Mumbai: Filmmaker Rohit Shetty received an outpouring of love and heartfelt wishes from his friends and colleagues in the industry as he celebrated his 51st birthday.

Among the stars sending warm birthday messages were actress Kajol, Ajay Devgn, Shilpa Shetty, and several other celebrities who took to social media to express their admiration and affection for the celebrated director. Wishing the director, Kajol posted a photo of Rohit and wrote, “May your birthday be as grand as your film sets and as full of madness as your action sequences! Have a good one.”

Shilpa dropped a candid photo of her and Shetty, writing, “Happy Birthday Shettyyyy Wishing you blockbusters, happiness, love and great health always. May you fly higher than the cars in your action sequences.”

Ajay Devgn wished his “bro” Rohit Shetty with a funny post, praising the filmmaker for making “madness look like magic” on the big screen.

The actor took to Instagram to share a hilarious video of a toy car crashing into a toy truck—a playful nod to Rohit Shetty’s signature style. For the caption, he wrote, “Tere hisse ke bhi aaj maine hi udaa diye… To the man who makes madness look like magic, Happy birthday, bro! @itsrohitshetty.”

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Ajay is a regular collaborator with Rohit, and their partnership has delivered some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, including Zameen, the Golmaal franchise, All the Best: Fun Begins, the Singham series, and Bol Bachchan, among others.

The duo’s latest collaboration is Singham Again, the fifth installment in Shetty’s Cop Universe franchise.

Meanwhile, Shetty’s latest project, Singham Again, boasts an impressive ensemble cast, with Ajay Devgn reprising his role as the titular character. The film also stars Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Arjun Kapoor.

IANS

Mumbai: Ayan Mukerji’s father and veteran actor Deb Mukherjee passed away at the age of 83 Friday.

Confirming the news, his spokesperson revealed that he died in the morning due to age-related health issues. A prominent member of the renowned Samarth-Mukherjee family, Deb was the father of filmmaker Ayan Mukerji and the father-in-law of director Ashutosh Gowariker.

Deb Mukherjee’s funeral will be held at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Juhu March 14. The funeral is likely to be attended by members of his extended family, including Kajol and Ajay Devgn, Rani Mukerji, Tanuja, Tanissha, and Aditya Chopra. Friends of Ayan Mukerji, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan, Sidharth Malhotra, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh are also expected to attend the funeral.

Deb Mukherjee, born in Kanpur in 1941, hails from a renowned and accomplished film family. His mother, Satidevi, was the only sister of legendary figures Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar, and Kishore Kumar.

His siblings included the actor Joy Mukherjee and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, who was married to Hindi film Industry actress Tanuja. His nieces are famous actresses Kajol and Rani Mukerji. Deb Mukherjee was married twice. His daughter Sunita, from his first marriage, is married to filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, while his son Ayan is from his second marriage.

For the unversed, Deb Mukherjee started his career in the 1960s with small roles in films such as Tu Hi Meri Zindagi and Abhinetri. As his career progressed, Deb transitioned to supporting roles in movies like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and King Uncle. His final appearance on screen was a cameo in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey in 2009.

IANS

Mumbai: Television actor Arjun Bijlani shared a funny incident when he accidentally drank “bhaang” during his Holi celebrations.

In a lighthearted recollection, Arjun revealed how the festive drink turned into an unexpected adventure. Recalling one of his funniest Holi memories, the actor shared, “Once, I accidentally had bhaang, and for three hours straight, I kept repeating the same thing. My friends couldn’t stop laughing! That was a crazy experience. Now, I’m actually scared of it!” he said, bursting into laughter.”

Talking about the essence of Holi, the Ishq Mein Marjawan actor added, “Holi is all about togetherness, and for me, it’s incomplete without my family. Neha, my mom and Ayaan are always by my side, making the celebration even more special. Watching Ayaan enjoy the colors and sweets reminds me of my own childhood. And also, celebrating any festival with your friends is always fun.”

For Arjun, yellow is the color that best represents his personality. “Yellow represents happiness, positivity, and energy. I always try to stay cheerful and spread good vibes, just like the color yellow does. Life should be as colorful as Holi, but at its core, I always want to remain as bright and joyful as yellow,” he revealed.

