A BIG, beautiful breath of fresh air in the music industry has been the recent return of brilliant British pop duo Rara Loud after a long break.
The girls overcame a number of personal challenges and returned with their new single Forever Love, which is accompanied by a colourful music video. The talented twosome has promised to release more music and see their new song as the beginning of a new journey.
Eastern Eye got reacquainted with Aiesha and Anuska for a free-flowing conversation about their time away, great return, new single, future hopes and what music means to them. The loveable duo also revealed a secret about one another.
You both returned after a long time. Did you ever feel like giving up?
Aiesha: Yeah, it’s been a while!
Anuska: It was always on the back of our minds to come back and do something, but life obstacles got in the way. Both my grandparents passed away, which was tough to get through, and we had recorded another track/music video which got stolen! We also got messed around by a few people in the industry, including a label who promised a lot but didn’t deliver. It was definitely tough to get through, but music somehow always has its way of calling you back. It feels great to be back doing what we love and reigniting that creative element of ourselves again.
Aiesha: The time went by so quickly that it kind of feels like we never left. During this time, I went through the worst loss of my life; my dad passed away and then just over a year later my mum passed away. I wanted to absolutely give up on everything for a long time. It was such an uncertain and tragic time for me. I was lost in darkness and had to fight my way back to life.
What motivated you to make a return?
Aiesha: We wanted to bring clean music and clean music videos back. A lot of what we see is disrespectful to women. I want women to know we support their complete respect, especially given the current things going on in the UK. It’s time for us to help create a better world and we can do that through our music. That voice inside me would not let me quit and told me, 'you must hold on, you must continue, music is in your blood and you must use it as ink and write music’. I had to make something positive from all the negative.
What made you choose Forever Love as your song to return with?
Anuska: We wanted to spread joy and love especially with the current situation the world is living through.
How did you feel recording another song and shooting another video?
Anuska: There’s something about that buzz of being inside the music studio, it makes you want to keep returning.
Aiesha: It was daunting because it’s been a long time and we had lockdown to contend with! Writing the song was fine and I enjoyed it. I was nervous about the video-shoot! (Laughs) Later, I got excited because I feel like I’m a natural actress when I’m just being myself.
Anuska: I loved the whole process of recording this track. We learned a lot along the way too. Shooting the video was a mix of nerves and excitement. Nerves due to the fact it’s been so long, and we wanted our vision for it to come through in the video. Much hard work went into it, and we had the best team who made it happen with us.
What does forever love mean to you?
Anuska: It’s all about that real love that lives inside of you forever. A feeling that everyone should experience in a lifetime. The beat is so uplifting too; it makes me want to dance. It’s very special to me as it’s our comeback track. The journey we have had recording it has been precious.
Aiesha: Love that lasts forever is fun, joyful, and happy. Forever love is a love like my parents – a love that lasts forever. In the end, all we truly have is love!
What has kept you both so connected?
Aiesha: Music and life. We are each other’s go-to during the good and bad times.
What is the plan going forward?
Anuska: We are currently working on an EP of different genres showing different sides of us. We can’t wait to share it all with you.
What kind of music can we expect from your next track?
Aiesha: Watch this space. We like to explore different genres. So, it will be something unexpected but very original and of course loud.
Who would you love to work with?
Aiesha: I would love to work with Drake, J-lo, Panjabi MC and Diljit Dosangh.
Anuska: Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Justin Timberlake, to name a few. I could go on! Their music careers have been really inspiring and they are phenomenal performers.
What is the biggest challenge you face as a female duo?
Anuska: Getting the same support as men do in this industry. That’s the biggest challenge. We are trying to bring clean music and clean music videos back through our music.
Tell us a fun secret about one another?
Anuska: The driving instructor got so cross with Aiesha, that he whacked her across the head for taking the wrong turn.
Aiesha: Anuska likes meditating daily and aims to reach nirvana.
Do you have creative differences?
Anuska: We generally have the same vision and thankfully it just clicks. We get each other. If there are ever any creative differences, we talk about each other’s perspective and make a plan.
What music dominates your playlist?
Anuska: There is no particular music that dominates my playlist. I have a good mix of old school r’n’b music, pop, urban, Bollywood, Punjabi and anything that sounds good to my ear.
