Bhumi: Education the significant channel to raise climate awareness

Actress and environmentalist Bhumi Pednekar feels education is a significant channel to raise awareness on climate conservation.

“The changes we are observing are real and are an undeniable threat to our civilization. This year we have witnessed the Australian bushfires burning 18 million hectares of land. One billion animals were killed and many endangered species in the country were driven to extinction,” Bhumi said.

“We saw the oil spill in Russia’s Arctic region, and the Uttarakhand forest fires burning 51 hectares of land. We faced Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal and Odisha. It was the strongest to hit West Bengal in over a decade, with 86 deaths in the state. Finally, we witnessed the California wildfires, where 3,154,107 total acres burned,” she added.

“The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. We need everyone to join hands to ensure that we leave behind barrels of hope and prosperity for the current generations and generations to come. Education is a significant channel to achieve this goal. Let us join hands and make a difference,” said the actress, who has collaborated with the global initiative, Climate Action Project, which reaches out to 10 million students across 107 countries.

Anushka hits back at Gavaskar: Your message is distasteful

Actress Anushka Sharma on Friday hit back at legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar for his comment against her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli, during the Thursday IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which Kohli captains, and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

Gavaskar was a commentator during the match that RCB lost by 97 runs. Opining on Kohli’s poor form during the match, the former Indian opener made a snide remark involving Anushka that many thoughts were in poor taste.

Anushka took to Instagram Stories and posted a long note expressing disapproval over Gavaskar’s comment.

She wrote: “That, Mr. Gavaskar, your message is distasteful is a fact but I would love for you to explain why you thought of making such a sweeping statement on a wife accusing her of her husband’s game? I’m sure over the years you have respected the private lives of every cricketer while commenting on the game. Don’t you think you should have an equal amount of respect for me and us?”

“I’m sure you can have many other words and sentences in your mind to use to comment on my husband’s performance from last night or your words only relevant if you use my name in the process?”

“It’s 2020 and things still don’t change for me. When will I stop getting dragged into cricket and stop being used to pass sweeping statements?”

“Respected Mr. Gavaskar, you are a legend whose name stands tall in this gentleman’s game. Just wanted to tell you what I felt when I heard you say this.”

Kohli dropped two catches and did not have a great outing during their 97 run defeat against Kings XI Punjab in Dubai on Thursday night.

Gavaskar in the commentary box made an unsavory comment involving the cricketer’s wife Anushka.

Many on social media have expressed outrage and criticized Gavaskar. Some even demanded that the legendary cricketer be removed from the commentary panel.

This is not the first time that the actress has been dragged into a cricket controversy related to Kohli.

Iconic singer SP Balasubrahmanyam dead due to cardio-respiratory arrest

Famed playback singer and Padma awardee S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, popular as SPB or Balu in the movie world, who recorded over 40,000 songs in 16 languages over a period of five decades, died on Friday afternoon, his son S.P.Charan said.

Speaking briefly to the media outside the MGM Healthcare Hospital, Charan said Balasubrahmanyam passed away at 1.04 p.m. and thanked the hospital officials for the treatment and service.

He said further details will be shared later.

In a statement issued on Friday, the hospital said: “In a further setback this morning, despite maximal life support measures and the best efforts of the clinical team, his condition deteriorated further and he suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest. With profound grief, we regret to inform you that he has passed away on September 25 at 13.04 hours.”

The hospital said Balasubrahmanyam was on life support measures since Aug 14 for severe Covid-19 pneumonia.

On August 5, in a Facebook post, the 74-year old SPB said that he was suffering from a very mild attack of coronavirus and had got himself hospitalized to take rest.

He had said that though the doctors had advised him to stay at home and take rest, he decided to be in a hospital, as at home his family members would get concerned.

He hoped to get discharged from the hospital in two days. But it was not to be.

For a brief period, he showed some improvement in his health condition and he had tested negative for coronavirus on September 4.

But on Thursday the hospital said his condition was extremely critical.

Since Thursday the indications about Balasubrahmanyam were not good.

On Thursday MGM Healthcare said the singer remains on ECMO and other life support systems.

