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  • How did Amitabh Bachchan repay a 90 crore debt?

    How did Amitabh Bachchan repay a 90 crore debt?

    Renowned Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan faced severe financial challenges in the 1990s when his production company went bankrupt, leaving him with millions of dollars in debt.

    Amitabh Bachchan opened up about this difficult phase in an interview, revealing, “There was a time when I had no work. My company had gone bankrupt, and I had to repay a debt of ₹90 crore. As a result, I faced 55 legal cases.”

    He further shared, “This was the worst time of my life, and I even considered selling everything I owned, including my house.”

    Discussing the unbearable pressure, he said, “The situation became intolerable as creditors would knock on my door daily. Loan recovery agents harassed me, using abusive language and threats. People started losing faith in me. I was completely bankrupt, and everything around me was falling apart.”

    Reflecting on the experience, Bachchan observed, “If a person makes a mistake in one aspect of their life, everything else starts going wrong. People lose trust in you, to the extent that they don’t even want to see you.”

    However, he emphasized on not giving up during tough times. “Even in those challenging moments, I didn’t lose hope. I thought about what I could do best, and that was acting. So, I decided to focus entirely on my craft and reclaim my lost position.”

    Amitabh shared how he approached his close friend Yash Chopra for work. “When I decided to focus solely on acting, I spoke to Yash Chopra, and without hesitation, he offered me a role in his film ‘Mohabbatein.’ I immediately accepted it.”

    The success of Mohabbatein marked a turning point in Amitabh Bachchan’s life. Following this, he received numerous film offers and was approached to host the Indian TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). 

    Earlier, Abhishek Bachchan and his legendary father Amitabh Bachchan were making waves together on screen, creating the kind of buzz that fans have been eagerly waiting for. In the latest promo of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, the iconic father-son duo shared the spotlight as Abhishek promotes his upcoming film I Want to Talk.

    Sony Entertainment Television shared a hilarious promo on Instagram, showing Amitabh second-guessing his decision to invite Abhishek to the show. The clip has gone viral, capturing Abhishek playfully mimicking his father’s iconic style of announcing prize amounts, especially when he screams “Seven crores” just like Amitabh Bachchan does. The funny and lighthearted moment has left fans in splits!

    But that’s not the climax of fun. Abhishek reveals that whenever there is a question thrown in during dinner, children tend to mimic Amitabh as if imitating his loud and dramatic ways of speaking, which makes the conversation funny.        

    “We all sit together and eat, and when someone asks a question, all the kids together shout ‘7 crore’”, he narrated. 

    Amitabh Bachchan, clearly enjoying the banter, jokingly says, “Bohat bari galti karde innko yahan bula ke” (It was a mistake inviting him here).  

    Abhishek Bachchan is preparing for the release of his new film, I Want to Talk, which will release in cinemas on November 22, 2024.

  • Rishi Kapoor predicted son Ranbir’s film will flop

    Rishi Kapoor predicted son Ranbir’s film will flop

     Late Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, known for his blunt nature, hesitated to share his honest opinions about son Ranbir Kapoor’s film choices. From predicting failures to advising against certain roles, his feedback often came with sharp observations and tough love.   

    Recalling his father’s unfiltered advice, the Animal actor shared an incident that took place at the 55th Film Festival of Indian (IFFI), reveling Rishi Kapoor’s knack for spotting potential hit and misses.

    “Before ‘Barfi’ was released, my father called me after watching the preview and said, ‘Ranbir, you’re good at acting, but stop doing art films.”


    Even during the making of Ranbir’s debut film ‘Saawariya,’ Rishi’s skepticism was clear.   

    On set he bombarded Ranbir with questions like, “Why are there so many windows in the frame? Why not more people? Why is it a night scene and not a morning one?”

    His honest feedback often pushed Ranbir to think critically, though at times the younger Kapoor felt his father’s views were rooted in an outdated perspective.
      

    The Tamasha actor admitted that he used to dismiss his father doubts as “old school”, but later realized how wise Rishi’s critiques were.


     “He told my mom in the car, ‘This movie won’t work.’ Back then, I didn’t understand what he meant, but now it all makes sense,” Ranbir Kapoor shared. 
     


    Ranbir also spoke of his bond with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whom he calls his Godfather. He credited Bhansali for shaping his knowledge of film and acting.


