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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.

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Kirti Kulhari suggests we follow a daily routine during lockdown
2263 days ago
Bollywood

Kirti Kulhari suggests we follow a daily routine during lockdown

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Actress Kirti Kulhari has a unique suggestion for citizens confined to their homes during the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown. The actress suggests we should follow a daily routine for activities like waking up from sleep, watching TV and eating.## Kirti took to Instagram on Monday to share a video where she suggests: "I know it's tough. We all go out to work every day and are used to that life. Suddenly we are all sitting at home. I think one of the ways to tackle this is to have a routine. Please follow a routine of when to wake up, eat, watching TV, which will make things easier for all of us. Just stay at home and spread happiness, not corona."## The "Mission Mangal" actress requested everyone not to panic or get scared. "I know this lockdown is something that none of us ever expected. But it's happening. The first thing I want to tell you guys is, not to panic. No matter what the situation is, we must accept it. And whatever we do, we will have to be mindful. It is extremely important that we all stay at home in this period. Don't feel scared, fear will never help achieve anything. You cannot stop the inevitable. But you can be careful and mindful."## She also reminded us that we should not hoard food unnecessarily because that would mean depriving someone who is in need. "In the current situation, access to resources like fruits, vegetables, etc have become slightly limited. I'd request you not to stock things unnecessarily. Just because you have the money to buy ten items if you need two, the person who needs just one such item will be deprived. Also, please don't waste water and electricity," she said.## Kirti also suggested that we should not overeat during this period because we are stuck at homes and are unable to do any kind of physical exercise. So overeating would lead to weight gain. "We are all at home with our families. But that doesn't mean that we will make a feast or party every day. Also, it's good if you don't eat excessively. Because you are at home and no workout is happening, if weight increases by the end of two months, you should not blame anyone. It's good for your health," said the actress.## On the work front, Kirti will soon be seen in the second season of the Amazon Prime web series "Four More Shots Please", which is slated to release in April.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Arun Govil watches 'Ramayan' with family, photo goes viral
2263 days ago
TV

Arun Govil watches 'Ramayan' with family, photo goes viral

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) A snapshot of Arun Govil watching "Ramayan" on television with his grandchildren has gone viral on social media. In the picture, the veteran actor play Ram in the popular eighties serial, is seen catching up the show all over again at home.## While "Ramayan" is being retelecast on Doordarshan along with several other popular serials of that era -- like "Mahabharat", "Byomkesh Bakshi" and "Circus" -- the audience is having a rush of nostalgia, as these shows dominated television in Doordarshan era of Indian television.## Talking about why it is important to watch the eighties tele-epic once again, Arun Govil recently told IANS: "The new generation will get a chance to watch it. They will get to understand the morals, teachings and values of Ramayan. If they will watch it with the family, they can interact also. If they have queries then their family members of the older generation can explain things. It is a family show. How relationships should be...has been shown in the show. Positivity is there. Right now there is a lockdown, you can't go anywhere. So watching it will be a good way to use the time."## "Ramayan" is an Indian historical-drama epic television series, which aired during 1987-1988. The serial was created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar.## The show also featured Deepika Chikalia as Sita, Arvind Trivedi as Raavan and Dara Singh as Hanuman.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

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Allu Arjun turns 17 in showbiz, reveals what he always wished for
2263 days ago
Tollywood

