Month: January 2025

Actor Kriti Sanon will be seen sharing screen space with Dhanush in Aanand L Rai’s ‘Tere Ishk Mein’.

On Tuesday, the makers announced Kriti’s casting by sharing an intriguing promo.

The video shows Kriti’s character Mukti, pouring kerosene on herself as she prepares to set herself on fire. Later, she could be seen sitting in a corner and lighting a cigarette.

Sharing the clip, Dhanush on Instagram wrote, “Some love stories are destined to rise from the flames.

Witness SHANKAR and MUKTI in #TereIshkMein. From the #WorldOfRaanjhanaa – a story that’s unforgettable. In cinemas 28.11.2025.”

‘Tere Ishk Mein’, set to go on floors in 2025, is a spiritual successor to the world of Raanjhanaa, delving deeper into themes of unrequited love, longing, and emotional conflict.The film will be released in theatres on November 28.

Gulshan Kumar, T-Series, and Colour Yellow present ‘Tere Ishk Mein’, produced by Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma, produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. The film directed by Aanand L Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma, is an A.R. Rahman musical with lyrics by Irshad Kamil.

Meanwhile, in November, Kriti attended IFFI 2024 where she opened up about her dream roles.

Asked about her dream role, Kriti said, “This is a very tough question because there’s nothing like doing one role and then not wanting to do anything else after that. There’s no such role. There are so many different kinds of roles that I haven’t done yet, and I want to do them. I would love to be a superwoman. I think India me zyada ye hua hain. I would love to do action. I would also love to play a completely negative character.” (ANI)

The Jonas Brothers are set to make Christmas exciting for their fans as the trio–Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas–reunite with Disney to produce and star in a comedy movie, slated for release during the 2025 holiday season, as reported by Variety.

According to Variety, in the film, which is currently titled Jonas Brothers Christmas Movie, Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas “face a series of escalating obstacles as they struggle to make it from London to New York in time to spend Christmas with their families,” as described in the logline.

Oscar-winning director Jessica Yu (Quiz Lady, This Is Us) will helm the movie, which is produced by 20th Television (a part of Disney Television Studios), with writer-producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (I Want You Back, This Is Us, and Love, Simon). The Jonas Brothers are producing alongside Adam Fishbach, Spencer Berman, and Scott Morgan. Grammy-nominated Justin Tranter will serve as executive music producer and write original songs for the film.

The Jonas Brothers have a long history with Disney. The pop rock trio, known for hits like “Year 3000,” “Burnin’ Up,” and more recently, “Sucker,” released their second album on Hollywood Records, a Disney-owned label. The brothers became a staple on the Disney Channel and starred in the original movies Camp Rock and its sequel, according to Variety.

They also released two more albums on Hollywood Records and led their own Disney Channel series titled Jonas.

The band parted ways in 2013 but reunited six years later with “Sucker.” (ANI)

Amid the ongoing investigation into Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing case, the Mumbai Police on Tuesday held a press meeting, where they claimed that they have ample evidence against the arrested accused.

The Police also confirmed that the accused entered India from Bangladesh and stayed at various locations in Kolkata for several days.

During the press conference, Paramjit Singh Dahiya, Additional Commissioner of Police, shut down rumours that the fingerprints did not match the accused.

The spokesperson said, “Whenever an accusation is arrested, multiple pieces of evidence are collected against it. We have found much oral, physical, and technical evidence against the accused… We have caught the right person.”

Earlier this month, Saif was attacked by an intruder, later identified as Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, who entered his home with the intent to commit theft.

After a violent confrontation with the accused, Saifn sustained stab wounds to his thoracic spine and other body parts. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for immediate treatment following the attack.

Saif was discharged from Lilavati Hospital after surgery last week. Upon returning to his Bandra residence, he greeted the media and acknowledged their presence.

Hours after the incident, Saif’s wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan also issued a statement urging fans and media to respect the family’s privacy in difficult times.

“It has been an incredibly challenging day for our family, and we are still trying to process the events that have unfolded. As we navigate this difficult time, I respectfully and humbly request that the media and paparazzi refrain from the relentless speculation and coverage,” Kareena stated.

