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Sunny Hinduja on playing a Pakistani agent: It’s very difficult to get a good role

Mumbai, Aug 9, 2025

Actor Sunny Hinduja, who is playing an ISI agent in the upcoming series “Saare Jahan Se Accha”, has talked about how he wasn’t apprehensive on taking on the role and said that he doesn’t focus on the character’s nationality or background, but rather on the quality of the role itself.

Sunny emphasised the scarcity of good roles and the importance of taking on compelling characters, even if they are antagonists, to effectively tell a story.

Talking about being apprehensive about playing a Pakistani agent, Sunny told IANS: “There is a lack of good roles. And for a good role, there are a hundred people standing. So, as an actor, as an artist, I don’t think about what kind of role it is, where it is from, which caste it is from, which creed it is from.”

“How is this role? So you must have liked the role… So it is very difficult to get a good role,” he said.

Pratik Gandhi, who plays RAW agent Vishnu in the series, chimed in: “If you want to talk about Krishna, you will get Kansa, right? So when we are talking about the army, when we are talking about the intelligence of two countries, then the intelligence of our own country, who is fighting in front of whom, will also come.”

“So someone or the other will have to perform it. Otherwise, how will we tell?

“Saare Jahan Se Accha” follows the gripping journey of RAW agent Vishnu Shankar, who is assigned a dangerous mission deep inside Pakistan.

Set against the tense backdrop of the 1970s, a time when every strategic move risked igniting a global nuclear conflict, the show captures the fierce intelligence war between India’s RAW and Pakistan’s ISI.

The series also stars Suhail Nayyar, Kritika Kamra, Tillotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor, and Anup Soni.

Created by Gaurav Shukla and produced by Bombay Fables, with Bhavesh Mandalia as creative producer, “Saare Jahan Se Accha” will premiere ahead of Independence Day on August 13 on Netflix.(Agency)

Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten 63 guides Pakistan to five-wicket win in ODI opener against Windies

Shaheen Afridi Pakistan Bowler

Trinidad, Aug 8, 2025

Debutant Hasan Nawaz announced himself on the international stage with an unbeaten 63, guiding Pakistan to a nervy five-wicket win over West Indies in the opening ODI of the three-match series. Nawaz’s match-winning knock included a decisive 104-run stand with Hussain Talat as the visitors chased down 281 with seven balls to spare.

Earlier, the hosts posted 280, riding on half-centuries from Evin Lewis (60), Shai Hope, and Roston Chase. West Indies were well placed early, with Lewis and Keacy Carty setting a brisk tempo above six runs per over.

But Pakistan’s spinners seized control, choking the run flow in the middle overs. Faheem Ashraf bowled 27 dot balls in this period, and the squeeze forced errors. Lewis fell attempting to attack Saim Ayub, while Sherfane Rutherford failed to get going.

Hope and Chase steadied the innings, but once Shaheen Shah Afridi (4/51) and Naseem Shah (3/55) found reverse swing, wickets tumbled. Only Gudakesh Motie’s late cameo of 31 off 18 balls pushed West Indies to a competitive total.

Pakistan’s chase began shakily, with Ayub departing early. Abdullah Shafique looked in touch during his 29 before low bounce undid him, thanks to a sharp review from Shamar Joseph. Captain Babar Azam (47) and Mohammad Rizwan (53) rebuilt slowly, enduring a phase of 16 dot balls that saw the required run rate climb above six. Just as momentum returned, Motie removed Babar, and Salman Ali Agha departed soon after. Rizwan reached his fifty but fell to Shamar with 101 still needed.

That left debutant Nawaz and Talat, playing just his second ODI, with the task of rescuing the chase. Nawaz started scratchily — 3 off 12 balls — and survived two dropped chances: Hope grassed him early, and Motie spilled one when he was on 49. From there, the pair attacked, finding gaps and boundaries to take the game away from the hosts. Talat finished unbeaten on 41 off 37 deliveries, ensuring Pakistan crossed the line in the 49th over.

