The film draws inspiration from a real-life incident of an Indian girl, who gets stranded in war-torn Iraq, and sheds light on her survival against all odds. Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha launched the first trailer of her upcoming film ‘Akelli’ in Delhi today. The film draws inspiration from a real-life incident of an Indian girl, who gets stranded in war-torn Iraq, and sheds light on her survival against all odds. Bharuccha, while speaking to the media, revealed that getting into the shoes of her on-screen character wasn’t a cakewalk. “Honestly, I was a little hesitant to do this film earlier because of the trauma attached to the story. I was extremely vigilant of my performance and relied on the film’s producers and director for their guidance,” she said. To do justice to her role, she preferred to stay low-profile during the shoot. “As a team, we were extremely vigilant to not to go overboard with things so as to stay realistic to the actual incident. I only focused on facing the camera and rarely spoke to people while working. There were also instances when I requested the film’s director to allow me to shoot (certain) scenes alone so that I could do justice to the role,” she added. Though this helped her bring out the best in her, but she felt emotionally distressed off-the-screen. She shared, “There were many nights I could not go out for dinner after the pack-up. I couldn’t explain why but I just couldn’t. I think actors are very sensitive and we need the most help when we take on difficult characters. A session in the form of a group discussion or a therapy should be introduced to help us come out of such hard character.” Shot in Uzbekistan, Akelli also stars Nishant Dahiya and Rajesh Jais. It also marks the debut of actors Tsahi Halevi and Amir Boutrous, who became popular after their stellar performances in the popular Israeli series 'Fauda'. Pranay Meshram, who directed the film, said that working with a blend of actors wasn't distressing. When asked how was it to direct Halevi and Boutrous, he shared, “Working with them wasn’t difficult. They knew their craft since they are quite established as actors. The only challenge was in terms of communication, since they were not well-versed in English.” Akelli is produced by Dashami Studioz's Nitin Vaidya, Ninad Vaidya, Aparna Padgaonkar, Vicky Sidana and Shashant Shah. The film is slated to release on August 18.

Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Earth Sciences inaugurated the event at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium. After the curtain raiser, players competed in 70 kg, 100+ kg and 55 kg categories. Amidst loud cheer and fervour, the first season of Pro Panja League (PPL) kicked-off in Delhi at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Earth Sciences, inaugurated the occasion along with actor Pravin Dabas, Co-founder, Pro Panja League. Dzheenbek Mukambetov, President, Asian Armwrestling, Avazbek Asadov, Vice-President, Asian Armwrestling, Akhmed Aliyev, General Secretary, Asian Armwrestling along with his wife Yelena Aliyeva, were also present on the occasion. Rijiju, while speaking to the media, shared, his association with the league. “Not many people know that I was the sports minister when the ranking tournament of the league began in 2020. I am very excited to inaugurate PPL today. I thank Pravin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani, the co-owners of PPL, for inviting me, and I wish them heaps of success for the future,” he said. The minister also urged people to watch the league since it align with the Khelo India and the Fit India. “People might not have the strength to arm wrestle as this sport involves stamina, technique, strength and skill, but they must come and support the teams and players who are participating this season. When Narendra Modi ji introduced Khelo India and Fit India, the idea was to involve every Indian with a sport. What better way to be a part of these programmes than cheering for players,” he added. After the inauguration ceremony, players competed in the 70 kg, 100+ kg and 55 kg category. The first-day of the play saw Ludhiana Lions and Mumbai Muscle clinching important victory over Kiraak Hyderabad and Baroda Badshahs, respectively. Ludhiana Lions won the match 14-3. It all began in the undercard, when Shivanshu Kaushik, Shahil Rahul Kumar and Afzal Khan scored a 3-0 lead. Though Ludhiana Lions lost against Kiraak Hyderabad in the first main card bout (80kg category) by 1-3, Sivajith Janardanan and Stewe Thomas recovered in the 70kg category and won 3-0, earning two bonus points. In the final bout of the game, Sachin Tomar also won the 60 kg bout 3-0 along with another two points, giving Ludhiana Lions a clear win. In second match of the day, Mumbai Muscle also showcased a wonderful powermance. In the undercard, Umesh Pal won a bout, while Surendra Saini and Bably won the bouts for Baroda Badshahs to get 2-1 lead. Baroda Badshahs' Harman Mann was stunned by Mumbai Muscle's Kyle Cummings, as the latter not only won the bout with a clean sweep, but also won the 10-second Challenge Round within a second to earn 5 bonus points for his side. With a 10-0 win, Kyle showcased his dominance, giving Mumbai Muscle a hefty lead. Paarth Sonni also brought accolades for Mumbai Muscle when he had a face-off against Shamir Khan in 100+ kg bout. With his deadly hook, he left no room for Shamir to script a comeback for Baroda, and won the bout comfortably 3-0 to earn two more bonus points for his side. With the game already in Mumbai Muscle's kitty, Jogender Yadav came for the final bout against Muzahid Shaikh in 70kg bout, but Muzahid managed to get a consolation 3-1 win for Baroda. Mumbai Muscle won the match 17-5. PPL features six teams, namely, Kiraak Hyderabad, Mumbai Muscle, Rohtak Rowdies, Ludhiana Lions, Baroda Badshahs, and Kochi KD’s. The winning team will be felicitated with INR20 lakh. The matches can be viewed live on Sony Sports Ten 3 SD and Sony Sports Ten 3 HD and streamed on FanCode.

