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Aastha Gill talks about changing her thought-process as musician: ‘Learnt it the hard way’

Mumbai, Oct 28, 2025

Singer-songwriter Aastha Gill, who is known for tracks like ‘Kamariya’, ‘DJ Wale Babu’ and others, has shared that she has changed her thought-process as an artiste, and to navigate the industry and its dynamics.

The singer spoke with IANS during the promotional run of her new streaming music reality show ‘I-popstar’, on which she serves as one of the mentors.

For any artiste, there is a responsibility on them to deliver a hit. Their teams constantly feed them with what is happening in the market, what should be the output, how it should be made.

When asked if it is very tough to keep yourself away from the temptation which the market forces put on her, she told IANS, “Honestly, it took me a lot of time to understand. I used to get stuck while making music because my commercial mind as a musician over-powered the artiste in me. For almost two years, I have been changing my thought-process. I have cut myself from this noise, knowingly. I realised two years ago that I was lost. In my own art, I could not understand how to process”.

She further mentioned, “When I used to sit in a session, I used to think, ‘I want to write my own song, I want to write my own story’. Now I have started composing, I have started writing my own story as I’m no longer lost in that noise. Back then, I could not figure out what was missing, it took me a lot of time. I could do some songs which I realised later that I might have done it wrong. But to bring that understanding, it was very difficult. I have learnt it the hard way”.

‘I-popstar’ is available to stream on ‘Amazon MX Player’.(Agency)

RSS ban row: Karnataka HC stays govt order mandating approval for events in public, state-owned venues

Dharwad, Oct 28, 2025

In a major setback to the Congress-led government in Karnataka, the High Court’s Dharwad Bench on Tuesday issued an interim stay on the order, which made prior approval from authorities mandatory for holding events in public and state-owned venues.

The government had issued the order recently following a letter from Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities in public places and government-owned premises across the state. The issue had also sparked a war of words between Congress and BJP leaders.

The bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order in this regard. The writ petition was filed by Punaschetana Seva Samsthe, an NGO, challenging the legality of the government order.

The petition contended that the order, which deems gatherings of more than 10 persons illegal and mandates permission from authorities for holding foot marches or public events, is unconstitutional.

Senior counsel Ashok Harnalli, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the order issued by the Home Department violates both the law and the Constitution. He stated that prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 persons in parks, grounds, pools, and lakes is impermissible under the law.

The order, he added, curtails the constitutional rights of citizens guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. “At the very outset, it is evident that the order is unconstitutional,” he submitted.

The counsel, representing the state government, sought one week to present arguments. The bench observed that it is unclear what the government is trying to achieve through such an order. The court also issued notices to the Home Department and the state government.

The Karnataka government mandated approval from authorities for holding events in public and state-owned venues during the cabinet meeting on October 16. Although the RSS is not directly mentioned, sources confirmed that the move is primarily aimed at restricting RSS activities.

The official statement regarding the order stated, “Government, government-aided schools and colleges, grant-in-aid educational institutions, parks, playgrounds, public roads, open spaces, and other properties/lands are designated for the rightful use of citizens. It is essential to ensure that no obstacles or threats arise that prevent the public from using them. Likewise, it is also necessary to prevent problems relating to law and order and to address public grievances.”(Agency)

Congress demands digitally identifiable voter list, Aadhaar Card inclusion in ID verification

Bhopal, Oct 28, 2025

The Congress party has called for the implementation of digitally readable voter lists and mandatory Aadhaar card verification, following the Election Commission of India’s announcement of a Special Intensive Revision campaign aimed at overhauling Madhya Pradesh’s electoral rolls.

The campaign, launched on Monday, marks a significant step in updating the state’s voter registry.

Speaking to reporters in Guna, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh expressed concern that the Election Commission has not provided the Congress party with digitally identifiable (machine-readable) voter lists.

He reiterated his party’s demand that voter lists shared with political representatives be in a machine-readable format to facilitate digital cross-verification and identify duplicate entries across constituencies.

Singh also criticised the Election Commission for excluding Aadhaar cards from the list of acceptable identity proofs, arguing that registering every eligible citizen is both a fundamental right and a core responsibility of the Commission.

He further pointed out that, despite Supreme Court directives, the Commission has excluded the Aadhaar card from the list of 11 documents that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are instructed to verify during their door-to-door survey.