The win gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second ODI scheduled for August 10.(Agency)

Paula Badosa withdraws from U.S. Open with recurring back injury

Paula-Badosa

New York, Aug 9, 2025

Former World No. 2 Paula Badosa has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming U.S. Open due to a recurring back injury, ending her hopes of repeating or bettering last year’s quarterfinal run at the Grand Slam in New York.

The Spaniard, currently ranked No. 12, has not played competitively since her first-round defeat to Britain’s Katie Boulter at Wimbledon on June 30. The U.S. Tennis Association confirmed on Friday that Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann will replace Badosa in the main draw. France’s Alizé Cornet will be the next eligible player should another withdrawal occur before the tournament begins.

In an emotional statement shared on social media, the 27-year-old expressed her deep disappointment at missing the year’s final major.

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my withdrawal from this year’s U.S. Open,” Badosa said. “This decision was incredibly difficult to make. After the amazing run I had in New York last year and the deep connection I felt with the city and the fans, stepping away from this tournament is very emotional for me.

 

The U.S. Open has always meant a great deal to me and I have created some of my most special memories there.”

Badosa’s 2024 run to the quarterfinals marked her best showing at the U.S. Open, cementing her as one of the most dangerous players on the WTA Tour. Earlier this season, she enjoyed a career highlight by reaching the Australian Open semifinals, her deepest Grand Slam run.

 

Her rise to World No. 2 in the spring of 2022 had signaled the emergence of a major contender in women’s tennis. However, recurring injuries over the past two seasons have disrupted her momentum, forcing multiple withdrawals from key tournaments.

The U.S. Open, scheduled to start on August 24 and conclude with the women’s final on September 6, will now proceed without one of its most popular players.(Agency)

Mouni Roy pens romantic birthday note for hubby Suraj Nambiar

Mumbai, Aug 9, 2025

Actress Mouni Roy has penned a heartfelt note for her husband Suraj Nambiar and said that her best time started when she met him.

Taking to Instagram, Mouni shared a string of pictures with Suraj from their romantic getaways and expressed that her love for him is without reason.

“Eight years almost & errrr fighting,dunno about what im writing. I don’t know coz my love for you doesn’t bear reason ,In best days or in worst, Come ruin or rapture, in sickness and in health. You bother me, come bother me not …… (sic),” she wrote.

The actress added that she loves Suraj for all his perfections and eccentricities.

“Happy birthday hubby P.s perfectly splendid or perfectly disastrous You can’t …! Ok bye. Happy birthday x (sic),” Mouni added.

Mouni married Suraj, a Dubai-based Malayali businessman, in traditional Bengali and Malayali ceremonies in Panaji, Goa, following a three-year relationship in 2022.

The actress’ latest release is Salakaar, a spy thriller. Inspired by real life events, Salakaar takes you deep into a world where loyalty is currency, silence is survival, and one man’s past mission could decide the fate of a nation.

The show by Faruk Kabir, which also stars Naveen Kasturia, Mukesh Rishi, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Ashwath Bhatt, and Surya Sharma, is told across two timelines – 1978 and 2025.

Mouni had earlier said that her character isn’t just brave, she’s complicated, conflicted and incredibly resilient.

Mouni said, “This is one of the most emotional roles I’ve ever done. My character isn’t just brave, she’s complicated, conflicted, and incredibly resilient. She operates in a high-risk zone, but she also carries her personal trauma and history into every decision. The trailer gives just a hint of the layered storytelling, and I feel privileged to be part of a project that dares to go deeper.”

Salakaar is streaming on JioHotstar. The series is produced by Sphereorigins and Mahir Films.(Agency)

Sushmita Sen wishes ‘rockstar’ mother on b’day: My hero forever

Sushmita Sen Actress 3

Mumbai, Aug 9, 2025

As her mother Subhra Sen turned a year-older, former beauty queen and actress Sushmita Sen wished her “hero” with a heartfelt post, where she tagged her as a “rockstar”.