Allu Arjun turns 17 in showbiz, reveals what he always wished for

Hyderabad, March 30 (IANS) Telugu actor Allu Arjun, fondly known as the 'Stylish Star', has marked 17 years of entertaining his fans. He says he had wished for something and that's what he is getting now.## Millions of fans root for his films and would do anything to get a glimpse of the star. Asked if stardom ever gets overwhelming and how he deals with it, Arjun, who made his debut with the film "Gangotri" in 2003, told IANS: "To be honest, it is part of life."## "I think I have worked all these years to earn that much," he added with a laugh.## "I think when it comes to embracing it...every moment I feel that gratitude. This is something that I exactly wanted. When you are getting it, you should take the best of it. I think it's what we wish for. It is what I wished for and that's what I am getting," he added.## Born in the family of legends like Allu Aravind, Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan, Arjun has given hits such as "Arya", "Desamuduru" and "Vedam".## His recent film "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo" also turned out to be a huge success.## He has showcased his acting prowess and also his dancing skills. But doing a full-fledged dance film is not on his mind.## "I like the cinema more and I think dance is just a small part of the cinema. Cinema has to be about emotions and all. Dance is just a small entertaining part of it. I don't think that should become the main essence of the film," said Arjun.## The superstar is now gearing up for his next with filmmaker Sukumar.## For more and latest news about Tollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Boost immunity and don't fret over pH level of coronavirus
2263 days ago
Lifestyle

Boost immunity and don't fret over pH level of coronavirus

New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Amid the new coronavirus scare are several health myths going viral on social media platforms and one of those is: Improve your pH levels as "the pH for coronavirus varies from 5.5 to 8.5".## The message on WhatsApp reads: "All we need to do to beat coronavirus is to take more of an alkaline foods that are above the above pH level of the Virus. Some of which are: Lemon - 9.9pH, Lime - 8.2pH, Avocado - 15.6pH, Garlic - 13.2pH, Mango - 8.7pH, Tangerine - 8.5pH, Pineapple - 12.7pH and Orange - 9.2pH".## It further adds: "Increase your intake of the above to help boost your immune system. Do not keep this information to yourself only. Pass it to all your family and friends".## According to health experts, boosting your immunity is important but pH level of the new coronavirus is only misinformation.## "Around this time, it is very important to deal with any information cautiously. There is a lot of information available which has no basis medically or those that can't be authenticated," Dr Manish Mathur, Specialist-Internal Medicine on Lybrate, an online healthcare platform, told IANS.## "The World Health Organisation (WHO) hasn't released any data on the coronavirus' pH level. In general, alkaline food items are essential to build the body's immunity. The stronger the body's immunity, the better will it fight infections and diseases," Mathur noted.## pH is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base. pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water.## "Consumption of lemon, orange, pineapple and other alkaline food items are suggested by doctors. It, however, must not be perceived that consumption of these food items will prevent anyone from catching the coronavirus," said Mathur.## The total number of positive coronavirus cases in India reached 1,071 on Monday, including the foreign nationals, with 942 active cases, according to the Health Ministry.## According to Bimal Chhajer, Director, SAAOL Heart Centre in New Delhi, though it may not be a well-established fact that consuming foods above pH value 7 may help in fighting against it, but these foods are considered as good immunity boosters and aid in improving the immunity which can help the body to fight against any infection.## "Ten major foods to boost our immunity include eating citrus foods like orange, lemon, amla and kiwi. Broccoli, spinach, red Pepper (Shimla mirch), and other green leafy vegetables increase our immunity. A combination of apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, honey and lemon is also a very good way to increase immunity," Chhajer told IANS.## Probiotics like curd or yogurt taken at room temperature helps increase immunity.## Any fruit/vegetables, especially red ones like papaya, carrot and beet also provide Vitamin A to boost immunity.## "Green tea, tulsi and cinnamon drinks are also healthy as far as immunity is concerned. Turmeric or haldi extract has the ability to boost immunity. Black grapes has very high antioxidants and, thus, good for immunity," said Chhajer.## Stay tuned...

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Rana Daggubati advises fans to stay at home
2263 days ago
Tollywood