Under the Commission’s directive, every voter in the state will undergo fresh identity verification. Voter lists at each polling station across all 230 assembly constituencies will be meticulously scrutinised. This comprehensive exercise aims to fulfil several key objectives: enrolling new voters who have turned 18, removing names of deceased individuals, those who have permanently relocated, and duplicate entries.

Additionally, corrections will be made to inaccuracies in names, addresses, and other personal details to ensure the voter lists accurately reflect the current population.

To execute this task, BLOs will conduct door-to-door visits in both urban and rural areas, distributing forms, collecting data, and verifying identities using officially recognised documents.

Madhya Pradesh currently has an electorate of approximately 57.4 million people. Supporting this massive revision effort are 65,014 polling booths, 119,940 BLOs, 762 assistant returning officers, and 55 district election officers working in coordination.

The gender breakdown of the voter base includes around 29.2 million men and 27.8 million women. An analysis of the age demographics reveals a youthful skew in certain segments.

The state has 1,119,161 voters aged 18 to 19, 13,388,424 in the 20-to-29 age group, 15,144,883 between 30 and 39, 11,528,407 aged 40 to 49, 8,131,709 in the 50-to-59 bracket, 4,815,858 aged 60 to 69, 2,211,505 between 70 and 79, and 752,420 citizens aged 80 and above.

The second phase of the revision has already ignited political debate. The Election Commission, describing the initiative as a special and intensive process, emphasised its commitment to maintaining the integrity and reliability of the voter registry, thereby laying a strong foundation for free and fair elections in the future.(Agency)

Jay Bhanushali shares a picture with daughter amidst divorce rumours, wife Mahhi Vij missing

Mumbai, Oct 28, 2025

The rumours of television host and actor Jay Bhanushali and actress wife Mahhi Vij heading towards splitsville are currently doing the rounds on the internet.

There has been no confirmation on it as of yet, and neither Jay nor Mahhi has spoken about it. Amidst rumours, Jay has shared a cute picture of himself with his daughter Tara on his social media account.

Mahhi Vij was seen missing in the picture. He used the song “My Girl, My Girl” as the background score. Recently, Jay, along with his daughters, Khushi Ray and Tara Bhanushali, was on a 10-day trip to Japan. The actor had been sharing a series of posts and stories from his trip, giving fans a glimpse of his travel moments with his little ones. In one of his social media stories, Jay was seen smiling in a selfie at the famous Shibuya crossing with his daughters, carrying their luggage.

He also shared a clip from Narita International Airport with the caption, “All the planes and another one from the train with the text, Just before reaching the airport,” tagging Khushi Ray and Tara Bhanushali. Jay, reflecting on the reality of vacationing in Japan, said, “Don’t come to Japan if you’re not ready for this. At least 30,000 steps walking you have to do.”

Jay had also shared a reel of feeding deer in Nara Park, writing, “The best day spent in Japan. Me and my kids loved it. Feeding deer was peaceful with amazing views of nature.” Summing up his trip, Jay penned a heartwarming note. “They deserve it. The best daughters. The best child companion I could have got. For 10 days we struggled with less sleep. Lots of walking and exploring Japan.”

For the uninitiated, Jay Bhanushali and Mahhi welcomed daughter Tara in 2019, after years of trying to conceive.

The couple had revealed the medical complications they faced before the birth of Tara. The couple have been foster parents to their caretakers’ children, Khushi and Rajveer. Jay and Mahhi got married in 2011 after dating for a few years.(Agency)

Why Emraan and Yami came to the sets of ‘HAQ’ like hungry, curious, and fearless students?

Mumbai, Oct 28, 2025

Filmmaker Suparn S Varma recently opened up about working with Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam in his upcoming film “HAQ.” Speaking at the trailer launch event, the director spoke about their on-set energy and shared that both actors approached the project like “hungry, curious, and fearless students,” eager to learn and experiment. Varma praised Emraan and Yami’s dedication and enthusiasm, calling their collaboration one of the most creatively fulfilling experiences of his career.

