No filter: Chennaiites applaud this fashion influencer’s parenting style

Rupjyoti Gogoi is a fashion influencer based in Chennai who goes by her Insta handle ‘sherriied’, after her daughter Agrata’s nickname. This mother-daughter duo has taken the city by storm and become a staple at fashion events. Many people look forward to seeing how they turn out, will they be wearing coordinated looks and so on. She started taking her daughter to child-friendly events because of their shared love for fashion, dressing up, makeup and all things girly. 

Initially, Chennaiites were quite surprised that Roop’s 7-year-old accompanied her to events but little did Roop know that she was starting a trend. Now you see other parents bringing their children to events and even brands sending them matching outfits. In the last year, she has inspired other influencers in the city to post pictures with their little ones and being more open about the challenges and pleasures of motherhood.

From getting their haircut together to spending the day bouncing around on a trampoline, Roop, with one post at a time, is changing mindsets. More mothers in the city are now making time for themselves without feeling guilty and her DMs are proof of that. However, trolls are inevitable and Roop has had to deal with well-meaning people commenting on her parenting style and some even go so far as to tell her how to parent her daughter. Without missing a beat, she tells me, “I understand where all these comments come from and the majority of people seem to enjoy my posts with my daughter. My daughter has always loved dressing up. In fact, even when she is not in the picture, she is clicking my photos or it’s my supportive husband behind the camera. I’m also getting messages from people asking me to start a separate account for my daughter but I want her to have fun and enjoy her childhood. When she is older, she can decide for herself if she wants one and I will be there to help her. I’m real and I share the fun times and the difficult moments and that seems to resonate with people, they feel like they are not alone.”

For Roop changing mindsets began at home as ‘fashion influencer’ was not a term her parents and close relatives understood. They took time to understand and embrace what she does and she laughs and tells me, “It feels nice to no longer have to listen to my loved ones asking me when I’ll find a real job.” They say parenting is a full-time job and Roop does it with great style.

Actor Vijay Sethupathi fondly referred to as Makkal Selvan (meaning people’s treasure) proved to us why he is loved by all. I am not referring to his brilliant acting but his actions earlier this week. A valet while retrieving his car met with an accident which resulted in his car being damaged. I am told that the valet was panic-stricken and thought his job was on the line for damaging a celebrity’s expensive car. When he delivered the bad news with great trepidation, Vijay Sethupathi proved to be a hero in real life and took the time to calm the man’s fears and even take him to a store nearby and got him something to eat. 

The valet I am told was moved by this gesture. He even went the extra mile by calling the owner of the establishment and requesting him to not take the valet to task or fire him over this incident. This incident could have been handled in multiple ways and most of them would have resulted in this valet losing his job but Sethupathi retained his cool and handled it with great empathy. It reminds of what Albert Einstein once said ‘Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized’. I am sure the actor has won over even more hearts by this one act of kindness and understanding.