Interestingly, Holi celebrations are incomplete without the iconic Bollywood tunes, and for Arjun, “Rang Barse” is the ultimate Holi anthem.

He shared, “The moment this song plays, you just feel like picking up a handful of gulaal and dancing your heart out. ‘Rang Barse Bheege Chunarwali, Rang Barse…’ The beats, the lyrics, and the whole vibe of the song make it so energetic and fun!”

On the work front, Arjun Bijlani is widely known for his roles in shows like Left Right Left, Miley Jab Hum Tum, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, Naagin, and Ishq Mein Marjawan.

IANS

Superstar Aamir Khan has officially introduced his new partner, Gauri Spratt, to the public, revealing that they have been in a relationship for the past 18 months.

During an informal media interaction in Mumbai, Aamir expressed his admiration for Gauri, stating, “My girlfriend is prettier than Katrina Kaif. I feel like home when I am with her.” He also mentioned that his children, Junaid and Ira, have met Gauri and are happy for him.

When journalists asked Khan for more details about his girlfriend, he shared that Gauri is a mother to a 6-year-old son.

When asked about the possibility of marriage at the age of 60, Aamir responded thoughtfully, “I don’t know about marriage at this age, but we are deeply committed to each other.”

Gauri previously lived in Bengaluru before moving to Mumbai. Wrapping up the conversation, the ‘Dangal’ actor humorously referenced his 2001 blockbuster “Lagaan,” saying, “Bhuvan ko uski Gauri mil hi gayi.”

Who is Gauri Spratt?

According to a report by Pinkvilla, the couple first met 25 years ago but lost touch, only to reconnect recently.

Gauri, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur, operates a hairdressing business and is currently associated with Aamir’s production house. She is also a mother to a six-year-old son.

As per Economic Times, Gauri, who has a mixed heritage of Tamil and Irish descent, has blended well with Aamir’s family. The couple currently resides together, and Gauri is adapting to the film world.

Aamir’s past

For the unversed, Aamir was initially married to Reena Dutta. The couple tied the knot in 1986 and had two children together, a daughter named Ira and a son, whom they decided to name Junaid. However, they decided to go their separate ways in 2002.

Later in 2005, Aamir married Kiran Rao from whom he has one son, Azad Rao Khan. Aamir and Kiran also parted ways in 2021.

PNN  & Agencies

Mumbai: Superstar Aamir Khan hosted a fun meet and greet with the media before his 60th birthday. While talking to the press, the actor left everyone surprised as he revealed that he has found love again.

The superstar introduced his new lady love, Gauri Spratt. He introduced his partner to the media by giving her an adorable shoutout. Aamir revealed that they have been friends for 25 years, however, they developed romantic feelings for each other just one year ago.

He even sang the romantic ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Main’ song from ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ for Gauri. Aamir’s newest love interest is believed to be a mother to a 6-year-old son.

When asked about the wedding plans, the actor refused to comment.

Not just that, Aamir even cut his birthday cake with the paps. In videos and pictures doing rounds on social media, Aamir was seen thanking the shutterbugs for their love and support over the years.

Prior to this, three superstar Khans, Shah Rukh, Aamir, and Salman came together under one roof for an early celebration of Aamir’s 60th birthday with a special Iftaar party.

Salman was dressed in casual attire, whereas SRK was seen hiding his face in the hoodie.

Aamir accompanied SRK to his car as the duo was surrounded by heavy security apparatus. It is not every day that the three superstars come together in their personal spaces.

For the unversed, Aamir was initially married to Reena Dutta. The couple tied the knot in 1986 and had two children together, a daughter named Ira and a son, whom they decided to name Junaid. However, they decided to go their separate ways in 2002.

Later in 2005, Aamir married Kiran Rao from whom he has one son, Azad Rao Khan. Aamir and Kiran also parted ways in 2021.

IANS

Mumbai: Babil Khan, the son of late actor Irrfan Khan, shared a cryptic post on social media about the feeling of ‘loneliness.’

On Thursday, the actor took to his Instagram handle and shared a series of photos featuring him from one of his vacations. Alongside it, Babil penned a reflective note where he talks about his personal front in a poetic way.