Talking about Yami Gautam, Suparn S Varma recalled the remarkable intensity she brought to her role as Shazia Bano, despite being a new mother at the time. “Yami was a new mother who did not go home even for a single day. For 32 days on set, she didn’t say a single word. On the last day, when I took her final reaction, I saw her smiling as Yami Gautam, not Shazia Bano. That’s when I realized what she had poured into this performance.”

For Emraan, Suparn Varma mentioned, “He has done so many films; he could easily walk in with overconfidence. But I’ve never met an actor who treats every single day like his first. Both Yami and Emraan came to set like students: hungry, curious, fearless. That energy is infectious. When every person on set is giving their 100%, magic happens.”

The director, who appeared visibly moved at the launch event, also opened up about the remarkable journey behind creating the courtroom drama inspired by the historic Shah Bano case. He said, “We’ve spent three years researching and writing this film to bring it to you,” Suparn shared, as the applause refused to die down. “When someone works with so much clarity and passion, they get the same applause and whistles that we’re hearing here today.”

“When my writer Reshu Nath and I started writing and researching, our strength came from the fact that this is a film that needs to be made and talked about. Because these issues, like Emraan rightly pointed out, have been relevant for decades and still are. It’s time we start having conversations and bring them out. We come from a place of honesty, love, and respect for all our brothers and sisters. And when you come from that space, the audience instantly feels the truth in your story,” added Suparn.

“HAQ,” directed by Suparn S Varma and produced by Junglee Pictures, is scheduled for release in theatres on November 7, 2025.(Agency)

Bengal BJP leader arrested in assault case

Kolkata, Oct 28, 2025

Bengal BJP leader Rakesh Singh and his children were arrested allegedly for going on a rampage inside a housing complex in the Kasba area of Kolkata, police said on Tuesday.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday, during which Rakesh and his daughter and son allegedly assaulted the owner of a flat and his children.

The police said that the BJP leader has a flat in a multi-storeyed building in Kasba. However, he was accused of forcibly occupying another flat in the same residential complex.

When the owner of the flat went to remove things from the place along with his workers, Rakesh Singh and his children allegedly attacked him.

The victim alleged that the attackers had firearms.

The owner of the flat, Chandu Khan, was injured in the attack and was admitted to a hospital. Chandu’s sons, Saptarshi Khan and Rajarshi Khan, were also injured.

They alleged that the BJP leader, his son and daughter beat them up with the butt of a gun and knives.

Based on their complaint, the Kasba Police arrested Rakesh Singh, his children, Shivam and Simran.

Rajarshi Khan said, “Rakesh Singh has a flat on the fourth floor. He has forcibly occupied our flat on the third floor. He has kept his belongings there. I have repeatedly asked him to remove the belongings. But, he did not remove them. We were taking the workers today and putting their belongings down because we were paying rent. Then eight to nine people came and beat my father and brother. They had firearms in their hands. They beat them with gun butts. My father had to be admitted to the hospital. They also attacked me with a knife.”

A senior officer of Kolkata Police said, “The BJP leader and his son and daughter have been arrested. A case has been registered against them. Investigation is on.”

On September 3, Kolkata Police arrested Rakesh Singh on charges of vandalism at the headquarters of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee in Kolkata. The BJP leader had been absconding since he led the vandalism at the state Congress headquarters in Kolkata on August 29.

On September 1, the police arrested Rakesh Singh’s elder son Shivam Singh for allegedly aiding his father’s escape, who is the main accused in the vandalism. Singh was arrested based on an FIR lodged by the Congress against the alleged attack and defacement of posters of its leaders, Rahul Gandhi and others.(Agency)

Sydney Sweeney: I had someone tell me to fix my face

Los Angeles, Oct 28, 2025

Actress Sydney Sweeney has recalled how she had someone tell her to “fix” her face and get botox.

“I have very strong eyebrow muscles. And I had someone tell me to fix my face or else I’m not going to make it. I should get Botox. I was 16! Or I’m in a casting and I’m reading my scene and the casting director is eating a bag of chips, and I’m like, ‘You’re not paying attention at all’,” Sweeney told Variety.

She went on to explain that she enjoys playing complicated characters, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Sweeney said: “I tend to gravitate towards characters that are stereotypically unlikable, and I like to challenge an audience to have empathy for that person.”

She starred in season one of The White Lotus, and Mike White, the show’s writer and creator, has confessed to being wowed by the actress during her first audition.

