Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Alia Bhatt is stepping onto one of cinema’s most iconic stages: Cannes. The actor will walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival for the first time this May, representing L’Oréal Paris as their global ambassador.
This will in fact be a new chapter in her career, as she joins a line-up of international faces from the beauty brand, including Eva Longoria, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda and Elle Fanning. Cannes runs from 13 to 24 May this year, and Alia will also be seen alongside veteran Cannes attendee and fellow L’Oréal ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Alia Bhatt radiates confidence at the Met Gala Getty Images
Speaking about the milestone, Alia said that "firsts" have a special place in her heart. Representing L’Oréal Paris under this year’s theme, Lights, Beauty and Action, she shared that beauty for her goes beyond appearance. “It’s about owning who you are with confidence and self-worth,” she said. She expressed pride in being part of a campaign that encourages women to embrace their individuality.
L’Oréal Paris, marking 28 years at Cannes as the official make-up partner, sees Alia’s inclusion as a reflection of Indian cinema’s growing global presence. Dario Zizzi, L’Oréal Paris India’s General Manager, noted that her participation represents both the rise of Indian storytelling and the brand’s focus on empowering diverse voices.
Alia Bhatt will make her Cannes debut, representing Indian cinema alongside L'Oréal Paris' star-studded line-upGetty Images
Back home, Alia has been active beyond the red carpet. Recently, she attended the WAVES summit in Mumbai, dressed in a traditional Paithani sari to mark Maharashtra Day, bringing together cultural pride with modern presence.
On the film front, Alia is gearing up for Alpha, part of Yash Raj Films’ expanding spy universe, set to release this Christmas. She’s also reuniting with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Love and War, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal and is scheduled for a 2026 release.
Alia Bhatt will share the Cannes spotlight with Hollywood icons Eva Longoria and Elle Fanning as L'Oréal Paris ambassadorsGetty Images
With her Cannes debut, Alia joins an elite league of Indian stars making their mark internationally, not just through cinema, but by representing values of diversity and individuality on global platforms.
Emmy-winning actor Stephen Graham launches a global project inviting fathers to write letters to their sons about manhood.
Project, in collaboration with psychologist Orly Klein, will result in a book titled Letters to Our Sons, to be published by Bloomsbury in October 2026.
Initiative aims to strengthen father–son relationships and counter negative online influences on young boys.
A call for fathers to open up
Stephen Graham, the Emmy-winning actor best known for Netflix’s hit series Adolescence, has launched a new project encouraging fathers across the world to write letters to their sons about what it means to be a man.
The initiative, Letters to Our Sons, aims to explore fatherhood and masculinity through first-hand reflections. The letters will be compiled into a book to be published by Bloomsbury in October 2026. Graham will work with psychologist and lecturer Dr Orly Klein to collect and curate the submissions.
“There is arguably an even bigger disconnect between fathers and sons than ever before,” Graham said. “We want to hear from men of all ages, first-time fathers, absent fathers, fathers who’ve lost, and fathers who just want to find a way to say ‘I love you’ or talk openly about what it means to be a man.”
From screen to real life
The idea builds on the success of Adolescence, the limited Netflix series co-created by Graham that examined modern masculinity and the pressures facing teenage boys in a digital age. The show became the platform’s second most-watched English-language series worldwide and sparked national conversations about male identity and mental health.
Following its release, Adolescence was recommended by politicians and educators alike. MP Anneliese Midgley called for it to be shown in schools and parliament, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer described watching it with his teenage children as “something that hit home hard.” In March this year, the series was made freely available to UK secondary schools.
“After Adolescence, I realised how little space there is for fathers and sons to talk openly about what it means to be a man today,” Graham said.
A shared mission
Dr Klein’s inspiration came from her own experience as a mother. When her son turned 13, she invited her male friends to write letters offering advice for adolescence — an idea that would later evolve into this global project.
Klein, whose work focuses on identity and youth culture, has previously led projects such as Room to Rant, which uses rap as a form of therapy for young men. She and Graham hope that Letters to Our Sons will provide a constructive, emotional space for men to reflect and connect.
Fathers can submit their letters via the project’s website from 15 October 2025 to 12 January 2026. Selected letters will appear alongside contributions from Graham and other public figures.
Addressing a growing concern
The initiative comes amid rising concern about the influence of online misogyny and extremist content targeting young boys. A recent study found that nearly seven in ten boys aged 11 to 14 had encountered posts promoting misogynistic ideas. Meanwhile, the NSPCC reported that 42% of parents had overheard their sons repeating inappropriate or degrading comments about women after exposure to such content.
Graham and Klein hope the project will offer fathers a chance to counter these narratives, with empathy, honesty and a focus on healthy role models.
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