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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

Kajol reveals she 'likes' Raavan
2254 days ago
Bollywood

Kajol reveals she 'likes' Raavan

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Bollywood actress Kajol has revealed that she 'likes' Raavan, that too on an occasion like Hanuman Jayanti!## On Wednesday, Kajol took to Instagram to share a photo where she can be seen reading Amish Tripathi's book "Raavan". The actress captioned: "Rereading my library. Sorry, I'm working!" #pickabook #friendsforlife."## Commenting on the actress' post, author Amish Tripathi commented: "Hope you like Raavan (the book, that is!).## Replying to his comment, Kajol wrote: "like them both."## Incidentally, Wednesday happens to be Hanuman Jayanti.## With Kajol reading the "Ram Chandra" series book and expressing her preference for "Raavan", is there a plan to take it to the big screen, wonders fans.## Stay tuned...

Madhuri shares a throwback image with lockdown message
2254 days ago
Bollywood

Madhuri shares a throwback image with lockdown message

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit-Nene has shared a gorgeous black and white photograph of herself along with a special message.## Madhuri took to Instagram, where she shared the monochrome picture. In the image, a young Madhuri can be seen looking away from the camera.## She captioned the image: "Eyes on the road. Feet inside the house. #LockdownVibes #PauseAndRewind."## Her image currently has 256K likes on the photo-sharing website. Madhuri keeps sharing her blast from the past pictures.## Earlier this month, Madhuri and her husband Sri Ram Nene announced that they are making a donation to the PM-CARES fund and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to extend their support to fight coronavirus.## Amid lockdown, Madhuri teamed up with Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj and choreographers like Saroj Khan, Terence Lewis, and Remo D'souza to offer free dance lessons on DancewithMadhuri.com.## On the work front, Madhuri was last seen on screen in "Kalank".## Stay tuned...

COVID-19: Varun Dhawan provides meals to doctors, healthcare staff
2254 days ago
Bollywood

COVID-19: Varun Dhawan provides meals to doctors, healthcare staff

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Actor Varun Dhawan has decided to provide free meals for doctors and healthcare staff who are leading the nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.## On Wednesday, Varun took to Instagram and shared that he will facilitate meals for doctors and medical staff engaged in the coronavirus battle, and also pitch in to provide meals for the poor.## "With each passing day of being locked down at home, my heart goes out to all those who have no home in this time of crisis. And so this week I've committed to providing meals for the poor who are without homes or jobs," the actor posted on social media.## "I also have deep admiration for all those who are risking their lives by working on the frontlines. I've committed to providing meals to doctors and medical staff at hospitals. All meals are provided through the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust. It's a small step. But during a crisis like this, we have to make every step count. I will continue to do what best I can," he added.## "It is a long battle and we have to fight it together," he wrote, adding: "Finding solutions is the only way forward."## On the film front, Varun will next be seen opposite Sara Ali Khan in "Coolie No. 1". The film is a remake of the Govinda-Karisma Kapoor starrer of the same name that released in 1997 and was directed by Varun's father David Dhawan, who also calls the shots on the new version.## Stay tuned...

Paresh Rawal's son Aditya: No fear of comparison with dad
2254 days ago
Bollywood