     
    “I am extremely blessed to have him as my godfather. Everything I know about films, everything I know about acting, it is something I learnt from him,” the Sajnu actor shared. It merits a mention that he worked as an assistant director on Bhansali’s film ‘Black’ before making his debut with Saawariya in 2007.  

    Ranbir commended Bhansali’s steadfast commitment to his art, saying, “He hasn’t changed at all. He is extremely hard-working. All he thinks about is his movies. He just wants to speak about the character, he wants you to create, do something different.” 

    Bhansali’s upcoming film ‘Love and War’ features a star-studded cast that includes Ranbir, Alia and Vicky Kaushal. The film is expected to release by the end of 2025.

    Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April, 2020.

  • Australian dictionary picks ‘Enshittification’ as word of the year

    Australian dictionary picks ‘Enshittification’ as word of the year

    Australia’s quasi-official Macquarie Dictionary has picked “enshittification” as the word of 2024, tapping into a growing sense that once-great digital services are bad and getting worse.

    “ENSHITTIFICATION-Noun. Colloquial, the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.”

    The word, coined by writer Cory Doctorow, refers to a process in which apps or digital platforms start off as incredibly useful, but gradually worsen as they seek to make a profit.

    Social media platforms like X and ride-sharing app Uber are frequently cited examples, which started off offering information or bargains but gradually gouged customers or cut back services.

    Doctorow explains enshittification as the reason why Facebook users’ feeds fill up with junk, Google search is loaded with ads and sponsored content, and why Amazon promotes cheap, badly made products no matter what a customer searches for.

    Enshittification beat out words like “brainrot”, “overtourism” and “rawdogging”.

    It was chosen as word of the year by the dictionary’s committee of experts, but was also voted “People’s Choice Winner”.

    It is “a very basic Anglo-Saxon term wrapped in affixes which elevate it to being almost formal; almost respectable,” the committee said.

    “This word captures what many of us feel is happening to the world and to so many aspects of our lives at the moment,” the committee said.

  • Army deployed in Islamabad after PTI workers martyr four Rangers

    Army deployed in Islamabad after PTI workers martyr four Rangers

    Four Rangers personnel and two police officers were killed on Monday night prior to the deployment of the Pakistan Army in the federal capital.

    According to Islamabad police, a fast car drove over the cops on the federal capital’s Srinagar Highway.

    The federal government has deployed the Army in the federal capital by invoking Article 245 as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy crossed sector G-9. 

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry states that the army has been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Reportedly, security forces have also been empowered to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight.


    Furthermore, a group of armed men reportedly pelted stones and opened fire on security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, leading to another Rangers official getting injured, who was transferred in a critical situation to CMH hospital.

    Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack on security forces and directed the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.


    Shahbaz Sharif maintained that anarchist group seeks bloodshed, observing that this is not a peaceful protest but extremism.

    Following the funeral of martyred police Constable Mubashar Bilal in Rawalpindi at Police Line in Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the federal government had offered PTI leadership an alternative to stage their sit-in at Sangjani rather than entering the Islamabad’s red zone.

    “They come [to D-chowk], and we let them go; this cannot happen; now, we have shown leniency where necessary, but once the red line is crossed, the government will take extreme steps,” the Interior Minister clarified.

    Meanwhile, according to local police, PTI demonstrators have reached Zero Point Islamabad from where the red zone premises start and where the army had already deployed.

    Zero Point

    The protestors reportedly pelted stones towards security personnel, and police have been shelling to disperse the demonstrators.

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur and former First Lady Bushra Bibi also accompanied the convoy, which reached Zero Point Islamabad.

  • Two players to debut against Zimbabwe

    Two players to debut against Zimbabwe

    The management of the Pakistan cricket team  has announced the names of playing eleven for the second ODI against Zimbabwe.

    The second ODI between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be played tomorrow in Bulawayo, for which two changes have been made to the national team.

    Tayyab Tahir has been included in the team in place of Haseebullah, and Abrar Ahmed in place of Muhammad Hasnain.

    Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir will play an ODI for Pakistan for the first time.

    The Pakistan team for the second ODI includes Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Niazi, Amir Jamal, Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram and Abrar Ahmed. 

    Zimbabwe won the rain-hit first mat h by 80 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

    First ODI 

    In the first ODI of the three-match ODI series, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by 80 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method.