"It was difficult to come out of filmy mode." It has been quite a year for actress Preeti Jhangiani. From making an entry into the world of sports as the owner of a Panja team to making her on-screen comeback in SonyLiv show 'Kafas', the actress proved that she can wear many hats. In fact, it was her role that made critics applaud her performance. But for the actress, getting into Tanya's shoes (her reel character) wasn't easy. She shared that she faced a lot of troubles while shooting. "It was difficult to come out of filmy mode and put myself in Tanya's shoes. I had to restrain myself a lot during the scenes and my director, Sahil Sangha, really helped me to get the tone of the scenes right," she said. When asked what made her think about her role, she explained that she was 'pleasantly surprised' to get it. "Tanya Bajaj is a very real character. She is a star wife and maintains a facade for the outside world no matter what turmoils she faces within. She is a mother and wants to protect her own son at any cost. I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered the role, as people don’t usually cast me in such a character," she added. Kafas is a story of a Mumbai-based middle-class family whose school-going kid is on the verge of becoming a star. The show also stars Sharman Joshi and Mona Singh, among others.

Six master and young artists are showcasing emotions on the canvas. Every artwork carries a story. Some artists express ideas through colours and forms, and others through techniques and unusual strokes. Unlike other galleries that stick to a unique theme and exhibit works around it, The Art Lounge in Gurugram has brought forth works of young and experienced artists on the same platform. The show, titled ‘The Palette of Emotions’, is taking place at the gallery’s premises at Nirvana Courtyard till July 28. The exhibition features works of six artists: three masters and the rest are fresh faces. Each artwork reveal emotions of the artists. Explains Aparna Banerjee, the owner of the gallery, “It is our way of showcasing the best of both worlds: the works of master as well as emerging artists. We not only wanted to bring in different styles together but also interpretation of artists on emotions.” Tarannum Siddiqui’s works, for instance, has shown emotions as hope in the times of despair. The Lucknow-based artist, who specialises in using symbols, has yet again played with geometrical shapes. She has metaphorically depicted how mind searches for answers. “Whenever we make an artwork, we usually start with a straight line. Scribbling starts as soon as we introspect. Likewise, in life, we try following a straight path but often meet with ego that swerves our focus from achieving our goals. This artwork depicts our journey towards our destiny, despite the turmoil that comes along,” she explains. West Bengal-based artist Pulakesh Mandal’s artworks reveal his life on the canvas. This self-taught artist shares the story of his tough childhood in vivid tones in his artworks. He says, “I was not loved as a child and spent my life alone and secluded. There was a constant emergence of thoughts and interactions during those times. I have tried to put all those emotions, struggles and conversations in my life in these artworks that I experienced while growing up.” Another participating artist Haren Thakur’s works give a glimpse of his childhood and the learnings from his tribal culture in his artworks. This mixed media artist used earthy tones to channelise emotions in rocks, drawing similarity between the mundane life of people with that of rocks. Thakur has added feature several elements of nature, such as trees, rocks and Ganesha, each depicting his experiences while growing up in his home town. The show also focuses on girl power. Guru Kinkar celebrates women in two ways: as the backbone of the household and simultaneously as synonymous with Durga and Kaali. Banerjee explains this master artist’s work as an ode to women. “If you look closely, you can see the calmness, fierceness and playfulness of women in these paintings. The artist has depicted women as goddesses. He has also tried to diminish the gap between mythology and women,” she adds Besides these artists, Pradip Maitra's figurative works and Yogesh Murkute's abstract art are also on display.