Sushmita took to Instagram, where she shared a gamut of pictures featuring the actress, her mother Subhra along with her two daughters Renee and Alisah.

For the caption, Sushmita wrote: “Happpyyyyyy Birthday Maa!!! I am forever grateful to God, for giving me YOU…What a beautiful blessing!!! Here’s to your health & happiness always!! What a ROCKSTAR @subhra51 My #hero forever!!! Enjoyyyyy your #favouritecity birthday girl I love you beyond!!! #duggadugga #pronam@alisahsen47 @reneesen47 &#yourstruly.”

Last month, Sushmita expressed her gratitude for being invited to speak at India’s International Movement To Unite Nations (IIMUN), which she tagged as a responsibility to inspire young minds.

For the caption, she wrote: “To be invited…an honour. To inspire…a responsibility. Thank you IIMUN for the incredible energy, the fierce questions, and the unwavering hope you carry for the future. It was a joy to be among minds that don’t just dream but dare. Stay unstoppable. Stay kind. #sharing #thelook #GuestSpeaker #IIMUN #YouthPower #Gratitude.”

On the work front, Sushmita was last seen in Aarya 3, an Indian crime-thriller drama television series by Ram Madhvani. The show stars Sushmita Sen in the title role and is based on the Dutch drama series Penoza.

The series is about Aarya, an independent woman who seeks to protect her family and joins a mafia gang in order to get revenge for her husband’s murder. Recently, the show has been nominated for International Emmy Awards for best Drama series.

The 49-year-old star made her acting debut playing a fictionalised version of herself in the 1996 thriller Dastak. She was then seen in films such as Biwi No.1, Sirf Tum, Filhaal, Aankhen, Main Hoon Na, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?, Aarya, and Taali.(Agency)

Sushmita-Sen-actress-bold

Sushant Singh Rajput’s sister Shweta says ‘still tying a Rakhi on your wrist in my heart’

Shweta-Singh-Kirti-and-Sushant-singh-rajput

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025

It has been more than five years since Bollywood’s rising star, Sushant Singh Rajput, suddenly left for heavenly abode. Ahead of Rakhi, his sister Shweta Singh Kirti expressed her longing for her brother through an emotional social media post.

Shweta shared a video montage of some precious moments of the ‘Chhichhore’ actor with her family on Instagram.

Revealing that she can still feel Sushant’s presence around her, Shweta wrote, “Sometimes it feels like you never really left. That you’re still here, just beyond the veil, watching silently. And then, in the next breath, the ache hits. Will I truly never see you again? Will your laughter remain only an echo? Your voice, a fading memory I cannot grasp? (sic)”

Sharing how she deals with the pain of losing her baby brother at such a young age, she added, “The pain of losing you is so intimate, so raw, that words shrink in its presence. It lives quietly inside me, too sacred to be spoken aloud, too vast to be contained. And with each passing day, it deepens, not with bitterness, but with clarity, revealing how fleeting this material world is, how fragile our attachments, and how only the Divine offers refuge.”

However, Shweta firmly believes that she will meet Sushant again, “on the other side, beyond stories, beyond time, where souls recognize each other not through names, but through the silent language of love.”

“Until then, I remain here, still tying a Rakhi on your wrist in my heart, still praying that wherever you are, you are wrapped in joy, in peace, in light,” she concluded, wishing her brother eternal peace.

For the unversed, Sushant was found dead in his Bandra house in Mumbai on 14 June 2020 at the young age of 34.

The official cause of death was ruled as death by suicide. The official postmortem reports claimed that the actor died of asphyxia due to hanging.(Agency)

Eddie Murphy says he is not motivated by awards

Los Angeles, Aug 9, 2025

Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy’s motivation doesn’t come from accolades. However, the actor-comedian doesn’t have a problem with an Oscar on his shelf.

