Pooja was born in Kochi and raised on a mix of newspapers, pop culture, and too many questions. She studied Communicative English and Journalism before earning her Master’s in Journalism from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and began her career interning at The Times of India and Channel I'M — where she later became a news anchor, scripting and presenting her own stories. Between deadlines, she’s worked across digital media platforms, covering politics, gender, pop culture, cinema, and everything in between. She has interviewed actors, creators, and changemakers, and occasionally edits her own video content — thanks to being certified in Photoshop and InDesign. In 2025, she joined the Asian Media Group in her first “official” newsroom gig, where she now covers entertainment, lifestyle, and the layered realities of South Asian identity. She believes storytelling should feel personal — even when it’s public — and likes to write not to please, but to provoke, question, and occasionally stir the pot.
Ed Sheeran is turning the page with his next album Play, which he describes as a personal reset and creative leap, one shaped by travel, heartbreak, and a thirst for joy. Known for his quiet acoustic sound and mathematical album titles, Sheeran’s newest project is a colourful detour packed with global rhythms, Indian influences, and an unfiltered celebration of spontaneity.
The album, out on 12 September, is not a continuation of his symbol-themed series. Instead, it’s a collection of tracks recorded while touring different parts of the world. Much of the album’s soul, he says, was shaped in India, where he ended the recording process in Goa. From playing the tabla and sitar to singing a Punjabi line: “cham cham chamke sitare warghi”, Sheeran’s time in the country clearly left a mark. He even got a tattoo in Punjabi during his visit.
Play comes from a deeply emotional place. After going through what he called the darkest time in his life, Sheeran wanted to make something light and full of energy. “I just wanted to create joy and colour,” he says. “And I wanted everything about this album to be fun, from the songs to the way we share it.”
That fun has spilled into how he's launching the album: bus-top gigs, pop-up pubs for folk jam sessions, and even singing in cowboy hats on bar counters. His recent single Old Phone, written while jet-lagged in India, is a stripped-down, sentimental track inspired by an old phone filled with memories, from old flames to lost friends. It’s accompanied by a pop-up pub at Coachella and an Instagram account featuring personal photos from the device.
The album’s influences are far-reaching. Middle Eastern scales, Indian percussion, and echoes of Irish folk come together on tracks like Azizam, a vibrant number named after a Persian word for “my dear.” Sheeran calls this the most creatively exciting work he’s ever done, not because it’s polished, but because it’s playful, imperfect, and rooted in real experiences.
At 34, Sheeran says he’s embracing the chaos of life instead of running from it. And with Play, he’s inviting people to let go, dance, and enjoy the ride with him.
AR Rahman met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss his AI-driven musical project, Secret Mountain.
The project aims to empower Indian creators through AI and build a global virtual music band.
Rahman envisions an immersive metaverse experience with characters from diverse cultures.
The initiative will use Hedera’s distributed ledger tech and metahuman storytelling tools.
Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman has officially announced his collaboration with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for his ambitious AI-powered project, Secret Mountain. Sharing an image from their meeting on social media, Rahman described their discussions around using artificial intelligence to uplift and empower Indian creators facing generational challenges.
The project is a unique fusion of AI, immersive storytelling, and global music culture, with Rahman at the helm as its creative visionary. At a time when conversations around AI and creativity are growing louder, this collaboration signals a significant step in shaping how Indian artists interact with future tech.
AR Rahman and Sam Altman smile after their meeting at OpenAI office Instagram/
What is AR Rahman’s Secret Mountain and how does AI power it?
Rahman introduced Secret Mountain in February 2024 via a YouTube video titled Introducing the Secret Mountain. The animated clip narrates the story of Luna, a young woman who escapes the mindless cycle of digital distractions and enters a mystical world filled with musical characters from various cultures, including names like Cara, Ekam, David, and Aafia.
