Month: February 2026

Veteran actress Pravina Deshpande, known for her work across films and television, passed away on Tuesday, confirmed the Cine and Television Artists Association (CINTAA).

CINTAA offered a heartfelt tribute to the late actress. “CINTAA expresses its condolences on the demise of Pravina Deshpande ji (member since 2008) #cintaa #condolence #restinpeace #rip,” the association wrote.

Deshpande’s family also confirmed her demise on her official Instagram handle, writing, “It is with great sadness that we inform you that Mrs Pravina Deshpande has left for her heavenly abode on 17th February 2026.”

Her final rites were conducted on Tuesday afternoon at the Hindu Crematorium in Andheri, Mumbai.

Tributes have been pouring in from fans and colleagues across social media.

Actor Palash Dutta, who worked alongside Pravina Deshpande in the Manik Talwar-directed short film ‘Thanks Mom’, also poured out his heart and expressed grief.

“With deep sorrow n profound grief, our very own @pravinadeshpande ji – a beloved person and a talented actress passed away today so gracefully, with dignity n always with a smiling face! She will remain that way forever in our hearts. May her gentle n pious soul attain everlasting heavenly peace. May Almighty give her endearing and supportive family the strength to bear this immense loss,” he wrote.

Recalling their professional journey, Dutta added, “I have been knowing Pravina ji professionally since over 22 years and around 19 years ago I cast her in a tv commercial as Priyanka Chopra’s Mother n a couple of projects thereafter!”

Dutta also revealed that Deshpande was battling cancer while working on their short film ‘Thanks Mom’.

“She shot for the film (bcoz of being a passionate actor)in spite of being in pain n going through chemo sessions! And won awards n accolades for it. She was a living example of an iron lady who fought cancer with resilience, grace n strength! She truly lived a wonderful n blessed life!” he added.

A prominent face in the film and TV industry, Pravina Deshpande has worked in popular shows and movies, including ‘Ek Villain’, ‘Gabbar is Back’, and ‘Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran’.

Her latest release came with a cameo appearance in Emraan Hashmi’s Netflix web series ‘Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web’. (ANI)

In a high-stakes aerial firefighting operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is battling raging wildfires on two separate fronts in the Northeast, deploying heavy-lift helicopters in treacherous terrain and extreme flying conditions.

At Walong in Arunachal Pradesh, IAF helicopters have successfully extinguished a major blaze after dropping an impressive 139,800 litres of water over the affected area.

Simultaneously, operations continue over the Dzukou Valley in Nagaland, where Mi-17 V5 helicopters are drawing water from Padumpokhiri Lake near Dimapur to tackle fires close to Japfu Peak.

The officials are facing steep slopes, poor visibility, and rarefied air, making the aerial missions challenging.

Meanwhile, Air Vice Marshal Ajay Kunnath on Tuesday said that the Indian Air Force should shift how it uses technology for air operations, highlighting the importance of how such operations function in a “zero-error” environment.

Speaking with ANI on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit, he explained that the force is moving away from fixed systems toward AI-based models.

“We are in a deterministic area at this point. We have to get into a probabilistic domain,” he said.

Because air operations function in a near “zero-error” environment, he stressed that trust is essential.

“The type of domain that we talk about, like air operations specifically, actually mandates trust. And that is implicit. We are in a domain which is sort of zero error. So we need to now have probabilistic solutions which take us to that trust and failsafe operations.”

Summing up the goal, he said, “If you really want me to sum it up, it is trust, failsafe, moving from automation to autonomy.”

He also described how human involvement changes as AI systems advance. “We gravitate from human in the loop, where he becomes a decision maker, to human on the loop, where he uses it to his advantage, and finally autonomy, where it goes human out of the loop. You have to decide which area you are into and which facet of the human you want to use — in, on or out.”

He warned that AI solutions cannot simply be copied from one field to another. “You can’t take one particular scenario and think that it can replicate or manifest itself in the other domain,” he said.

Finally, he pointed out a key challenge with AI accuracy. “Your probabilistic takes you to 95 per cent. But the fact remains that it is the last five percentile that actually determines a leaker who can come in,” he said, adding that better models and higher-quality data will be needed to close that gap. (ANI)

Family members of veteran screenwriter Salim Khan were seen arriving at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, after the 90-year-old was admitted on Tuesday.

In visuals from the hospital, many including Salim Khan’s son, superstar Salman Khan, his wife Salma Khan, producer Arbaaz Khan, his wife Shhura Khan, and daughters Alvira and Arpita among others arrived to check on his health condition.

Arbaaz’s son, Arhaan and Sohail Khan’s son, Nirvaan were also spotted at the hospital, as they dropped by to visit their grandfather.

Helen was also captured arriving at the hospital on Tuesday morning.

Apart from family, friends from the industry including actor Sanjay Dutt and veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar were snapped at the hospital in the evening.