She further emphasised the overwhelming nature of the constant scrutiny.

“While we appreciate the concern and support, the constant scrutiny and attention are not only overwhelming but also pose a significant risk to our safety. I kindly request that you respect our boundaries and give us the space we need to heal and cope as a family. I would like to thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation during this sensitive time,” the statement read. (ANI)

Boman Irani and his wife Zenobia are celebrating 40 years of togetherness and the ‘3 Idiots’ actor made it more special with his adorable anniversary post.

Taking to his Instagram handle, he shared a collage of pictures with his wife and wrote, “So it bugs me when the whole world thinks you’re this darling angel. Only I know what a real pain in the behind you can be. 40 years of experience. However… Who wants to marry an angel??? I got a pain in the behind who is also an angel. That’s the combo that shaped me. Shaped us. Shaped family. Had laughs. Navigated. 40 years together, old friend. Love you..#HappyAnniversary #40YearsOfBeingTogether”

After his post, Saba Pataudi also wished the couple on their wedding anniversary, she wrote in the comment section, “Happpppyyyy Anniversary! How beautiful..To the next 40 .. much love.”

Farah Khan Kunder commented, “Happy anniversary you 2. Could hav bn me bomzi if only u had waited”

Boman and Zenobia are blessed with two sons, Danesh and Kayoze. Boman has featured in films like ‘ Munna bhai MBBS’, ‘Main Hoon Na, ‘3 Idiots’, ‘Jolly LLB’ to name a few.

Meanwhile, Boman Irani’s directorial debut ‘The Mehta Boys’ is all set to be out on OTT.

Avinash Tiwary, Shreya Chaudhry, and Puja Sarup will be seen in the lead roles along with Boman Irani.

As per the makers, ‘The Mehta Boys’ tells the “story of a father and son, at odds with each other, who are unexpectedly compelled to spend 48 hours together. The film follows their tumultuous journey and offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities often inherent in a father-son relationship.”

The Mehta Boys had its global premiere at the prestigious 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) held in September 2024, winning the Best Feature Film Award at the festival followed by a Best Actor win for Boman Irani at the International Film Festival of South Asia in Toronto held in October 2024. The movie made its Asia debut at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa in November 2024 and also opened the Indian Film Festival Berlin in January 2025. (ANI)

After enjoying a year filled with booming performances, India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, on Tuesday was honoured with the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2024.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the award on X, revealing that Bumrah had triumphed over Australia’s Travis Head and English batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook.

At 31 years old, Bumrah becomes the fifth Indian player to win this coveted award, joining the ranks of Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016), and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).

Throughout 2024, Bumrah showcased exceptional expertise, precision, skill, and consistency. Even India stalwart Virat Kohli could not help but call Bumrah a “national treasure” after India’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados last year.

Bumrah was the leader of India’s fiery pace attack, ending the country’s 17-year-long wait for a T20 World Cup trophy. He claimed 15 wickets during the tournament at a remarkable average of 8.26, with an economy rate of just 4.17. His outstanding performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

Bumrah’s brilliance was not limited to white-ball cricket. His impressive run extended to red-ball cricket as well. The ICC’s number-one ranked Test bowler became the fastest Indian pacer to reach 200 Test wickets, achieving the feat with a sub-20 bowling average — the best in history.

Overall, Bumrah claimed 71 Test wickets in just 13 matches in 2024, the highest by any bowler that year. He is second only to the legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev for the most wickets by an Indian pacer in a calendar year. He was also the leading wicket-taker in 2024, surpassing England’s Gus Atkinson, who took 52 wickets.

One of Bumrah’s standout performances in 2024 was his memorable spell against arch-rivals Pakistan. In the group stage of the T20 World Cup, Bumrah’s stunning figures of 3-14 played a pivotal role in India’s unprecedented victory.

In the final against South Africa, he delivered an impressive 2-18 from four overs, taking crucial wickets, including those of Reeza Hendricks and Marco Jansen. (ANI)

The ruling party of Serbia, the Serbian Progressive Party on Tuesday announced that Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has submitted his “irrevocable resignation.”

In a statement, the party quoted Vucevic emphasising the responsibility of those in leadership and revealing that his decision came after a conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who accepted his resignation.