He shared: “There was just something very unaffected by her. She was very likeable. And I thought that that would be helpful because the part is so unlikable on the page. Then in editing, you realise she just pops on-screen. She’s obviously lovely in person and photogenic. But my eyes kept going to her, no matter who’s in the scene with her. That’s natural screen magnetism that is hard to quantify. She just has that.

“I don’t know what makes somebody a star, but there is something about her that just is.”

Filmmaker Paul Feig is also full of praise for the actress, observing that she is “very savvy”.

He shared: “She’s probably one of the most confident people I’ve ever met in my life — in a good way. She’s very savvy. ‘Savvy’ sounds calculated. With her, she’s just very smart about publicity, about social media, about what people are looking for on social media.”

“As we’re getting ready to promote, we’re always like, ‘Oh, let’s do this. This is the hot trend on TikTok right now.’ And she’s like, ‘No, that was last month. Here’s the hot trend.’”(Agency)

Attacks on Adani Group coordinated effort to undermine India’s growth: Lawyer

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

Supreme Court advocate Ishkaran Singh Bhandari has said that recent reports by foreign media targeting the Adani Group are part of a larger, coordinated effort to undermine India’s economic growth and private industrial progress.

In a conversation with IANS, Bhandari said this is not the first time such attempts have been made to malign the Adani Group.

“For years, the Adani conglomerate has been repeatedly targeted. These are the same companies that play a crucial role in India’s economic backbone — operating in key sectors such as ports, airports, and energy,” he said.

“Foreign interests do not want Indian enterprises to gain strength and global recognition in these strategic areas,” he told IANS.

He recalled that the Adani Group had earlier faced similar allegations from Hindenburg Research (which has been shut down), which even led to a Supreme Court-monitored investigation.

“Despite the probe and the formation of a special committee, no evidence of wrongdoing was ever found. Yet, the narrative continues to be pushed for ulterior motives,” Bhandari noted.

Calling the campaign a long-running international conspiracy, he cited examples of global financiers like George Soros, who, according to him, have openly linked Adani-related controversies to political outcomes in India.

“People who don’t even live in India are trying to interfere with our economic stability,” he said.

Bhandari dismissed such reports as “fit for the dustbin,” adding that raising them in Parliament or during election debates serves an “anti-India purpose.”

Defending LIC’s investment in Adani Ports, he said, “If an American company can profit from investing in Mumbai Airport, why can’t LIC invest in Adani Ports? There is nothing questionable about it.”

“LIC’s investment processes are transparent and multi-layered. It has always invested in Indian enterprises — that’s part of its mandate,” Bhandari mentioned.

He argued that questioning LIC’s investments while ignoring those of foreign investors exposes the hypocrisy behind such criticism.

“India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy. Those trying to weaken LIC’s profitability under the guise of transparency are actually seeking to undermine India’s growth story,” he said.

Bhandari urged citizens and lawmakers to reject “agenda-driven foreign narratives” that attempt to erode confidence in Indian industry and private investment. “These baseless reports are designed to shake faith in India’s economic momentum — and must be firmly dismissed,” he stated.(Agency)

Manisha Koirala reflects on spirituality and understanding life & death

Mumbai, Oct 28, 2025

Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala recently shared a heartfelt post reflecting on spirituality and her life learnings through Buddhist teachings.

Taking to her social media account, the actress shared a few pictures from her recent visit at the Buddhist monarchy and understanding life. She wrote, “I’ve always wanted to understand death — somewhere deep down, I felt that in truly understanding it, I might also lose my fear of it. My search led me to The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, where one line struck me deeply: “You die as you lived.” Those words stayed with me and opened a doorway into the profound teachings on bardo — the space between death and rebirth.”

She added, “Back in 2008/09, I used to visit Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. I remember asking him, “What is the purpose of my life?” He smiled and said, “That’s not your question — it’s a Western one.” I was both surprised and deeply moved by his insight.” Koirala further wrote, “Years later, when I asked him about bardo, he guided me to Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. After attending a few of his classes, life’s busyness took over — until this year, when I was invited to join his retreat with a small group of 30–40 people. Those four days became a turning point for me. I realised that what I’ve been seeking has always been right here — within these teachings and within myself — waiting patiently for my deeper commitment.”

