Nargis Dutt – this name is etched in the golden words in the books of Indian cinema. She was a timeless beauty and the epitome of sheer talent who gave Indian cinema a legacy to cherish. However, it isn’t just her acting that keeps the late actress alive in the hearts of millions. Nargis, as recalled by Bollywood’s veteran star Waheeda Rehman, was the ‘most hospitable person.’

“Nargis Ji would make sure each person, no matter how big or small, was comfortable.”

In a conversation with us, Waheeda Rehman fondly remembered Nargis Dutt on her death anniversary and shared, “She was like an elder sister. Sunil Dutt Saab, Nargisji, and their Ajanta Troupe would frequently go to the borders to entertain our soldiers. I was a happy member of that entertainment troupe.”
“Nargis ji looked after us like her own family. She was the most hospitable person I have ever known. When we would be travelling together, she would make sure each person, no matter how big or small, was comfortable,” added the actress.

Waheed Rahman shares what she admired the most about Nargis Dutt

She further shared how these two beautiful souls didn’t meet that often, but whenever they used to cross paths, it was an encounter to remember. “She was very busy with all the charitable work that she did. I was busy with my career. But yes, whenever we met, it was always a pleasure. When I was shooting with Dutt Saab for Reshma Aur Shera, Nargis ji looked after the entire cast and crew.”
She concluded the conversation on the sweetest note possible. She said, “There were many things I admired about Nargisji. But do you know what I admired the most? Sunil Dutt Saab.”
“He was such a devoted husband. God should give every woman a husband like him,” she quoted, highlighting the most beautiful bond shared between Nargis and Sunil Dutt.

There was a time when mud homes were limited to villages. Over the last few years, designers and consumers have found fancy in the simple material and its many structural qualities. Be it Mumbai’s latest bistro Zeki, the 2,000 sq.ft. home built by Bhoomija Creations in Kerala, or the more recent, Tiny Farm Lab in Uttarakhand. The latest addition to this list is sari brand Kalga Banaras’ showroom in Varanasi built using the age-old wattle and daub technique wherein bamboo strips are woven together and the gaps filled with cob (a mix of mud, sand, and straw). 

The design of the 1,300 square foot showroom — helmed by interior-product designer Aishwarya Lakhani, founder of Brown Dot Collaborative, and Raghav Kumar, co-founder of rural design studio Tiny Farm Lab — was completed in five months by November 2024. “A lot of our inspiration came from observing the day-to-day life and culture in Varanasi: the people, the city’s winding gullies (streets), and the sunsets at the ghats. The mood of the space, as a result, also reflected that through soft edges, elemental colours (a warm, earthy palette) and finishes that felt alive; mud lime plasters in varied tones, textures, and some, in the form of an abstraction on the wall,” says Lakhani, who looked at slowness and imperfection as a design quality, “embracing asymmetry, organically shaped niches, and rustic art sculpted with layers of mud-lime plaster”.

Locally sourced material

As one enters the store, and walks through the narrow passage — inspired by Varanasi’s unfolding landscape where narrow lanes open to the vastness of the ghats — they are met with an installation crafted from punch cards used in the jacquard loom system. “The main display space of the store is carved from natural materials, including mud and lime plasters, and hand-sculpted curves. We also designed tactile inserts like a large mural, an abstraction of Varanasi’s sunset in the ghats and display units made using lime and cow dung plasters infused with natural oxides,” says Lakhani, adding that 90% of the materials and artefacts were sourced locally. The store has also revived the gaddi (floor mattress) tradition, “inviting visitors to sit, pause, and engage with the saris in an intimate way”.

Detailing the techniques championed in the project, Kumar says the walls were shaped by hand, built slowly one layer at a time using cob. “We mixed the cob by stomping it with our feet and rolled it into place, which gave the walls their smooth, flowing curves. To finish, we used natural plasters made from mud, lime, and cow dung, for the larger sculpted elements, and included natural oxides for the decorative ones,” he says. These safe, chemical-free coatings add beautiful texture, keep the air fresh, and help control the moisture inside the space, adds the architect.

