JK Tyre racing season 2025 set to kick off in Coimbatore on Aug 9

Coimbatore, Aug 8, 2025
The adrenaline is set to rise as JK tyre racing season 2025 kicks off this weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on August 9-10. The 2025 season will witness 10 races of Novice Cup and eight races of Continental GT Cup spread across three rounds.

The opening round promises thrilling on-track battles, as racers aim to make a strong start in the Novice Cup and the Continental GT Cup. With entries from across the country, from Jammu, Delhi, Sikkim, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, the stage is set for an exciting weekend of racing.

For two-wheeler enthusiasts, the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, promises high-speed drama with its unique Pro-Am format, where amateur and professional riders compete together. After a nationwide talent hunt- “Street to Track”, Royal Enfield held zonal selection rounds across North, South, East & West zones.

A total of 64 amateur riders were selected from these zonal selections, who then joined 50 professional riders for the final selection round. At the end of the selection process, 24 of the fastest riders in Amateur and Pro each will race.

The selected riders will now ride identical, race-tuned Continental GT-R650s, powered by Royal Enfield’s award-winning 648cc engine. Now in its fifth year, the GT Cup continues to grow in popularity and intensity.

The Novice Cup introduced in 2018 as part of JKNRC, features Indian-made Formula cars and is considered the most sought-after entry-level single-seater category in the country, ideal for amateurs starting out in formula racing.

The grid this year comprises of 27 racers representing five professional teams namely- Bangalore based Team Avalanche Racing (owned by ex-racer Fazal Malik), Team M-Sport (owned by international racing star Armaan Ebrahim), Team DTS Racing (owned by former national racing champion Diljith TS), Team Momentum Motorsport (owned by ex-racer Rasheed Khan) and Team Delta Speeds (owned by racing driver Mohit Aryan).(Agency)

Natashaa Fernandes opens up about staying aloof on the sets of ‘Andaaz 2’

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Natashaa Fernandes has opened up about her decision to keep a distance from others while shooting for her film “Andaaz 2.”

The actress shared her reasons for maintaining distance from everyone on the sets. Speaking about the challenges of her role, Fernandes shared, “There were ample challenges, which I was keen on overcoming. Since I am the negative lead, I used to maintain distance from everyone and live in my bubble of emotions on days when I had a major scene.

“The reason I address it as a challenge is many times I used to be misunderstood by many. They’d generally feel I was too reserved as a person and someone who’d avoid social interaction. Being on set I preferred to be focused and live the life story of Priyanka, I had to be true to my purpose. In order to become her I knew I had to make some sacrifices be it making jokes with co-actors or mingling elsewhere.

However, that was never the case, I strongly believe every actor has a personal method and approach and prefers their space which once expressed should be respected.”

The actress shared that she had to navigate deep emotional preparation to portray the role. Natashaa explained, “Acting is a process and a very personal experience. Although we did have workshops before filming, I believe that set up helped me understand and get to know my co-stars better. However, the emotional journey I went through to live the life of the character Priyanka was still achievable.”

“This particular character had a very interesting emotional graph that involved multiple highs and lows of life. For any scene that involved negative emotions I had to channelize that emotion from a place of deep hurt, from an unhealed version of myself or life experiences that had the worst of me, hence it wasn’t easy emotionally while I was living the life of Priyanka!.”

Talking about her look and role, she added, “The character Priyanka is a young lady who had the responsibility of her family at a tender age. She eventually sacrificed her happiness to establish a business in order to provide for her loved ones.

On her journey to success, she didn’t have time to fall in love or develop any friendships hence leading a lonely life! She carries herself with grace in every situation that life throws in her direction. She is a powerful boss lady she still has a vulnerable side to her which is eventually taken advantage of leading to resentment.”

On a related note, “Andaaz 2,” directed by Suneel Darshan, also stars debutants Aayush Kumar and Aakaisha. It is the sequel to the 2003 film “Andaaz.” The film hit theatres today, August 8.(Agency)

Gurmeet Choudhary and Debina experience spiritual tranquillity in Mathura, blessed to meet Premanand Maharaj

Gurmeet Choudhary Debina Bonnerjee Mathura

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Power couple Gurmeet Choudhary and Debina Bonnerjee recently visited Mathura for a peaceful family getaway, where they soaked in the spiritual atmosphere of Vrindavan.