He captioned the post, “Throwback the photo dump: I don’t know, are you listening closely? To people, I mean. Someone close once told me -The people that need you the most will never ask for your help. You call it a gut feeling, I call it the frightened child within ourselves. I love wearing chappals and also my audemars I love budget backpacking and I love first class I love the mountains but need the sea.”

Babil added, “I’d go to war for the team but pray for peace. The difference between curious and judgemental is tranquility. I hate it when people compliment me for humility. I’m not humble, just human. A dimming, shining lumen. I love my rickshaw and I love a Benz I’m great at parties but can’t keep friends I’m loyal but I’m lonely, I wanna be alone and still need you to hold me. I don’t even know myself, how can you claim to know me? I guess what I’m asking is, are you listening closely?.”

The post further read, “Would you rather freeze a river per se a soul, a spirit till the warmth inside is nothing but dark, shivering and cold, Would you rather chain perception to a frame in time or allow the rain to wash your eyes and watch change unfold? We fail, we fall, we win, we grow. @nikhilkamathcio ‘s t-shirt said “authenticity is transient” and then my brain was like “open notes” then I vomited some words.”

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On the work front, Babil will next be seen in the upcoming Indian-American short film Yakshi alongside acclaimed Malayalam actress Anna Ben. The film is written and directed by Karan Sunil.

In addition to this, Babil Khan is set to star in an upcoming love story directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sai Rajesh. The much anticipated film will also mark the debut of Govinda’s son, Yashvardhan Ahuja.

Mumbai: Actress Athiya Shetty has shared a heartwarming glimpse of her pregnancy journey, flaunting her baby bump in a beautiful maternity shoot with her husband, cricketer KL Rahul.

The duo, who is expecting their first child together, shared a stunning maternity photo shoot on their respective Instagram handles. For the caption, the parents-to-be wrote, “Oh, baby.” In the photos, Athiya can be seen showcasing her growing baby bump while posing with her husband. The first image shows the mom-to-be sitting on a couch with KL Rahul lying on her lap.

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The second shot shows Athiya flaunting her baby bump in a white t-shirt paired with unbuttoned denim jeans. One of the photos shows the dad-to-be adorably putting his hand on Athiya’s belly as they strike a romantic pose on the couch.

Notably, the couple’s heartwarming post received love not just from fans but also from their family members. Athiya’s father, Suniel Shetty, dropped red heart emojis in the comments section.

Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul announced their pregnancy in November of last year. They captioned the post, “Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025 (along with tiny feet and evil eye emoticons).” In April of 2024, rumours about Athiya expecting her first child began circulating after her father, Suniel, made a “nana” comment on a popular dance reality show.

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His remark led to widespread speculation that Athiya and KL Rahul were about to welcome a baby. While the couple did not publicly address the pregnancy rumours, a source later clarified that the news was false, confirming that Athiya was not expecting at that time.

The couple tied the knot in January 2023 in an intimate ceremony at Suniel Shetty’s farmhouse in Alibaug.

Athiya and Rahul, who first met in 2019 through a mutual friend, married in the presence of their family members and close friends after dating for almost four years.

Mumbai: Filmmaker Anurag Basu’s anthology starring names such as Aditya Roy Kapur and Sara Ali Khan titled Metro… In Dino has been locked for a July 4 release.

Along with Aditya and Sara, the film also stars Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh.

The makers of the film took to Instagram, to make the announcement. A caption read by T-Series Films on the photo-sharing app read: “When love, fate and city life collide magic is bound to happen! #Metro… इन दिनों brings the stories of heart from the cities that you love!

Experience it on #July4th in cinemas near you”

Presented by T-Series and Anurag Basu Productions, the film beautifully captures the essence of modern-day relationships, their complexities, joys, and bittersweet realities. With Pritam’s soulful music enhancing the narrative.

“Metro… In Dino” is the spiritual sequel to Anurag Basu’s previous critically acclaimed hit film Life in a… Metro, which was released in 2007. The film’s dialogue are written by Samrat Chakraborty. The film is an anthology of 4 different heartwarming stories of contemporary couples. The film draws its title from the song “In Dino” from Life in a… Metro.