Paresh Rawal's son Aditya: No fear of comparison with dad

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Veteran actor Paresh Rawal's son Aditya is all set to enter the film industry, and is prepared for the extra scrutiny and extra pressure that comes with the tag of being a "star kid". He says he isn't bothered about being compared with his father as he is so "far ahead" in his career.## Aditya will make his acting debut with the ZEE5 original film "Bamfaad".## Asked about the pressures that come with being a star kid, Aditya told IANS: "As kids of people, who are successful in the industry, we get a lot of advantages too. So we know about the trade-off. If you get those advantages, then you must be prepared for the extra scrutiny and the extra pressure."## "The advantages are massive, and then there is another side to it as well. My father is such an amazing actor and he's had so much success that I am not afraid of people comparing me to him because I know that I'm nowhere near that," he added.## Aditya continued: "My father is on another level completely. So, I don't really have the fear of being compared to him because you know, he's so far ahead. Personally, I've always been independent. So, for me, it's always been about my own work, and just doing the best that I can do."## Aditya was happy playing football professionally, till the time he realised acting was his true calling. Since then, he has been active on the theatre front, making short films and giving words to his visions and creative thoughts.## "My father was pleased (when he got to know my decision to act) because he had seen my college stuff. So, he knew that I had it in me. Even when I used to play football, I used to write poetry, write short films, short stories and all of that. He knew I had it in me. So he was happy that I was doing that," Aditya recalled.## He did get a piece of advice from his parents and that was never to get lost in the glitzy world of showbiz, and never lose perseverance.## "One thing that both mom and dad spoke about was having the perseverance and the resilience. It is a hard field to be in, you could take a lot of knocks. The idea is that no matter how many times you fall, you have to get up and keep going.## "Another thing mom mentioned was whether you get immense success or terrible failure, just make sure you don't forget yourself… That's something that I try to hold on, he added.## At the moment, he is looking forward to "Bamfaad". The movie, directed by debutant filmmaker Ranjan Chandel, will also mark the OTT debut of "Arjun Reddy" star Shalini Pandey.## Presented by Anurag Kashyap, the film about passion, friendship, betrayal, loss, and love will go live on April 10. Set in Allahabad to a romantic volatile backdrop, the film promises to "bring out an unusual yet raw and edgy love story on the screen".## Talking about the film, he said: "I am very excited and obviously nervous. The whole thing is in a bit of a surreal space, because you can't actually go out and talk to people or do the regular rounds of promotion that would have been done otherwise. So in a way, it is a special thing on its own."## Stay tuned...

Ali Fazal: Team 'Mirzapur' is home for me
2254 days ago
Bollywood

Ali Fazal: Team 'Mirzapur' is home for me

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Actor Ali Fazal is thrilled to reunite with some of the team members of the hit web series "Mirzapur" for a romantic music video.## "The 'Mirzapur' team is home for me, and with (director) Gurmmeet Singh and (director of photography) Sanjay around, this was a reunion for us. Last few years, I have spent so much time working with Guru that we get each other's vibes and cues," said Ali.## The three have reunited for the music video of "Aaj Bhi".## "The direction that Gurmmeet brought in to this is a zone, he and I have never explored together. It was an experience that was truly enjoyable. In the span of 3 minutes, we've told an entire story," he said.## "As an actor, it's hard to pull this off. I have never been so excited about a music video but this song is so genuine. It evokes a feeling that everyone at some point or the other goes through. It's a unique take on unrequited love. There's a certain purity in how it plays out," he added.## For the video, he moved away from his gangster role in "Mirzapur" and turned a romantic hero. Ali woos his on-screen lady love played by Surbhi Jyoti in the music video of the song sung by Vishal Mishra.## Talking about the track, Ali said: "It's the first time that I am working with Surbhi and Vishal. It's been super interesting. I loved interacting with Vishal. He has such a mesmerising voice. He has a soulful singing quality. Vishal and I bonded over our Lucknow connect."## "Surbhi is super cool and we kept chatting about movies and food. The 4 days in Chandigarh was such a blast," he added.## Stay tuned...

Neeraj Pandey opens up on 'Special Ops' season 2
2254 days ago
Bollywood

Neeraj Pandey opens up on 'Special Ops' season 2

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has confirmed the second season of his debut web series, "Special Ops". Season one of the espionage thriller show was launched on Hotstar earlier this year and became an instant hit.## "When we were discussing the show with Hotstar, we planned to make something that will have recall value, and we were clear about two things. First, we will conclude the story within the first season. I mean there would be nothing left, no loose ends. But at the same time, we wanted to create a brand and a franchise with which we can easily narrate some other stories. Once our lives are restored to normalcy, we will figure out what needs to be done," said Pandey in a telephonic chat, on the possibility of a second season.## "The amount of love that has come in, and there's the demand for the second season. There is an appetite for it. Now, it all depends on our schedules. Right now everything is thrown out because of the coronavirus pandemic -- schedules, work, lives, and timelines. Let things get back to normal and we will definitely explore the possibility," said the filmmaker, who has co-directed the series with Shivam Nair.## "Special Ops" has Kay Kay Menon leading the cast as special agent Himmat Singh, who traces a pattern in terror strikes over the years, and draws the conclusion that one person is behind all the attacks. The story is inspired by several real-life espionage missions over the last two decades.## Stay tuned...

