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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

Top Bollywood producer's daughter is COVID-19 positive
2256 days ago
Bollywood

Top Bollywood producer's daughter is COVID-19 positive

Mumbai, April 6 (IANS) Bollywood went into a tizzy after it emerged that the daughter of a top producer, the name behind Shah Rukh Khan films like Ra.One and Chennai Express - has tested COVID-19 positive, here on Monday.## The producer and his two daughters, including one who is an actress, and eight other family members live in Juhu's Ashok Nagar Society which is now gone under isolation, according to local municipal corporation Renu Hansraj.## Though shocked, the producer has taken to the crisis sportingly and even texted friends and close associates: "My daughter has not mingled with any foreign travelers and had no COVID-19 symptoms at all. It is my duty to inform you as we are law-abiding citizens. We are admitting her to Nanavati Hospital to be kept under isolation."## Hansraj added that all the building residents shall be tested for COVID-19, and they are all very cooperative.## A civic team visited the family on Monday for getting further details of their health status, the producer added, reassuring his friends in a message.## This is said to be the first case of COVID-19 reported from the posh Juhu area, the abode of top Bollywood film personalities, industrialists and celebs from different fields.## In the vicinity of the producer's apartment are the Jamnabai Narsee School, the N.M. College, Mithibai College, NMIMS, and even the homes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Jeetendra Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan among others.## Stay tuned...

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Salman Khan bravely says he is scared, urges fans to stay at home
2256 days ago
Bollywood

Salman Khan bravely says he is scared, urges fans to stay at home

Mumbai, April 6 (IANS) In his new social media video, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has urged fans to stay at home during the lockdown, adding that he can bravely admit feeling scared under the circumstances.## In the video where he features with his brother Sohail's son Nirvan, Salman says the famous "Sholay" dialogue "Jo dar gaya woh mar gaya" does not necessarily apply in the current situation.## "You remember the dialogue, Jo dar Gaya samjho Mar Gaya (one who gets scared, dies)? That does not apply in this case. Hum log dar gaye aur badi bahaduri se keh rahein hai ki hum log dar gaye (we are scared and we bravely say so). Please don't try to act brave," Salman says.## The actor concludes the video saying whoever is scared and stays at home will save themselves and others (from the virus). Moral of the story is "We are scared," he added.## In the video, Salman also informs that he has not met his father for three weeks. Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan is staying alone at their Mumbai apartment while the superstar has been spending the lockdown period in his Panvel farmhouse. Nirvan also informs that he has not met his dad for three weeks now.## Stay tuned...

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Mugdha Godse: Lockdown is the time to reboot our lives
2256 days ago
Bollywood

Mugdha Godse: Lockdown is the time to reboot our lives

Mumbai, April 6 (IANS) Actress Mugdha Viera Godse believes that the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown is an ideal time for a reboot, and one should make most of it.## "It is definitely worrying because the whole world is under the coronavirus threat. According to me, these 21 days of lockdown is a reboot situation. Because if we stay at home, we live our own life, so make most of it. It is time to get discipline back into our lives and reboot our lives. I think that's what is going on in my mind right now," said Mugdha.## Lockdown has stalled all film industry activity across all sectors. Projects have been delayed and movies postponed. We asked Mugdha about the status of her upcoming crime thriller web-series.## "I am sorry I can't reveal anything new about the series, but I can just tell you that it's about a crime to be remembered. It's a crime story. I was going to start shooting but shoot got canceled. We will start again once the whole matter settles down and everything is back in the zone," she said.## Daily wagers are the most affected by the lockdown. Although many associations and guilds have announced numerous relief funds, daily wagers are still struggling with basic needs.## Talking about impending financial recession and daily wagers' struggle, Mugdha said: "Once this lockdown is over, the economy is going to topple and there is going to be a huge recession. There are companies that are going to have lots of backlog and many things are going to change. I don't know the exact ratio but it's going to hit the market severely. I do agree daily wagers are suffering now, but once everything is stable I am sure that the government will take care of them. Because there are lots of NGOs who are coming forward and doing the needful. There are also private sector bodies that are giving food twice to the needy. I really hope that the government reaches out to everyone who is in need. Once the daily wages workers get back to work, they will for sure recover. But I think the economy of our country will take time to recuperate."## Stay tuned...