“His condition in the last 24-hours has deteriorated further warranting maximal life support and he is extremely critical. The team of experts at MGM Healthcare is closely monitoring his health condition,” the hospital had said.

Since Friday morning a large number of police personnel were deployed outside the hospital.

The singer’s family members were all present at the hospital.

Famed director Bharathiraja, after visiting the iconic singer at the hospital, told the media at this time of grief he was not able to speak anything.

“Even now there is some ray of hope. There is one power above us all,” an emotional Bharathiraja said.

It was movie director Venkat Prabha who first tweeted about the singer’s death.

Prabhu tweeted “#RIPSPB 1:04 pm” announcing the sad news.

Famed singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam succumbs to Covid-19

Famed playback singer and Padma awardee S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, or popularly SPB or Balu in the movie world and who has recorded over 40,000 songs in 16 languages over a period of five decades died lost his battle against Covid-19 and passed away early Friday, his son S.P.Charan said.

Speaking briefly to the media outside the MGM Healthcare Charan said Balasubrahmanyam passed away at 1.04 p.m. and thanked the hospital officials for the treatment and service.

He said further details will be shared later.

On August 5, in a Facebook post, the 74-year old SPB said that he was suffering from a very mild attack of coronavirus and had got himself hospitalized to take rest.

He had said that though the doctors had advised him to stay at home and take rest, he decided to be in a hospital, as at home his family members would get concerned.

He hoped to get discharged from the hospital in two days. But it was not to be.

For some time, SPB showed some improvement in his health condition but on Thursday the hospital said his condition was extremely critical.

The MGM Healthcare on Thursday said the singer remains on ECMO and other life support systems.

“His condition in the last 24-hours has deteriorated further warranting maximal life support and he is extremely critical. The team of experts at MGM Healthcare is closely monitoring his health condition,” the hospital said.

Rakul, Deepika’s manager Karishma join NCB probe in drug case

A day after skipping the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bollywood actor Rakul Preet Singh deposed before the drug law enforcement agency in a drug case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone manager Karishma Prakash also deposed before the agency for questioning.

According to the NCB officials, Rakul was first to arrive at the NCB office followed by Karishma.

The development comes two days after the NCB summoned Deepika, Rakul, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and others.

On Thursday, NCB recorded the statement of Sushant’s former manager Shruti Modi and fashion designer Simone Khambatta.

NCB sources said that they all have been summoned after their names surfaced in WhatsApp chats accessed by the NCB and during the questioning of late Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty.

The source said that these celebrities will be questioned about how and from whom they procured drugs and whether they were meant for personal consumption or for someone else.

The source further said that while probing the link of the Kwan Talent Management Agency in the case, Deepika’s chats with Karishma surfaced. Karishma handled Deepika’s account at Kwan till 2017.

According to an NCB official, the names of Sara and Shraddha came up in two drug cases registered by the agency.

The official said that the NCB is presently investigating two separate cases that revolve around the drug cartel that is active in the tinsel town. The first case was registered on the directions of the top brass of the NCB after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) forwarded a brief note on Rhea and her brother Showik’s WhatsApp chats.

In its FIR number 15, the NCB claimed, “Analysis of WhatsApp chats of Rhea Chakraborty with other entities reflect the angle of conspiracy and abetment in possession, sale, purchase, consumption, transportation, and usage of substances covered under the NDPS Act.”

In the second case (FIR number 16), the NCB has so far arrested 19 persons, including Rhea and Showik.

The NCB has also recorded the statements of Kwan CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar, producer Madhu Mantena Varma and Sushant’s talent manager Jaya Saha.

Sushant was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14.

Bigg Boss 14: ‘Uttaran’ star Tinaa Dattaa denies a contestant

Television actress Tinaa Dattaa has denied rumors suggesting that she is set to be a contestant on Bigg Boss season 14.

The “Uttaran” actress took to her verified Instagram account on Thursday morning and put an end to speculations saying she loves the reality show but only as an audience.

Tinaa posted a note on Instagram that she describes as “My love letter to my favorite Bigg Boss”.

