Month: March 2025

Actress Taapsee Pannu and producer Kanika Dhillon announced the wrap-up of the shooting of the revenge drama ‘Gandhari’.

The film is written by Kanika Dhillon and produced under her banner, Kathha Pictures. It is directed by the highly acclaimed Devashish Makhija, known for films such as Bhonsle, Joram, and Ajji. The release date of the film has not been revealed yet.

Kanika announced the film’s shooting wrap by sharing a series of behind-the-scenes photos from the sets of the upcoming film. In one of the photos, the lead cast, Ishwak Singh and Taapsee Pannu, were seen posing with the crew and Kanika.

She also shared pictures with Taapsee, Ishwak Singh and director Devashish. While announcing the end of filming, Kanika wrote,

“It’s a wrap! The final take may be done, but the story is just beginning. Gandhari, coming soon !! See you at the movies.”

‘Gandhari’ marks another collaboration between Kanika and Taapsee, following their successful projects like ‘Manmarziyaan’, ‘Haseen Dillruba’ and ‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba’. The film also stars ‘Paatal Lok’ fame actor Ishwak Singh in the lead role.

This intense revenge drama was filmed over 50 days in and around Mumbai and Maharashtra, according to the makers. Taapsee is expected to showcase her action avatar in the film as she plays a mother who is on a mission.

Speaking about the film, Kanika shared in a press release, “Gandhari has been both an enriching and challenging experience for us. It’s a heroic story that I am extremely proud of. Taapsee has put her heart and soul into the film, as has the entire team. We can’t wait to bring it to audiences.”

Taapsee says that her job as an actor in the film is over and that she is now waiting for the film’s release. She shares,

“It’s been not just mentally but physically demanding film. We tried to achieve so much against all odds which wouldn’t have been possible if the entire team was not aligned together and driven enough to complete this film at break neck speed. We have pushed the envelope a bit with this film.

Actress continued, “I felt like a newcomer who wants to give it all in every shot. My job as an actor is over, so now i am waiting with bated breath to see the results of this hard work.”

Taapsee was last seen in ‘Khel Khel Mein’, alongside Akshay Kumar. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film featured a huge cast of Ammy Virk, Vaani Kapoor, Aditya Seal, Pragya Jaiswal, and Fardeen Khan. (ANI)

Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani celebrated her 20th birthday in Mumbai on Sunday. Her birthday party was a starry affair, with several Bollywood celebrities in attendance including Ibrahim Ali Khan, Saiee Manjrekar, Raveena Tandon and Tamannaah Bhatia.

Rasha recently made a debut with the film Azaad, which starred Ajay Devgn’s niece, Aaman Devgan, in the lead role. Apart from her acting, Raveena’s daughter was also appreciated for her dancing skills in the hit song ‘Uyi Amma’ from the film.

The ‘Azaad’ actress hosted a party in Bandra, Mumbai, which was attended by numerous Bollywood celebrities on Sunday night. As per the outfit of the guests, it is believed that the colour code for the party was either black or black-white.

Rasha’s mother and actress Raveena Tandon arrived in a gorgeous-looking sleeveless black dress. She was accompanied by her friend in the car. Before entering the venue, the actress posed for the paparazzi.

Ibrahim Ali Khan, a recent debutant in the Bollywood industry, also arrived at the party in style. He wore a white T-shirt and black shirt. The ‘Nadaaniyan’ actor complimented his outfit with a blue jeans.

Current rising star Veer Pahariya also attended the event in a unique outfit. The actor wore a black shirt with the poster of Rasha in the Uyi Amma song imprinted on it. The actor recently debuted in the Bollywood industry with the film ‘Skyforce’.

Tamannaah Bhatia, known for her diverse filmography, also arrived at the party in a beautiful black dress. She complemented it with a black-and-white striped jacket.

Aaman Devgan, being Rasha’s first co-star, was a must-invited guest at the party. The actor looked dashing in a black blazer and white T-shirt. He posed for the paps before entering the venue.

Finally, the birthday girl, Rasha Thadani, made her glamorous entry at the venue. She stole the spotlight in a black body-hugging dress. She posed for the paps and interacted with her fans.