    The first match of the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was played in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in which the host team set a target of 206 runs for Pakistan to win.

    In pursuit of Zimbabwe’s target of 206 runs, Pakistan’s batting line-up struggled, and six players on the national team were out for 60 runs. After 21 overs of the match, the match had to be stopped due to rain, and the game had to be ended due to continuous rain.

    Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by 80 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method.

    Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl against Zimbabwe; Faisal Akram made his debut for Pakistan.

    Zimbabwe were bowled out for 205 runs in 40.2 overs, with debutants Faisal Akram and Salman Ali Agha taking three wickets each.

    Haris Rauf dismissed one player while Abdullah Shafiq ran out a batter. In addition, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Hasnain returned one player to the pavilion.

    Chasing a target of 206 runs, the national team had a disappointing start. Openers Saim Ayub scored 11, and Abdullah Shafiq returned to the pavilion after scoring one run. Kamran Ghulam could score 17 runs, while Salman Agha was out after scoring four runs.

    Pakistan’s fifth wicket fell for 49 runs, and the fifth player to be dismissed from the national team was Haseebullah, who was out for a duck.

    Pakistan’s sixth wicket fell for 58 runs, while Irfan Khan was bowled for seven runs. After that, after adding two more runs, the match had to be stopped due to rain. Captain Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 19 runs, while Aamir Jamal was present at the wicket with him but could not score any runs.

    Pakistan’s final XI included Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haseebullah, Salman Agha and Irfan Khan. In addition, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Faisal Akram were also part of the final XI.

  • Vaibhav, 13, becomes youngest player in IPL history

    Vaibhav, 13, becomes youngest player in IPL history

    13-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi has become the youngest player to become a part of Indian Premier League (IPL).

    The two-day player bidding ceremony for IPL season 2025 began in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday.  Franchises bought the best players for crores of rupees for their teams.

    While most franchises made big names part of their team, a 13-year-old Indian cricketer, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, also became a part of the IPL for the first time when Rajasthan Royals bought Suryavanshi for 11 million Indian rupees.

    Suryavanshi became the youngest player to be bought by any team in the history of the IPL.

    On the other hand, Lucknow Supergiants bought Rishabh Pant for 27 crore Indian rupees, after which Pant became the most expensive player in the history of IPL.

    IPL 2025 will be the 18th edition of this tournament, scheduled to be played between March and May next year.

    Who is Vaibhav?

    Vaibhav was born on 27 March 2011 in the village of Tajpur in the state of Bihar. He started his cricketing journey at the age of just four, and then at the age of 9, his father got him admitted to a cricket academy in a nearby town.

    Vaibhav made his first-class debut for the state of Bihar in January 2024 at the age of just 13 in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match against Mumbai.

    Vaibhav Suryavinshi also scored a brilliant century against the Australia U-19 team while representing the India U-19 team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in the Youth Test.

    The young player played a brilliant innings of 104 runs off 62 balls and became the youngest player to score a century in the Youth Test format.

    Suryavinshi also became the second fastest century scorer in the Youth Test format and the fastest Indian player to score a century in this format.

  • Here’s why Hareem Farooq couldn’t refuse Bismil’s ‘Masooma’

    Here’s why Hareem Farooq couldn’t refuse Bismil’s ‘Masooma’


    Actress Hareem Farooq couldn’t resist playing the role of Masooma in drama serial ‘Bismil’ and here why.     

    Appearing on Something haute hosted by Hassan Choudhary she talked about her role in Bismil.

    “When I first discussed the role of ‘Masooma’ in Bismil, my primary focus was to align it with the director’s vision. I always asked the director [Aehsun Talish], ‘How do you see this character?’ I wanted to ensure we were on the same page.”

      
    “The director described Masooma as someone who acts out of innocence, not malice. This resonated with me because I believe people are rarely inherently evil. Their experiences shape their actions. Masooma’s impulsive decisions reflect innocence… where she doesn’t consider long-term consequences… a characteristic I find relatable in real life,” the Bismil actress explained.

    Talking about Masooma’s intentions, Hareem shared, “I wouldn’t call her a gold digger because it wasn’t just about money. She was also running after security, wanting power, wanting change in her life. She wanted that lifestyle for herself. It’s a very selfish manner, but she cared about securing her future. Once she has something in her grasp, she won’t let go. I think Masooma’s relationship with TT [Naumaan Ijaz] is more than just that of a gold digger… she is a selfish person, but not just running after money.”