Aiesha: I’ve got music from the 1920s to now on my playlist. Bollywood, Punjabi, French, Spanish, r’n’b, hip hop, pop, electro, dance! I love a bit of everything.
What does music mean to you today?
Anuska: Music is life and medicine. It’s helped me get through whatever emotions I may be feeling in the day or may be going through. It makes me want to dance too.
Aiesha: Music is a release from the stress of life and a reason to carry on through the worst storms in life! Also, music is a way to send out a message that can change lives positively.
Why should we pick up your new single Forever Love?
Aiesha: If you believe in forever love then you must pick up this single and let it make you move your feet.
The Great British Sewing Bee 2025 begins Tuesday, 15 July at 9 pm on BBC One.
The 11th series will see a new group of amateur sewers compete for the title.
Patrick Grant, Esme Young and Kiell Smith-Bynoe return as judges and host.
The show continues its popularity with weekly sewing challenges and heartfelt moments.
Great British Sewing Bee 2025 set to return on 15 July
The return date for The Great British Sewing Bee 2025 has been officially confirmed. The popular BBC One competition will be back on screens on Tuesday 15 July at 9 pm, bringing with it a fresh group of amateur sewers hoping to impress judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young.
Now in its 11th series, the show has grown into a mid-year television highlight, offering a combination of creativity, technical skill, and emotional storytelling. Hosted by Kiell Smith-Bynoe, the series follows contestants through a series of themed sewing challenges as they compete for the title of Britain’s best home sewer.
New faces and returning favourites
While the full line-up of contestants for The Great British Sewing Bee 2025 is yet to be revealed, anticipation is already building. The show is known for its warm tone and close-knit community feel, with viewers often quickly forming favourites among the competitors.
Each episode will once again feature three key rounds: the Pattern Challenge, the Transformation Challenge, and the Made-to-Measure final test. Contestants will need to show flair, precision, and creativity under pressure.
Previous highlights and special episodes
The most recent episode aired was a Christmas special in 2024, featuring celebrity contestants including Ian “H” Watkins from Steps, Kellie Bright from EastEnders, comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri, and reality star Charlotte Crosby. The festive-themed episode saw challenges such as making an advent calendar and reworking a children’s onesie, with Kellie Bright emerging as the winner.
Although The Great British Sewing Bee 2025 is starting slightly later than previous years, the BBC has confirmed its regular slot, and the series is expected to run weekly through the summer.
What’s next
Details on the specific themes and tasks for this year’s episodes have not yet been released. Fans of the show can look forward to another season of innovative designs, memorable reactions from the judges, and emotional farewells as contestants are gradually eliminated.
The Great British Sewing Bee 2025 continues to be a cornerstone of BBC One’s creative competition programming, building on over a decade of sewing success.
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The Odyssey poster features a fractured Greek statue with glowing embers
Universal Pictures releases poster for Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey.
Teaser trailer only available in cinemas before Jurassic World Rebirth.
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in the film set for release on 17 July 2026.
Ensemble cast includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and more.
Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan is officially delving into mythology. His upcoming film The Odyssey, a retelling of Homer’s epic tale, has just dropped its first poster, and a short teaser trailer is now being shown exclusively in cinemas alongside Jurassic World Rebirth.
The poster leans into the film’s mythological roots, featuring the image of a fractured Greek sculpture engulfed in embers, with the words “Defy the Gods” stamped across the middle. It also confirms the theatrical release date: 17 July 2026.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus in Nolan’s mythological epic
At the heart of this ambitious project is Matt Damon, returning to work with Nolan to play the Greek hero Odysseus. The teaser trailer, currently unavailable online, reportedly shows Damon adrift at sea and includes brief appearances by Tom Holland as his son Telemachus and Jon Bernthal in an unspecified role. This marks the first time Nolan has adapted a classical myth, a shift from his previous grounded, cerebral storytelling in films like Oppenheimer, Inception, and Dunkirk.