Tamannaah: There are a lot of misconceptions about me
2254 days ago
Bollywood

Tamannaah: There are a lot of misconceptions about me

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Actress Tamannaah Bhatia tells you that she prefers to prove her versatility as an actor across different film industries as opposed to finding space only in Bollywood. She adds that people tend to think she is "out of work" because she is not visible enough in Bollywood.## Tamannaah is a phenomenal star in the southern industries with several successful films including "Kandein Kadhalai", "100% Love", the "Baahubali" franchise, "Ayan" and "Paiyaa", but she is yet to leave an impact in Bollywood.## "I have been making a conscious effort of multitasking between genres within the South Indian film industry. I have been away from Bollywood actively to ensure there's more versatility in my creative kitty and to ensure I'm not stereotyped into any particular genre. Versatility is the key to survival. I've always been passionate about cinema and I never wanted to limit myself to any one industry. There a lot of misconceptions about me, to be honest," she told IANS.## "The most bizarre piece of news I read recently was that I am out of employment! There are other stories of me not having a bright future in Bollywood, versus Tollywood. Just to clear the air, I'm working 365 days a year and hence I can't shuffle between multiple industries. I'm not part of the rat race and I don't want to prove a point to anyone. I want to make my mark on my own terms. For me it was only about acting, and not about the industry," Tamannaah claimed.## She also feels somehow her luck has favored her in the south than in Bollywood, and language was never a barrier for her.## "My thirst for excellence had to be quenched and the South accepted me. As an actor, I will always play my part with full dedication but the results are not in my hands," said Tamannaah.## The actress will be seen playing a Kabaddi coach in the upcoming Telugu film "Seetimaar".## Being a girl who never played any sport before, Tamannaah said that the challenge kicked her to take up the role.## Sharing an insight into her preparation for the role, she said: "I play the coach of the Telangana kabaddi team while Gopichand plays the coach of an Andhra kabaddi team. It is a very challenging and inspiring role. It is a huge tribute to the unsung heroes in sports. I had to prepare and work very hard for this role and it constantly motivated me to give my best. It's my first sports drama and I'm very excited. I did everything I could to look the part. I never imagined that I would get to play kabaddi in my life, let alone in a film."## She added: "I have undergone a complete transformation for this particular role, right from language, technical knowledge of the game, maintaining a good fitness regime, special training sessions and more. Kabaddi is a very disciplined Indian sport. I learned to be vigilant and focus on physical and physiological aspects such as strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility."## While the actress maintained a special vegetarian, gluten-free diet, she also learned a new dialect for the film.## "I had to get a hang of the Telangana dialect. I had to learn the Telangana slang. It's really challenging, but Sampath sir is helping me with the dialogue delivery," Tamannaah signed off.## Stay tuned...

Anu Malik unveils song to spread joy amid COVID-19 crisis
2255 days ago
Bollywood

Anu Malik unveils song to spread joy amid COVID-19 crisis

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Singer-composer Anu Malik has come up with a new track titled "Happy happy rehne ka please don't worry", urging people to stay happy amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.## "I came up with this song only to uplift the mood of everybody who is at home under lockdown due to the coronavirus. I want to make them happy and to tell them not to give up and keep fighting, "Anu said.## In the track's video, Anu can be seen happily doing household chores -- be it mopping a floor or making tea.## Anu also shared what went behind the making of "Happy happy rehne ka please don't worry".## "This song came to me in a flash...I was sitting at home ..Suddenly I thought that everybody is going through his or her depression/fear/frustration/helplessness and what not. All of sudden this line 'happy happy rehne ka please don't worry' hit me.## "I at once shared it with my lyric writer Kumaar who loved the line.. he sent me the lyrics of the entire song in 20 minutes and I composed it in 10 minutes. this tune just came to me just like that," Anu added.## Stay tuned...

Sachiin J. Joshi offers his hotel as quarantine facility
2255 days ago
Bollywood

Sachiin J. Joshi offers his hotel as quarantine facility

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Actor Sachiin J. Joshi, who is stranded in Dubai, has offered his hotel here to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to quarantine COVID-19 positive patients coming from abroad.## Sachiin's Beatle Hotel in Powai is a 36-room property.## "Mumbai being a densely populated city, there are not enough hospitals and beds to take measures to save our city. When the BMC approached us for help, we voluntarily agreed to help," Sachiin said.## "We've converted our hotel with the BMC's help into a quarantine facility for travelers," added the actor, who was last seen in "Amavas" opposite Nargis Fakhri and Mona Singh.## "The entire building and rooms get sanitized regularly with staff equipped with the necessary gear," he said.## Sachiin is also donating nutritious food boxes to policemen and municipal workers fighting the COVID-19 outbreak in India through his Big Brother Foundation.## "I'm glad that our hotel in Powai ‘The Beatle' has been given to the BMC for quarantining people. It's my husband's decision and I respect and support it," said Sachiin's wife Urvashi, adding: "We have been distributing food from our hotel to all officials and people stuck on the road. Our team has been selflessly doing it for almost two weeks now and will continue to give our support until we can."## Stay tuned...