“These hand-formed details were a quiet way of rooting the space in nature and offering visitors moments of discovery as they moved through it. Each one was shaped intuitively on-site, making the walls feel not just built, but touched”Raghav Kumarco-founder of rural design studio Tiny Farm Lab

The team — comprising local masons whom the duo had to train — also sculpted smaller, rustic motifs and protrusions directly into the wet mud plaster. “These hand-formed details were a quiet way of rooting the space in nature and offering visitors moments of discovery as they moved through it. Each one was shaped intuitively on-site, making the walls feel not just built, but touched,” he says, adding that traditional crafts such as metal repoussé and wood-turned figurines were embedded thoughtfully into the design.

Trust local hands

Kumar explains that one of the biggest concerns in natural building is finding skilled labour. “The simple answer? You train them. It’s not rocket science. If someone has experience in cement work, they already have the right tools, muscle memory, and hands-on building skills, and they just need to learn the materials,” he says, “We started with what they know: swapping cement and sand for clay, sand, and fibre. Then drawing analogies between binders, i.e., cement and clay, and broke techniques down into stages.” He says the artisans took those skills and “even found better techniques”. “We learned more from them than they learned from us. By trusting local hands, we’re creating sustainable livelihoods, and decentralising the knowledge of natural building to make the process richer and more meaningful.”

Aishwarya Lakhani and Raghav Kumar.

While Kumar and Lakhani see a rise in the interest to build such structures and vouch for the potential they hold, building with mud “takes time”. “It can’t be rushed. Mud needs to dry, lime needs to be slaked. It also requires the workers to learn new, but ancient, skills,” says Lakhani. Two aspects that the duo were challenged with for Kalga Banaras. “Our clients onboarded us mid-way through the project; they saw more value in building with mud. But this also meant we had to jump in halfway and make sense of the chaos,” says Kumar, adding how the client wanted it complete in five months. “It was a tight deadline for any build, let alone one with natural materials. And the monsoon had just begun which meant high humidity, and slow drying times. But, we loved the challenge, and were able to finish the project within the timeline by making drier mixes and building strategically,” he says.

As designers building with earth, Kumar says they have a dual responsibility. “Working with local materials, context, and labour is not enough. We need to craft beautiful spaces that are technically sound. Spaces that evoke emotions and a sense of desirability,” he concludes.

Comic actress Ruth Buzzi, who made millions laugh with her unforgettable role as the stern handbag-swinging Gladys Ormphby on ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In‘, has passed away at the age of 88.She breathed her last peacefully on Thursday at her ranch near Fort Worth, Texas, after living with Alzheimer’s disease for over 10 years, as confirmed by her long-time agent, Mike Eisenstadt.
“Her husband of almost 48 years, Kent Perkins, expressed to me that she was making people laugh just a few days ago,” Eisenstadt said in an email to Reuters.
Ruth Ann Buzzi was born on 24 July 1936 in Westerly, Rhode Island, and raised in Stonington, Connecticut. She had her heart set on acting from a young age. Straight after school, she packed her bags and moved to California to train at the Pasadena Playhouse for the Performing Arts. While studying there, she crossed paths with future greats like Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman, who were also sharpening their craft at the same time.
Rising Through the Ranks
Before becoming a household name, Buzzi honed her skills in comedy revues and small television roles. She appeared on ‘The Garry Moore Show’ in 1964, catching attention with her sharp comedic timing.
She also took to the stage in the original Broadway run of ‘Sweet Charity’ in 1966, playing alongside Gwen Verdon. This helped launch her into the mainstream, where her unique blend of physical comedy and quirky characters made her stand out.
Making History on ‘Laugh-In’
Ruth Buzzi found fame and national love in 1968 when she joined the cast of ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’ – a fast-paced, zany sketch comedy show on NBC. She was the only cast member to appear in every episode until the show ended in 1973. Her most famous character, Gladys Ormphby, became an icon. Dressed in a brown dress, tight hairnet, and forever scowling, Gladys sat on a park bench and fought off the cheeky advances of Arte Johnson’s creepy old man character by whacking him with her handbag. It was comedy gold, and viewers adored it.