After her glorious debut with ‘Azaad’, the fans of Rasha are eagerly waiting for her new film. (ANI)

In a significant development, a person accused in the grenade attack in Amritsar’s Thakurdwara Temple has been killed in an encounter, said police officials on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Gursidak, son of Jagjit Singh and a resident of Bal village of Amritsar while the second accused Vishal, son of Raju and a resident of Rajasansi, Amritsar, has been absconding from the spot.

On Monday morning, the Punjab Police received a specific intelligence about the movement of two accused of the grenade attack in Amritsar in Rajasansi area of the district.

Acting on the information, the police team went to nab the accused. When the Station Head Officer (SHO) of Chheharta tried to stop the accused who were on motorcycle, they left the vehicle and opened fire at the police party.

During the encounter, head constable Gurpreet Singh was injured while another bullet struck the turban of Inspector Amolak Singh. In an act of self-defence, Inspector Vinod Kumar launched firing and injured the main accused. However, the other accused managed to escape from the spot.

The injured constables and the accused were immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital for treatment where Gursidak succumbed to his injuries.

An FIR on the incident is being registered at PS Airport.

After a grenade was lobbed at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, on the night of March 14, a Forensics Team carried out an investigation and collected samples from the spot.

Two motorcycle-borne masked men were captured on CCTV footage lobbing an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple after midnight.

According to eyewitnesses, the two men were seen lobbing a suspicious object towards the temple. No injuries were reported, and police personnel rushed to the site and initiated an investigation into the incident.

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashed out at the ruling Aam Aadmi party for what he called a “terrible law and order situation.”

The Thakur Dwara Temple explosion comes after at least five people were injured after an assailant attacked people with an iron rod in the Golden Temple premises on Friday. The attack took place at Shri Guru Ramdas Sarai which is a lodging facility for pilgrims. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump has shared a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interview with Computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman on his social media platform Truth Social.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a link to PM Modi’s podcast.

During the interview, PM Modi spoke on diverse issues, including artificial intelligence (AI), cricket, football, China, US President Donald Trump, Pakistan, and his early life.

During the interview, PM Modi appreciated US President Donald Trump’s unshakeable dedication to his country, particularly in the wake of the assassination attempts last year.

Recalling Trump’s resilience and determination during campaigning for US elections, even after being shot, he said, “When he was shot during the recent campaign, I saw the same resilient and determined President Trump, the one who walked hand-in-hand with me in that stadium. Even after being shot, he remained unwaveringly dedicated to America. His life was for his nation.”

He also drew parallels between Trump’s “America First” ideology and his own “India First” approach, highlighting their shared commitment to prioritizing their nations’ interests. This alignment has fostered a strong connection between the two leaders.

“His reflection showed his America First spirit, just as I believe in Nation First. I stand for India first and that’s why we connect so well. These are the things that truly resonate. And I believe that across the world politicians are covered so much by the media that people mostly perceive each other through its lens. People rarely get the chance to truly meet or personally know one another and perhaps third-party intervention is the real cause of tensions,” he added.

Recalling their memorable meeting at the “Howdy Modi” event in Houston in 2019, Modi praised Trump’s humility and courage, noting that the then-president of the United States sat in the audience while he spoke from the stage.

“We had an event in Houston, Howdy Modi. Both President Trump and I were there and the entire stadium was completely packed. A massive crowd at an event in the US is a huge moment. While packed stadiums are common in sports, this was extraordinary for a political rally…Both of us delivered speeches and he sat down below listening to me speak. Now, that’s his humility. The President of the United States sitting in the audience while I spoke from the stage, that was a remarkable gesture on his part,” he said.

After finishing his speech, PM Modi suggested taking a lap around the stadium to greet the large crowd of Indian diaspora. courage. Despite strict security protocols, Trump agreed to take a lap around the stadium with Modi, demonstrating their mutual trust and respect.

“After finishing my speech, I stepped down and as we all know, security in the US is extremely strict and thorough. The level of scrutiny there is on a completely different level. I went over to thank him and casually said, “If you don’t mind, why don’t we take a lap around the stadium? There are so many people here. Let’s walk, wave and greet them.” In American life, it’s almost impossible for the President to walk into a crowd of thousands, but without even a moment’s hesitation, he agreed and started walking with me,” he added.

PM Modi described the moment as “truly touching,” adding that “It showed me that this man had courage. He makes his own decisions, but also he trusted me and my lead at that moment enough to have walked with me into the crowd.”