Gulshan Kumar & T-Series in association with Anurag Basu Productions Pvt Ltd present Metro .. In Dino. Directed by Anurag Basu, music by Pritam, produced By Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Anurag Basu and Taani Basu the film will release on 4th July, 2025.

It was March 2, when the makers of the film denied any delays in terms of its release, and assured the cinegoers that the film will debut in cinemas in 2025.

An official statement from the makers read, “On the contrary to some media reports claiming that Metro In Dino is getting pushed, we confirm the movie is releasing this year in 2025”.

The movie is an ensemble drama, and marks Aditya’s second collaboration with Anurag Basu post the success of Ludo.

Mumbai: Aside from his professional commitments, Kartik Aaryan remains in the news for his love life. Going by the latest buzz, the Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 actor is currently romantically involved with Southern actress Sreeleela.

Adding fuel to rumour mills, Kartik’s mother Mala Tiwari said something during the recently held IIFA Awards 2025 that raised a lot of eyebrows.

A clip that has gone viral over the internet featured Kartik’s mother being asked about her future daughter-in-law’s expectations. Reacting to this, Mala Tiwari revealed that she wants a good doctor as her son’s wife.

Kartik’s mother stated in the video, “The family’s demand is a very good doctor”. Netizens are taking her statement as a hint towards her son’s speculated lady love.

For those who do not know, Sreeleela is also studying to become a doctor.

The latest statement by Kartik’s mother has fuelled speculations about Kartik and Sreeleela being in a relationship.

Some time back, a video of Sreeleela having fun at Kartik’s family celebration went viral on social media. The clip showed her dancing with other guests during a house party.

According to the reports, Kartik and his family hosted a celebration for his sister, Dr Kritika Tiwari as she achieved another milestone in her medical career.

In the meantime, Kartik and Sreeleela have also been paired in a movie together. These two will be seen sharing the screen in director Anurag Basu’s next. This yet-to-be-titled drama will be produced by Bhushan Kumar under the T-Series banner. While the name of the film has still not been announced, it is believed that the project could be an addition to the popular Aashiqui franchise, Aashiqui 3. An official confirmation is still awaited.

The recently shared teaser clip showed Kartik singing “Tu Meri Zindagi” on stage. He sported a heavy beard and rugged long hair.

Amaravati: Actor and YSR Congress Party leader Posani Krishna Murali has been granted bail in all cases filed against him in different police stations in Andhra Pradesh for making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and IT Minister Nara Lokesh.

A court in Kurnool Tuesday granted bail to Posani, who was arrested from his residence in Hyderabad February 26.

Additional Junior Civil Judge Court granted bail on Rs 20,000 personal bond and two sureties.

A court in Vijayawada also granted him bail Tuesday. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court had last week sent Posani to judicial custody till March 20.

After his arrest from Hyderabad, Posani was taken to Annamayya district where a case was registered against him for allegedly trying to create animosity between various sections of the society. He was remanded to judicial custody.

Later the actor was taken to Kurnool on PT warrant in connection with a case registered by Adoni police. He was shifted to jail at Kurnool and was later brought to Vijayawada on PT warrant in connection with another case.

A court in Narsaraopet Monday granted bail to Posani in a similar case booked against him. Earlier, Rajampet court also accepted his bail petition.

The YSRCP said the Chandrababu Naidu-led government registered a total of 17 cases against Posani due to political vendetta.

The opposition party accused the NDA government of conspiring to deny him legal relief, with police registering cases across the state after his arrest and deliberately withholding details of where the cases were filed to hinder bail efforts.

The government sought PT warrants in each case, forcing Posani to be transported hundreds of km – from Hyderabad to Vijayawada via Rajampet, then to Narsaraopet, Guntur, Adoni in Kurnool district, back to Suryaraopet in Vijayawada, and finally to Kurnool jail, the YSRCP said.

Despite being 67 years old and suffering from heart and other health issues, the police subjected him to harassment, allegedly as part of a government strategy to worsen his condition, the opposition party said.

On a petition moved by the YSRCP legal cell, the High Court ordered that a notice be issued to Posani in the registered cases. It also ordered a halt to investigation in a case registered in Visakhapatnam.