In a rough translation, the Serbian Progressive Party wrote on X, “The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Milos Vucevic @milos_vucevic announced that he was submitting his irrevocable resignation from that position, and emphasised that by doing so, we are demonstrating the responsibility of those who are elected to be responsible.”

In a statement, the party said, “The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, announced today that he is submitting his irrevocable resignation from that position. Vucevic said that he made the irrevocable decision to resign after last night’s events in Novi Sad when students were attacked.”

According to Radio Free Europe, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the Serbian capital, Belgrade, as a general strike swept across the country on January 24.

Protesters demanded accountability and justice for the victims killed in the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November.

Students had blocked more than 60 faculties and two university headquarters on January 24 in the Serbian capital. Protesters marked 15 minutes of silence to remember each person killed in the railway station collapse. Calling for a general strike, they urged citizens to refrain from going to work, shopping, or making any other financial transactions. More than 200 companies across Serbia announced they had suspended operations on January 24 in solidarity with the students. (ANI)

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday granted custody parole to AIMIM candidate and Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain to campaign ahead of Delhi Assembly polls from January 29 to February 3.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta orders that Hussain shall be released from jail as per jail manual timing upon the deposit of the expenses i.e. around 2 lakh per day (12 hours).

Hussain would leave the jail for campaigning as per jail manuals timing and return each evening.

The apex court said that Hussain shall bear all the expenses for his custody parole including for Delhi police officials to be deputed with him and jail van and escort expenses.

He was further directed not to make any address about the case pending against him and meeting witnesses.

Hussain while agreeing to bear the expenses of police escort also gave an undertaking to the bench that he would not visit his house, which the police alleged to be the place where the criminal conspiracy was hatched.

The top court has directed Hussain to deposit upfront a sum of Rs. 2,07,429, for expenses for two days.

Earlier in the day apex court asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for Delhi police, to take instruction regarding the security arrangements and required expenses, in the event of grant of custody parole to Hussain.

ASG, however, objected to the interim bail and custody parole to Hussain saying it would open floodgates as many other prisoners would also seek interim bail/custody parole citing the need to contest elections.

Last week, a two-judge bench of the top court gave a split order on a plea of Hussain seeking interim bail for campaigning ahead of Delhi Assembly polls.

While Justice Pankaj Mithal refused to grant interim bail to Hussain, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah gave interim bail to him to campaign for the Delhi election.

Hussain, a former Aam Aadmi Party councillor, was granted custody parole by the Delhi High Court on January 14 to file his nomination from the Mustafabad constituency.

He has challenged the Delhi High Court’s order which had denied him interim bail to campaign for the upcoming Delhi election.

In the High Court Delhi Police opposed Hussain’s plea for interim bail because of the gravity of the allegations saying he was the main perpetrator in the violence, resulting in the death of several persons.

The High Court had said about 11 FIRs were registered against Hussain in connection with the riots and he was admittedly in custody in a related money laundering case and UAPA case.

Hussain was booked in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Violence broke out in North-East Delhi on February 24, 2020, leaving 53 dead and several injured. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the Yamuna pollution issue, saying that the river was “smelling like a sewer.”

Addressing a public gathering in Mangolpuri Assembly Constituency in Delhi, he attacked the AAP and said people who have suffered the sins of the AAP government in Delhi will be freed of their sins soon.

“Roads in Delhi are so bad. You know it better. What do you think the conditions in Delhi must be like? When I was coming from Ghaziabad to Delhi today. Yamuna ji, which was once a symbol of faith for all of us, there was a foul smell coming from there, it smelled like sewer. The people who have suffered the sins of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi will be freed of their sins soon…There is only one way to get rid of this, a BJP government should be formed in Delhi as well,” he said.

“The AAP government in Delhi has become a synonym for anarchy. Not only their leaders but the entire party stands for corruption now. Anna Hazare’s entire political campaign revolved around Jan Lokpal but when their government was formed in the national capital, they did not even consider working on it. They used to talk about accountability to people but what are they doing now?” the CM Yogi further said.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (ANI)

The Supreme Court of India on Monday expressed concern over the failure of investigating agencies to file appeals in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, despite explicit recommendations from a committee.