The 64-year-old actor has enjoyed huge success in Hollywood, starring in hit film franchises like ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ‘Shrek’, but Eddie insists that he’s not motivated by awards, reports ‘Female First UK’.

He told Sky News, “The movies are timeless, and they’re special, so for years and years those movies play and the movies have commercial success. So you make a lot of money and people love it, so you don’t even think about ‘I didn’t win a trophy’. The response from the people and that the movie has legs, that’s the trophy”.

He further mentioned, “You know what I’ve earned over these years? One day, they’ll give me one of those honorary Oscars. When I’m really old. And I’ll say thank you so much for this wonderful honour. I’ll be old like that and I’ll have no teeth. I’m cool with getting my honorary Oscar when I’m 90”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, Eddie stars alongside Pete Davidson in ‘The Pickup’, the new action-comedy movie, and the actor recently claimed that he has “a lot in common” with Pete. Eddie also revealed that he relished the experience of working with Pete, a former Saturday Night Live star.

Speaking to Extra, Eddie explained, “I was looking forward to working with him. I was a fan already from SNL, and we have a lot in common now. We both started doing stand-up when we were really young, and we both started Saturday Night Live when we were really young, and we both lost our dads when we were really young. So, we had a lot in common, and he’s a new-generation SNL. So, it was exciting. I love working with SNL alumni. I feel like a kinship to all of them”.

Pete is currently expecting his first child with Elsie Hewitt but Eddie hadn’t offered him any parenting advice.(Agency)

Shilpa Shirodkar wishes Happy B’day to ‘best brother-in-law ever’ Mahesh Babu

Mahesh-Babu-&-Shilpa-shirodkar

Mumbai, Aug 9, 2025

As Mahesh Babu turned 50 on Saturday, actress Shilpa Shirodkar wished the “best brother-in-law ever” and said that the actor keeps inspiring with his humility and grace.

The former “Bigg Boss 18” contestant, who is the sister of Namrata Shirodkar, took to Instagram to share a picture of herself posing with Mahesh. In the image, the are seen smiling at the camera and posing.

For the caption, she wrote“Happy Birthday to the best brother-in-law ever!! You keep inspiring us all with your humility and grace. May your light keep shining brighter each year! Love you toooooooo much @urstrulymahesh.”

Shilpa will next be seen in “Jatadhara,” which marks Sonakshi Sinha’s Telugu debut. The pan-India Telugu-Hindi supernatural fantasy thriller film also stars Sudheer Babu, Ravi Prakash, Divya Vij, and Rain Anjali in supporting roles.

‘Jatadhara’ is a supernatural thriller that delves into the unknown, promising a thrilling experience for viewers. With its unique storyline and talented cast, including Shilpa Shirodkar, this film is expected to make waves in the industry.

Earlier, Shilpa was seen in ‘Bigg Boss 18’ along with Vivian Dsena, Chum Darang, Karan Veer Mehra, Chahat Pandey, Kashish Kapoor, Digvijay Singh Rathee, Avinash Mishra, Eisha Singh, Alice Kaushik, Arfeen Khan, Sara Khan and Shrutika Arjun to name a few,

Meanwhile, Mahesh was last seen in Guntur Kaaram, a Telugu-language action drama film. Directed by Trivikram Srinivas. The film also stars Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Prakash Raj, Ramya Krishna, Jayaram, Jagapathi Babu, Sunil and Rao Ramesh.

He will next be seen in S.S. Rajamouli’s “SSMB29”. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas. This will be the first time the actors will be seen working together.

The star’s film ‘Srimanthudu’ turned 10 on August 7 and the makers of the movie penned a note of gratitude to actor Mahesh Babu, who played the lead in the film, on the occasion of the film completing 10 years.

Mythri Movie Makers, which marked its debut in production with Srimanthudu, took to its X timeline to pen a lengthy post.

