There’s something about summer that changes the way we drink. The days stretch longer, the evenings arrive slower, and suddenly, what’s in your glass starts to matter a little more. It’s no longer just about the pour, it’s about the mood it carries. This season
US Congressman Ro Khanna distances self from event featuring RSS general secretaryKhanna, who is widely expected to run for the Presidency in 2028, has also distanced himself from Hindutva politics in the past. Published on: Apr 26, 2026 10:22 AM IST By Shashank Mattoo Share via Copy link US
Donald Trump cancelled a planned trip by US officials to Pakistan for talks on the Iran war on Saturday, shortly after Tehran's delegation had left Islamabad. The US president said special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would be wasting "too much time"
Iran executed a man convicted of being a member of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and carrying out attacks on Iranian security forces, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported today. Authorities identified the man as Amer Ramesh
Ameesha Patel has made a big reveal about her family’s close ties with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The actor shared that Indira Gandhi was the first person to visit her after birth and even played a role in her parents’ wedding. ‘Indira Gandhi was the first person to come and see
There seems to be no letting up for Iga Swaitek, who encounters heartbreak again. Illness crashed her party just as momentum was building, as the Pole was forced to retire from her third-round clash at the Madrid Open on Saturday. Swiatek looked set for another gritty comeback after dropping the
Here is a small experiment. Imagine two yellow lines drawn on a railway track, one closer to you, one farther away. Which one looks longer? Almost everyone says the farther one. But both lines are exactly the same length. What makes it truly unsettling is this: even after you know it is an illusion
‘Violence not the way’: World leaders react to shooting incident at White House correspondents' dinnerTrump and other members of the US cabinet were evacuated after shots were fired during the annual correspondents dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington. Published on: Apr 26
Who is Nejm, the Tamil model who taught Bharatanatyam mudras to Rihanna
Who is Nejm, the Tamil model who taught Bharatanatyam mudras to Rihanna?
Who is Nejm, the Tamil model who taught Bharatanatyam mudras to Rihanna?
Nejm is a model, rapper and influencer from Tamil Nadu, India. She went viral for dancing with Rihanna.
Updated on: Apr 26, 2026 8:53 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link Global pop sensation Rihanna made a surprise visit to India on April 24 for the launch of her beauty brand, Fenty Beauty. The 38-year-old posed with paparazzi, danced with influencers, rubbed shoulders with the Ambanis, and generally made a splash on social media. Tamil model and influencer Nejm danced with Rihanna in Mumbai (Also read: Rihanna wins hearts as she invites paparazzi to pose with her at Mumbai event: ‘Just Queen things’. Watch) One video in particular made the internet take a collective gasp. It showed Rihanna learning Bharatnatyam mudras from a Tamil influencer named Nejm. Nejm shared two clips on Instagram, one of which reached over 5.6 million views. The Indian influencer showed Rihanna a few Bharatanatyam mudras and explained how emotions are conveyed through the eyes in this classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu.Who is Nejm?
Nejm is a model, rapper and influencer from Tamil Nadu, India. She won the Vogue Model of the Year award in 2025. Through her modelling, she wants to represent women who are “South Indian, dark-skinned, curvy, and strong”. The word “Nejm” means real in Tamil. She gave herself the name when she started making music as a teenager. “I’m a lyricist, rapper and storyteller. I began writing at 16 and started battling at 18,” she told The Word magazine in 2025. Nejm has over 6.8 lakh followers on Instagram, where she posts under the handle @keepinitnejm.How Nejm started modelling
In her older Instagram posts, Nejm has opened up about how she got her start in modelling while working with Microsoft in Chennai. She revealed that she went on a date in 2022 with a man who asked her, “Why aren’t you a model?” She initially laughed it off “because I’ve never seen anyone like me in the mainstream media growing up. Moreover, in the south they only prefer conventionally attractive women.” But her date passed her contact to a friend, and soon Nejm was on a flight to Mumbai. “Little did I know this weekend trip would change the course of my career,” she said in an Instagram post in September 2025 when she accepted the Vogue Model of the Year award. “For most of my life, I had been told to look a certain way or to change myself, until I reached a point where I stopped caring. I realised that criticism often says more about the person giving it…” she told the Word magazine, adding that she was pleasantly surprised by the modelling industry and how accepting it was. “Growing up, I never saw South Indian women truly celebrated for how we look. We're often curvy, plus-size, and dark-skinned-it's in our genes, it's who we are. “People might call that obese, but I'm healthy, strong, and fit. I've learned to see it as a blessing. Many of us in the South look like me-yet, for the longest time, we were made to feel like a minority,” she said. (Also read: Bharatanatyam dancer handles wardrobe malfunction mid-performance, continues dancing without missing a beat) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanya Jain Sanya Jain is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Digital. She has nearly a decade of experience in covering offbeat stories that speak to the everyday experience - from viral videos to human interest copies that spark conversation. Her interests stretch across business, pop culture, social media trends, entertainment and global affairs. Before joining Hindustan Times, Sanya spent two years with Moneycontrol and five years with NDTV. She holds an undergraduate degree in English literature from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and a master’s in journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai. Sanya has a sharp eye for spotting emerging trends and looking for newsworthy angles to elevate viral posts into meaningful narratives. She was the first one, for example, to cover Narayana Murthy’s remark on 70-hour work weeks that sparked a national conversation. She is equally at ease writing about business leaders as about the common man, about issues of national importance and memes that amuse social media. Sanya enjoys speaking with content creators, newsmakers and entrepreneurs to transform everyday moments into engaging, slice-of-life stories that resonate with readers. When she is not working, Sanya can be found curled up with a good book. Born and raised in Lucknow, she has spent the last several years in Delhi. She is deeply interested in animal welfare and now spends a lot of her time running after her destructive orange cat.Read More Rihanna tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world News/Trending/Who Is Nejm, The Tamil Model Who Taught Bharatanatyam Mudras To Rihanna? See LessGlobal pop sensation Rihanna made a surprise visit to India on April 24 for the launch of her beauty brand, Fenty Beauty. The 38-year-old posed with paparazzi, danced with influencers, rubbed shoulders with the Ambanis, and generally made a splash on social media.