The video hinted at a virtual, metaverse-led musical space that brings together diverse voices across geographies. The project is built using Hedera, a distributed ledger technology known for secure and scalable digital frameworks. Hedera has described Secret Mountain as a “metahuman” project, indicating characters that exist in the digital realm with lifelike features and voices.
Rahman met Altman at OpenAI’s San Francisco office to explore how artificial intelligence can be used to solve creative, cultural, and generational barriers, particularly in India. In his post, Rahman wrote, “It was a pleasure to meet @sama at his office. We discussed Secret Mountain, our virtual global band, and ways to empower and uplift Indian minds to use AI tools.”
OpenAI VP Srinivas Narayanan added that Rahman also held a Q&A session at OpenAI, where he elaborated on his artistic vision and how AI intersects with storytelling and music. Narayanan called Rahman a “true innovator,” highlighting his past work with immersive technologies like VR film Le Musk.
— (@)
How will Secret Mountain impact Indian and global creators?
Rahman plans to bring together musicians, singers, and mentors from across the globe, including Ireland, China, Africa, and India onto a single, interactive platform. His core message: music transcends borders, and AI can amplify its reach.
By combining Indian classical sounds with modern AI tools, Rahman hopes to create new opportunities for emerging talent and reshape how global audiences experience music. He also wants to break down technological barriers for Indian creators, offering tools that can support their artistic expression in more accessible ways.
The composer said that while AI can initiate a composition or concept, “the human element, the emotional depth and creativity, remains irreplaceable.”
AR Rahman plans global metahuman band with AI and immersive techScreengrab/goodfellas.studio
What else is AR Rahman working on?
In addition to Secret Mountain, Rahman is collaborating with Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. He has also been praised for his work on Chhaava, Kadhalikka Neramillai, and Thug Life. Upcoming projects include Tere Ishk Mein and Peddi.
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Shocking casting couch confessions that reveal how Bollywood exploitation has evolved
You know what’s worse than silence? The kind of silence that sounds like applause. Applause for a director who’s known for "launching careers." Praise for a superstar who’s worshipped on-screen but whispers vile things off it. This is the silence that kept Bollywood’s casting couch culture alive for decades.
Forget the dance numbers and the dreamy close-ups. Strip away the sequins, and you often find something ugly festering in Bollywood's shadows. An ugly tradition that’s still thriving. It’s not new. It’s not gone.
But something is shifting.
Bollywood begin to say no to powerful predatorsiStock
Not because some studio rolled out a policy or because men suddenly found a conscience. The shift is because women, real, working, talented women decided they were done keeping secrets. Not just for themselves, but for every other girl sitting in an autorickshaw on her way to a dodgy audition, thinking "Maybe this one will be different."
Let me tell you, these aren't gossip tidbits. These are stories of courage, shame, dignity, and rage. Here's what Bollywood didn’t expect: women who wouldn't just say no but say it out loud.
Surveen Chawla: The one who refused to break
Imagine this: You're married. You think you've earned some respect. Then, sitting in a director's office in Mumbai, discussing work, he lunges to kiss you. That was Surveen's reality. Not once, but multiple times. From being sexually harassed as a child to enduring repeated casting couch proposals, even after marriage, her journey is a full-blown testament to what women face in Indian cinema. She pushed him back. She shouted. She got out. But saying "no" cost her. Roles vanished. Opportunities dried up. She felt so filthy, so dirty just stepping outside her door, she almost quit acting altogether. That’s the price of dignity in this game.
Surveen Chawla recounts a post-marriage assault that nearly made her quit the industryInstagram/surveenchawla
Isha Sharvani: The one who walked away
You know Isha; graceful, poised, electrifying on screen. Then a superstar, the kind of name that makes headlines. He looked at Isha Sharvani, a talented dancer and actress, and didn't see her skill. He saw an object. His demand was blunt, brutal: "Sleep with me." That’s it. No subtlety. Just the raw abuse of power. Isha didn't bargain. She didn't play the game. She packed her bags and walked straight out of Bollywood. The mental strain, the constant fear, it wasn't worth the spotlight. She chose peace over the poison.