Rana Daggubati advises fans to stay at home

Hyderabad, March 30 (IANS) Telugu star Rana Daggubati has advised his fans to stay at home. Given the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the National award-winner star has urged people to follow precautions and stay at home during the lockdown.## He took to Instagram account to post his message.## "Waiting to run, out? Now is NOT the time!! #StayHomeStaySafe," the "Baahubali," wrote. He posted this along with a picture of his brightly colored pair of Jordan shoes.## A week ago Rana had posted a message on social media with a video welcoming the lockdown. "Go out ONLY & Only if it's absolutely important. Let's act with responsibility and do our bit to support the government in all the way. Stay Safe. Stay Healthy," he wrote.## Suresh Productions, the prestigious production house owned by his father Daggubati Suresh Babu, with key members including Rana and his uncle, actor Venkatesh Daggubati, recently donated Rs 1 crore to film and health department workers. The press note said: "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several lower-income groups in the industry are struggling to meet their daily needs. Shoots of all the films have to come to a standstill due to the coronavirus outbreak. Theatres also are shut down in the lockdown period."## While trying to manage fitness indoors, Rana also has regular video calls with his friends from the film industry. He recently had a video chat with his friends Trisha and Allu Arjun.## On the work front, Rana has completed the shoot of his multilingual next film, to be released as "Haathi Mere Saathi" in Hindi, "Kaadan" in Tamil, and "Aranya" in Telugu. The film is directed by Prabhu Solomon, and is the sequel to the Tamil film "Kumki". First scheduled for release on April 2, the film has now been postponed indefinitely due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic.## For more and latest news about Tollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Kartik Aaryan contributes Rs 1 crore to PM-Cares fund
2263 days ago
Bollywood

Kartik Aaryan contributes Rs 1 crore to PM-Cares fund

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has contributed Rs 1 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's PM-Cares fund in support of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.## "It is the absolute need of the hour to rise together as a nation. Whatever I am, whatever money I have earned, is only because of the people of India; and for us, I am contributing Rs 1 crore to the PM-Cares fund. I urge all my fellow Indians also to help as much as possible," the actor wrote on Instagram on Monday morning.## Akshay Kumar was the first Bollywood celebrity to donate to the government's fund in the hour of crisis. He donated Rs 25 crore on Saturday.## Following Akshay Kumar's footsteps, other B-Towners like Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, singer Guru Randhawa, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, rapper Badshah, Maniesh Paul, Kriti Sanon, and others have also donated for the cause. South stars have also donated.## Salman Khan, on the other hand, decided to donate to support the 2500-odd daily wage workers of the film industry who are left with no source of income owing to the complete lockdown.## Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus affected people has reportedly crossed 1050 in India and the death toll stands at 29 till now.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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John Krasinski spreads 'Some Good News' with YouTube show
2263 days ago
Youtube

John Krasinski spreads 'Some Good News' with YouTube show

Los Angeles, March 30 (IANS) Amid the coronavirus pandemic, actor John Krasinski wants to spread some good news around the world. So, he has launched a YouTube show titled "Some Good News" with his "The Office" co-star Steve Carell as a guest.## On Sunday, the actor-writer-director launched "Some Good News" with a video he posted to YouTube, reports hollywoodreporter.com.## He started by sharing that it was a follow-up to his tweet last week wherein he asked people to send in "stories that have made you feel good this week or the things that just made you smile".## Dressed in a suit and tie with an "SGN" sign behind him that he said his daughters had made, Krasinski said: "For years now, I've been wondering, why is there not a news show dedicated entirely too good news? Well, desperately seeking my fix somewhere else, I reached out to all of you this week, asking -- nay, begging -- for some good news. And boy, did you deliver. After reading those replies and the incredibly heartwarming stories that came with them, I thought, 'All right. Enough is enough, world. Why not us? Why not now?' So, ladies and gentlemen, this is your fault, and this is SGN. I'm John Krasinski, and if it isn't clear yet, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing."## In a segment, Krasinski reunited with Carell over video chat to celebrate the 15th anniversary of "The Office", aired in India on Star World.## "So Steve, this week marked a huge anniversary for you and I. We were on a little show called 'The Office' and it turned 15 years old this week," said Krasinski.## "I was a waiter when I got that job, I was 23 years old. After the pilot, I went back to waiting tables because I was sure nothing was going to happen with it. We all kind of came into it with that vibe. I remember none of us had done anything huge," the actor added.## To this, Carell added: "It's such a happy surprise that after all these years people are still tuning in and finding it today, it's pretty cool."## The pair shared memories of working together in the workplace mockumentary series, which premiered on March 24, 2005. Krasinski also noted that while fans have been asking for a cast reunion, he is just hoping they can have an off-camera reunion at some point after the coronavirus crisis.## "Listen I know everyone's talking about a reunion, hopefully, one day, we just get to reunite as people. And just all get to say hi," Krasinski said, referring to social distancing guidelines during the current global crisis.## In "Some Good News", Krasinski also spotlighted several stories that people had tweeted to him, from public cheers for health care workers around the world to a neighbor helping out another by mowing their lawn to a citizen leaving toilet paper and hand sanitizer on his porch for delivery personnel to a grandfather meeting his grandson for the first time through a window by social-distancing.## He also interviewed a 15-year-old girl named Coco, who has finished her final chemo treatment and came home to a street lined with her neighbors cheering her. "You are my newest and biggest hero," he told her.## For more and latest news about You Tube, stay tuned with us.