From temple visits with their little ones to a heartfelt meeting with spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj Ji, the trip was filled with blessings, devotion, and cherished moments. The duo took to their Instagram handles to share glimpses from their spiritual trip and penned a heartfelt note saying they felt happy that their kids could see the temples and feel the spiritual vibe.

Sharing a couple of their photos and videos, the couple wrote, “Mathura, you gave us so much love and blessings! This trip was so special from staying at Vrindavan Home Towers to hearing the chants of Hare Rama Hare Krishna, everything felt peaceful and full of love.. We’re happy our little ones could see the temples and feel the spiritual vibe.. We also got to meet Premanand Maharaj ji his words touched our hearts.. Feeling truly grateful for this beautiful life..Thank you, Mathura!.”

In the images, Gurmeet and Debina are seen seeking blessings and posing with their little ones inside the temples, embracing the divine atmosphere of Vrindavan. They also shared a touching video of themselves gently swinging Lord Krishna’s idol and feeding a cow — acts of devotion that reflect their deep spiritual connection. In one serene clip, Premanand Maharaj Ji is seen guiding Gurmeet to chant the name of the Lord with peace and devotion.

On the front, the two are currently seen on the reality show “Pati Patni Aur Panga.” When asked about the main reason for doing the show, Gurmeet told IANS that it was all in good fun and a way to avoid any real-life arguments with Debina. “For me, it was my wife.

That’s the main reason. We are always out on shoots, and this was a chance for us to see each other for twenty-four hours straight—even if it means having a fight. And if we fight in front of the camera, at least there’s no fight at home, because honestly, I don’t have the courage to argue with Debina at home.”

“Pati Patni Aur Panga,” hosted by actress Sonali Bendre and comedian Munawar Faruqui, premiered on Colors TV on August 2.(Agency)

Dia Mirza celebrates divine feminine energy, credits her mother for inspiring strength

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Actress Dia Mirza shared an emotional tribute to her mother, reflecting on how she became her first source of strength and inspiration.

In a powerful message on Instagram, the ‘Sanju’ actress celebrated the essence of Shakti — the divine feminine energy and credited her mother for instilling in her the values of compassion, resilience, and grace.

She posted a couple of her photos from a recent award and captioned it, “Last night, as I stood on that stage, I thought of my mother @deepamirza.

She was my first understanding of Shakti — not just as strength, but as compassion, resilience, grace, and the quiet courage to rise again and again. Shakti is the divine feminine energy that sustains, protects, and transforms. It lives in every woman who dares to dream, who nurtures life, who stands her ground, and who walks forward even when the path is uncertain.”

Dia added, “To be honoured with the Shakti Award 2025 by the wonderful @shashitharoor, in a room full of women I love and admire — Shabana Azmi ji, Ekta Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Surveen Chawla, Poornima Devi Burman and so many more — was a reminder of how powerful we are when we stand together. This award is not just mine. It belongs to every woman who lives her truth, who lifts another up, and who carries within her the boundless force of Shakti. Gratitude. Love. And renewed hope.”

On the work front, the ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ actress was recently seen in the film “Nadaaniyan,” directed by Shauna Gautam.

The film featured a fresh cast, including Saif Ali Khan’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor, alongside seasoned actors Mahima Chaudhry, Suniel Shetty, and Jugal Hansraj. In the movie, Dia played the role of Nandini, the mother of Ibrahim’s character, Arjun.

“Nadaaniyan,” directed by Shauna Gautam and produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra under Dharmatic Entertainment, was released on 7 March 2025 on Netflix.(Agency)

B Praak says his new song from OTT film ‘Tehran’ is ‘full of heat, drama, and raw passion’

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Singer-songwriter B Praak, who recently released his song ‘Ishq Bukhaar’, has said that the song is full of heat, drama, and raw passion.