The bench also directed the Centre to clarify why all orders of acquittal and dismissal were not challenged in appellate courts.

The Court noted submissions made by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre and the Delhi Police, who informed the Court that trials in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were conducted in a manner that resulted in acquittals rather than convictions.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the Centre to provide details on why cases dismissed by the Delhi High Court due to delays were not challenged via Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) in the Supreme Court.

The bench adjourned the matter to February 3, 2025, noting that the status report filed by the Centre had not been placed on record and expressing a desire to review it first.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by Gurlad Singh Kahlon, in which the Supreme Court had, in January 2018, ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Justice SN. Dhingra to re-examine 186 reopened cases of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The petitioners were represented by advocates Amarjeet Singh Bedi (AOR) and Gaganmeet Singh Sachdeva.

In the last hearing, the Supreme Court had directed the Central Government to file a status report on the ongoing trials concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots within two weeks.

However, the petitioners’ counsel raised several concerns about the handling of the investigations, pointing to significant flaws in the SIT report. One major issue highlighted was the bundling of 500 separate cases into a single FIR, making it practically impossible for the investigating officer to properly probe each case.

The counsel further explained that in many instances, as many as 498 cases were clubbed together under one FIR, causing confusion and delays in investigations. The counsel also pointed out that while the focus seemed to be on incidents in Delhi, no substantial action had been taken for violence in other states. They cited examples of Kanpur and Bokaro, where the situation remains unresolved.

The violence that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 led to widespread attacks on the Sikh community, particularly in Delhi, where large-scale killings took place. Despite efforts like the establishment of the SIT, the continuing struggle for justice has seen little progress over the years.

In May 2023, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, accusing him of involvement in the killings of three individuals on November 1, 1984. This further highlights the ongoing pursuit of justice for the victims of the 1984 riots. (ANI)

A Special CBI court on Tuesday recorded evidence of a senior scientific assistant who had taken a voice sample of Former Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Jagdish Tytler at CFSL New Delhi in April 2023. An audio clip containing a voice sample of Jagdish Tytler was also played in the court.

Tytler is facing trial in a case related to the killing of Sikhs near Gurudwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984.

CBI judge Jitendra Singh recorded the evidence of the prosecution witness Arun Kumar Gupta who had taken the voice sample of Jagdish Tytler at CFSL, New Delhi on April 11, 2023.

His voice sample was taken in connection with the evidence collected by the CBI during the investigation. He is facing trial in a case related to the killing of Sikhs on November 1, 1984, near Gurudwara Pul Bangash.

The evidence was recorded by CBI Public Prosecutor Amit Jindal. Defence counsel Anil Kumar Sharma alongwith Anuj Sharma and Apoorv Sharma was also present. Advocate Surpreet Kaur, Counsel for riots victims was also there.

The court has listed the matter for cross-examination of the scientific officer on February 7.

The Rouse Avenue court is trying Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Trial in the Pul Bangash rioting and Sikh killings case.

The court is recording the Prosecution evidence after formally framing charges against Tytler. Congress leader Jagdish Tytler appeared before the court during the hearing.

This case pertains to the killings of three Sikhs near Gurudwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984.

The first witness called for evidence was Lakhvinder Kaur whose husband Badal Singh was killed during riots.

The court had directed to frame Charges under sections 143, 153A, 188, 149, 380, 436 IPC read with 302 and 109 IPC. Tytler was discharged under section 148 IPC.

This incident occurred after the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Tytler on May 20, 2023.

On July 26, 2023, the Court had issued a summons to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler after taking Cognizance of supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against him.

The Central Bureau of Investigation on May 20 filed a charge sheet against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case related to anti-Sikh riots in 1984 following the assassination of the then Prime Minister of India, on 31 October 1984.

In a statement, CBI mentioned that the agency had registered the instant case in November 2005 on an incident wherein Gurudwara Pul Bangash at Azad Market, Bara Hindu Rao, Delhi was set on fire by a mob and three persons namely Sardar Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Gurcharan Singh were burnt to death on 1 November 1984 near Gurudwara Pul Bangash. (ANI)