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How people with mental disorder can live longer
2263 days ago
Lifestyle

How people with mental disorder can live longer

London, March 30 (IANS) Tackling unhealthy lifestyle factors would provide the greatest benefit in increasing life expectancy among those with severe mental illness in these difficult times, report researchers.## "Our study shows that by addressing health behaviors, healthcare engagement and social issues of people with severe mental illness, we could potentially increase their life expectancy by about four to seven years," said study lead author Dr. Alex Dregan from King's College London in the UK.## Healthy interventions that aim to stop smoking among people with schizophrenia and approaches to lessen sedentary behavior among people with bipolar disorders appear to be the most promising ways to increase life expectancy -- showing an increase of two years and five months and an increase of one year and three months, respectively.## Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally.## Currently, people with serious mental illness tend to live on average 12 to 15 years less than those in the general population.## Nearly 80 percent of deaths of those with serious mental illness are caused by common diseases such as heart disease, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, cancer, and digestive disorders.## All these diseases can be partly attributed to unhealthy lifestyle factors, social isolation and deprivation, and inadequate use of healthcare services.## The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, aimed to estimate how much tackling these changeable factors in the lives of people with SMI could translate into a gain in life expectancy.## Using data from systemic reviews, the researchers estimated the level of association between a range of different risk factors and the total number of deaths amongst those with SMI.## The factors were categorized into three groups: behavioral risk factors such as smoking and physical inactivity, healthcare risk factors such as uptake of treatment and access to healthcare resources and social risk factors such as stigma and exclusion.## By considering the effectiveness of interventions aimed at changing these factors the researchers then calculated the gains in life expectancy that could occur.## Examples of interventions to address the risk factors were smoking cessation initiatives, improving access to antipsychotic medication and educative approaches to reduce stigma.## "Gains in life expectancies were also estimated later in life and at 65 years the projected gain was three years for bipolar disorder and four years for schizophrenia," the researchers said.## Stay tuned...

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COVID-19: Stranded in the UK, Mahika Sharma is 'lonely and caged'
2263 days ago
Bollywood

COVID-19: Stranded in the UK, Mahika Sharma is 'lonely and caged'

London, March 30 (IANS) Actress Mahika Sharma is stuck in the United Kingdom owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has prompted nationwide lockdowns all over the world. Far away from family and friends, the actress has been in self-quarantine all alone in the city.## "Even if India is in a 21-day lockdown, the air and the environment in the country pamper everyone of us. It feels good to be surrounded by your own people. It keeps you relaxed and boosts energy. However, in a foreign country, it is extremely disturbing. You feel very weird and uncomfortable," Mahika said, opening up on how she is coping up all alone in an alien country in the time of crisis.## "I feel awkward about returning to India because people will not like coming close to me. They will think I'm carrying the virus. I'm not able to understand what is happening all around and I feel badly stuck. I feel lonely and caged," added the actress, best known for her roles in TV shows like "FIR" and "Ramayan: Sabke Jeevan Ka Aadhar".## Mahika further revealed her biggest problem with staying all by herself in London. "I'm really fond of Indian food but here I need to rely on salads, fruits, and juices, and I'm badly missing home food," she said.## The former Miss Teen Northeast added: "These days are a nightmare and it is not a good feeling. I'm sacred. However, I am healthy, although reading and listening about the virus constantly is disturbing me."## Mahika said she is observing her Navratras to ward off her fears and spends time worshipping Goddess Durga. "I'm chanting mantras and shlokas, and offering prayers from the Internet in the hope that things will change soon," she said.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Have Alia and Ranbir moved in together? Video triggers rumours
2263 days ago
Bollywood

