As Arjun Kapoor’s love interest in the recently released web film, Sardar Ka Grandson, Rakul Preet Singh says she was reminded of the time she spent with her grandparents, listening to stories of how the world had changed, post-partition. “Filmming this was heart-warming because it has a beautiful emotional undertone. I connected with the story because, like the characters in the film, my grandparents also belonged to that part of the world [pre-partition Lahore]. I have grown up listening to stories from my grandparents. The film stresses on valuing your family.”
Singh could also draw parallels between the personality traits of her character, and herself. “Radha likes to get her work done correctly. I could relate to that because I am also a walking-talking time table, and particular about things,” she says of the film that narrates the story of a man who returns from the US to fulfil his ageing grandmother’s (Neena Gupta) last wish.
In the pipeline for Singh is Doctor G, starring Ayushmann Khurrana. “We were to start shooting in April but that didn’t happen. Once I wrap this up, I will begin my new film [in the role of a condom tester]. I am grateful for the opportunity to play such contrasting characters.”
Tales from Rakul Preet’s childhood
Jackie Shroff’s impromptu act in Ishaan Khatter-starrer phone Booth
A look at the slate of films that he has been working on of late is testimony that Jackie Shroff has been increasingly interested in sharing screen space with the younger breed of actors. After collaborating with Aadar Jain in Hello Charlie, he will now be seen alongside Sidharth Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khatter in Phone Bhoot. The younger lot of actors, he says, pose a challenge to artistes of his kind. “They have a positive energy on set, and are spontaneous. I also try to be like them and think on the spot. It is fun, almost like playing table tennis. You have to be constantly alert with these babies around you. They may seem to be all about play, but they are sincere about their job.”
Having enjoyed a run in cinema for several decades, he is now taking advantage of all that the web platform has to offer. “The web space presents beautiful stuff. I am often confused about what to take up, and what to let go of. I am trying to limit [my choices] because I’d rather do farming, cook, and take care of those who are suffering. Earlier, I didn’t have time because I was busy shooting. Now, I have time, and I want to do as my heart desires.”
Malala signs deal with Apple TV to produce documentaries on women, children
The multi-year partnership would “draw on her ability to inspire people around the world”, the company said in a statement, adding that content would also in clude animation and children’s series.Pakistani ac tivist Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize as a teenager after surviv ing a Taliban assassination attempt, has signed a deal with Apple TV that will see her produce dramas and documentaries that focus on women and children.The multi-year partnership would “draw on her ability to inspire people around the world”, the company said in a state ment, adding that content would also include anima tion and children’s series.
“I’m grateful for the oppor tunity to support women, young people, writers, and artists in reflecting the world as they see it,” the 23-year-old was quoted as saying.
Yousafzai earned the wrath of the Taliban as a 10-year old in rural northwest Pak istan when she began campaigning for education rights for girls.At the time, the Pakistani Taliban had gained a significant foothold in the Swat Valley, imposing a fundamentalist version of Islam on areas they controlled — banning education for girls and em ployment for women . Yousafzai drew interna tional attention with a se ries of blogs and articles she wrote about everyday life and hopes for a better future, but her fame in censed the Taliban, whose leadership ordered her murder.
In October 2012, a Taliban assassin shot the then-15- year-old as she rode home on a bus from school. The bullet struck near her left eye, went through her neck and lodged in her shoulder. She recovered after months of treatment at home and abroad before co-writing a best-selling memoir titled “I am Malala”, which drew even more in ternational attention. Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize as a 17- year-old in 2014, sharing the award with Kailash Sat yarthi, a children’s rights activist from India. She graduated from Britain’s Oxford University last year and has since cre ated a digital publication for girls and women, and formed her own TV produc tion company.”I believe in the power of stories to bring families together, forge friendships, build movements, and inspire children to dream,” she was quoted as saying in Monday’s statement.
OWNER OF SUV FOUND OUTSIDE AMBANI’S HOUSE WITH EXPLO SIVES DEAD IN THANE
Mansukh Hiren, the man who came forward to say the SUV found with some explosives near billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence, was a vehicle he had reported stolen on February 18, was found dead in Kalwa creek on Friday morning, hours after his family reported he was missing.The police have claimed he died by suicide, but the circumstances and the timing of Hiren’s death are curious. Hiren’s body wasspotted stuck by a fisherman On February 26, an SUV he reported missing on February 18 was found with 20 gelatin sticks, and a threatening note ad dressed to Ambani and his wife. Hiren came forward soon to confirm that the SUV was his. Hiren’s family refused to accept that he died by suicide, with his wife saying he left home informing that he got a call from the crime branch asking to meet him at Ghod bunder Road.
People without masks will be fined Radhakrishnan
on-compliance with mask wearing would invite spot fines, Health Department officials said. On visiting key shopping areas in Chennai on Monday, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan not only ad vised persons who did not wear masks, but also imposed a fine of ₹200 on the spot.
