Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Anita Rani, the popular TV presenter, has always felt like she’s on the outside looking in. Growing up in Bradford during the 1980s, just a few miles from the Brontë sisters’ hometown of Haworth, she couldn’t help but feel a personal connection to these iconic literary figures. Rani’s new Sky Arts documentary, The Brontës by Anita Rani: Sisters of Disruption, isn’t just a historical retelling but a journey that intertwines her own story with that of the famous sisters.
Anita Rani's Sky Arts documentary highlights the rebellious spirit of the Brontë sistersGetty Images
From a young age, Rani was surrounded by the Brontës’ legacy. At her all-girls’ school, the portrait of the Brontë sisters by Branwell Brontë was a familiar sight, and their stories felt personal, especially since she grew up walking the same windswept moors they once did. The documentary takes Rani back to those roots, exploring the spirit of rebellion that connected her with the Brontës from a young age. To her, they weren’t just quiet, knitting women. They were fierce disruptors who challenged norms and made their voices heard. It’s this strength that resonated with Rani, who always longed to break out of traditional expectations.
Rani’s upbringing was shaped by her parents’ struggles as Punjabi immigrants who set up a textile factory in Bradford. Despite the hardships, her father encouraged her to break stereotypes. Unlike many traditional Indian fathers, he took her to the pub at 15 and taught her to play pool, something Rani credits for her ability to navigate the TV industry today.
Anita Rani shares how her upbringing shaped her connection with the BrontësGetty Images
The Brontë sisters, like Rani, were outsiders in their own way. Rani’s documentary highlights how their stories are more than just gothic romances; they are tales of women pushing against the world’s constraints. The film also touches on modern issues, like using Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to support domestic abuse survivors. Rani’s own sense of disruption is echoed in the Brontës’ fight for female autonomy and identity.
Reflecting on her journey, Rani admits that her teenage self never realised how much the Brontës’ spirit matched her own. It wasn’t just about loving Wuthering Heights or identifying with Heathcliff. It was about finding a voice and taking ownership of her story.
Today, Rani continues to challenge stereotypes, inspired by the Brontës’ rebellious legacy. As she considers getting a tattoo that reads ‘Sister of Disruption,’ it’s clear that she’s not just telling their story but living it.
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have ended their relationship after nine months of dating
They got together in February but decided they work better as friends
They will still appear together in the supernatural thriller Deeper despite the split
Ana previously dated Ben Affleck; Tom’s last major romance was with Katie Holmes
The pair attended David Beckham’s 50th birthday and an Oasis gig at Wembley
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have called it quits after nine months, sources say. The Hollywood stars, who started dating back in February, have gone their separate ways. But it’s not messy, apparently they’re still on good terms. The spark, people say, just kind of fizzled out.
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas photographed holding hands in Vermont sparking romance talk during 'Deeper' preps www.easterneye.biz
Why did Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas split?
According to sources talking to The Sun, “Tom and Ana had a good time, but their time as a couple ran its course.” They’re staying friends, no bad blood, but dating? Not happening. “They realised they weren’t going to go the distance,” the insider added.
Some might be surprised since there were whispers about engagement, even a “space wedding” floating around. Turns out, that wasn’t real.
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas spotted leaving a London heliport, sparking dating rumours X/Tom Cruise News
Will Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas still work together?
Yes. Professional commitments aren’t stopping. They’ll still work together on Deeper, a supernatural thriller that’s on hold. “She’s already cast, so they’ll be on set together,” a source said.
The romance kicked off in Vermont, hand-holding, photo ops, the whole thing. From there, it moved quickly: a private jet to Madrid, celebrating Ana’s 37th birthday in London with selfies and nights out. They didn’t avoid public appearances either: David Beckham’s 50th in May, and an Oasis concert at Wembley. Tom even gave Ana helicopter rides a few times.
Ana de Armas keeps it professional despite romance speculation with Tom Cruise Instagram/Vogue/People
Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise’s past relationships
Ana, known for Knives Out, No Time to Die, and Ballerina, was previously with Ben Affleck for about ten months. Tom hasn’t had a serious romance since Katie Holmes. He’s been married three times; to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Holmes.
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