For the track, B Praak has collaborated with the queen of melody Shreya Ghoshal for the first time. The song features in the upcoming film ‘Tehran’ which stars John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar, and Neeru Bajwa in the lead. The intense performance by Elnaaz Norouzi and striking visuals have already made it one of the most talked-about tracks ahead of the film’s release.

Talking about his song, B Praak told IANS, “I’ve always admired Shreya Ghoshal for her voice has magic that can transform any song. I had the privilege of working with her voice earlier for a song ‘Aaye Ram Ji’ under my Kripa records label, but sharing the mic with her for ‘Ishq Bukhaar’ was so inspiring”.

He further mentioned, “Huge thanks to Tanishk Bagchi for creating such a powerful track that brought us together in this way. This song is full of heat, drama, and raw passion. I hope you guys enjoy it as much”.

B Praak’s voice has a unique way of connecting with audiences, whether it’s patriotic anthems like ‘Teri Mitti’, spiritual pieces under his own Kripa label, or soulful romantic ballads like ‘Mann Bharryaa’, ‘Ranjha’, and ‘Filhall’. With ‘Ishq Bukhaar’, he steps into a bold, passionate soundscape, proving yet again how versatile he is as an artist, effortlessly trending in every genre he touches.

With Ishq Bukhaar, B Praak once again proves why he’s one of India’s most loved and versatile singers, a voice that can move you to tears, lift your spirit, or set your heart on fire.

Directed by Arun Gopalan, ‘Tehran’ will premiere on ZEE5 on August 14, 2025.(Agency)

Janhvi Kapoor shares that shooting for the rain track ‘Bheegi Saree’ felt like slipping into a classic Bollywood dream

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
The makers of the upcoming film “Param Sundari” have released a new song titled ‘Bheegi Saree,’ featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor

Set against the backdrop of rain, the romantic track captures the duo’s sizzling on-screen chemistry. Sharing the song on Instagram, the makers wrote, “Pyaar ki barsaat lekar, Bheegi bheegi saree is here… all set to drench your heart in love! #BheegiSaree in the iconic voices of Shreya Ghoshal and Adnan Sami is OUT NOW! #BheegiSaree Song Out Now.”

In the track, Janhvi Kapoor mesmerizes in a saree as she performs sensuous dance moves, while the rain-soaked setting adds to the romantic mood. The song also captures intimate moments between her and Sidharth, highlighting their sizzling on-screen chemistry.

Talking about her experience of shooting the song, Janhvi shared, “Rain songs have always held a special place in our films, there’s something so timeless and magical about them. I’ve grown up watching some of the most iconic moments in cinema unfold in the rain, and to now be a part of that legacy with Bheegi Saree feels surreal. Shooting this song felt like slipping into a classic Bollywood dream, dancing in the rain, feeling every beat and emotion it was pure joy.”

Sidharth added, “Bheegi Saree is high on energy, romance, and that classic monsoon vibe we all love. Janhvi and I had a blast shooting it and we can’t wait for everyone to feel that spark, especially with Shreya and Adnan’s voice making it even more special!”

Speaking about the track, singer Adnan Sami mentioned, “‘Bheegi Saree’ is a beautiful blend of timeless nostalgia and contemporary flair, expertly composed by the dynamic duo Sachin-Jigar. The moment I immersed myself in the composition, I was struck by its captivating essence. Shreya Ghoshal’s enchanting vocals perfectly complement the song’s sultry vibe, bringing it to life with effortless elegance.

It seamlessly weaves together melody, mood, and movement, yielding a sonic experience that’s both retro-referential and refreshingly modern. The accompanying video, with its lush, rain-kissed aesthetic, brilliantly captures the song’s mood – a deliciously flirtatious, playful, and romantic concoction that’s equal parts nostalgic and hip. It was a treat to sing it!”

Shreya Ghoshal also shared, “Bollywood romance is incomplete without rain, which I consider a secret ingredient; “Bheegi Saree” beautifully strikes the right essence of that romance. Singing alongside Adnan made it a special experience, and I believe it’s a song that will stay with people for a long time.”