With bail now granted in all cases, Posani is expected to be released from jail Wednesday.

New Delhi: YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani Tuesday appeared before the National Commission for Women for questioning in connection with the derogatory remarks made on comic Samay Raina’s show “India’s Got Latent”, officials said.

The Commission had taken serious note of the vulgar and offensive remarks made by Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Makhija, Samay Raina, Jaspreet Singh and Chanchlani on the show and summoned them as well as Tushar Poojari and Saurabh Bothra.

Chanchlani was summoned February 17 but had sought rescheduling citing ill health.

PTI

Los Angeles: Oscar winning-filmmaker James Cameron revealed that his wife had ‘bawled for four hours’ when she first watched ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash.’

In a conversation with Empire, Cameron said when he first showed his wife an early cut of the sci-fi epic, she was completely overcome with emotion and could not stop herself from crying, reports

“My wife watched the whole thing from end to end. She had kept herself away from it and I wasn’t showing her bits and pieces as we went along. This was Dec. 22,” Cameron said.

“She bawled for four hours. She kept trying to get her… back together so she could tell me specific reactions, and then she’d just tear up and start crying again. Finally, I’m like, ‘Honey, I’ve got to go to bed. Sorry, we’ll talk about it some other time,” reports variety.com.

“Fire and Ash” is Cameron’s third chapter in his sprawling “Avatar” franchise. The plot details are underwraps. However, the director recently revealed the film will “be a little bit longer” than its predecessor, “The Way of Water,” which clocked in at three hours and 12 minutes.

“You’ll see a lot more Pandora that you never saw before,” Cameron said of the film during a D23 presentation, in which he announced the official title to be “Fire and Ash.”

“It’s an insane adventure and a feast for the eyes, but it’s also got very high emotional stakes, more than ever before. We’re going into really challenging territory for all the characters you know and love.”

The franchise stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, who reprise their characters from the first two “Avatar” films for “Fire and Ash.” They will return alongside Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco and Dileep Rao.

IANS

Mumbai: Playback singer Udit Narayan, who has been in the news over his viral video of kissing his female fans, roasted himself at an event in the city Monday.

The event saw the trailer launch of the movie Pintu Ki Pappi, and was also attended by choreographer Ganesh Acharya.

Talking to the media, the singer said, “I would like to congratulate Ganesh ji. What a wonderful title he has given. Actually, you should change the title. ‘Pappi’ is fine but, ‘Pintu Ki Puppy’? Hope it is not ‘Udit Ki Pappi’”.

He further mentioned, “It is such a coincidence that this is getting released. By the way, that video of mine is 2 years old. It is from Australia, 2 years ago. I would like to congratulate you. And I would like to congratulate the whole team. The music is wonderful. The writing is also wonderful. The songs that you got sung and recorded by me, everyone praises themselves. But it is really commendable”.

Last month, Udit Narayan stirred controversy after an undated video of him kissing a female fan on the lips while taking a selfie during his performance went viral on social media. In the undated video, Udit Narayan was seen performing the iconic track ‘Tip Tip Barsa Paani’ picturised on Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon from Mohra, when a female fan turned around and kissed him on the cheek.

The singer then kissed her on her lips. The singer kissed the female fan on the lips, as per viral videos from the show, which are now doing the rounds.

Udit Narayan, who is the father of singer Aditya Narayan, did not make any comments. However, social media users expressed their anger.

The 69-year-old singer has sung in various other languages including Hindi Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Sindhi, Odia, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Malayalam, Assamese, Bagheli and Maithili. He has won four National Film Awards.

The Government of India feted him with the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016.

Mumbai: India defeated New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Amid the thrilling match, several love angles surfaced, and one of them involves actress Avneet Kaur and India’s vice-captain, Shubman Gill. Yes, reports in the glamour world suggest that Shubman is dating Avneet—not Sara Tendulkar. Their pictures are also going viral.

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Also Read: Champions Trophy final: Rumored girlfriend Jasmine Walia cheers for Hardik Pandya, photos grab attention

The rumors began when Avneet Kaur was spotted at the stadium watching India’s match. The actress shared several pictures from the venue on Instagram, where she looked stunning in a glamorous outfit.