Teaser trailer only in theatres—no online release yet
In typical Nolan fashion, the teaser for The Odyssey has not been released online and is only viewable in select cinemas. The 70-second clip features dramatic glimpses of the lead characters and a haunting tone, reaffirming Nolan’s love for the theatrical experience. Leaks of the trailer have surfaced on social media, but Universal is yet to respond or confirm an official online release date.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey poster debuts in cinemas with exclusive teaser trailerGetty Images
Nolan reteams with Universal after Oppenheimer success
Nolan’s The Odyssey follows his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, which earned seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. With a reported budget of £197 million (₹2,080 crore), The Odyssey is Nolan’s most expensive film to date. The film is produced by Nolan’s long-time collaborator and wife, Emma Thomas, and shot using advanced IMAX technology. It continues Nolan’s new partnership with Universal after parting ways with Warner Bros.
Alongside Damon and Holland, the film features an ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, and John Leguizamo.
With such a high-profile line-up and one of cinema’s most respected directors at the helm, The Odyssey is expected to be one of the biggest releases of 2026.
Deepika Padukone to be honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2026 under the Motion Pictures category.
She is the first Indian actress to receive the recognition, announced by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
The Class of 2026 also includes Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, Timothée Chalamet and Miley Cyrus.
Deepika expressed her gratitude on Instagram, calling the moment “Gratitude…”.
Deepika Padukone has been named among the 2026 honourees for the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first Indian actress to receive the distinction. The announcement, made during a live event hosted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, places her alongside a global line-up of actors, musicians, and broadcasters to be celebrated with their own stars on Hollywood Boulevard next year.
Deepika Padukone to get Hollywood Walk of Fame star Getty Images
Hollywood Walk of Fame committee selects Deepika for Motion Pictures category
Deepika’s name was included in the Motion Pictures category, joining a list of 35 individuals from across entertainment. This year’s selection includes actors Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Rami Malek, and Timothée Chalamet, among others. Past inductee Eugenio Derbez and radio host Richard Blade revealed the names via livestream. The committee evaluated hundreds of entries before selecting honourees based on their artistic contributions, public appeal, and philanthropic work.
Jury Member Deepika Padukone attend the Palme D'or winner press conference Getty Images
Deepika Padukone’s international journey and Hollywood debut
Padukone’s inclusion, in fact, reflects her global appeal. After rising to fame in Bollywood, she entered Hollywood with the 2017 action film xXx: Return of Xander Cage, co-starring Vin Diesel. Since then, she has represented Indian cinema on international platforms such as Cannes and the Met Gala. Earlier this year, she featured in Kalki 2898 AD, one of India’s highest-grossing films, and is currently attached to Atlee’s next project alongside Allu Arjun.
Deepika Padukone honoured with Hollywood star in 2026 Getty Images
No, celebrities can’t buy their way into the Walk of Fame
With each announcement, speculation swirls online about whether stars purchase this honour. However, Walk of Fame officials clarified that selections are made through a transparent process. Anyone can submit a nomination, but it must be supported by the artist and meet strict criteria, including a minimum of five years in the industry and verifiable public impact. A sponsor later pays a fee, currently between £59,000 (₹6.2 crore) and £66,000 (₹7 crore), used for maintenance, not for purchase of the star itself.
Deepika Padukone becomes Walk of Fame honouree in 2026Getty Images
Not the first Indian name, but a major milestone for Indian cinema
While Deepika’s recognition marks a landmark for Indian women in cinema, she is not the first Indian to appear on the Walk. That honour goes to Sabu Dastagir, a Mysore-born actor who became a Hollywood sensation in the 1930s and received his star in 1960. Nevertheless, Padukone’s inclusion underscores a new era of global visibility for Indian actors.
Charlize Theron revealed she recently slept with a 26-year-old and called the experience “really f---ing amazing”.
The actress made the candid admission during her appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast.
Theron spoke about her distaste for dating apps and why she’s happy being single.
Her latest film, The Old Guard 2, is now streaming on Netflix.
At 49, Charlize Theron says she’s enjoying a new sense of freedom, and it includes some unexpected, thrilling experiences. The Oscar-winning actress recently spoke about a sexual encounter with a 26-year-old that she described as “really f---ing amazing”, during her guest appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper. Promoting her new Netflix film The Old Guard 2, Theron got candid about her dating life, past relationships, and how her forties have brought her a refreshing shift in perspective.