“Param Sundari” directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, is slated to hit theatres on 29 August 2025.(Agency)

SC to temporarily suspend operation of UP’s Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025

New Delhi, Aug 8, 2025
The Supreme Court on Friday said it would temporarily suspend provisions of the Uttar Pradesh government’s 2025 Ordinance that effectively took over the management of the revered Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura-Vrindavan.

A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi added that the Apex Court will transfer the batch of petitions – challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025 – to the Allahabad High Court.

Until the validity of the Ordinance is adjudicated, a committee headed by a retired High Court judge will supervise the temple’s affairs, stated the Justice Kant-led Bench.

It hinted that the proposed management committee will include the District Collector, other state government officials, and representatives of the Haridasi Sampraday.

The Apex Court said that it would upload a detailed order by Saturday on multiple petitions challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to take over control of the temple’s administration, which has traditionally been governed under a private management structure based on a 1939 scheme.

Further, the Supreme Court said that it will recall its May 15 judgment, which allowed the state government to utilise temple funds for the corridor development project.

In an earlier hearing, the Justice Kant-led Bench took exception to the “clandestine manner” in which the Uttar Pradesh government sought approval to use temple funds by filing an application in a pending civil dispute.

It had emphasised that temple rituals must continue in accordance with the traditions of the Haridasi denomination, and questioned the “tearing hurry” with which the Uttar Pradesh government promulgated the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025.

One of the pleas contended that the recent Ordinance amounts to state interference in religious affairs, undermining the autonomy of the current temple management committee.

It argued that there was no compelling reason for the state government to issue such an Ordinance, and that the government had offered no sufficient justification for taking over control of the temple’s administration.

The petition, filed by advocate Sankalp Goswami, said that the provisions of the Ordinance infringes the right of the Haridasi/Sakhi Sampraday to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion and right of members of the denomination to individually practise, profess and propagate their religion by seeking to alter the essential religious practices, rituals, customs and traditions which will have an effect of displeasing the deity and would make the entire denomination extinct.

“Section 5 (1)(i), 5 (i), 6(8) of the Ordinance directly violates Article 26(c) and (d) inasmuch as it permanently takes away the right of administration from the religious denomination altogether and vests it in non-denominational secular authority.

Thus, in the cloak of better management, the Ordinance travelling beyond regulation has completely taken over the administration and management from the religious denomination and created a new body where the religious denomination has been reduced to redundancy,” said a plea, adding that the temple is neither public property nor a state-owned trust.(Agency)

Why Aishwarya Khare’s rendition of song “Tu Mera Humdard Hai” left Erica Packard in tears on ‘Chhoriyan Chali Gaon’

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
In the latest episode of “Chhoriyan Chali Gaon,” emotions ran high as Aishwarya Khare delivered a soulful rendition of the song “Tu Mera Humdard Hai.”

Her heartfelt performance moved fellow contestant Erica Packard to tears, creating a touching moment that resonated with both the audience and the judges. As the girls moved from their village homes to their new ‘Basera,’ they were given the task of entertaining the local villagers to win the title of Miss Bamuliya.

The evening turned into a heartwarming mix of music and joy. Aishwarya impressed everyone with her emotional performance of “Tu Mera Humdard Hai,” which she dedicated to her fellow contestant Erica Packard.

The song touched Erica so deeply that it brought her to tears. Aishwarya later shared that singing runs in her family and is a special gift from her father. Erica also opened up about the unexpected bond she had formed with Aishwarya. What started as a simple task ended up becoming a beautiful moment of connection and friendship.

Overwhelmed by the feeling, Erica Packard shared, “In the very first episode, I told Krishna, ‘Ms. Bahu can never be my friend.’ But look at me now, I genuinely love her.

The qualities I’ve been trying to find in myself, her calmness, her compassion, that unhurried way of being, she has them all. And she, in turn, was looking for a bit of wildness and craziness, which is exactly what I brought into her life. We balanced each other out in the most unexpected way.”

Hosted by Rannvijay Singha, the rural reality show features a star-studded lineup including Anita Hassanandani, Krishna Shroff, Aishwarya Khare, Rameet Sandhu, Anjuum Faakih, Reha Sukheja, Dolly Javed, Sumukhi Suresh, Surabhi–Samriddhi Mehra and Erika Packard.