“It was that sense of mutual trust, a strong bond between us that I truly witnessed on that day,” PM Modi added, “and the way I saw President Trump that day walking into a crowd of thousands without even asking security, it was truly amazing. And if you watch the video now, you’ll be amazed.”

PM Modi also appreciated Trump’s kind gestures, including his warm words about their friendship even after his first term ended.

“Later, when his first term ended, and President Biden won, four years passed, but during that time whenever someone we both knew met him, and this must have happened dozens of times, he would say, ‘Modi is my friend, convey my regards.’ That kind of gesture is rare. Even though we didn’t meet physically for years, our direct and indirect communication, our closeness and the trust between us remained unshaken,” he said.

In addition, PM Modi praised Trump’s preparedness and clear vision in his second term, observing that he seems “far more prepared than before.”

“I have observed President Trump both during his first term and now in his second run. This time, he seems far more prepared than before. He has a clear roadmap in his mind with well-defined steps, each one designed to lead him toward his goals,” he said.

PM Modi also noted that during his recent visit to the United States, he met with several influential figures, including Tech billionaire Elon Musk, US Vice President JD Vance, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and American entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy. He added that his meeting with Elon Musk was particularly warm and friendly, as Musk was accompanied by his family and children. (ANI)

ISRO chairman V Narayanan said that the Centre has recently accorded approval for the ambitious Chandrayaan-5 mission as part of building capability towards achieving the goal of an Indian landing on the Moon by 2040. He further detailed that the space agency has been tasked with realising the ambition of India’s Space Station by 2035.

At an event to felicitate him for taking over as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO Chairman talked about future projects of the space agency. “Many projects are there. Chandrayaan 4 has to land and collect samples. Chandrayaan 5 got approval three days ago and will have a 350 kg rover. Japan and India have collaborated to work on the mission.”

ISRO has successfully executed three Chandrayaan missions, and the latest, Chandryaan-3, resulted in a safe and soft landing on the moon. Union minister Jitendra Singh said last year that the Government approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which will demonstrate the capability of landing on the Moon and the safe return to earth, including technologies for sample collection.

The Chandrayaan-5/ LuPEX mission is being planned to demonstrate the higher capacity lander, which is an important element for future landing missions, including human landings on the lunar surface.

Further, India has also announced that it will have its own Space Station, the “Bharatiya Antriksh Station,” by 2035.

The ISRO chairman said, “We have also planned to create a Space Station for us and the Government is asking for a plan for Indians to be sent to moon in an Indian-made rocket and should be returned back.”

Narayanan said, “I have never seen anyone who worked as hard as Sivan (former ISRO chief). I would like to express my gratitude to the Indian government and our Prime Minister Modi. PM has only one goal that is a developed country. I am not the reason for getting this position, I was born and educated in a normal family. I would like to thank all the friends who worked with me.”

He shared that when Chandrayaan 2 was not successful, “it was very troubling and it felt that all years of hard work seemed like a waste.”

“We have designed and launched 131 satellites. We have given them to SAARC countries.. we have achieved a feat that no other country has achieved in 34 days. There has been tremendous development in the last ten years. We have successfully sent 433 satellites from our Indian soil, achieving a record 90 percent success rate. When Chandrayaan 2 did not succeed at the last minute, it was very sad,” the ISRO chief said.

During the last ten years starting from January 2015 to December 2024, a total of 393 foreign satellites and three Indian customer satellites have been launched on commercial basis on-board ISRO’s PSLV, LVM3 and SSLV Launch Vehicles. India has also launched satellites of 34 countries so far, including those of developed countries since 2014 such as US, United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, Israel among others.

At the Chennai event yesterday, ISRO chief Narayanan also spoke about the upcoming rocket launch pad in Kulasekarapattinam space port. “Kulasekarapattinam is the right choice and a good place….and the Prime Minister has mentioned many plans.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remotely laid the foundation stone for India’s second spaceport at Kulasekharapattinam, a coastal village in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on February 28, 2024. The construction of the SSLV Launch Complex (SLC) facilities at Kulasekarapattinam commenced on March 5 this year with the ‘Ground breaking ceremony’ for the realisation of three major facilities.

The launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam primarily aims to address the polar launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which is envisaged to capture the global launch service market for small satellites up to 500kg. SSLV development has been completed, and in the operational phase, the vehicle is envisaged for production by the Indian industry.

