Tribe Time Over Screen Time

When was the last time a text from a friend felt like a hug? In our always-online lives, we have swapped bonds for busy schedules and shallow pings. Now, with loneliness on the rise, people are reclaiming friendship the old-school way — face-to-face! People are logging off and joining hobby clubs, walking groups and community activities. Friendships are springing up in the most unlikely places as people move outside their well-oiled tracks and make new connections by trying out new avenues.

Hyderabad is no exception to this phenomenon. The city is no longer just about its past. Its social scene is undergoing a renaissance. Perhaps that’s why Hyderabad is witnessing a rise in art cafés, many of them founded by entrepreneurs still in their twenties.

Painting people in

Consider the sip-and-paint phenomenon. Even stars like Sreeleela are joining the canvas. "We've watched stressed professionals find a creative escape. People may come for the paint, but they stay for the people, says Neha Singh, Founder, Studio Novera, which has built a loyal community around hobby-based events in the city. “It's a chance to switch off, make something with your own hands. The painting is just a bonus! Having Sreeleela join the session certainly added to the buzz. She created her own customised sipper.”

Hands-on connect

And then there is the workshop boom. A decade ago, Hyderabad’s social calendar revolved around just dinners. Today, it’s just as likely to feature a pottery wheel, a perfume lab, a terrarium workshop or a sushi-making masterclass. The city is expressing itself through creativity. There's also candle-making, resin art, baking classes, pizza-making, sangria crafting, mixology sessions. They are the choice of the new gen over passive entertainment.

Sahil Singh, the founder of Artea—known for popular workshops that bring together people from across the city, shares his perspective. “Why do workshops work? It means you’re collaborating, laughing at mistakes and problem-solving as a team! You leave with something tangible, like a mug you glazed or a scent you mixed. That object keeps the memory alive long after the date. You see how your partner handles new challenges, it’s revealing in a good way. They solve the urban loneliness problem by design.”

Wellness is another binding factor. Adika Yoga’s Neelam Mangat says music and wellness fests help people slow down. “Music helps people meet an emotional need together.”

Meeting of minds

“My YouTube channel introduced me to entrepreneurs working in the sustainability space, while satsangs, meditation programmes and spiritual gatherings helped me connect with people outside my usual circles, There’s something powerful about meeting others in spaces centred on growth, mindfulness and a deeper understanding of life. What keeps these friendships strong is our shared curiosity. We exchange books, an insightful article, a new sustainability innovation or an inspiring initiative.” — Shilpa Reddy, Entrepreneur & Social Activist

From strangers to BFFs

“I once asked a stranger in Budapest if I could share her table. Ten years on, she’s one of my closest friends. She lives in Berlin, we visit each other often and we have travelled everywhere from Europe to Thailand together. Behind the lights and runway shows, there’s plenty of pressure and competition. The genuine connections I have made took time, and interestingly, some of the warmest people I met were models!” — Asmita Marwa, Fashion Designer

Bonding over heritage, hobbies and calamity

“You know where I made a friend? While stuck in Bombay traffic during a full-blown flood. Rain everywhere, cars going nowhere and somehow people just showed up for each other. We started out exchanging flood-survival tips and ended up with a friendship that means more to me than most.”