(Also read: Rihanna wins hearts as she invites paparazzi to pose with her at Mumbai event: ‘Just Queen things’. Watch)
One video in particular made the internet take a collective gasp. It showed Rihanna learning Bharatnatyam mudras from a Tamil influencer named Nejm. Nejm shared two clips on Instagram, one of which reached over 5.6 million views. The Indian influencer showed Rihanna a few Bharatanatyam mudras and explained how emotions are conveyed through the eyes in this classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu.
She won the Vogue Model of the Year award in 2025. Through her modelling, she wants to represent women who are “South Indian, dark-skinned, curvy, and strong”.
The word “Nejm” means real in Tamil. She gave herself the name when she started making music as a teenager.
“I’m a lyricist, rapper and storyteller. I began writing at 16 and started battling at 18,” she told The Word magazine in 2025.
Nejm has over 6.8 lakh followers on Instagram, where she posts under the handle @keepinitnejm.
She revealed that she went on a date in 2022 with a man who asked her, “Why aren’t you a model?”
She initially laughed it off “because I’ve never seen anyone like me in the mainstream media growing up. Moreover, in the south they only prefer conventionally attractive women.”
But her date passed her contact to a friend, and soon Nejm was on a flight to Mumbai. “Little did I know this weekend trip would change the course of my career,” she said in an Instagram post in September 2025 when she accepted the Vogue Model of the Year award.
“For most of my life, I had been told to look a certain way or to change myself, until I reached a point where I stopped caring. I realised that criticism often says more about the person giving it…” she told the Word magazine, adding that she was pleasantly surprised by the modelling industry and how accepting it was.
“Growing up, I never saw South Indian women truly celebrated for how we look. We're often curvy, plus-size, and dark-skinned-it's in our genes, it's who we are.
“People might call that obese, but I'm healthy, strong, and fit. I've learned to see it as a blessing. Many of us in the South look like me-yet, for the longest time, we were made to feel like a minority,” she said.
(Also read: Bharatanatyam dancer handles wardrobe malfunction mid-performance, continues dancing without missing a beat)
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Bharatanatyam dancer handles wardrobe malfunction mid-performance Woman arrested after Rihanna's Beverly Hills mansion hit by gunfire Rihanna's Beverly Hills home hit by gunfire Rihanna gives birth to first daughter with A$AP Rocky Rihanna Gives Birth To Baby Girl Rihanna’s jewels do the talking Naga Chaitanya reveals he taught wife Sobhita Dhulipala driving on a racetrack Teacher' O'Neill with work to do as Celtic taught another lesson Meet Brunkow, Ramsdell & Sakaguchi — Nobel Prize-winning trio who taught the world how the immune system knows when to stop What 2025 Has Taught Us About Eating Right And Why Nutrition Is Getting Smarter
The country's textiles and garment exports fell 2.2% to $35.8 billion in 2025-26 due to contraction in shipments of key segments such as cotton, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Saturday (April 25, 2026). In rupee terms too, the exports fell 2.1% during the last fiscal
2 minutes ago
Several institutes awarded for advancing structured road safety educationSeveral institutes awarded for advancing structured road safety education Published on: Apr 25, 2026 8:55 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, The National Road Safety Education Excellence Awards 2025-26 on Saturday
2 minutes ago
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday (April 25, 2026) a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believed the incident was unlikely linked to the conflict. “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran
2 minutes ago
During the summer months, as more people spend time in swimming pools, there is a noticeable increase in cases of eye irritation and infections. Many patients present with what appears to be a simple complaint of redness or discomfort after a swim
2 minutes ago
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday cancelled the US delegation’s visit to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran. Trump said that too much time was being wasted on traveling and claimed that “there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their [Iranian] ‘leadership’
2 minutes ago
Six injured as Delhi-Zurich Swiss flight aborts takeoff after engine ‘issue’The A330 aircraft, operating flight LX147, was carrying 228 passengers and four infants when the incident occurred. Updated on: Apr 26, 2026 10:47 AM IST By Anita Goswami Share via Copy link Six passengers were injured
2 minutes ago
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms enterprise ecosystems, the role of AI Engineer-Customer Experience is gaining ground. This job involves the convergence of Computer Science, Data Intelligence, Software Engineering, and customer-centric Systems Design
2 minutes ago
Iran has presented a plan to Pakistan for a lasting end to the conflict with the United States in West Asia. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared the proposal after meetings in Islamabad. He expressed doubt about the US commitment to diplomatic solutions
2 minutes ago