Indian celebrities share what their fathers means to them and the advice the latter shared with them... Of many things in life, there is one role that transforms a boy to a man: the role of a father. A father is someone who is a nurturer, healer, teacher, mentor and friend. For any daughter, her father is her first love. To celebrate Father's Day, we spoke to some of the celebs who spilled the beans on their fathers and how their advice transformed them into great individuals. Ssudeep Sahir My father, Sandeep Sahir, is my closest friend, mentor and guide. I remember my dad telling me that he always wanted to be an Air Force pilot. My father has been one of my biggest support systems. I remember before I decided to come to Mumbai, he was the one who told me to follow your heart. I’m extremely fortunate to have him and can’t thank him enough for all the love that I've received from him. Anupama Solanki I share a good equation with my father, Tekpal Solanki. He has always told me to learn as much as possible as a life without knowledge is meaningless. He tells me to never think about shortcuts to achieve success as it's the devil's path, so I should take the right route towards my goal, trust myself and the God, give my 100% and the rest is my destiny. Deepika Motwani My father is our version of Santa Claus since he brings us many gifts and travels because he's been busy with business and because he travelled a lot when I was growing up. The two pieces of advice dad always offered me were that there is no one greater than God, and to continue acting ethically, even when no one is looking, because your character is what will last and all other things will pass away. Sheeba Akashdeep My father, Ajay Agarwal, was my best friend while growing up. He was a super strict father but has been my backbone, like the rock of Gibraltar. He has always told me to be honest and compassionate. I will always be the wind beneath your wings. If there’s anything I would do in this world I would confine it to my father and he will make it right. He’s very loving and extremely supportive of all his children. Esha Gaur My father is an endodontist. He always stands by my side and trusts me blindly. I make sure I live up to that trust and whatever he has taught me till now I stick to it and try to make him proud always. The pieces of advice he has given me is to use money wisely, don't trust anyone blindly, follow my heart, that I should choose my career wisely, respect opportunities, and never ever lie, cheat or borrow money. Shaan Mishra I have always shared a great equation with my father. During my school and college days, I used to be very afraid of him. He always used to talk about studies. He wanted me to become an IAS/IPS officer. All these things about studies have always been there in my house. He has given me a lot of advice from his experiences because he has seen a lot of ups and down in his life.