As per a statement issued by Dr Jalil Parkar, Lilavati Hospital, “Salim Khan was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital under Dr Jalil Parkar in the ICU at 8.30 am on Tuesday morning. He was brought into the emergency by their family doctor, prompting emergency care. Salim Khan was later shifted to the intensive care.”

“He is stable but is under close observation in regards to his clinical status,” the statement added.

A team of doctors consisting of Dr Vinay Chavan(neurologist), Dr Ajit Menon (cardiologist), Dr Nitin Dange (neurosurgeon) and Dr Bineet Ahluwalia attended the veteran screenwriter following his hospitalisation.

For further updates on the 90-year-old Salim Khan’s health condition, a press briefing will be held on Wednesday, February 18, subject to the consent of the family, while strictly upholding the confidentiality of the patient, the hospital informed.

The exact medical reason for his hospitalisation has not been officially disclosed by the family, and further updates on his condition are awaited. (ANI)

Actor Sidharth Malhotra is mourning the demise of his father, Sunil Malhotra. The actor penned an emotional tribute, remembering him as a guiding force whose life was defined by discipline, integrity, and unwavering positivity, even during the most challenging times.

In a heartfelt note shared on social media, Sidharth described his father as “a man of rare honesty, integrity and culture.” Remembering him as a pillar of strength, he wrote that his father lived by “values that never bent. Discipline without harshness. Strength without ego. Positivity, even when life tested him beyond measure.”

Expressing deep admiration, the ‘Shershaah’ actor recalled his father’s journey from commanding ships at sea to facing serious health challenges with courage and dignity.

“From commanding the seas as a Merchant Navy Captain to facing illness with quiet courage, he never compromised, never lost his grace. Even when the stroke confined him to a wheelchair, his spirit stood tall,” he wrote.

Remembering him with profound respect and love, Sidharth added, “Papa, your integrity is my inheritance. Your strength guides me every day. Your positivity still holds this family together. You left us peacefully in your sleep, but the space you leave behind is immeasurable.”

The actor concluded the note by acknowledging the lasting impact his father had on his life and values.

“I am who I am because of you. And I will carry your name, your values and your light forward always. Love you Dad,” he wrote.

The loss has left the actor deeply affected, as he shared a close and affectionate bond with his father. Over the years, Sidharth has often spoken publicly about his admiration for him, describing him as a constant source of inspiration and strength. (ANI)

Former G20 Sherpa of India and Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has emphasised India’s goal towards artificial intelligence, stating that the country wants to grow with equality.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Kant asserted that India has the talent and data to become a top AI power while ensuring its availability to all.

“I agree with the vision the Prime Minister has set before the country, because India has the talent, the data… so that when we grow, we grow with equality. We agree that India will be one of the top-most powers of AI, simply because of talent and data. We will also ensure that there is accessibility for our citizens,” Amitabh Kant said.

Backing PM Narendra Modi’s remarks, Kant noted that India’s expanding IT market will play a crucial role in this transformation. He highlighted the importance of IT companies in advancing AI adoption and pointed to India’s success in developing open APIs and globally interoperable digital models as key strengths in this journey.

“Indian AI market is expanding rapidly and despite AI, we will require the IT companies to play a key role… We have demonstrated open APIs and globally interoperable models,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, with the AI-India Impact Summit underway in the capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not replacing India’s IT sector but transforming it, potentially enabling the industry to reach $400 billion by 2030. The summit marks the first global convening of this scale on AI hosted in the Global South.

In a special interview with ANI’s text service, the Prime Minister spoke about the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the IT industry and the government’s strategy to strengthen the sector.

“India’s IT sector has been the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show India’s IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation,” he said.

India is expected to add another 20,000 GPUs, taking the total beyond 38,000 GPUs, to strengthen the country’s AI compute infrastructure. Under the IndiaAI Mission, these high-end GPUs are available at about Rs 65 per hour, nearly one-third of the global average cost.

The next phase of India’s AI strategy will focus on design, research, and development to build solutions tailored to India’s needs. He also indicated that AI-related investments are likely to exceed USD 200 billion at the summit, including USD 90 billion already committed, with discussions ongoing with major companies regarding further investments. (ANI)

Google CEO Sundar Pichai arrived here in the national capital on Wednesday for the Global AI Impact Summit 2026. Pichai will deliver the keynote address on February 20 at the summit.

In a post on X, CEO Pichai said, “Nice to be back in India for the AI Impact Summit – a very warm welcome as always and the papers looked great too.”

Meanwhile, in a special interview with ANI’s text service, the Prime Minister spoke about the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the IT industry and the government’s strategy to strengthen the sector.

“India’s IT sector has been the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show India’s IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation,” he said.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026. The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI, aligning with the national vision of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars – People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement. (ANI)

Karkardooma Court has issued a release warrant for Rajpal Yadav from Tihar Jail, his counsel said. He has been granted interim bail in a cheque bounce case by the High court, the counsel informed, adding, the actor may be released today.