    A scene from a recent episode had viewers questioning Masooma’s confidence. When asked about it, Hareem said, “She had the confidence, which she had before, but now it was more about believing she could marry a business tycoon. It seemed like she thought, ‘If I marry a business tycoon, I’ve made it.’ It was a display of confidence that, in a way, was also a mix of ignorance and stupidity.”

    The 22 Qadam actress went on to describe how Masoom’s newfound belief in her invincibility led her to think that. “I know I’ve married a business tycoon, and now I’m untouchable.”

    She also said that the ending of Bismil will leave viewers with a powerful lesson.

    “Wait for the end of Bismil, it’s going to teach a huge lesson to a lot of people.” 

    She also talked about how the story was relatable for people. “I was shocked how it was the story of almost every household. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people in my circle opened up to me. They said, ‘You know, as kids, as wives, and as husbands, we’ve been through the same thing.’ It’s not something that’s uncommon. It’s very common. But the sad part is that betrayal is very common.”

  • Protests, profits and losses: PTI’s march and its business impact

    Protests, profits and losses: PTI’s march and its business impact

    Businesses are struggling as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protests continue in full swing amid the government’s effort to contain them.

    With the option of negotiations seemingly off the table, the threat of a deadlock between Islamabad and the PTI is imminent.

    To combat violent protests and riots, Islamabad has taken measures to prevent such activities. The most significant of these has been the suspension of internet services.

    While the suspension of internet might seem like a minor inconvenience to individuals, the fact of the matter is that it is extremely disruptive for business activities.

    Businesses who operate online stores witnessed a decline in the flow of traffic to their websites and consequently a drop in sales. However, businesses who get the shortest end of the stick are those that cater to international customers.

    This is because any delay in the delivery of services to customers abroad can result in an immediate termination of the contract, which Pakistani businesses currently hold. One such sector that has been suffering is the IT industry that is responsible for bringing in over $3 billion annually. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently set his sights to boost Pakistan’s IT exports to $25 billion – a goal he can bid farewell to if internet service remains compromised.

    Aside from internet issues, transportation companies have been especially hard-hit due to the closure of major highways such as M-1 – M-4, M-11 and M-14. In Punjab and Islamabad, aside from the restrictions on intercity travel, even intra-city movement has been hindered due to the closure of major roads.

    This is likely to spell bad news for other businesses as well, especially those that require the delivery of goods from warehouses to stores. This is because closed roads will increase delivery times, which might result in businesses failing to meet supply commitments to other vendors.

    Another major concern plaguing economists and lawmakers in Islamabad alike is that of the protests affecting the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In the first quarter of FY 2024-25, Pakistan managed to increase its FDI by 48 per cent. However, when international investors witness political instability, they are likely to hold back further investments while even pulling investments out.

    The protests come at a time when Pakistan’s economy and businesses are starting to recover, and this might just derail the strides that Islamabad has made in the positive direction – economically speaking. As the proverbial saying goes, when two elephants fight, it is only the grass that gets hurt. That is, unless you happen to be manufacturing anti-riot gear and non-lethal weaponry in Pakistan.

    As per reports, Islamabad’s police requested extensive anti-riot gear such as 40,000 teargas canisters, 50,000 rubber bullets and 5,000 anti-riot kits. If protests last longer, it is entirely possible that more purchase orders will be issued. The protests could boost sales of businesses such as ATS Pakistan and Garmocorp that manufacture anti-riot gear, thus supporting this niche sector of the Pakistani economy.

  • Bestselling ‘Woman of Substance’ author Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91

    Bestselling ‘Woman of Substance’ author Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91

    Bestselling British-American writer Barbara Taylor Bradford, whose first novel “A Woman of Substance” turned her into an overnight success, has died aged 91, a spokeswoman said on Monday. 

    Taylor Bradford, who wrote 40 novels and notched up 91 million book sales worldwide during her career, died peacefully at her home on Sunday following a short illness. 

    She “was surrounded by loved ones to the very end”, the spokeswoman said, adding that a private funeral would be held in New York.

    “A Woman of Substance” tells the story of servant Emma Harte who overcomes a humble start in Taylor Bradford’s native Yorkshire in northern England to head of a business empire, navigating personal tragedy along the way.