The inaugural edition would feature 180 players divided into six teams, who would compete in 10 weight categories. Besides the men and the women’s teams, specially-abled arm wrestlers will also compete in the league. Here’s what is in store for viewers… As a child, you must have played panja (arm wrestling) with your friends and siblings. But do you know that you can watch players from all across the country compete in this game live? The first season of Pro Panja League is set to take place from July 28 to August 13 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi. It will feature 180 Indian professional players, who would compete for a trophy and a prize money. The league would include 10 weight categories: six different ones for men, three for women and one for specially-abled players. Unlike boxing and weightlifting, where each round is timed, players will not race against the time. They would, however, need to complete five rounds within a specific time frame. Pravin Dabbas, Founder, Pro Panja League, who co-owns the league with his wife Preeti Jhangiani, shares, “All rounds will not be timed. But 30 minutes will be given to finish five rounds with a minute of break between the rounds. This means it may take a few seconds or even 3-4 minutes for a round to complete. There will be a challenge round, where we will give players a timer. Players will get an opportunity to collect bonus points if they defeat their opponent within a few seconds.” Though panja has been played professionally in India for more than four decades but getting a league is the first-of-a-kind for players. Jhangiani points that the panja federation used to hold amateur tournaments in India but there was never a professional league in India. “There was a professional league in America called ‘The Wall’ but it has not conducted any tournaments after COVID-19,” she adds. Through the Pro Panja League, the owners aim to help players compete professionally. The league is also a platform for players coming from economically-weaker sections to get the right guidance. “Players from economically-weaker sections face a gamut of challenges starting from the right guidance on nutrition and training. We help them with on these subjects and give them the chance to train under some of the best coaches,” shares Jhangiani. Selection of the players Despite being its maiden edition, all players are selected carefully through a rigorous process. A Ranking Tournament was held in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh last year, where ~700 players competed against each other and were awarded ranks based on their performance. Sharing its details, Dabbas, explains, “We chose the players after they proved their mettle in the game at all levels. Ranks were awarded on the basis of performance. For instance, the winner of the tournament was given the first rank and its competitor in the final was given the second rank, and so on.” Nostalgia with panja When asked why he chose panja over other sports, Dabbas reveals that his love for the game dates back to his childhood days. “I have played it as a child and it is the only sport that is played across India, irrespective of the gender, geographical location and economic background of a person. I also like that it does not require any special kit like pads, rackets, bats and shoes, which are otherwise essential in other sports. That’s what pumped me to invest in this sport,” he clarifies. Pro Panja League will stream on Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 1 HD channels. Sports lovers can also cheer for their favourite players at the stadium free of cost. Due to limited seats, entry will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Rules of the game Players get 30 seconds to grip each other’s hand. In case they fail to do so, referee sets the players’ arms. In case a player’s hand slips out, a strap is placed around the players’ hands. This is called a strap match. Both players are required to rest their elbow and hold the slab and in case they fail to do so, a foul is issued against them. Each player will be judged for its performance in the best of five rounds.

The second part of the series will release on June 30. It will continue from the where the first part concluded. The first trailer of The Night Manager Part 2 is out. The series, starring Aditya Roy Kaur, Anil Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Tillotama Shome, Saswata Chatterjee and Ravi Behl, will decide the fate of Shelly and Shaan. Anil Kapoor, who plays antagonist Shailendra Rungta (Shelly) in the show, shared his excitement for the show. He said, “It's fascinating to see how Shelly has become one of the classiest and most-beloved villains. In this second part, get ready for new secrets to unravel and take you by surprise. While Shelly and Shaan may be uniting, one can never truly know what's on Shelly's mind. Sandeep Modi, the mastermind behind this character, has truly created a villain with a cunning and crafty mind." Actor Aditya Roy Kapur revealed that the second part will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. "The response to the first part of the series was nothing short of overwhelming. And there seems to be a huge amount of intrigue for season 2! My character Shaan begins a new chapter and the journey only gets more thrilling. The audience can be rest assured there are loads of unexpected twists and surprises in this second part," he said. Sandeep Modi, who is Creator and Director, The Night Manager, also promised that the series will be bigger, better and bolder. Talking about his collaboration with the actors, Modi said, “Collaborating with such fine actors like Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Tillotama Shome, Saswata Chatterjee and Ravi Behl has been an absolute pleasure. Their dedication and talent has breathed life into the complex and multi-dimensional characters that make The Night Manager so compelling.” The Night Manager is an Indian adaptation of the British series based on John le Carré’s novel of the same name. The first part of the series showed that an alliance was formed between Shelly and Shaan that left everyone surprised, including Shelly's closest friends. It will be interesting to see if this alliance will be long enough or will Shaan deceit him. The series will stream on Disney+ Hotstar from June 30.