It wrote, “It’s been 10 years since we began our journey in Cinema. And it all started with a film that became a milestone in Telugu cinema – #Srimanthudu.”

The production house then went on to say, “We are forever grateful to Superstar @urstrulyMahesh sir. You gave our banner the dream launch every producer hopes for. We will always be grateful for the dignity, commitment and excellence you brought to the film and to our journey.”(Agency)

Mohit Suri reveals why it was hard getting music directors onboard for ‘Aashiqui 2’

Mohit Suri Film Director

Mumbai, Aug 9, 2025

Director Mohit Suri has been having a dream run at the theatre with his latest release ‘Saiyaara’. The film has been firing on all cylinders, as it breached the INR 500 crore mark worldwide, and its album is a chartbuster.

Mohit is known for his musicals, so is Yash Raj Films. So, when he joined forces with YRF, did the pressure get to him to live up to the two legacies, and deliver a chartbuster album? Mohit spoke with IANS recently in the wake of celebrations with regards to the unimaginable success of ‘Saiyaara’.

He said that he doesn’t take that pressure, and works with his blinkers on. Something of this sort also happened during the making of ‘Aashiqui 2’. That was the pressure he battled and eventually delivered a hit album.

He told IANS, “I often don’t like to take this pressure if anything else. I’ve had this same issue when I started out my career, and living up to the Vishesh film banner of musicals. Then when I was making ‘Aashiqui 2’, there was this whole pressure of living up to ‘Aashiqui’. So no established music director really wanted to be a part of it”.

“And lastly, then when you do this, I think what you need to do is focus on what you need to do right now. As the dialogue in the film says, ‘I didn’t think about what happened in the past or what’s about to happen’. You need to make music for today. So I decided to do that. We had our ups and downs and still managed to make what we have made. But I really thank YRF for letting me make music the way I usually do. It’s the first time they’re working with multiple composers and multiple writers. But that’s what the best part is. My producers, they saw my sense and let me be. That takes a lot of, you know, a lot of thought and a lot of grace to do that”, he added.(Agency)

Pamela Anderson: I look in the mirror like I do on social media

Pamela Anderson Actress

Los Angeles, Aug 9, 2025

Hollywood star Pamela Anderson says she has “cracked the code” for living with social media without getting “depressed”.

The 57-year-old actress fears many people get stressed out by platforms such as Instagram because they have the ability to create the perfect version of themselves through editing. However, Pamela is adamant she looks exactly the same as her pictures in real life.

She told Glamour magazine: “We’re going through a time when people are taking a lot of pictures of themselves, there’s a lot of social media, but they don’t really look like their social media.

“I’ve cracked the code: I actually look in the mirror like I do on social media. Then you don’t have to get so depressed. Or (if) I see a bad picture of myself, I don’t fret over anything like that anymore,” she said.

She went on to add her new state of mind is linked to her decision to scale back her use of make-up, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“”Maybe it’s accentuated or maybe it’s not relatable because I’ve been in this business, but I think people can relate a little bit. They’re always doing selfies and putting them on their [feeds], and then they’re like: ‘Oh, I don’t look like that’, or ‘I look bad right now’, when really you just look like you!”

“I didn’t plan on not wearing make-up as a political statement, but I’m glad it’s resonating. I really just did it for me so I could – I had to – get off the crazy train.”

The actress had previously described her decision to ditch make-up as a “social experiment.

She told Times Radio: “I’ve always known that beauty does come from within, and that physical beauty is perishable. As much as my mom wants me to go out with an eye on, I’m experimenting. This is a social experiment. I’m doing what I think is right right now.”

She continued, “I’m not against make-up. I just feel like this is a chapter for me that I’m trying to figure out who I am.”

Anderson first stepped out bare-faced in 2023 during an appearance at Paris Fashion Week for the Vivienne Westwood show.(Agency)