MAM
Weekend Unwind with LA Empire’s Ankit Lodha
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind – a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have LA Empire founder Ankit Lodha, a visionary entrepreneur transforming the rental and vacation home market. Since launching LA Empire in 2022, Ankit has tackled key industry issues like fake listings and price transparency, growing a portfolio of nearly 30 properties across rentals and vacation homes. With flexible mid-term leases and unique experiences, LA Empire is setting new standards in real estate.
Without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life
Nothing changes, if nothing changes. If you want to achieve something you never had, you have to be ready to do something you have never done before.
A book you are currently reading or plan to read
Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell, it focusses on how to scale business, fast, while avoiding burnout. Trading money for time—that is, buying back free space in your calendar—will give you more financial success than you ever dreamed possible.
Your fitness mantra
I don’t let my mind hold my body back. Every day I aim to push myself and do something new to challenge myself and grow physically and mentally.
Your comfort food
Italian food is my comfort food, Pizza; Pasta all day, every day!
A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
The future you is depending on the current you to keep the promises you made in yesterday.
Your guilty pleasure
I am passionate about cars and enjoy going for long drive. Right now, my favourites guilty pleasures are my Ferrari, Porsche and Maybach.
The last time you tried something new
Last week, I started doing 30 second cold plunge every day after a long workout session.
A life lesson you learned the hard way
Same inputs = same outputs. You can’t expect your life to change if you keep doing the same things. Same inputs will give you same outputs. Once I realized this, I started changing my inputs and then saw the change in outputs as well
What gets you excited about life?
Helping people by solving their problems through modern real estate solutions. When people move to new cities and country, they can focus on the main objective such as education, job, career and not worry about their housing or set-up issues. Personally gone through the situation, I understand the pain points and now I like to solve their problems through next generation real estate solutions.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
To buy a private jet – it’s like a time machine. It can take us from one global office location meeting to another very quickly and be back to the office on same day
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Believe in yourself. Everyday focus on improving yourself and start embodying the future version of yourself that you want to be. It will help you bridge the gap between current version of yourself and future version of you.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
I would change extreme weather conditions, for example: hurricanes; tsunamis; blizzards; etc. The number of lives saved as well as money would be amazing.
An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
Going to gym or doing anything physical such as running, swimming going or even simple physical activities such as going out of walk in nature of garden.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Practicing Gratitude. I start focusing on the positive aspects of your life can create an instant shift in your perspective. Taking a moment to reflect on the things you’re grateful for – whether it’s a supportive friend, a beautiful sunset, or a small accomplishment. This practice can bring a sense of contentment and happiness.
Your go-to stress buster
Is to be active. Being active won’t make stress disappear, but it can help to reduce some of the intense emotions you’re feeling. It can also help to clear your thoughts. This will help in dealing with your problems more calmly.
There are lots of ways to be more active. Activities with breathing exercises and movement are particularly helpful for stress. One example of this is yoga.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