Elaborating more on the same, Manisha wrote, “Mingyur Rinpoche is a rare master — his joy, humility, and clarity make even the most profound wisdom feel simple and alive. He teaches not just through words but through experience — through his presence, his laughter, and the peace he radiates. What I love most is how he bridges ancient Buddhist wisdom with modern science — often referring to quantum physics and ongoing scientific studies that beautifully align with the nature of mind and awareness.”

Talking about her being inspired, the Dil De actress wrote, “I now feel inspired to continue with his Joy of Living and Path of Liberation courses whenever life allows — to dive deeper into this extraordinary wisdom that unites the heart and the mind, tradition and science. These few days learning about bardo gave me glimpses of vast, timeless wisdom — a reminder that life and death are not separate and that awakening begins here, now. Beyond grateful for this experience.”

For the uninitiated, Manisha Koirala originally belongs to Kathmandu, Nepal, and comes from a prominent political family in Nepal. Her grandfather, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, was the country’s first democratically elected prime minister.

On the professional front, Manisha’s association with Bollywood – the actress made her debut with Saudagar in 1991, directed by Subhash Ghai. Further, she went on to deliver acclaimed performances in movies like “1942: A Love Story, Dil Se, Khamoshi: The Musical, Bombay, and others(Agency)

Milap Zaveri: Don’t blame anyone for that lean period of mine

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

Much like a phoenix that rises from its ashes, Milap Zaveri has marched back into the spotlight with Ek Deewane ki Deewaniyat. After an almost four-year lean period following the underperformance of Satyamev Jayate 2, the filmmaker-writer has made a powerful comeback and said that it feels “sweeter after the bitterness of failure.”

Milap has helmed films such as “Satyamev Jayate” franchise, “Marjavaan” and “Mastizaade”. He has also penned hits such as Kaante, Housefull, Ek Villain and Shootout at Wadala to name a few.

Saying that he doesn’t hold anyone responsible for his lean phase and accepts full accountability for his failures, Milap candidly told IANS: “Well, you know, I think — and I say this in a very simple, humble way… I don’t blame anyone for that lean period of mine. I accept it myself. You know, I made a film that didn’t do well called Satyamev Jayate 2. The business economics didn’t work; the film didn’t work.”

“Then it was, I think, just justified that people were wary of me because it was a film that had a lot of hope. Bahut umeedein thi logon ko us film se. Aur woh film jab nahi utari logon ki umeedon par, toh people were disillusioned by me,” he added.

Recalling how many thought he wouldn’t be able to pull off again, Milap said: “They thought, I would not be able to pull it off again. And there was a period of three, three and a half years where I had very little work. I never thought I’d see this day again — where I’d be sitting in front of you and talking about a superhit film of mine as a director that’s released.”

“There were tough times”, said the filmmaker.

“And I must say thank you to my wife, Gauri, my son, my in-laws, my parents, my friends, Shaad Randhawa, who’s also in Ek Deewane ki Deewaniyat, my best friend Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia, who have always been some of my greatest strengths.”

“The two of them were always there for me. They helped me survive, helped me fight.”

He said that with the success of “Ek Deewane ki Deewaniyat”, the “victory seems even sweeter because there was such a bitter aftertaste of failure before this.”

“I’m just grateful that I got the opportunity thanks to Harshvardhan Rane, Sonam Bajwa, Anshul Garg, and Raghav Sharma. And today this film is a superhit, racing towards a blockbuster, and it feels great.”

So basically, he’s a phoenix rising from the ashes?

“I know! The amount of times I’ve risen from the ashes… people are telling me now, ‘Please, can you stop getting reduced to ashes each time?’”

The filmmaker added: “You know, it happened earlier also with my first film Jaane Kya Sa Hoga, it didn’t do well. Then I wrote ‘Shootout at Wadala’, and I came back with ‘Grand Masti’, ‘Shootout at Wadala’, ‘Ek Villain’, and ‘Main Tera Hero’ as a writer.”

“Then again, my film Mastizaade didn’t work, and I fought back with Satyamev Jayate and Marjaavaan. Then Satyamev Jayate 2 didn’t work. And now I’ve fought back with Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. I also have Masti 4 and Tera Yaar Hoon Main lined up. And I hope this time the phoenix remains in this avatar only.”(Agency)

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