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B'Town switches off and lights up to thank Corona Warriors
2256 days ago
Bollywood

B'Town switches off and lights up to thank Corona Warriors

Mumbai, April 5 (IANS) On Sunday evening, Bollywood stars joined the rest of India and responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to light candles, lamps, torches and cellphone torches for nine minutes at 9 PM, as a gesture of thanks to the Corona Warriors and to fight the darkness of the COVID 19 pandemic.## Sharing a photo where he can be seen standing with a candle in his hand, superstar Akshay Kumar wrote on Instagram: "Together we stand and together we will come out of this dark phase. Till then stay strong, stay safe. #9baje9minute."## Alia Bhatt posted a picture holding a candle on Instagram and wrote: "When I was younger I would kiss my dad on his forehead before going off to school and after every kiss, he would say " Aaaaaah .. light aa Gayi. I might have not fully understood what it meant back then.. but because of his response, I understood that light has wayyyyyy more depth than just illuminating our lives. Light means so much. It's hope, beauty, strength.. today it was unity... But no matter where we are and what we are going through we must always try and keep the light within us alive."## Katrina Kaif shared a beautiful photo where she is standing on her terrace with four or five candles lit in front of her. The actress captioned: "May it be a light to you in dark places when all other lights go out (LOTR)."## Kangana Ranaut and Bhumi Pednekar were also among the stars who posted videos.## Sharing a photo where she can be seen standing with her eyes closed with a candle in her hand, Kriti Sanon wrote: "Because it's always a good time to pray. For love, health, and happiness. #weareinthistogether #LetThereBeLight."## Veteran actress Hema Malini shared a beautiful video message where she can be seen lighting diyas and saying in Hindi: "We have to be united to destroy this coronavirus. The entire nation is lighting ideas tonight following the instructions of Modi Ji. I am happy to take part in this ritual."## Vicky Kaushal and Janhvi Kapoor also shared photographs of their participation, while Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Karan Johar, Diana Penty, Anil Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, and Shilpa Shetty were among many B-Town celebs who shared videos.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Singer Kanika Kapoor discharged from hospital
2256 days ago
Bollywood

Singer Kanika Kapoor discharged from hospital

Lucknow, April 6 (IANS) Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has finally been discharged from the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) after her second report for Coronavirus also tested negative.## SGPGIMS PRO Kusum Yadav said that Kanika has been allowed to go home.## Kanika was admitted on March 20 when her tests revealed that she was Coronavirus positive.## Her five consecutive reports showed her as Coronavirus positive. The reports on Saturday and Sunday, however, were Corona negative.## Kanika is the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for the deadly virus in the country.## In a statement on Instagram, which she later deleted, Kanika narrated how she developed signs of flu on her return from London. She claimed that she was unaware of the Coronavirus infection until she tested positive.## The singer who had come from London on March 9 was slammed by the media for interacting with hundreds of people at parties and other events in Lucknow even though she had symptoms of Corona.## She was admitted on March 20 when her tests revealed that she was Corona positive.## Kanika's troubles, however, are likely to increase now since three FIRs have been filed against her on charges of negligence for attending various social events in the city despite being infected with coronavirus and having been instructed by the authorities to isolate herself at her home.## She has been booked under Sections 188, 269, and 270 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Sarojini Nagar police station in the city. The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by the chief medical officer (CMO) of Lucknow.## Stay tuned...

