The Brunch round-up: The week and how it made us feel

Everyone’s taken a shot at referencing Kareena Kapoor Khan’s era-defining character from K3G (2001). Sara Ali Khan, Kusha Kapila and Alia Bhatt have tried it. Ananya Panday has finally done it justice in the new show Call Me Bae. “Minus”, she snootily announces, as she sizes up people’s outfits. Even the dismissive hand gestures are en pointe. In a flashback scene, we see Panday at a fancy-dress contest, styled as Poo, delivering the “Good looks. Good looks. Good looks” line. Slay, little girl!

We spotted Ishaan Khatter in The Perfect Couple. But here’s what’s delighting us: He’s not playing a typical male anything. Not a toxic dude, not a push-over, not the token Brown geek. And he’s holding his own in a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning and Bono’s daughter, Eve Hewson. Oh, and so cute! Did you see his pics in Dirty Magazine? It’s giving high fashion.

The actor, who made his acting debut as Reggie in The Archies (2023), has now made an impressive singing debut in the trailer of the upcoming film Jigra (2024). He did a stripped-down version of Kishore Kumar’s iconic Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka (1971). It’s clear that he’s paid attention to each word and note, and delivered. A gutsy song to attempt. Nice job, nice surprise.

An adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight novel, Midnight Sun, is coming to Netflix as an animated series. It’s basically the same vampire love story, but told from Edward Cullen’s perspective. Do we care about an animated Bella, Edward and Jacob? Can a drawing be as cute as real-life Robert Pattinson? Seems a bit … toothless.

Singles in Spain are so bored of dating apps, they’re looking for love at the grocery store. Local TV reported that the supermarket chain La Mercadona, has a flirting hour (Thursdays and Fridays, 7pm to 8pm). Shoppers signal their availability with what’s in their cart. An upside-down pineapple means you’re ready to date. A bottle of olive oil means rich guys only. Two cucumbers means you’re DTF. Who knew restock-runs were so sexy.

Vanessa Kirby is finally everywhere. She’s in the new thriller film, Eden, she was in Napoleon last year, and two of the recent Mission Impossible movies. She was Princess Margaret in The Crown (2016 - 2017). We knew she’d hit it big when she had only a bit role on About Time (2013), as the bolder bestie. We need more of her, it’s really about time.

AI is letting us insert our adult selves into our old photos and videos. It’s a little creepy, no doubt. But so many people are posting videos of them “hugging” their childhood selves and telling them they’ll be okay. Aww. Would you rather hug or high-five baby you? Would you envy or resent baby you? Would you get them the toy they wanted? Or just buy it for yourself?

Gotta love Dalip Tahil. He played the suss businessman Madan Chopra in Baazigar (1993). Thirty years later, in an Instagram Reel, he’s giving that character a freaky edge, winking seductively at the camera, inviting fan fiction. Commenters obliged too: “Instead of stealing your business, he steals your virginity”, one user said. He’s gone, at 71, from Mr Steal Your Business to Mr Steal Your Girl. We love it!

Linkin Park kind of stopped the music after frontman Chester Bennington passed away in 2017. They’ve just announced a new co-vocalist, Emily Armstrong. She’s got serious singing chops. But it seems even Linkin Park is stepping it up. They made the announcement on social. They’ve released a new song. They’re going on tour. That’s how legacies live on.