Have Alia and Ranbir moved in together? Video triggers rumours

Mumbai, March 29 (IANS) Are Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor living in together? A video trending on social media is being considered as evidence by many fans to boost such a speculation.## In the video, Alia and Ranbir can be seen taking a stroll in the compound of a building. The two stars are in workout gear and are accompanied by their dog.## The video was posted by celebrity lens person Viral Bhayani on his Instagram page.## "#aliabhatt #ranbirkapoor snapped at their apartment compound with their doggie Lionel #viralbhayani @viralbhayani," wrote the photographer.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Varun Dhawan pens a poem for his mom
2263 days ago
Bollywood

Varun Dhawan pens a poem for his mom

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan shared a photograph of himself along with his mother and penned a heart-warming poem for her.## Varun took to Instagram, where he shared a throwback photograph from his childhood. In the image he is seen posing with his mother.## "Ma and me. We were always meant to be. Through holidays and quarantine. Ma and me were always meant to be together #keepyourfamilysafe," Varun captioned the image.## On the work front, Varun will next be seen in the remake of the `1995 hit "Coolie No.1". The film also features Sara Ali Khan.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Esha Deol is looking at strength, not length of roles
2263 days ago
Bollywood

Esha Deol is looking at strength, not length of roles

New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Admitting that she is part of Bollywood actors who are all for digital, Esha Deol Takhtani, who was last seen in the short film 'Cake Walk', first premiered on a digital platform, which went on to win several awards at different festivals, says, "I also have a couple of other projects lined up for the future on different OTT platforms. I think digital is the future, and not just due to the lockdown owing to the unfortunate COVID-19 situation we are in. In general too, many now want to see films on the move. I'm happy and proud to be part of this medium."## Excited about the short-film format and comparing it to standard length ones, the actor adds that the former is quick and easy, and for people who have less patience, they work excellently well.## "A beautiful message can be told in a short span of time. Also, talented are better able to showcase their skill-set in the short film format."## Daughter of actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini, Esha, who made her debut with 'Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche' (2002), and has to her credit around 30 movies, including Mani Ratnam's Tamil film 'Aastha Ezhuthu', says she is now all set to get into production too, considering the experience she has garnered by spending years in the industry.## "Well, I started acting from the age of 18 and being in front of the camera remains my first love. I still look fit and good. But yes, this is a great time to get into production for the digital medium as well and produce some meaningful content -- the kind I believe in."## Talking about the roles she wants to essay, Deol, citing the example of her short-film says she is all for strong characters that 'say' something.## "In 'Cake Walk', I played a divorced chef. My character had a beautiful message to convey to the audience. The same goes for my next film. I'm not looking at the length of the role but the strength of the role."## The actor, who recently wrote the book 'Amma Mia', published by Penguin Random House India says she wanted to share what a new mother goes through.## "There were so many questions, multiple people telling me so many things, loads of emotions and of course confusion. I was able to overcome everything beautifully. I felt like sharing my experiences with new mothers, and what can be better than a book?"## Ask her if there is another book inside and she asserts, "Well, I didn't know in the first place that I would become an author one day. I was someone who was more into watching films, acting in them, dancing, and of course very athletic by nature. Writing a book was something that never came to my mind. The credit must go to my two daughters who have turned me into an author. I'll never say no to writing another one, but need to feel strongly about something."## Even as a number of celebrities including Twinkle Khanna, Soha Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre have churned out books recently, Deol would not like to call it a trend.## "Just that it is talked about on a larger scale if celebrities write a book. Let's not forget, as human beings, we all feel strongly about certain things that we like to share," she says.## Stressing that motherhood has changed her for the better -- a more patient and calmer person, she adds, "Also, a braver person with more confidence. This holds true for every woman who experiences motherhood."## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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