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After these pictures surfaced, fans started linking her name with cricketer Shubman Gill, speculating that she attended the match to cheer for him.

In fact, before this, a photo of Avneet posing with Shubman and her friends went viral on social media, further fueling dating speculations.

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When India lifted the Champions Trophy yesterday, Avneet also shared a video in which she was seen dancing in celebration.

However, neither Shubman nor Avneet has responded to these dating rumors so far.

Also Read:

For those unfamiliar, Avneet Kaur is a popular TV actress known for her roles in hit shows like Aladdin. She also played the lead role in the film Tiku Weds Sheru.

Beyond her acting career, Avneet is a social media sensation with over 31 million followers on Instagram, where she frequently grabs attention with her glamorous posts.

Koraput: The Sky Is Pink actress has arrived in India. After her mother, Madhu Chopra, confirmed her association with S.S. Rajamouli’s much-anticipated film SSMB 29, excitement among fans has surged. Meanwhile, Priyanka landed at Odisha Airport to begin shooting for the film.

This marks a significant moment for Priyanka as she joins the grand project alongside Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Baahubali director S.S. Rajamouli’s SSMB 29 is a big-budget film featuring top actors. The second phase of filming is currently underway in Odisha, with the cast and crew stationed there. Priyanka has now joined the team.

A photo circulating on Instagram shows Priyanka Chopra posing with fans at Odisha Airport after stepping off the flight.

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Also Read: Watch: Ayushmann Khurrana pens poem after India bags Champions Trophy title

The Citadel actress looked effortlessly stylish in a black crop top layered with a matching jacket, paired with baggy jeans. She completed her chic look with black boots and a matching cap.

Mumbai: Hindi film actor Ayushmann Khurrana is on cloud nine with India’s stunning victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 finals.

The actor took to his Instagram, and posted multiple stories watching the match and wishing Team India. Even while travelling for a shoot, Ayushmann couldn’t stop watching this nerve-wracking match as shown on his Instagram stories.

The actor broke into cheers as victory came team India’s way. “Shoot ruk jaati hai jab India jeet jaata hai”, Ayushmann captioned the post, suggesting that the team paused the film’s shooting to witness India’s winning moment.

On Monday, the actor took to his Instagram and posted a video talking about how he can’t get over India’s win in the finals while reciting a poem he penned for Team India’s win.

He wrote, “Koi hara na paaya humein, upar wala hamara saarathi hai. Par sach kahoon, hamari team selfless hai… niswarthi hai. It’s actually a rare sight to see somebody else sad for somebody else’s dismissal. Shubman out hota tha, nirash Rohit hota tha. Shreyas kuch galat kar deta, Kohli ka chehra utar jaata. Kohli ke out hone par toh KL ne keh bhi diya frustrate hokar. ‘Kya kar rahe ho yaar? Main le raha tha na risk!’. Pakistan ke against, Rohit haath utha utha kar khush ho raha tha, aur Virat ko keh raha tha, ‘End mein laga de, laga de six!’”.

He continued, “Before the last England series ke pehle tak we were never sure about Rohit and his team. Rohit ka balla nahi chal raha tha and we were also missing Bumrah ki seam. Rohit ka hua comeback, backed by his nation. Sach bataoon, maine toh kabhi nahi dekha usse better hand-eye coordination. Tum bhi kehte honge ki jab bhi kuch bhi hota hai, Main bolne lagta hoon… dimaag na jaane kis setting mein hai. Mera bolna wagera kuch deep nahi hai… asli depth toh India ki batting mein hai. Hum bahut fortunate hain ki hum Bharatiya vishv ke kone kone mein hain”.

He added, “Hamari team ko supporters mil jaate hain. Koi bhi team agar apne desh se door bada tournament jeete, Toh unki hausla afzai karne mein hum thoda katarate hain. Badla toh le liya humne Australia se, par jab World Cup jeete the toh stadium mein unke liye kisi ne taali nahi bajayi. Toh aap hi batao, Indian team ne kya baat sikhayi? Wo selfless hain, niswarthi hain. But for now, we are the World Champions, Kyuki uparwala hamara saarathi hai”.