Charlize Theron poses with her Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role during the 76th Annual Academy AwardsGetty Images
Sex and confidence after 40
When Cooper asked Theron to share her best sex advice, the actress hesitated before opening up. “I’ve probably had three one-night stands in my entire life,” she admitted. “But I did just recently f--- a 26-year-old, and it was really f---ing amazing.” She explained the encounter came from a newfound liberation: “I think it’s because I found this freedom in my forties where I’m like, ‘Oh my god.’”
Charlize Theron stars in "The Cider House Rules"Getty Images
No patience for dating apps or industry matches
Theron, who’s been romantically linked in the past to Sean Penn and Stuart Townsend, had strong opinions about online dating. Calling it a “clown show”, she criticised everything from selfies in closets to Burning Man pictures. She also dismissed the idea of dating fellow actors, saying it doesn’t work for her. “I don’t think dating someone in my industry is a smart thing,” she told Cooper.
Charlize Theron attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's "The Old Guard 2" Getty Images
Comfortable without a relationship
The Mad Max: Fury Road star, a single mother to daughters Jackson and August, said she’s happy not being in a relationship. “There’s this notion that someone like me must be missing out,” she said. “But I’m not.” She made it clear she isn’t seeking marriage either. “I want long-term commitment. I just don’t need to get married,” she said, adding that fears around being stuck may be part of her hesitation.
Charlize Theron during the 2010 Soccer World Cup Final Draw Getty Images
Juggling sex, motherhood and a career
Theron pointed out how hard it is to find time for romance while raising two children. “Who has f---ing time for dates and waxing and make-up?” she laughed. “I’ve got two children that have to go to school.” Her daughters, now 12 and 9, were adopted in 2012 and 2015. She often jokes about how unimpressed they are by her career, even after visiting her on the set of The Old Guard 2.
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Ranbir Kapoor appears as Lord Ram for the first time in the Ramayana teaser
The teaser offers the first look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravan.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana will release in two parts during Diwali 2026 and 2027.
The film features music by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman and action by Hollywood stunt legends.
With a reported budget of £78 million (₹835 crore), it’s the most expensive Indian film to date.
The much-awaited teaser for Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Ram and Yash as Ravan, is finally out, though viewers will have to wait longer to see actual scenes from the film. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the teaser opts for a stylised introduction to the mythological world rather than full footage, with only fleeting glimpses of the lead characters revealed at the very end.
Ramayana teaser out featuring Ranbir Kapoor and YashYoutube Screengrab
A grand reveal without footage
The nearly three-minute teaser introduces the film’s mythological backdrop, tracing the cosmic balance maintained by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It culminates in the visual build-up of the Ram-Ravan conflict, described as “the war to end all wars.” Viewers get a few seconds of Ranbir as Ram and Yash as Ravan, but no narrative footage yet.
Fans noticed the teaser’s stylistic similarity to the Game of Thrones title credits, with scrolling names and grandeur, rather than traditional scene previews. The glimpse was launched across multiple Indian cities and even showcased at Times Square, clearly indicating the producers’ international ambitions for the film.
With a budget of £78 million (₹835 crore), Ramayana is now the costliest Indian film ever made, surpassing Kalki 2898 AD and Adipurush. Alongside Ranbir and Yash, the film stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.
Yash, also co-producing the film, recently said Ravan was the only character he would have agreed to play in a mythological story. “There’s vast scope to present him in a very different way,” he shared in a media interaction.
Adding to the project’s scale are composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, scoring the film together. Zimmer, known for Inception and Interstellar, brings global texture to the soundtrack, along with Rahman’s spiritual depth.
Stunt choreography will be led by Terry Notary (Avatar) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road), promising action battle sequences grounded in emotion.
Yash in discussion with stunt director Guy Norris during Ramayana shoot Twitter/@SumitkadeI
Two-part release set for Diwali 2026 and 2027
The film will be released in two parts, with the first instalment expected to hit cinemas during Diwali 2026 and the second in 2027. Touted as “Our Truth, Our Story,” Ramayana aims to retell the ancient epic with visual grandeur while staying rooted in its moral and cultural legacy.