“Chhoriyan Chali Gaon” premiered on 3rd August on Zee TV.(Agency)

Lillete Dubey recalls her college days as a handloom enthusiast as she pays tribute to India’s weavers

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Veteran actress Lillete Dubey took to social media to mark National Handloom Day, sharing her deep-rooted love for handlooms.

In a recent post on Instagram, the ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ actress reminisced about her college days in Delhi when she first fell in love with sarees from across India.

Calling herself a lifelong handloom enthusiast, the actress paid a heartfelt tribute to the country’s weavers and celebrated the timeless beauty of India’s textile heritage. Lillete posted a couple of photos of herself dressed in different sarees, along with a heartfelt note.

For the caption, Dubey wrote, “On National Handloom Day(yesterday ) .. have to admit I’ve been a handloom girl since my college days .. living in Delhi next to the Emporia on Janpath for years .. I lived in saris from all across India and fell in love with handlooms .. even today they are my go to Saris.. .. heritage, craft, passion, & immense hard work, all woven into one piece of cloth that is irreplaceable,unique and a signature of our own individualistic culture! Respect to all those weavers who keep it alive .. May they thrive for generations.”

National Handloom Day is celebrated every year on August 7 to honour the hard work of India’s weavers and the rich tradition of handloom weaving. In 2025, the country observes this special day for the 11th time.

August 7 was chosen to mark the beginning of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, which encouraged Indians to stop using British goods and support local products. Handwoven fabrics became a strong symbol of self-reliance and freedom during that time.

To recognize the importance of handlooms in India’s independence and promote them in modern times, the Government of India declared August 7 as National Handloom Day in 2015.

Actress Vidya Balan took to social media on National Handloom Day to stress the need to protect India’s rich textile traditions. In a touching Instagram post, she encouraged people to support Indian weavers by choosing handloom products, especially pure silk with the Silk Mark Label.

Balan also spoke about the importance of taking pride in one’s cultural roots and promoting local craftsmanship. Known for her love of handloom silk sarees, the ‘Dirty Picture’ actress shared a video from her visit to a facility where authentic handloom silks are made.

Vidya Balan captioned the post, “Today as we celebrate the National Handloom Day, let us honor our weavers. Let us embrace our identity and cultural heritage. Encourage and embrace our handloom pure silks. And always buy silk with the Silk Mark Label. #MySilkMarkMyTrust.”(Agency)

ED’s charge sheet against Bengal Minister mentions Rs 1.5 crore transaction

Kolkata, Aug 8, 2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has tracked fictitious transactions worth Rs 1.5 crore in two bank accounts of West Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha while probing the recruitment of primary teachers in state-run schools.

The ED has filed a charge sheet against him, which details the irregularities in the recruitment process, involving the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles in the current cabinet of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Central agency has mentioned the details of such transactions in the charge sheet, which it filed against Sinha at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) earlier this week.

As per the charge sheet, such fictitious transactions, mainly inward remittances, took place between 2016 and 2021, which was the peak period for the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal.

Sources aware of the development said that although Sinha was asked about such transactions in the past, he could not give any satisfactory answer on this count.

Sinha is the second Minister in the Bengal government against whom the ED has filed a charge sheet in this case, the first being the former West Bengal Education Minister and ex-Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.

Sinha has twice avoided appearing before the ED officers.

On Thursday, Sinha suddenly appeared at the ED office. However, it was not clear whether he had been questioned or not.

Responding to the development that the ED has filed a charge sheet against him in the primary recruitment case, the Minister said he had heard about it.

The ED officials first secured the name of the Minister from the diary of the middleman and now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader, Kuntal Ghosh, who was later arrested by the Central agency.

In March last year, the ED officials conducted raid and search operations at the Minister’s residence at Bolpur in Birbhum district.

After the raid, the ED officials seized cash worth Rs 41 lakh and a mobile phone from Sinha’s residence.

He is known to be close to Anubrata Mondal, the Trinamool Congress strongman and the party’s former district president in Birbhum. Sinha was first summoned by the ED for questioning in connection with the multi-crore cattle-smuggling case in March last year, but was not named in the related charge sheet.(Agency)

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