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Stay indoors to fight battle against COVID-19: Sonu Nigam
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Stay indoors to fight battle against COVID-19: Sonu Nigam

Chandigarh, April 5 (IANS) Renowned Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam, who was born in Faridabad in Haryana, on Sunday appealed to the people to stay indoors to prevent the spread of coronavirus.## He saluted the hard work of the doctors and police personnel during the crisis.## In a video message, he said he was born in Haryana and has fond childhood memories of the state. He said today the whole world is fighting the battle against the virus and India is also a part of it.## Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar are making a lot of efforts.## He sought people cooperation as it is a big pandemic and controlling it at an initial stage will be an achievement.## Expressing gratitude to those associated with the fight against COVID-19, he said, "Today we have realized the importance of these people who are serving without bothering about their lives."## Stay tuned...

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Ankita Lokhande's society sealed after neighbor tests COVID-19 positive
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Ankita Lokhande's society sealed after neighbor tests COVID-19 positive

Mumbai, April 5 (IANS) A residential building in the city's Malad area, where several celebrities including actress Ankita Lokhande stays, has been entirely sealed off after a man in the complex tested positive for COVID-19.## The person in question had returned from Spain last month, according to a report in timesofindia.com.## The apartment society has five wings and is also home to the television couples Natasha Sharma and Aditya Redij, and Ashita Dhawan and Shailesh Gulabani, besides actor Mishkat Verma.## The website reports a resident of the society as saying on grounds of anonymity: "A man who stays in the D-wing returned from Spain earlier this month. He tested negative at the airport and was advised self-quarantine for 15 days. However, on the 12th day he developed symptoms of coronavirus, and was taken to the hospital along with his wife. While he tested positive, his wife's test results are negative. Every person who could have possibly come in contact with the couple was also tested. Fortunately, all those test results are negative. This happened on March 26 and the society has been sealed off since. Cops have been stationed outside the building to make sure that no one exits or enters the society premises."## Stay tuned...

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Nagpur police uses still from SRK's 'Chennai Express' for corona awareness
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Nagpur police uses still from SRK's 'Chennai Express' for corona awareness

Nagpur, April 5 (IANS) Nagpur Police has come up with an innovative idea to spread awareness among people about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.## Urging people to maintain social distancing as a precautionary measure to fight coronavirus, Nagpur police took to Twitter and twisted superstar Shah Rukh Khan's famous dialogue, "Don't underestimate the power of a common man" from the film Chennai Express? "## They tweeted: "Don't underestimate the power of social distancing."## Along with it, they posted a still from the movie in which Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika are seen sitting apart on a bench, emphasizing on social distancing.## Stay tuned...

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Big B, Rajinikanth, Priyanka come up with short film on coronavirus
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Big B, Rajinikanth, Priyanka come up with short film on coronavirus

Mumbai, April 5 ( IANS) As the world is facing a severe health crisis due to the outbreak of coronavirus, a slew of celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt among many others, have come together to create awareness about COVID-19 through a short film, titled "Family".## Conceptualized and virtually directed by Prasoon Pandey in collaboration with Big B, the film will show that staying at home, staying safe, maintaining hygiene, working from home and maintaining social distancing can be productive and should be taken in one's stride.## "Family" will be premiered across Sony Network on Monday at 9 p.m.## Also given the unprecedented nature of the situation we are in, an initiative undertaken by Big B, ‘WE ARE ONE' has been supported by Sony Pictures Networks India and Kalyan Jewellers, through which the monthly ration of 1,00,000 households across the country will be funded.## Commenting on the initiative, N.P. Singh, Managing Director and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), said: "In trying times, we have to collectively front and face issues that affect the industry. So, as part of its CSR outreach, SPN has taken the initiative of working alongside Mr Amitabh Bachchan and Kalyan Jewellers to support the households of daily wage earners of the Indian film and television industry. SPN's support will ensure that at least 50,000 workers and their families have their home supplies for a month.## "This film made by Prasoon is very special since it has been virtually directed. Like-minded celebrities have come together in this short film."## Stay tuned...

