Author: News Desk

Pakistani singer and activist Shehzad Roy wants to help parents reduce their children’s screen time in today’s digital age.

He has made a chess curriculum, developed by his non-profit organization Zindagi Trust, available for free. This initiative aims to encourage children to think critically and plan strategically instead of spending time on their devices.

On Sunday, Roy shared a heartfelt message on Instagram for parents struggling with their children’s screen time. Highlighting the power of chess, he said, “If you want to lower your kids’ screen time, teach them chess.”

He recalled how Zindagi Trust introduced chess in its schools years ago. “Because this is a competitive mind sport, we observed kids sitting alone for hours, thinking and strategizing. They were spending time with themselves,” Roy reflected.

Roy also talked about the success of the chess program, mentioning that girls from the program have won Pakistan’s top chess championships.

He urged everyone to teach children chess using the curriculum available on the Zindagi Trust website. He explained that it could positively change their routines and improve their mathematical and cognitive skills.

The journey of incorporating chess into Zindagi Trust schools began in 2011 as part of the organization’s broader goal to enhance education in underprivileged communities.

The chess curriculum, developed over a decade, combines fundamental techniques, strategies, and cognitive training to improve critical thinking skills and promote strategic problem-solving.

It provides a foundation for advanced chess learning and creates an engaging learning environment.
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Renowned Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan faced severe financial challenges in the 1990s when his production company went bankrupt, leaving him with millions of dollars in debt.

Amitabh Bachchan opened up about this difficult phase in an interview, revealing, “There was a time when I had no work. My company had gone bankrupt, and I had to repay a debt of ₹90 crore. As a result, I faced 55 legal cases.”

He further shared, “This was the worst time of my life, and I even considered selling everything I owned, including my house.”

Discussing the unbearable pressure, he said, “The situation became intolerable as creditors would knock on my door daily. Loan recovery agents harassed me, using abusive language and threats. People started losing faith in me. I was completely bankrupt, and everything around me was falling apart.”

Reflecting on the experience, Bachchan observed, “If a person makes a mistake in one aspect of their life, everything else starts going wrong. People lose trust in you, to the extent that they don’t even want to see you.”

However, he emphasized on not giving up during tough times. “Even in those challenging moments, I didn’t lose hope. I thought about what I could do best, and that was acting. So, I decided to focus entirely on my craft and reclaim my lost position.”

Amitabh shared how he approached his close friend Yash Chopra for work. “When I decided to focus solely on acting, I spoke to Yash Chopra, and without hesitation, he offered me a role in his film ‘Mohabbatein.’ I immediately accepted it.”

The success of Mohabbatein marked a turning point in Amitabh Bachchan’s life. Following this, he received numerous film offers and was approached to host the Indian TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). 

Earlier, Abhishek Bachchan and his legendary father Amitabh Bachchan were making waves together on screen, creating the kind of buzz that fans have been eagerly waiting for. In the latest promo of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, the iconic father-son duo shared the spotlight as Abhishek promotes his upcoming film I Want to Talk.

Sony Entertainment Television shared a hilarious promo on Instagram, showing Amitabh second-guessing his decision to invite Abhishek to the show. The clip has gone viral, capturing Abhishek playfully mimicking his father’s iconic style of announcing prize amounts, especially when he screams “Seven crores” just like Amitabh Bachchan does. The funny and lighthearted moment has left fans in splits!

But that’s not the climax of fun. Abhishek reveals that whenever there is a question thrown in during dinner, children tend to mimic Amitabh as if imitating his loud and dramatic ways of speaking, which makes the conversation funny.        

“We all sit together and eat, and when someone asks a question, all the kids together shout ‘7 crore’”, he narrated. 

Amitabh Bachchan, clearly enjoying the banter, jokingly says, “Bohat bari galti karde innko yahan bula ke” (It was a mistake inviting him here).  

Abhishek Bachchan is preparing for the release of his new film, I Want to Talk, which will release in cinemas on November 22, 2024.

 Late Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, known for his blunt nature, hesitated to share his honest opinions about son Ranbir Kapoor’s film choices. From predicting failures to advising against certain roles, his feedback often came with sharp observations and tough love.   

Recalling his father’s unfiltered advice, the Animal actor shared an incident that took place at the 55th Film Festival of Indian (IFFI), reveling Rishi Kapoor’s knack for spotting potential hit and misses.

“Before ‘Barfi’ was released, my father called me after watching the preview and said, ‘Ranbir, you’re good at acting, but stop doing art films.”

Even during the making of Ranbir’s debut film ‘Saawariya,’ Rishi’s skepticism was clear.   

On set he bombarded Ranbir with questions like, “Why are there so many windows in the frame? Why not more people? Why is it a night scene and not a morning one?”

His honest feedback often pushed Ranbir to think critically, though at times the younger Kapoor felt his father’s views were rooted in an outdated perspective.
  

The Tamasha actor admitted that he used to dismiss his father doubts as “old school”, but later realized how wise Rishi’s critiques were.

 “He told my mom in the car, ‘This movie won’t work.’ Back then, I didn’t understand what he meant, but now it all makes sense,” Ranbir Kapoor shared. 
 

Ranbir also spoke of his bond with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whom he calls his Godfather. He credited Bhansali for shaping his knowledge of film and acting.