The letter reads: “Dear Bigg Boss, Did you know how much you are loved? Let me tell you, I never did. My Gosh! Ever since rumors of my ‘imaginary’ relationship with you started, my phone has been buzzing nonstop! I feel like the girl who has just gotten engaged… my phone is off the hook! Sponsorships for my wardrobe, calls from the media, headlines about the two of us, and so much curiosity. I am thinking yeh khichdi paki hai Kaise? My darling, this match is not made in heaven, not on earth and nor on Indian television so remember I still love you but as an audience member and not a contestant! Love, Tinzi Tinaa Datta.”

Hosted by Salman Khan, “Big Boss 14” is all set to premiere on Colors on October 3.

Kangana takes a dig at Maha govt after Bhiwandi building collapse

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has taken a dig at the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra by comparing the death toll at the Bhiwandi building collapse with the Pulwama terror attack.

On Thursday, Kangana reacted to a news piece about the building crash in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi town that killed 40 people.

Kangana tweeted from her verified account in Hindi addressing Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

“Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut when @myBMC was breaking my house in an unlawful manner, had you paid attention to this building at that time then at least these 50 people approximately would have been alive today. So many jawans have not been martyred in Pulwama by Pakistan as many innocent lives lost due to your negligence. God knows what will happen to Mumbai,” her tweet reads.

Earlier this month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished parts of Kangana’s office in Bandra citing illegal construction. The demolition drive was stopped after a High Court stay order. Kangana subsequently tweeted photographs of her demolished office building, calling it a “rape” of her “dreams, confidence, self-respect and future”.

Renowned Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan wins Jnanpith award

Eminent Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was on Thursday conferred with the Jnanpith award at his residence ‘Devayanam’ by Kerala Culture Minister A.K. Balan.

Appearing live from his office in the state Secretariat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid tributes to the life and works of 93-year-old Akkitham, as he is popularly known.

Seated in an armchair at his home, Akkitham received the award and became the sixth Keralite to be conferred the prestigious literary award.

Akkitham’s work includes “Irupatham Noottantinte Ithihasam”, “Balidarashanam” and “Dharma Sooryan” among over 45 works of poems, plays, and short stories.

Shweta Tripathi stresses on mental health dialogue in unlock scenario

Actress Shweta Tripathi Sharma believes it is essential to discuss mental health as the unlock process continues all over India.

“A detailed conversation around mental health must ensue during the unlock phase. Considering people are stepping out to work amidst the fear of Covid-19, it’s important to conduct systematic counseling and therapy sessions to put them at ease,” she said.

“Over and above, lockdown experiences are different from case to case but the phase has been riddled with existential questions. It is also important that trained professionals must conduct sessions to address the different fears and worries of those in the entertainment industry,” she added.

She feels it’s important that all working professionals in the entertainment industry or otherwise should “seek help from trained professionals to help channelize their stress into something productive”.

“Since we are also part of a creative industry, we need to be at peace to do our best work possible,” said Shweta, who is gearing up for the launch of the web series “Mirzapur 2”.

The larger conversation on mental health is conspicuously missing, she shared and hopes “we can have that conversation as we all return back to sets. It won’t be easy shooting amidst restrictions. We all need help in tackling the anxiety that working on set could incur”.

Ayushmann Khurrana among 5 Indians in Time list of 100 Most Influential People

Indian actor Ayushmann Khurrana is in the Time magazine list of 100 Most Influential People this year.

The National Award-winning Bollywood star is among five Indians who have made the prestigious list in 2020, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, London-based Indian origin doctor Ravindra Gupta who worked to find a cure for AIDS, and Bilkis Dadi, who was at the forefront of Shaheen Bagh protests in Delhi against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Ayushmann has been listed in the Artists category, which also includes Oscar-winning Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, “Fleabag” creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan, besides pop music superstars Selena Gomez, J. Balvin, and Jennifer Hudson.

“I’m truly humbled with the recognition that Time has bestowed on me. As an artist, I have only looked to contribute towards bringing a positive change in society through cinema and this moment is a huge validation of my belief system and my journey,” Ayushmann said.

“I have always believed that cinema has the power to bring about change by triggering the right conversations among people and society. Hopefully, through my content choices, I have been able to contribute towards my country and countrymen,” he added.