Leher Kala is a multifaceted journalist, columnist, and filmmaker associated with The Indian Express. She is widely recognized for her sharp social commentary and lifestyle writing, which explores the nuances of modern Indian society, culture, and human behavior.
Professional Experience & Career Kala began her journalistic journey in 2000 with the India Today Group, gaining early experience in one of India's leading media houses. She subsequently joined The Indian Express, where she served as the Editor of Daily Features for four years, playing a key role in shaping the newspaper's lifestyle and feature content.
In addition to her print journalism career, she has experience in broadcast media, having worked with Aaj Tak. Broadening her creative scope, she ventured into filmmaking and founded Hutkay Films, a production house specializing in bespoke documentary-style celebration movies and biographies.
Expertise & Writing Style Since 2010, Leher Kala has been a regular columnist for The Indian Express. Her writing is known for its wit, observational depth, and ability to critique social trends. Her columns often dissect:
Social Trends & Lifestyle: From the "quiet luxury" of the elite to the changing dynamics of Indian weddings and social behavior.
Cultural Commentary: She writes extensively on the intersection of tradition and modernity in India.
Human Condition: Her pieces frequently touch upon philosophical themes, mental well-being, and the pressures of contemporary life.
Her column has often been titled "On The Loose," reflecting her free-ranging and candid take on the world around her.
Authoritativeness With over two decades of experience in the media industry, Kala has established herself as a distinct voice in Indian lifestyle journalism. Her ability to transition between hard news environments and feature writing, as well as her entrepreneurial venture in filmmaking, demonstrates a versatile command over storytelling in both text and visual formats.
Find all Columns from Leher Kala here

June 19,2017 00:00:49 AM
Life in India is tough enough. At least we can count on the staggering intellectuals who have written this gem of a booklet to give us a few laughs. It’s not worth wasting newsprint rubbishing the Ayush Ministry’s laughably unscientific theories for pregnant women since you don’t need to be a doctor to gauge its ludicrousness.
Mon, Jun 19, 2017
June 12,2017 00:47:38 AM
Unisex uniforms are the way forward to prevent charges of vulgarity.
Mon, Jun 12, 2017
June 05,2017 00:18:09 AM
Almost nobody I know fights in person anymore. Colleagues disagree on e-mail. Spouses express themselves with curt texts.
Mon, Jun 05, 2017
May 23,2017 00:05:29 AM
Shabana Azmi’s photograph from over four decades ago shows how fundamentally the film festival has changed.
Tue, May 23, 2017
May 22,2017 00:00:14 AM
New age TV shows shock, and start a conversation on uncomfortable issues.
Mon, May 22, 2017
May 15,2017 00:00:14 AM
Don’t knock the couch conversations
Mon, May 15, 2017
April 24,2017 00:05:33 AM
For women, divorce continues to be a raw deal.
Mon, Apr 24, 2017
April 10,2017 00:10:10 AM
It’s morbidly hilarious, reminiscent of an apocalypse story set in an alternate universe where a mute electorate falls for whatever nonsense is fed to them.
Mon, Apr 10, 2017
April 03,2017 00:00:32 AM
The issue of absence from Rajya Sabha has been reported several times, notably four months ago, when only 23 MPs showed up when a minimum of 25 out of 245 members are required to start proceedings.
Mon, Apr 03, 2017
March 13,2017 06:58:13 AM
Thousands of couples in India are seeking divorce for the simplest and best of reasons, that they no longer like each other.
Mon, Mar 13, 2017
March 05,2017 23:49:03 PM
...but when it comes to harassment, a man’s word doesn’t count for much.
Sun, Mar 05, 2017
February 27,2017 00:00:37 AM
The case for extravagant weddings.
Mon, Feb 27, 2017
February 20,2017 00:11:55 AM
Small solutions for the apocalyptic atmosphere
Mon, Feb 20, 2017
February 13,2017 00:05:38 AM
Beyond a point, we, the credit card swiping and cheque book toting lot, cannot possibly understand the trauma of the withdrawal of high denomination notes for vast swathes of India’s population
Mon, Feb 13, 2017
January 31,2017 00:05:09 AM
Delhi, particularly, has among the deadliest roads in the world, both, for pedestrians and vehicle owners.
Tue, Jan 31, 2017
January 23,2017 04:52:32 AM
Quoting Meryl Streep as a role model for India’s mute film industry is glossing over what exactly happens when Indians of stature engage in political discourse.
Mon, Jan 23, 2017
January 16,2017 00:00:54 AM
Gratuities should be mandatory.
Mon, Jan 16, 2017
January 09,2017 00:45:55 AM
Parents want their daughters to be safe rather than defiant poster girls for gender parity. If that means curbing a few freedoms, so be it.
Mon, Jan 09, 2017
December 19,2016 00:58:06 AM
Much laddu about nothing.
Mon, Dec 19, 2016
December 12,2016 00:04:33 AM
The Indian school syllabus may be boring but it teaches life skills
Mon, Dec 12, 2016
November 28,2016 00:00:02 AM
All stories need to be told, not just politically correct ones
Mon, Nov 28, 2016