Dubai: Hardik Pandya played a brief but crucial knock in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai. Amidst the wild celebrations, someone special was there to cheer him on.

India has won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and the victory is being celebrated across the country. Many fans and supporters came to cheer for the team.

Cricketer Hardik Pandya has been in the news ever since his divorce. According to reports, he is dating British singer Jasmine Walia.

Jasmine was present at the stadium to support Hardik, but she initially went unnoticed. However, she later shared some photos from the venue on social media, which quickly caught people’s attention.

Fans have been commenting on Jasmine’s pictures, repeatedly calling her Bhabhiji (sister-in-law). One fan wrote, “You always support Hardik.”

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Also Read: Rohit pleased with how his team handled speculations

Dating rumors about Hardik and Jasmine have been circulating on social media for a while, but both have remained silent on the matter. Now, fans are convinced about their relationship after spotting Jasmine at the stadium.

Meanwhile, another person who grabbed attention was cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, who was seen in the stadium alongside social media star RJ Mahvash.

Jaipur: Kiran Rao’s critically-acclaimed film “Laapataa Ladies” emerged as the biggest winner at the 2025 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, bagging 10 trophies, including Best Picture and Best Direction, at a star-studded ceremony held in Jaipur.

The film, which was named India’s official Oscar entry, won in all major categories, with Rao taking home the Best Director award, while Nitanshi Goel secured the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female) for her role of lost bride Phool.

“It’s a rare privilege to win an award for a film like ‘Laapataa Ladies’. It’s been a wonderful night. It’s a rare privilege to make a film like this,” Rao said after accepting the trophy.

“There’s absolutely nothing to compare with the love of people who say that we’ve not just watched your film once, but multiple times. It’s what a filmmaker lives for. So thank you for watching our films,” she added.

Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan clinched the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male) for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3”.

In his acceptance speech, the actor, who also hosted the awards gala with Karan Johar, said people doubted him when he took over the franchise from superstar Akshay Kumar.

“‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ has been a journey full of difficulties. From the start, when I was selected for ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, many questions were raised whether I will be able to carry the film,” he said, adding that similar things happened during the making of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3”.

“I want to thank the audience that supported us throughout this journey,” he said.

An emotional Goel said she used to watch IIFA Awards on the television as a kid and never imagined herself being on the stage.

“It’s a dream for anyone to be a part of a movie produced by Aamir Khan Productions and that’s why it was a huge honour for me… People have showered love on Phool, please continue to do so,” she said.

Goel also asked aspiring actors to never stop dreaming.

“If I can stand here, then you can also. Please dream big and they come true,” she said, before referencing Shah Rukh Khan’s popular dialogue from “Om Shanti Om”.

Her co-stars — Ravi Kishan and Pratibha Ranta — took home the awards for best supporting role (male) and best debut (Female), respectively.

“Laapataa Ladies” also won in several technical categories, including Best Story (Original) for Biplab Goswami, Best Screenplay for Sneha Desai, and Best Editing for Jabeen Merchant.

Prashant Pandey was awarded Best Lyrics for the song “Sajni”, while Ram Sampath received the Best Music honour.

Actor Janki Bodiwala won Best Supporting Role (Female) for her performance in “Shaitaan”, while Raghav Juyal was awarded Best Performance in a Negative Role for his role in “Kill”.

In the debut categories, Kunal Kemmu won Best Directorial Debut for “Madgaon Express”, while Lakshya Lalwani was named Best Debut (Male) for his role in “Kill”.

The Best Story (Adapted) award was given to the team of “Merry Christmas”, comprising Shriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja Surti, and Anukriti Pandey.

“Article 370” won Best Dialogue trophy for Arjun Dhawan, Aditya Dhar, Aditya Suhas Jambhale, and Monal Thaakar.

Technical categories saw “Kill” winning Best Cinematography for Rafey Mahmood and Best Sound Design for Subash Sahoo, Boloy Kumar Doloi, and Rahul Karpe.

The Best Choreography award went to Bosco-Caesar for the song “Tauba Tauba” from Vicky Kaushal-starrer “Bad Newz”. Red Chillies VFX bagged Best VFX for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3”.