The Delhi High Court on Monday granted an interim suspension of his sentence till March 18.The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, while passing the order, directed Yadav to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount. The Court noted that Rs 1.5 crore has been deposited in the respondent’s bank account while considering the relief.It ordered the suspension of the sentence on the condition that Yadav furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount.

He will remain out of custody until March 18, when the court is scheduled to hear the matter again.This was after the private company M/S Murli Project’s lawyer, Advocate Avneet Singh Sikka, confirmed that Yadav deposited Rs 1.5 crore into the company’s bank accounts against the bounced cheque amount.Earlier in the day, the counsel for Yadav, Adv. Bhaskar Upadhyay submitted that they were ready to deposit Rs 1.5 crore, without any conditions, through a fixed deposit receipt (FDR). However, Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma directed that the amount be paid by Demand Draft (DD).

The Court noted that Rs 25 lakh had already been deposited by DD in the name of the respondents, and that the actor had previously submitted another DD of Rs 75 lakh.Previously, the Delhi High Court had sought a reply from the complainant on Yadav’s bail application and listed the matter for Monday at the request of his counsel.During that hearing, the actor’s lawyer informed the Court that a bail application had been filed and sought time to work out a solution, stating that he had been unable to contact the actor.Accepting the request, the bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma directed the complainant to file a response and adjourned the matter for further consideration.

The Court also made strong observations, noting that Yadav had been jailed for failing to honour commitments made earlier before the Court.While reviewing the case file, the Court noted that several issues had emerged and that the earlier order had already been challenged before the Supreme Court, which did not grant any relief.

Earlier, the High Court withdrew the leniency granted to Yadav in a series of cheque dishonour cases and directed him to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent, observing that he had repeatedly breached undertakings given to the Court regarding the payment of settlement amounts.The sentence awarded by the trial court had earlier been suspended to facilitate settlement, but the Court found that the commitments made over time were not honoured, resulting in these proceedings. (ANI)

Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan is currently stable and remains under close observation after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital on Tuesday.

“Salim Khan was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital under Dr Jalil Parkar in the ICU at 8.30 am on Tuesday morning. He was brought into the emergency by their family doctor, prompting emergency care. Salim Khan was later shifted to the intensive care,” as per a statement from Lilavati Hospital shared by Dr Jalil Parkar.

“He is stable but is under close observation in regards to his clinical status,” the statement added.

A team of doctors consisting of Dr Vinay Chavan(neurologist), Dr Ajit Menon (cardiologist), Dr Nitin Dange (neurosurgeon) and Dr Bineet Ahluwalia attended the veteran screenwriter following his hospitalisation.

For further updates on the 90-year-old Salim Khan’s health condition, a press briefing will be held on Wednesday, February 18, subject to the consent of the family, while strictly upholding the confidentiality of the patient, the hospital informed.

Earlier this morning, his family members, including his son and Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, Helen, Aayush Sharma, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, and Ayaan Agnihotri, among others, were spotted arriving at the hospital.

The ‘Dabangg’ actor was seen leaving the premises under heavy security, dressed in a black T-shirt and cap. He did not address media personnel gathered outside.

The exact medical reason for his hospitalisation has not been officially disclosed by the family, and further updates on his condition are awaited. (ANI)

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil departed on Tuesday for India for an official visit from February 18-22, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Silva is arriving in India to participate in the AI Summit.

In a post on X, he said, “At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are now departing for India. In the coming days, I will participate in the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and we will discuss new opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and India. From there, we will proceed to South Korea to, at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung, also strengthen the ties between our countries.”

“In India and South Korea, I will be accompanied by a delegation of Brazilian businesspeople, with the aim of deepening our commercial relations. In 2025, bilateral trade between Brazil and India reached more than US$ 15 billion, and with South Korea, it reached US$ 10.8 billion. We see considerable room for growth in bilateral trade with both countries. I wish good work to comrade Geraldo Alckmin, who will assume the presidency until our return,” he said.

Silva is set to arrive in Delhi on February 18. On February 19, he has engagements at Bharat Mandapam for AI Impact Summit 2026.

On February 20, he will have engagements at Bharat Mandapam for AI Impact Summit 2026.

The next day, he will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a wreath laying at Rajghat.

Silva will then meet PM Modi at Hyderabad House and later at Rashtrapati Bhavan with President Droupadi Murmu.

Meanwhile, Vice President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, arrived in Delhi to attend the India AI Impact Summit.

Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, lauded the visit, saying that it will strengthen the partnership between the two nations.

In a post on X, the MEA said, “Warm welcome to the Vice President of Guyana Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. He was received by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on his arrival in New Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit. The visit of Vice President Dr. Jagdeo will further strengthen the historic and multifaceted India-Guyana ties, rooted in strong people-to-people linkages.” (ANI)