Isha Sharvani walked away from Bollywood after a superstar made an indecent demandInstagram/isha.sharvani
Jamie Lever: The industry kid who found out no one’s really safe
Think being a legend's kid buys you safety? Think again. Being Johnny Lever’s daughter didn’t shield Jamie. A man claiming to be an international director asked her to strip on camera for an audition. Jamie said no. Slammed that virtual door shut. Later, she realised it was pure blackmail bait. The shock wasn't just the request, it was realising her famous father's shadow meant nothing to these predators. The lesson was brutal: No one is safe. Not even the ones you think are untouchable. This industry eats its young.
Jamie Lever recounted the experience of realising how even being Johnny Lever’s daughter couldn’t shield herInstagram/its_jamielever
Barkha Singh: The one calling out exploitation in your inbox
Think the casting couch only happens in dimly lit offices? Think again. Barkha Singh, fresh off acclaim in Criminal Justice 4, opened her inbox. There it was: an email dangling a role in a South Indian film. The catch? A "compromise." Just like that. No meeting. No pretence. A cold, digital proposition reducing her talent to a transaction. It’s disgusting. It’s cowardly. And Barkha called it out. Loud and clear. This is the new age of coercion, digital and disguised. And Barkha made sure it didn’t stay hidden behind a screen.
Barkha Singh exposed digital casting couch tactics through a disturbing film offer emailInstagram/barkhasingh0308
Saiyami Kher: The one who saw the face of a female predator
Saiyami Kher was just 18, fresh into the Telugu scene, when a female agent leaned in. "You’ll have to compromise for roles." Compromise. A slick word for selling yourself. Saiyami refused. Flat out. But it stuck with her. Because exploitation isn’t always from men. And “support” doesn’t always come from women. Her story rips off another layer: Exploitation doesn't wear a gender.
Saiyami Kher recalled being pressured by a female agent to compromise for roles early in her careerInstagram/saiyami
This isn’t a trend. It’s a reckoning
They tried to make the casting couch a norm. A rite of passage. Something you whispered about but never challenged. But these women, they shattered the mould. The old story was silence. The new story is these women writing their own endings. Resisting. Walking away. Calling it out. Setting boundaries. On their terms.
They are not anomalies. In fact, they’re the beginning of something bigger. And no, this isn't a happy ending. Because there isn’t one. Not yet.
Sure, there's talk of change since #MeToo. More awareness, maybe some awkward HR seminars. But Surveen nailed it: Fear has to become the predator's problem, not the prey's. We need actual teeth: enforced policies, unions with backbone, real legal consequences. Not just whispers of "time's up," but concrete action that makes the cost of harassment too damn high.
What looks like a conversation can often carry unspoken threats in the world of castingiStock
This isn't about gossip. It’s the weight, the shame, and the words that cut deeper than offers.
This is the part where I should say "the industry is changing."
But is it?
Maybe. Slowly. Unevenly.
For every Surveen, there are a dozen others too scared to speak. For every Barkha, a hundred emails still land in inboxes daily. But something is undeniable now: the silence has lost its grip.
And that’s how revolutions begin.
Not with fireworks.
But with one woman saying “no.”
Then another.
Then another.
And suddenly, the whole system starts to sweat.
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Prithviraj Sukumaran reveals how Rajamouli uses scale as storytelling in SSMB 29
SSMB 29 is an upcoming jungle adventure featuring Mahesh Babu, directed by S.S. Rajamouli
Prithviraj Sukumaran joins the cast alongside Priyanka Chopra
Sukumaran calls Rajamouli a master of “scale as canvas”
The actor also addressed trolling faced by Ibrahim Ali Khan in a separate interview
SSMB 29, the much-anticipated collaboration between Mahesh Babu and visionary director S.S. Rajamouli, continues to generate massive buzz across Indian cinema circles. The jungle-themed action adventure, currently in production, boasts a star-studded cast including Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, making it one of the biggest PAN-India spectacles in the works.