 
“I am extremely blessed to have him as my godfather. Everything I know about films, everything I know about acting, it is something I learnt from him,” the Sajnu actor shared. It merits a mention that he worked as an assistant director on Bhansali’s film ‘Black’ before making his debut with Saawariya in 2007.  

Ranbir commended Bhansali’s steadfast commitment to his art, saying, “He hasn’t changed at all. He is extremely hard-working. All he thinks about is his movies. He just wants to speak about the character, he wants you to create, do something different.” 

Bhansali’s upcoming film ‘Love and War’ features a star-studded cast that includes Ranbir, Alia and Vicky Kaushal. The film is expected to release by the end of 2025.

Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April, 2020.

Actress Hareem Farooq couldn’t resist playing the role of Masooma in drama serial ‘Bismil’ and here why.     

Appearing on Something haute hosted by Hassan Choudhary she talked about her role in Bismil.

“When I first discussed the role of ‘Masooma’ in Bismil, my primary focus was to align it with the director’s vision. I always asked the director [Aehsun Talish], ‘How do you see this character?’ I wanted to ensure we were on the same page.”

  
“The director described Masooma as someone who acts out of innocence, not malice. This resonated with me because I believe people are rarely inherently evil. Their experiences shape their actions. Masooma’s impulsive decisions reflect innocence… where she doesn’t consider long-term consequences… a characteristic I find relatable in real life,” the Bismil actress explained.

Talking about Masooma’s intentions, Hareem shared, “I wouldn’t call her a gold digger because it wasn’t just about money. She was also running after security, wanting power, wanting change in her life. She wanted that lifestyle for herself. It’s a very selfish manner, but she cared about securing her future. Once she has something in her grasp, she won’t let go. I think Masooma’s relationship with TT [Naumaan Ijaz] is more than just that of a gold digger… she is a selfish person, but not just running after money.”

A scene from a recent episode had viewers questioning Masooma’s confidence. When asked about it, Hareem said, “She had the confidence, which she had before, but now it was more about believing she could marry a business tycoon. It seemed like she thought, ‘If I marry a business tycoon, I’ve made it.’ It was a display of confidence that, in a way, was also a mix of ignorance and stupidity.”

The 22 Qadam actress went on to describe how Masoom’s newfound belief in her invincibility led her to think that. “I know I’ve married a business tycoon, and now I’m untouchable.”

She also said that the ending of Bismil will leave viewers with a powerful lesson.

“Wait for the end of Bismil, it’s going to teach a huge lesson to a lot of people.” 

She also talked about how the story was relatable for people. “I was shocked how it was the story of almost every household. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people in my circle opened up to me. They said, ‘You know, as kids, as wives, and as husbands, we’ve been through the same thing.’ It’s not something that’s uncommon. It’s very common. But the sad part is that betrayal is very common.”

Music maestro A.R. Rahman has initiated legal action against slanderers, warning them of dire consequences if objectionable content surrounding his divorce with his wife, Saira Banu, is not removed.

Rahman and Banu announced their divorce a few days ago, ending their 29-year-long marriage.

With Rahman’s bassist Mohini Dey also announcing her divorce with husband Mark Hartsuch a day later, claims of a possible love affair flooded social media.

While his son rubbished all claims, Rahman himself appealed for privacy regarding his personal life amid emotional turmoil.

With netizens continuing to speculate, Rahman has now initiated legal action against those responsible for the campaign. Reports claim his legal team has demanded the removal of fabricated content and served official notices to individuals and platforms behind the rumours.

Rahman’s lawyer says they would proceed with defamation lawsuits if the material was not removed within 24 hours.

Sharing the notice on his social media, Rahman expressed his disapproval of certain media outlets and YouTubers making baseless stories about his private life.

“I will not tolerate any defamatory content about my family. Legal action will be taken if the false rumors are not removed within 24 hours,” he said.

His lawyer said that some interviews and programmes had misrepresented facts, causing harm to the composer’s reputation and his family. “We are fully committed to protecting A.R. Rahman’s reputation and will not hesitate to file defamation lawsuits,” he added.

Earlier, his son, Amin, has expressed disappointment over the circulating rumours regarding his father.

Following the announcement of his divorce, AR Rahman, his former wife Saira Banu, and their children requested privacy, but the appeal fell on deaf ears.

After 29 years of marriage, A.R. Rahman and Saira Banu announced their separation on Tuesday evening, asking the public to respect their private lives. Despite this, rumours have been circulating, with some linking Rahman’s divorce to Mohini Dey’s recent split. Rahman’s son has dismissed these speculations as baseless and disheartening.

On social media, Amin shared a picture of a child and his father, captioning it, “What’s the difference between these two? Just their age.”

In his post, Amin further wrote, “My father is a legend, not just because of his work but because of the values, respect, and love he has earned over the years.”

Amin expressed frustration over the spread of false and unfounded rumours, urging people not to circulate incorrect information regarding his parents’ marriage.

He clarified in an Instagram post that there is no connection between A.R. Rahman’s divorce and Mohini Dey’s separation.

Earlier, Rahman’s daughter Raheema also took to social media, writing, “Always remember, rumors are spread by haters and fools, and only fools believe them. Live life honestly.”