April 26 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on April 26, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: Apr 26, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on April 26
2 minutes ago
When most people think of a village, they picture something slower, less connected, maybe even behind the times. “Smart cities," on the other hand, are supposed to be the future, efficient, digital, and fully integrated. In parts of India, some villages have quietly built systems that feel just
2 minutes ago
Before sunrise reached the lower slopes of the Gonasika Hills in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, Parmedhenu Juang was already in his field. It was early monsoon in June as the 54-year-old farmer bent over a patch of soil and let ragi fall through his fingers, examining the colour
2 minutes ago
On an August day in 2013, WhatsApp, the messaging app now owned by Meta, made an announcement. With relatively little fanfare, they revaled the voice note, the messaging feature that lets you send a clip of your own voice to friends and family
2 minutes ago
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost Anthony Edwards to a hyperextension and saw Donte DiVincenzo wheel out with a suspected Achilles injury — all before halftime. Anthony Edwards was helped to the locker room after an apparent knee injury. pic.twitter.com/rMAHGMK1ie— ESPN (@espn) April 26
2 minutes ago
From conflict to progress: Remote Irpanar village in Chhattisgarh gets electricityFrom conflict to progress: Remote Irpanar village in Chhattisgarh gets electricity Published on: Apr 26, 2026 10:33 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Raipur, A remote village in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad region
2 minutes ago
NEET Admit Card 2026 today: The National Testing Agency is all set to release National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Admit Card 2026 today, 26 April 2026, as per media reports. Students who will appear for the exam can download their NEET 2026 admit card from the official website — ‘neet
2 minutes ago
Delhi Capitals face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru today. Delhi suffered a heavy loss despite scoring 264 runs. Their bowlers struggled to defend the total. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in good form with a balanced team. Delhi must improve their bowling, especially at the death
2 minutes ago
The memories of long shooting days, dusty fields, and team lunches still linger when one thinks of Lagaan. But beyond the iconic scenes and songs, it’s the little behind-the-scenes moments that continue to surprise… even years later. In a recent chat with Just Too Filmy
2 minutes ago
The US military has conducted another strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, US Southern Command has said. Southern Command, whose area of responsibility includes South America, Central America and the Caribbean
2 minutes ago
Rashmika Mandanna has been busy with the shoot of her films. And now it is being reported that she is all set to raise the bar with her upcoming film Mysaa, as the makers have officially kicked off a high-octane shooting schedule in Kerala. The shoot is expected to be one of the most crucial phases
2 minutes ago
For decades, taste and convenience dictated how India snacked, shopped, and consumed food. Today, that hierarchy has shifted. Nutrition is no longer a secondary consideration, it is the starting point. Across urban households and younger demographics in particular
2 minutes ago
Tibetans living outside China are voting for their government-in-exile. This election holds great importance as they face a future without their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Central Tibetan Administration, based in India, is a crucial institution for these exiles
2 minutes ago
Step inside this stunning Mumbai home with a 125-year-old Burmese ceiling; internet says ‘even better than Taj Mahal’Here’s a sneak peek into Dr Jai Madaan, a popular astrologer’s Mumbai home that blends vintage charm with modern luxury. Published on: Apr 26
2 minutes ago
Karan Johar calls out Bollywood's hyper-masculinity, big alpha male' trend: ‘They’ll all have beards and will all smoke’Karan Johar criticised Bollywood's obsession with hyper-masculine storytelling, noting a lack of diversity in narratives. Apr 26, 2026
2 minutes ago
Sohan Singh is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. This appointment supports the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. Health screenings are underway for pilgrims at Rishikesh. The state government is improving yatra routes for safety and convenience
2 minutes ago
From ghee in eyes to curd at night: Oncologist reveals common Indian home remedies you should avoid and trustAn oncologist breaks down popular Indian home remedies, rating which ones may be harmful and which can actually support better health. Published on: Apr 26
2 minutes ago
Portrait of an Artist: Remembering Raghu RaiRaghu Rai, one of India’s most renowned photographers, died at a private hospital in Delhi on Sunday. Updated on: Apr 26, 2026 10:50 AM IST By Rohit Chawla Share via Copy link Raghu Rai, one of India’s most renowned photographers
2 minutes ago
Who is Nejm, the Tamil model who taught Bharatanatyam mudras to Rihanna?Nejm is a model, rapper and influencer from Tamil Nadu, India. She went viral for dancing with Rihanna. Updated on: Apr 26, 2026 8:53 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link Global pop sensation Rihanna made a surprise visit
2 minutes ago