Arjun Kapoor to go on virtual date to raise funds for daily wage earners
2255 days ago
Bollywood

Arjun Kapoor to go on virtual date to raise funds for daily wage earners

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) After supporting COVID-19 relief funds, actor Arjun Kapoor is all set to go on a virtual date to raise money for daily wage earners of the film industry.## "There is a section of people in our country who have lost livelihood during this crisis and are in dire need to sustain themselves and their families. I am talking about the scores of daily wage earners – your favorite chaat wale bhaiya, construction workers, coolies, dhobis, rickshaw drivers and so many others. The lockdown means that they can't go out and earn a living," the actor said.## Five winners stand a chance to go on a virtual date with the actor.## "A special thank you in advance to everyone who is going to come forward and donate for this special cause. I will be meeting and chatting and chilling with 5 winners on April 11 and that night we will all be doing a video chat. I will be getting to know you, share a laugh with you, have a meal with you and just have a good evening together. Let's come together to help those in serious need," he said.## Arjun and his sister Anshula Kapoor have teamed up to raise money through the online fundraising platform, Fankind. "Fankind, GiveIndia and I have come together to provide cash in hand for these daily wage workers in serious need," the actor said, adding: "GiveIndia has identified more than 60 thousand families across India that need our help. All you have to do is log on to fankind.org/arjun and donate. Even Rs 100 will make a huge difference. Your entire donation amount will go in the hands of these people in need."## On the acting front, Arjun currently awaits the release of his next film "Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar". It also features his "Ishaqzaade" co-star Parineeti Chopra.## Stay tuned...

Badshah deposits 5 lakh to 'Boro loker biti lo' creator Ratan Kahar's account
2255 days ago
Bollywood

Badshah deposits 5 lakh to 'Boro loker biti lo' creator Ratan Kahar's account

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Badshah has kept his word. The rapper, who had promised to help out "Boro loker biti lo" original creator on "humanitarian grounds", has done his bit and deposited Rs 5 lakh to the veteran folk artiste's bank account.## On Friday, the rapper got in touch with the Birbhum-based folk singer Ratan Kahar via video call. The rapper's team noted down his bank details over the phone the same day, and on Monday Rs 5 lakh has been deposited to Ratan Kahar's account, reports news18.com.## After receiving the money, Kahar has reportedly called Badshah to thank him personally and has also invited the rapper to visit him at his residence in Siuri, a small town in West Bengal's Birbhum district.## In a recent interview with IANS, Ratan Kahar had mentioned: "I want Badshah to come over to my place and talk to me. I would first like to thank him for using my song. I am also eager to discuss music with him if he has the time." The veteran singer, who now lives in poverty-stricken condition, had also requested for monetary help from the rapper.## After being accused of plagiarism for using Ratan Kahar's song "Boro loker biti lo" in his latest video without giving him due credit, the rapper had issued a statement on social media where he had mentioned that he would like to do "whatever possible on my part on humanitarian grounds to put this right."## Stay tuned...

PM Modi lauds star-studded short film 'Family' for its 'relevant messages'
2255 days ago
Bollywood

PM Modi lauds star-studded short film 'Family' for its 'relevant messages'

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested his millions of Twitter followers watch the star-studded video "Family" that campaigns in favor of staying at home during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. He says it is a "great video with relevant messages".## PM Modi tweeted on Tuesday: "You can be distant and you can be social. A great video with relevant messages. Have a look."## The made-at-home short film features cine stars like Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra, along with popular regional titans such as Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Chiranjeevi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Shiva Rajkumar, besides Dilit Dosanjh and Sonalee Kulkarni.## The four-minute, 39-second film is conceptualized and virtually directed by Prasoon Pandey in collaboration with Big B.## It talks about how staying at home, staying safe, maintaining hygiene, working from home and maintaining social distancing can be productive. At the end of the video, Big B also appeals in favor of the film industry's daily wage workers who are currently left with no income owing to a complete halt in filming activity due to the lockdown, which began last month.## Stay tuned...

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