Actor Riteish Deshmukh on Wednesday mourned the passing of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, saying the NCP chief’s sudden death had left him deeply shaken and heartbroken. The actor, who shared a personal rapport with the late leader, expressed his grief on social media, remembering Pawar as one of the state’s most influential and dynamic politicians.

Deshmukh said Pawar was known for his strict work ethic, sharp wit, and ability to motivate those around him to perform better. He added that Pawar’s straightforward nature and widespread popularity made his loss especially painful, leaving behind a significant void that cannot be filled. Recalling their interactions, Deshmukh noted the kindness he always received from Pawar and extended his condolences to the Pawar family, close associates, and countless supporters.

Ajit Pawar died along with others when the chartered aircraft he was traveling in crashed near the runway at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The aircraft caught fire following the crash. Pawar was accompanied by two staff members and two crew members and was en route to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zila Parishad elections. A day earlier, he had been in Mumbai attending a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with other ministers and officials.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Mumbai Metro authorities have called out actor Varun Dhawan for performing pull-ups inside a metro coach, following the success of his latest film, Border 2. On Monday, the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) posted on X, describing the stunt as a “punishable act” under the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002, which deals with causing nuisance or damage to property.

Sharing a video of Dhawan doing pull-ups inside the metro, MMMOCL wrote that grab handles are not meant for hanging and warned that such behavior could attract penalties or even imprisonment depending on the severity of the offense. The post added, “This video should have come with a disclaimer like the ones in your action movies, Varun Dhawan—Do Not Try This On Maha Mumbai Metro. We get it, it is cool to hang out with friends, but those grab handles are not for hanging. So folks, hang out, but don’t hang in there. Travel responsibly on Maha Mumbai Metro.”

Varun Dhawan expressed gratitude to fans for the overwhelming response to Border 2, in which he portrays an Indian Army soldier. Sharing an Instagram photo of co-stars Ahan Shetty and Sunny Deol with fans, Dhawan thanked the makers for giving him the opportunity and fans for appreciating his performance. Released in theatres on January 23, Border 2 is inspired by the 1971 India-Pakistan War and depicts how the Army, Navy, and Air Force operate together. The film also stars Sunny Deol, Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh in leading roles, marking a milestone in Dhawan’s career.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from India Today.

Border 2, one of the most anticipated films of 2026, has made a strong debut at the Indian box office. Starring Sunny Deol in the lead, the war drama hit theatres across the country on Friday, January 23, and collected ₹32.10 crore net on its opening day. This makes it the biggest opener of the year so far and brings it close to last year’s Chhaava, which earned ₹33.10 crore on Day 1. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh called it one of the biggest openings in recent times.

The film performed exceptionally well in mass markets and single-screen theatres, while urban centres saw higher footfall as the day progressed. Some regions in North India faced lower turnout due to heavy rainfall, but strong word of mouth is expected to boost collections over the weekend and the upcoming Republic Day holiday. Early morning shows in Mumbai witnessed packed theatres, with viewers praising the emotional depth, intense action sequences, and strong performances, calling the film a “must-watch.”

Border 2 is inspired by true events from the 1971 India-Pakistan War and highlights how the Army, Navy, and Air Force operate together as a unified force. Sunny Deol returns to a military role, delivering a powerful performance. Directed by Anurag Singh, the film also stars Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh in key roles. Produced by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in collaboration with JP Dutta’s JP Films, Border 2 combines patriotism, emotion, and action to create a compelling cinematic experience that has already resonated strongly with audiences on its first day.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@taran_adarsh.

Actor Prakash Raj met NASA astronaut Sunita Williams on Thursday at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode. Sharing moments from their interaction on his official X account, the actor expressed delight at meeting and conversing with Williams, calling it a memorable experience and referring to their exchange as “over the moon” moments.

Photos from the post showed a smiling Prakash Raj posing with Williams and animatedly showing her something on his phone. During her session at the festival, Williams highlighted the growing role of technology, noting that imagination is the only real limit as ideas today are rapidly turning into reality. She observed that unlike earlier times, technological barriers no longer slow down innovation but instead accelerate it.

Williams also spoke about her strong cultural connections, saying she felt honoured to be in India and appreciated the influence of both Indian and American cultures on her life. Commenting on India’s space ambitions, she expressed enthusiasm about the country’s expanding space programme and its increasing global engagement, adding that India is well on its way to achieving major milestones in space exploration. The Kerala Literature Festival, held annually in Kozhikode, India’s first UNESCO City of Literature, is among the largest literary events in the world. Its previous edition drew more than 6.5 lakh visitors and featured over 600 speakers.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@prakashraaj.

In the episode of ‘Culture Club,’ Melanie Oliveiro chats with Claire Javier, an emerging indie-pop singer-songwriter, about her music, focusing on her latest single, “Easy.” Javier shares the story behind the dreamy and playful track, which captures the surreal feeling of a past romance. The Filipino-Singaporean artist also discusses her other single, “Misbehave,” her experiences performing live, and her evolution from introspective songwriting to a more narrative and confessional style. To explore more Singaporean artists like Claire Javier, visit Hear65.com, an initiative by the National Arts Council, produced by independent music media company Bandwagon.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

The 2025 Emmy Award nominations are out, with Severance leading the pack with 27 nominations. The Penguin follows closely with 24, while The Studio and The White Lotus each earned 23 nods, highlighting the top contenders in television over the past year. Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng discuss the most unexpected omissions and surprise nominations with Dr. Nasya Bahfen, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy at La Trobe University.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

He’s spent a full day submerged in slime, stayed underground for 48 hours, and given away huge sums of money to fortunate contestants. But are MrBeast’s videos just clever clickbait – or bold experiments in creative innovation?
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian

New Zealand artist Marlon Williams dedicated five years to creating his latest album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which is sung entirely in the Māori language. Its release comes at a politically charged time, as the current coalition government in New Zealand restricts the use of Māori in public services and recently suspended three MPs for performing a haka in protest of a bill seen as undermining Indigenous rights. Williams discusses with Reged Ahmad the experience of performing in his first language on a global stage and also shares a live performance of a song from the album at the Guardian Australia studio.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.