Meanwhile, speaking at the ceremony in Chennai yesterday, the ISRO chairman said, “Our Chandrayan 1 found water on the moon and made Indians proud. Chandrayan 2 didn’t soft land but rotated in Orbit, giving thousands of pictures. Chandrayan 3 landed on the South Pole, and we became the first country to land on the South Pole. Now, we need to study the Sun. We have launched a satellite for that also. We are the fourth country in world to launch a satellite to study Sun.”

“Tamil Nadu government arranged one event to felicitate us after successful of Chandrayan 3. It was very grand and never seen in my life. Don’t link me with politics. Just appreciating the good things. No political leaders were on that stage. I just thank them also in this time,” he said.

The felicitation ceremony held for V Narayanan, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Space, included participation from former Governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan, former MLA Vijayadharani, the former mayor of Chennai Saidai Duraisamy among several others. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): BJP MP Jagdambika Pal attacked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Pal is the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the Waqf Bill.

The BJP MP stated that the protest is just for politics and the act has not even been introduced. He added that a report has only been submitted and the amendment bill has only been brought.The protestors should say anything once the act is passed.

Pal also questioned the grounds on which the AIMPLB, AIMIM, and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind have gathered to protest at the Jantar Mantar.

“This is a political protest. The act has not even been introduced yet. We have only submitted our 428-page report… The amendment bill has been brought. They should say anything after the bill is passed… On what basis are AIMPLB, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, AIMIM or the Opposition leaders gathered at Jantar Mantar?…”, Jagdambika Pal said to ANI on Monday.

Furthermore, Jagdambika Pal stated that the DM will not have any powers in the act and officials above him would only see the matter if any conflict arises. He said that the people in the Waqf themselves want to sell their lands and the act will benefit the poor.

“The DM is not going to be given the rights… If there would be any dispute surrounding Waqf property, then any official above the DM, like the state secretary or commissioner would see to it… The act is being improved… They are misguiding the nation… Nobody is going to take away the Waqf lands. If someone is selling away Waqf land, then it is people in the Waqf themselves… The amendment will prohibit the selling of Waqf land and will benefit the poor…”, he said.

Earlier, the AIMPLB began their protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and it was led by member Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas. He stated that it is a peaceful protest and the administration should cooperate with them in it. He said that the government should not be afraid and listen to the voice of its people.

“People were coming from many districts of UP and Haryana but now we have received information that their buses are being stopped. We believe that this is a very peaceful protest and the administration should support us in this. The government need not be afraid and they should listen to the voice of the people. If there is such a cowardly government that cannot listen to the voice of its people then it has no right to rule”, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said while addressing the gathering.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi joined the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Owaisi who was part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf bill has alleged that the ruling party’s amendments in the JPC repor will lead to dissolution of the Waqf Board. (ANI)

Tendulkar-Led India Masters Win IML 2025, Beat West Indies in Final

India Masters etched their name in history by clinching the inaugural International Masters League (IML) 2025 title, after defeating West Indies Masters by six wickets in a grand finale that revived the magic of cricket’s golden era, as per the IML press release.

Led by the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, India Masters produced a clinical all-round performance to outclass Brian Lara’s West Indies Masters to lift the coveted title in the presence of close to 50,000 fans at the SVNS International Stadium here on Sunday.

A tournament built on nostalgia, skill and the undying spirit of the game had delivered dream matchups, and the summit clash between the two cricketing powerhouses — India Masters and West Indies Masters- couldn’t have been more befitting of a setting for the climax. The contest had all the makings of a classic — a packed stadium, cricketing greats rolling back the years as fans braced themselves for an epic battle after the India Masters contained the opposition for a sub-par 148/7, and then rode a fluent 67-run opening stand from Master Blaster Tendulkar (25) in the company of Ambati Rayudu (74), setting the tone for the chase.

The India Masters made a statement with their batting might as Tendulkar and Rayudu treated the packed stadium to some vintage strokeplay. While Tendulkar played with finesse, threading the field with his signature cover drives and flicks, Rayudu took the attacking route, dismantling the West India Masters bowling with calculated aggression. The 51-year-old star entertained the crowd with a couple of boundaries and a six during his fluent 18-ball knock before a sharp delivery from Tino Best ended his stay, briefly quieting the roaring stands.