    Many of her subsequent novels were also set in Yorkshire and followed a similar theme of great success against the odds, powered by grit and hard work.

    Her most recent novel “The Wonder of it All” was published last year.

    Born in Leeds in northern England in May 1933, Taylor Bradford began her working life as a typist for her local newspaper The Yorkshire Evening Post before becoming a reporter.

    She moved to London aged 20 where she continued working as a journalist while dipping her toe into the world of fiction.

    She started and abandoned several novels before striking gold with “A Woman of Substance”, which was an instant success when it was published in 1979.

    – ‘Powerhouse’ –

    The novel was turned into a double Emmy-nominated miniseries in 1985 and starred Liam Neeson with British actress Jenny Seagrove in the role of Emma Harte.

    Seagrove paid tribute to a “dear friend” and “powerhouse of glamour and warmth”.

    “Success never diluted her warmth and humour or her ability to relate to everyone she met, whether a cleaner or a princess. She never, ever forgot that she was just a girl from Yorkshire that worked hard and made good,” she said.

    Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of publisher HarperCollins, described Taylor Bradford as a “truly exceptional writer”.

    “‘A Woman Of Substance’ changed the lives of so many who read it -– and still does to this day,” he said.

    “She was a natural storyteller, deeply proud of her Yorkshire roots. For 45 years, she was a huge part of our company and a great, great friend –- we will miss her so much,” he added.

    Taylor Bradford had lived in the United States since 1964 following her marriage a the previous year to American film producer Robert Bradford.

    The couple were married for 55 years until his death in 2019.  

    Taylor Bradford’s spokeswoman said she would be buried alongside her late husband at New York’s Westchester Hills Cemetery.

  • A. R. Rahman initiates legal action over accusations following divorce

    A. R. Rahman initiates legal action over accusations following divorce

    Music maestro A.R. Rahman has initiated legal action against slanderers, warning them of dire consequences if objectionable content surrounding his divorce with his wife, Saira Banu, is not removed.

    Rahman and Banu announced their divorce a few days ago, ending their 29-year-long marriage.

    With Rahman’s bassist Mohini Dey also announcing her divorce with husband Mark Hartsuch a day later, claims of a possible love affair flooded social media.

    While his son rubbished all claims, Rahman himself appealed for privacy regarding his personal life amid emotional turmoil.

    With netizens continuing to speculate, Rahman has now initiated legal action against those responsible for the campaign. Reports claim his legal team has demanded the removal of fabricated content and served official notices to individuals and platforms behind the rumours.

    Rahman’s lawyer says they would proceed with defamation lawsuits if the material was not removed within 24 hours.

    Sharing the notice on his social media, Rahman expressed his disapproval of certain media outlets and YouTubers making baseless stories about his private life.

    “I will not tolerate any defamatory content about my family. Legal action will be taken if the false rumors are not removed within 24 hours,” he said.

    His lawyer said that some interviews and programmes had misrepresented facts, causing harm to the composer’s reputation and his family. “We are fully committed to protecting A.R. Rahman’s reputation and will not hesitate to file defamation lawsuits,” he added.

    Earlier, his son, Amin, has expressed disappointment over the circulating rumours regarding his father.

    Following the announcement of his divorce, AR Rahman, his former wife Saira Banu, and their children requested privacy, but the appeal fell on deaf ears.

    After 29 years of marriage, A.R. Rahman and Saira Banu announced their separation on Tuesday evening, asking the public to respect their private lives. Despite this, rumours have been circulating, with some linking Rahman’s divorce to Mohini Dey’s recent split. Rahman’s son has dismissed these speculations as baseless and disheartening.

    On social media, Amin shared a picture of a child and his father, captioning it, “What’s the difference between these two? Just their age.”

    In his post, Amin further wrote, “My father is a legend, not just because of his work but because of the values, respect, and love he has earned over the years.”

    Amin expressed frustration over the spread of false and unfounded rumours, urging people not to circulate incorrect information regarding his parents’ marriage.

    He clarified in an Instagram post that there is no connection between A.R. Rahman’s divorce and Mohini Dey’s separation.

    Earlier, Rahman’s daughter Raheema also took to social media, writing, “Always remember, rumors are spread by haters and fools, and only fools believe them. Live life honestly.”