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Sohum Shah: I believe our industry will survive this phase
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Sohum Shah: I believe our industry will survive this phase

Mumbai, April 5 (IANS) National Award-winning actor-producer Sohum Shah believes the Indian film industry will survive the phase of COVID-19 lockdown, just as it has survived many theats in the past.## "I am concerned and worried about the daily wage workers. We are doing whatever we can to help them. The producers' guild has started a relief fund to offer some aid. Our industry has always faced a lot of threat. There's piracy and there were years when the box office business went down due to big budget Hollywood films, yet we survived those phases. I strongly believe that our industry will survive this as well and will be back on track as soon as the lockdown ends," said Sohum, best known for the 2018 period horror drama "Tumbbad", which he acted in and co-produced.## He continued: "The only thing that concerns me right now is when will this global pandemic end? I pray to God that our doctors and scientists can find a cure to fight this disease, so that we can get back with our lives".## The relief fund that many stars have extended to daily wage workers will take care of those who are members of some association or are registered workers. But Bollywood is full of strugglers and out-of-work people who do not belong to these groups. What about them?## "My message to all the struggling actors is they should utilise the time. There are lots of good films and series on various OTT platforms that you can watch, read good books, do exercise and meditation and don't get depressed. There's a lot that you can do at these moment that will help you in the future. The most important thing is not to get depressed since you can't go out and give auditions. Still, you can do a lot at the same time," he said.## Sohum Shah was last seen in the Shah Rukh Khan-produced web series "Bard Of Blood", a fictional spy thriller on the 2015 espionage novel of the same name by Bilal Siddiqi. Helmed by Ribhu Dasgupta, the series received lukewarm response.## Commenting about dealing with success and failure, the actor said: "It is difficult to deal with success as well as failure. As a matter of fact, I feel it is more difficult to deal with success because people face a lot of failure in their day-to-day lives in one way or another and the best way to deal with it is to keep moving on without stopping."## He added: "Don't try too hard to think about your failures or controlling it, just keep doing your work with honesty every day and one day you will reach your goal. I feel that's the only way to deal with failure. Success on the other can be temporary and you should always remind yourself about it. Do not get yourself overwhelmed with success, and it is always better to be surrounded by friends or folks who can keep you grounded, or who can honestly criticise your mistakes".## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Sumeet Vyas, Ekta Kaul to become parents
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Sumeet Vyas, Ekta Kaul to become parents

Mumbai, April 5 (IANS) Actors Sumeet Vyas, and Ekta Kaul, who tied the knot in 2018, are expecting their first child together.## On Sunday, Ekta took to Instagram and shared that she is pregnant.## "Proudly announcing our new project together.Introducing Junior Kaul Vyas (soon). Created, produced and directed by us (Sumeet and I)," Ekta wrote.## Along with it, she posted a picture that shows her flaunting her baby bump.## Congratulating the couple, actor Amol Parashar commented: "Have made a list of all the good things I am gonna teach him/her."## Sehban Azim reacted: Wow. Congratulations."## Sumeet was previously married to a famous actress, Shivani Tanksale.## Stay tuned...

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Jubin Nautiyal on importance of virtual concerts
2257 days ago
Bollywood

Jubin Nautiyal on importance of virtual concerts

Mumbai, April 5 (IANS) Singer Jubin Nautiyal feels it is important to have virtual concerts to keep people entertained amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.## Nautiyal collaborated with Big Bang Music, a new age pop label, for a live rooftop concert. In the virtual concert, Nautiyal along with his band performed live from his home in Dehradun on April 4. The concert was streamed live from Nautiyal's official Facebook page.## "People across the country are dealing with stress and anxiety right now. While we are unable to go out and perform live for our fans, as artists we are constantly looking for ways to keep them entertained at their homes," Nautiyal said.## "We wanted to make this life from home interesting. We wanted to share that with everyone," added the singer, known for songs like "The Humma song" and "Bawara mann".## Talking about the live concert, Gaurav Wadhwa, CEO & Co-Founder, Big Bang Music, said: "During this lockdown period, the audience is constantly looking for something new to engage with. For Big Bang Music, this concert is an experiment as we put together creative ideas to disrupt the way live gigs happen in the digital world leveraging the digital platform for exposure to larger audiences who can be a part of a gig from the convenience of their home."## Stay tuned...

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