In a recent interview, Prithviraj Sukumaran offered a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on Rajamouli’s directorial style. “Scale can never be the story; it’s just the canvas,” the Malayalam superstar explained. “Rajamouli sir chooses large backdrops because he excels at telling a story through big, visual strokes.”
This subtle but telling remark sheds light on what sets Rajamouli apart, not just his ability to deliver grand visuals, but his commitment to narrative depth.
What is SSMB 29 about, and why is there so much hype?
While official plot details remain tightly under wraps, industry insiders describe SSMB 29 as a high-octane, jungle-based action-adventure rooted in mythology and survival themes. With Mahesh Babu leading the charge, and Prithviraj and Priyanka Chopra playing key roles, the project is shaping up to be a high-concept action drama meant for global appeal.
Given Rajamouli’s track record, Baahubali and RRR being massive box-office and streaming hits, the anticipation is sky-high. The film is expected to push cinematic boundaries much like his previous ventures.
Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran joins SSMB29 Getty Images
Why Prithviraj’s Rajamouli remark matters
Prithviraj’s praise for Rajamouli cuts deeper than surface-level flattery. In calling scale “just a canvas,” he, in fact, points to the director’s rare ability to balance spectacle with substance, something often lost in big-budget filmmaking.
Rajamouli is known for building emotional arcs into massive story worlds. Whether it’s Amarendra Baahubali’s journey or Komaram Bheem’s rebellion in RRR, the characters never get lost in CGI or grandeur. Sukumaran’s comment suggests that SSMB 29 will follow a similar formula: world-building that never loses sight of the story’s heart.
Prithviraj calls Rajamouli a master of visual storytelling in SSMB 29Instagram/therealprithvi
Prithviraj also defends Ibrahim Ali Khan amid criticism
In a separate interview, Prithviraj also weighed in on the backlash faced by his Sarzameen co-star Ibrahim Ali Khan for his Netflix debut Nadaaniyan. Responding to the criticism, he said, “If Shah Rukh Khan sir can still be criticised, why can’t Ibrahim Ali Khan be criticised?”
The actor pointed out that even industry giants like Mohanlal and Mammootty continue to face criticism in Kerala. “There’s nothing bigger than that to understand this never ends. You just keep trying. It never gets easier.”
He added that Ibrahim is “one of the most well-prepared debutants” he has worked with and praised the young actor’s dedication. “The camera really loves him,” he said.
There’s no official release date yet, but production is currently underway. Given the scale and ambition of the project, a late 2025 or early 2026 release seems likely.
SS Rajamouli recreates Varanasi at Ramoji Film City for a key action sequence in SSMB29 Getty Images
Until then, fans will have to wait for more official updates, but with Rajamouli at the helm and a powerful cast in place, SSMB 29 already promises to be one of Indian cinema’s biggest cinematic events.
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Kamal Haasan says Maareesan made him laugh and reflect as Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu return with bold new roles
Kamal Haasan praised Maareesan as a film that “dances between wit and depth” in a social media post.
The Tamil comedy thriller stars Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu, directed by Sudheesh Sankar.
Kamal noted the film’s humour, emotional core, and commentary on societal issues.
Maareesan is set for theatrical release on 25 July 2025.
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has given his stamp of approval to Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu’s upcoming Tamil film Maareesan, calling it a refreshing mix of comedy, social insight, and strong performances.
The highly anticipated comedy thriller, directed by Sudheesh Sankar and written by V Krishna Moorthy, is set to release in theatres this Friday. Kamal took to his X account to praise the film, describing it as the kind of cinema he naturally gravitates towards both as an audience member and a filmmaker.
Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu team up for an emotional road film in MaareesanInstagram/supergoodfilms
What did Kamal Haasan say about Maareesan?