This exhibition in Delhi shares unknown facts pertaining to India’s culture and features restoration, preservation and protection projects undertaken by InterGlobe Foundation. You must have heard of Odissi but can you explain the meaning of the various mudras showcased in this dance? Do you know how art, dance and music of one state is different from the rest? Or can you highlight the differences between a nafiri and a shehnai? If these questions make you bite your nails, you should head to the India International Centre in Delhi. InterGlobe Foundation, in a 10-day long exhibition titled ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ is providing some of the unknown facts pertaining to India’s culture. These facts pertain to Indian art, dance, craft and music via text, photographs, videos, installations and visual demonstrations. The foundation documented, researched and mapped the materials to help people learn about India’s lost stories. The exhibition is divided into three parts. It provides an insight on the foundation’s innumerable restoration projects. The foundation works closely with different stakeholders in the restoration, preservation and protection of India’s monuments. Dr Monica Banerjee, Head, InterGlobe Foundation, while talking about the exhibition says, “This is the first time we are showcasing these works. It is our way of sharing the efforts we took under the built, natural and cultural heritage.” Built heritage deals with the support the foundation provided in restoration of monuments. Since 2014, the foundation has undertaken several such projects. The exhibition offers a platform to textually and photographically understand about the restoration drives it took since its inception. “Our first restoration project was Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan’s tomb in Delhi in 2014. It took us six years to restore it. We employed people for two years for this project. It also brought the community closer while the restoration work was ongoing. The foundation also restored ‘Indra Kund’ (a heritage stepwell in Rajasthan),” shares Banerjee. Natural heritage deals with providing resources, such as water and land, to people, and cultural heritage deals with documenting about India’s art and craft. The exhibition also features the foundation’s journey of work and two of the research projects undertaken by the selected fellows. These include research on ‘Reviving the lesser known and sidelined musical instruments: Shreekhol, Taus, and Nafiri’ and ‘Beyond the geological magnanimity: Cultural landscape of Lonar Crater.’ The show can be viewed till June 6 from 11 am to 7 pm. InterGlobe Foundation was launched in 2010 and since its inception, it has focused on heritage. It was conceived as a philanthropic part of a conglomerate called InterGlobe Enterprises.

Bollywood actors Rakul Preet Singh and Rajkummar Rao unveiled the IIFA 2023 invitation boxes. Izzhaar has carefully designed them keeping the event's venue in mind. The most-awaited award ceremony featuring Bollywood's who’s who, IIFA 2023, is set to take place in Abu Dhabi. Just before the show, the host share invites to actors. These are not just any invites but each of the invitation boxes carry significance. This year's invitation boxes are designed by Izzhaar. Actors Rakul Preet Singh and Rajkummar Rao unveiled the boxes and gave a glimpse of their first look. These boxes feature a magnificent metal chessboard that contains Abu Dhabi's famous sights and the symbolic towers in the form of chess pieces. They are carefully designed to keep the event’s destination, i.e., Abu Dhabi in mind. Every aspect of the box reveals a story. For instance, the important structures of Etihad Arena, Adnoc HQ, and Nation Tower stand tall on the squares of Rook, Knight, and Bishop. The Shaikh and Shaykhah in these boxes depict the King and the Queen and the IIFA's trophies take the position of pawns on the board.

Actress Jeniffer Mistry Bansiwal filed an FIR against the show's producer Asit Kumarr Modi. Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, who was part of Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashmah, has accused the show's producer Asit Kumarr Modi and two others of sexual harassment. Mistry, in her complaint filed in Mumbai, alleged that Modi sexually harassed her on multiple occasions over the last few years. Modi, however, denied the allegations and said he will take legal action against the actress for defaming him and the show. “Since we terminated her services, she is making these baseless allegations,” said Modi. The direction team of the show also spoke in the producer’s favour. Harshad Joshi, Rushi Dave and Arman said, “She lacked basic discipline on the set and was not focusing on her work. We regularly had to complain to the production head about her behaviour. On her last day she was abusive in front of the whole unit and left the set without finishing her shoot.” The trio also allege that the actress caused damage to the set in one of the instances. "She regularly misbehaved on the show with the entire team. While moving out from the shoot, she rashly drove her car out at very high speed not caring for people in her way. She even damaged the set property. We had to terminate her contract because of her bad behaviour and indiscipline during the shoot," they added. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is one of the longest-running sitcoms in the history of Indian television. Bansiwal essayed the role of Anjali, wife of Roshan in the show.