In the music categories, Jubin Nautiyal won Best Singer (Male) for “Dua” from “Article 370”, while Shreya Ghoshal was honoured with Best Singer (Female) for “Ami Je Tomar 3.0” from “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3”.

At the ceremony, veteran filmmaker Rakesh Roshan was honoured with theOutstanding Achievement in Indian cinema award. He was felicitated by veteran actor Rekha.

PTI

Mumbai: Euphoria gripped the IIFA stage when the stunning Katrina Kaif made a rare appearance to do the Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 title track’s hookstep with Hindi film industry heartthrob Kartik Aaryan.

In a delightful moment, Kartik took on the role of a dance instructor, teaching Katrina the iconic hook step of the song, which has been featured in the second and third installment of the horror comedy franchise. With their infectious energy and charm, the duo set the stage on fire, leaving fans in awe.

The actress looked stunning in an ivory-hued outfit, while Kartik looked dapper in a classic midnight blue formal suit.

The track was sung by Neeraj Sreedhar originally. However, the third installment had Diljit Dosanjh and international singer Pitbull lending their vocal prowess to the number.

On the film front, Kartik is set to share the screen with actress Sreeleela in an yet-untitled upcoming movie.

The film is a musical helmed by director Anurag Basu and is touted to be an intense love story. The first look of the film was unveiled February 15, and it shows Kartik in a rugged look with thick stubble and ruffled hair as he plays the guitar in a concert while smoking a cigarette.

The film is a heart-wrenching love saga that explores the depths of love, longing, and destiny.

The film is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series. The music of the film is composed by Pritam, and the film is produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar.

Kartik has also bagged a Dharma Productions project after his fallout with Bollywood multi-hyphenate Karan Johar.

Meanwhile, Katrina was last seen in the 2024 mystery thriller film Merry Christmas by Sriram Raghavan. The film, a Hindi-Tamil bilingual, also stars Vijay Sethupathi alongside Ashwini Kalsekar, Luke Kenny, and Pari Maheshwari Sharma. The basic plot of the film was based on Frédéric Dard’s French novel Le Monte-charge.

IANS

Mumbai: Social media star Rj Mahvash, who raised the eyebrows of netizens after her appearance with cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal at the Champions Trophy Final, is celebrating team India’s title win.

She took to her social media to upload the video after India’s title win. The handheld phone camera also showed fireworks going in the background as she expressed the joy of winning with the cricketer.

Earlier, the two were spotted chatting after the 43rd over of New Zealand’s innings when the scoreboard read 184 runs at the loss of 5 wickets.

The two were also seen in actor Vivek Oberoi’s Instagram video, when the actor asked him about the probable outcome of the match. Responding to the same, the cricketer raised his support for India.

Apparently, the cricketer also follows the social media star on Instagram, and was even interviewed by her back in 2022.

Meanwhile, India squared off against New Zealand for a high-voltage Champions Trophy final at the Dubai International Stadium Sunday.

With India losing its 15th toss in a row, New Zealand opted to bat first. India managed to get some early breakthroughs and drilled holes in their opponent’s wall of defence before India returned with mightier grenades launching through their bats.

New Zealand barely managed to touch the rope of 250 runs as they posted a score of 251 runs for the loss of 7 wickets at the board.

In the following chase and perfectly mounted batting attack, the Indian squad spearheaded by Rohit Sharma, maintained a steady momentum. The skipper led from the front, smashing 76 runs from 83 balls.

However, India won the contest comfortably by 4 wickets, netting their third title win of Champions Trophy. With this, it became the first team to win 3 Champions Trophy, moving ahead of Australia, which now has 2 title wins in the tournament.

India won the first Champions Trophy in 2002, where it was declared a joint winner with Sri Lanka. The second win came after 11 years in 2013 when it beat England at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. Virat Kohli doing the hook-step of ‘Gangnam Style’ in a white blazer during the post-match presentation is a famed memory from the 2013 Champions Trophy Final.

India is also the team with the most number of seats in the Champions Trophy Finals over the years with 5 times entering the finals, followed by New Zealand at 3.

The victory comes as a huge boost to the morale of the team and the fans after a heartbreaking defeat in the Test series in Australia in December last year.

IANS