T.N. reports 556 fresh cases of COVID-19
Tamil Nadu’s daily count of COVID-19 cases stayed above the 500 mark for the fourth day in a row. A total of 556 persons tested positive for the infection in the State, taking the overall tally to 8,55,677. There were 229 cases in Chennai. ”
DMK signs pacts with CPI(M), other parties
The DMK on Monday signed a seat-sharing agree ment with the CPI(M) for six Assembly seats. It also signed an agreement with the Tamizhaga Vazhvuri mai Katchi, the Aathi Thamizhar Peravai and the Makkal Viduthalai Katchi for one seat each. Candi dates of these three parties will contest on the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol.
Delhi’s Covid-19 cases breach 300-mark third time this month
New Delhi: As many as 234 patients recovered in the last 24 hours and the recoveries are nearing 629,000 while the active cases have climbed to 1,812, the health depart ment’s bulletin showed.Delhi registered 320 fresh cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the third time in March when the daily count went above the 300-mark, data from the health de partment’s bulletin showed. According to data, there were 312 cases on March 5 and 321 on March 6—the highest in nearly 1.5 months after 340 infections were reported on January 14. The new infections have pushed the Capital’s caseload to 641,660 and the death toll has gone up to 10,928 after four related fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to the health department’s bul letin. As many as 234 pa tients recovered in the last 24 hours and the recover ies are nearing 629,000 while the active cases have climbed to 1,812, the bul letin added. The fresh Covid-19 cases on Tues day were a result of 66,744 tests carried out of which 40,885 were RT-PCR/CB NAAT/TruNat tests while the remaining 25,859 were rapid antigen tests.
From Ajay Bhatt to Dhan Singh Rawat, frontrunners in CM race to succeed Trivendra Rawat
New Delhi: Ending days of speculations of a change in leadership in Uttarakhand, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday submitted his resignation as the CM to Governor Baby Rani Maurya. Rawat submitted his resigna tion to Governor Baby Rani Maurya at Raj Bhawan after his arrival from Delhi, where he met the party’s central leadership.The party gave me a golden opportunity to serve this State for four years. I had never thought that I would get such an opportunity. The party has now decided that the opportunity to serve as CM should be given to some one else now: Trivendra Singh Rawat said. The BJP has called a meeting of its Legislature Party at 10 am on Wednesday to decide on Rawat’s successor.
Now after Trivendra Singh Rawat’s res ignation, five names are lead ing in the race for the new Uttarakhand CM, of which cabinet minister in the state government Satpal Maharaj, Dhan Singh Rawat, Minister of State (Independent Charge) and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank are the frontrunners. However, some media re ports have also suggested that BJP’s national media in charge and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni could grab the top post in Uttarak hand.
Meanwhile, a camp in Uttarakhand BJP camp is also suggesting the name of Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt.With the BJP mulling a change of leadership in Uttarakhand, state minister Dhan Singh Rawat has emerged as a frontrunner for the chief min ister’s post. His name emerged after the central BJP leadership recently sent two observers, party vice presi dent Raman Singh and gen eral secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam, to the state to get feedback from the party’s core group in the state. Rawat represents the Srinagar Garhwal con stituency in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.
‘Double Engine’ Government has transformed Tripura : Modi
New Delhi: The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in augurated ‘Maitri Setu’ be tween India and Bangladesh today through a video conference. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure proj ects in Tripura. The Gover nor and the Chief Minister of Tripura were present. Video Message from the Bangladesh Prime Minister was played on the occa sion.Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said that Tripura is experiencing the clear difference between the 30 years of earlier gov ernments and the ‘double engine’ government of the last three years. In place of corruption and commission culture of earlier years, benefits are reaching di rectly in the accounts of the beneficiaries. He also re called that employees who were hassled over the salary on time are getting salary as per 7th pay com mission. For the first time, MSP has been decided in Tripura where farmers used to face many prob lems for selling their pro duce. He also noted the environment of ease of doing business in place of the earlier culture of strikes. New investments are changing the earlier scenario of closure of in dustry. He said exports from Tripura in terms of vol ume have increased 5 times.The Prime Minister informed that in the past 6 years, the central govern ment has taken care of every requirement for the development of Tripura.
He said there has been a sig nificant hike in the central allocation for the state. Tripura had received Rs 3500 crore rupees for cen tral development schemes between 2009-2014 whereas, between 2014- 2019 more than Rs 12000 crore has been provided.The Prime Minis ter dwelled on the benefits Delhi will bid for the 2048 Olympic games. We will create whatever in frastructure and other fa cilities are required for it: We have presented a budget of Rs 69,000 crore this year, which is 6% more than the budget of Rs 65,000 crore last yeal of ‘double engine’ govern ments. He pointed out that the states where there is no ‘double engine’ govern ment, are witnessing non implementation of very slow progress of schemes for strengthening the poor, farmers and women. He asserted that the ‘double engine’ government is working to strengthen Tripura.