Rayudu, however, ensured that the fireworks continued as India Masters cruised along towards the target. In the process, the right-handed opener got to a 34-ball fifty with a boundary off Best, even as his second-wicket stand with Gurkeerat Singh Mann (14) added another 28 runs to the Indian total. Mann perished while attempting for a glory shot to off-spinner Ashley Nurse, paving the way for Yuvraj Singh’s (13 not out) arrival into the middle amid loud cheers.

Just when the India Masters were romping home towards victory, the West Indies Masters spinners delayed the inevitable with the wickets of Rayudu, who fell to left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn after belting nine fours and three mammoth sixes in his 50-ball knock, and new man Yusuf Pathan after being trapped in front by Nurse. However, with the equation down to 17 off the final 28 deliveries, Stuart Binny (16 not out) applied the finishing touches in style by smoking two gigantic sixes.

Earlier, the India Masters bowlers dictated terms after the Caribbean side opted to bat, restricting them to a modest 148/7, built mainly around Lendl Simmons’ half-century.

Brian Lara (6) made a bold call by stepping up to open the innings himself. At 55, Lara’s mere presence was enough to send a surge of emotion through the crowd and alongside the explosive Dwayne Smith (45), he set the stage for a dream start. The Caribbean duo tore into the new ball, racing to 34 in just under four overs, making Indian Masters captain Sachin Tendulkar and his bowlers rethink their plans.

But as they say, cricket is a great leveller, and it was Vinay Kumar who delivered one such twist by getting rid of Lara to bring the West Indies Masters’ charge to a screeching halt. As the iconic left-hander walked back, the capacity crowd, which had been silenced by his side’s initial onslaught, rose in unison, acknowledging not just the wicket but a cricketing great who had defined an era.

William Perkins (6) stepped in to replace Lara but soon fell victim to Shahbaz Nadeem’s guile. Meanwhile, Smith continued to impose himself, smashing six boundaries and two sixes before Nadeem struck again, ending his 35-ball knock. From there, India Masters tightened their grip on the game with the spin duo of Nadeem and Pawan Negi strangling the middle order, to leave the Caribbean side gasping for momentum. Ravi Rampaul’s (2) elevation in the order to combat left-arm spin didn’t pay off, with Stuart Binny removing him cheaply.

Negi then dealt another body blow, castling Chadwick Walton (6) right after being dispatched for a towering six. Amidst the chaos, Lendl Simmons stood tall with a counterattacking 34-ball fifty as he held his fort to anchor the West Indies Masters innings with a vital 61-run sixth wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (12 not out), who was happy playing second fiddle. Simmons, however, perished after facing 41 deliveries for his 57, laced with five boundaries and a six, while attempting to shift gears in the final over of the innings as India Masters eventually restricted them to a below-par total.

For the home side, Vinay Kumar emerged the pick of the bowlers, returning 3/26, while Shahbaz Nadeem came up with two wickets. Pawan Negi and Stuart Binny also chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Brief Scores: West Indies Masters 148/7 (Lendl Simmons 57, Dwayne Smith 45; Vinay Kumar 3/26) vs India Masters 149/4 (Ambati Rayudu 74, Sachin Tendulkar 25; Ashley Nurse 2/22). (ANI)

US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces are continuing their intensified operations against Houthi terrorists. The video shared by CENTCOM on X shows military aircraft taking off.

While sharing the video on X, US Central Command posted, “CENTCOM forces continue operations against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists.”

The United States’ airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels have killed atleast 53 people, including five women and two children, and injured around 100 others, The Hill reported, quoting the Houthi-run Health Ministry.

The airstrikes targeted Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as well as other provinces, including Saada, the rebels’ stronghold near the border with Saudi Arabia. In response to the strikes, the Houthis’ political bureau has vowed to “meet escalation with escalation.”

On March 15, US President Donald Trump announced that he ordered the US military to launch “decisive and powerful military action” against Houthi terrorists in Yemen. He said that Houthis kept attacking the US, as former US President Joe Biden’s response was “weak” against them.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.”

“Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. It has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” he added.

He stated that Houthi’s attack on US vessels will not be tolerated and vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” until they achieved their objective.

“The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World,” he added.

He warned Houthis to stop attacks or “hell will rain down upon” them like “nothing you have ever seen before.” He asked Iran to stop supporting Houthi terrorists.

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it,” he added.

Since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the Houthis have launched attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, causing disruptions to global trade. (ANI)