In his review, Kamal Haasan wrote, “Watched Maareesan – a film that dances effortlessly between wit and depth, leaving me laughing, thinking, and admiring its craft. Had a wonderful conversation with the team to congratulate them on this delightful creation.”
He further added, “Beneath its humour lies a socially conscious lens on human emotion and a keen gaze at the darker shadows of our society. The kind of inventive, spirited cinema I naturally gravitate towards, both as a viewer and a creator.”
Kamal’s review has sparked more interest around the film, with fans praising his support and expressing eagerness to watch it on opening day.
— (@)
What is Maareesan about?
Maareesan tells the story of Dhaya, played by Fahadh Faasil, a thief who sets out to rob an elderly man, Velayudham, played by Vadivelu, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. What begins as a heist turns into an unexpected emotional journey for both characters. The film mixes humour with social reflection, examining themes of trust, memory, and transformation.
The film also features a strong ensemble including Kovai Sarala, Vivek Prasanna, PL Thenappan, Sithara, Renuka, Livingston, and Krishna. Music is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematography is by Kalaiselvan Sivaji, and editing by Sreejith Sarang.
Apart from the unusual pairing of Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu, Maareesan has caught attention for its unique plot and Kamal Haasan’s public endorsement. Both Fahadh and Vadivelu were previously seen together in Maamannan (2023), which earned £4.9 million (₹52 crore) at the box office. Their chemistry and acting prowess have set expectations high for this new collaboration.
Director Sudheesh Sankar is also known for weaving socially relevant themes into commercial cinema, and Maareesan appears to follow that legacy. The backing of Super Good Films and a robust technical crew only adds to the film’s appeal.
Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu in a still from MaareesanInstagram/supergoodfilms
When and where will Maareesan release?
Maareesan will hit theatres on 25 July 2025, clashing with other major releases including Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen’s Thalaivan Thalaivii, and Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu. Despite the competition, the early buzz and positive word of mouth may give Maareesan an edge, especially among fans of strong storytelling and socially conscious cinema.
With Kamal Haasan’s ringing endorsement and a compelling mix of humour and emotions, Maareesan is poised to be one of the most talked-about Tamil films this month.
As Dear Comrade turns six, fans are drawing comparisons with Vijay Deverakonda’s upcoming biggie Kingdom (Saamraajya), and honestly? The parallels are hard to ignore. From intense roles to trailer release timing, here’s what’s got everyone talking.
6 years after Dear Comrade, Vijay Deverakonda brings back the fire in Kingdom
1. Same date, same energy
Dear Comrade hit theatres on 26th July 2019, and this year, the trailer of Kingdom drops on the same day, 26th July. Coincidence? Maybe. But fans are already calling it a strategic full-circle moment in Vijay's career.
2. The return of intense Vijay
Back in Dear Comrade, Vijay delivered one of his most emotionally raw performances: brooding, aggressive, and deeply vulnerable. From what we’ve seen of Kingdom so far, he’s back in beast mode. Long hair, fierce eyes, that signature slow-burn rage. It’s vintage Deverakonda.
3. Chemistry vs. chaos
While Dear Comrade gave us the unforgettable Vijay–Rashmika pairing, Kingdom seems to shift focus from romance to rebellion. But there’s one common thread: high-stakes emotion. Whether it’s love or legacy, Vijay sure knows how to turn the heat up.
4. From comrade to king
If Dear Comrade was about fighting for love, Kingdom looks like a fight for power. The titles alone: “Comrade” vs. “Kingdom”, suggest an evolution. From a revolutionary rebel to someone stepping into legacy, it feels like a cinematic transformation.
Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom mirrors Dear Comrade in more ways than one
Coming soon
Kingdom (Saamraajya) hits theatres on 31st July 2025, just five days after Dear Comrade’s anniversary and the trailer drop. Whether it mirrors the emotional pull of Comrade or takes things to a whole new level, we’ll find out soon enough.