulchandani
Pokemon, Eiffel tower, burgers: Artisans are sewing new life into zardozi
The traditional gold-thread embroidery has gone pop. New motifs are being used on scarves, jackets and ties, and finding takers around the world.
Updated on Aug 26, 2018 08:18 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
Land planned: Themed plotted developments catch on among young buyers
These projects allow investors to build homes that cater to their passions, with infrastructure focused on sport, nature, organic farming.
Published on Jul 28, 2018 09:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Lavina Mulchandani
