Star worship gained new momentum with a die-hard fan of Samantha Ruth Prabhu building a temple in his house premises in Alapadu village of Bapatla district on the occasion of the actor's birthday.
Tenali Sandeep, who is a self-proclaimed fan of the 'Yashoda' actor, unveiled Samantha's statue and cut a cake on Friday as the actor turned 36 years old.
The statue is covered in a red coloured saree, teamed with a green blouse.
People from neighbouring villages thronged Sandeep's house to celebrate Samantha's birthday.
Sandeep said that he wished to build a big temple, but could not do so due to financial constraints.
Apart from acting, Sandeep admires Samantha for her charitable works. He also distributed food among the poor to mark the actor's birthday.
Samantha, who comes from a humble background, has made a name in the Tamil and Telugu industry. The actor also entered the Hindi industry with the Amazon Prime Original show The Family Man Season 2.
She is also gearing up for the Hindi version of Citadel, where she will act with Varun Dhawan.
Sandeep told ANI, "Samantha took the initiative to perform heart operations for needy children through a foundation. As she herself hails from a humble background, she always stands for the needy ones. This incident made my admiration double for her."
Samantha suffers from an auto-immune disease called Myositis. She has talked about it on multiple occasions. Sandeep said the villagers prayed for Samantha's speedy recovery. They are very happy as the actor is now doing well.
Sandeep has not met the 'Oo Antava' actor in person. But he surely harbours a wish to meet her one day.
Ace producer Abhigyan Jha has written films like Krishna Cottage and created popular TV shows including Movers & Shakers, Jay Hind!, Qubool Hai 2.0, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Janani – AI Ki Kahani.
He currently hosts the popular podcast Fsex: The Free Speech Experiment, a conversational and humorous live show that explores a range of topics.
Away from creativity and conversations, he is also a passionate cricket enthusiast and played the sport up to college level. He looked across all formats to select his top 10 favourite cricketers.
Abhigyan Jha getty images
Sunil Gavaskar: The greatest. He scored the most runs against the most lethal bowling attack in cricket history – the West Indies. Today’s generation does not understand how fast those bowlers were. There are no such fast bowlers now. He made 34 Test centuries, and when he reached 10,000 runs, no one had even crossed 9,000. And he never wore a helmet. No batsman ever faced that kind of pace without one – it was incredibly courageous. He was also a phenomenal captain.
Virender Sehwag: The first Indian to score 300 in a Test match – and then he did it again. You would expect someone with his style to belong only in T20 or one-day formats, but he played that way in Tests too, and against top-class bowling. Scoring 300 in Pakistan against their pacers is why he’s on this list. He had raw talent and was thrilling to watch. He played with complete freedom, wherever he was.
Virat Kohli: He has fans screaming for him constantly. Ten thousand people turn up just to watch him practise – and you can see why. In the modern era, nobody comes close. Many players today might have struggled against the great bowlers of the past, but I believe Virat would have held his own. He changed the game in India. A fantastic player and an amazing captain, with insane talent. He’s also the fittest player globally.
Virat Kohligetty images
Gary Sobers: One of the greatest captains and a brilliant all-rounder. At one point, he was the only cricketer with 26 centuries and 200 wickets. I think he was the first to reach that milestone in history. He transformed the West Indies into a world-beating side. A genius, a phenomenal fielder, and a record-breaker.
Adam Gilchrist: The greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of all time. He was brilliant against both pace and spin. The speed at which he scored runs was incredible. He holds the record for the most sixes in ODIs and also the fastest Test century by a wicketkeeper-batsman. Just an insanely good cricketer.
Ian Botham: One of the finest all-rounders ever. There was a 1981 Ashes Test between England and Australia that became known as ‘The Botham Test’. He took all the wickets and won the match almost single-handedly. A fantastic batsman with a great strike rate – he could walk in and change the game with bat or ball.
Viv Richardsgetty images
Imran Khan: One of the greatest captains in cricket history. He single-handedly led Pakistan to new heights and groomed talents like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. A great fast bowler and solid batsman, he also won the 1992 World Cup for Pakistan. In his prime, he was arguably the second most difficult bowler to face after Malcolm Marshall. A strong all-rounder and top leader.
Richard Hadlee: Jasprit Bumrah is getting closer to him, but he has not played as many matches. Hadlee had exceptional wicket-taking ability and an incredible strike rate. He was a phenomenal swing bowler with superb control and became the first to cross 400 wickets in Test cricket.
Viv Richards: One of the most gifted players of all time – he could destroy bowling like no one else. He was just insane! No bowler wanted to see him at the crease. He and Gavaskar were pretty much the only greats who never wore a helmet. At the time, his strike rate was the highest. Absolute legend.
Malcolm Marshall: The greatest fast bowler of all time did not play as many matches as others, but still crossed 300 wickets. He was the bowler most feared by everyone. He once bowled so fast that Sunil Gavaskar’s bat literally flew out of his hands. If the greatest batsman’s bat could be knocked loose like that, it tells you everything about Malcolm Marshall’s brilliance.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Brad Pitt breaks silence on Angelina Jolie divorce as F1 movie gears up for release
Brad Pitt has spent three decades seeing his name in the headlines for reasons that have little to do with his work. And now, as he promotes his upcoming racing film F1, he’s finally speaking about how tiring the attention has become.
In an interview, Pitt shared that living under a microscope hasn’t got easier with time. “It’s always been there,” he said, about the scrutiny of his personal life. “Some version of it follows me. It’s annoying, a waste of time if you let it be.” But he also admitted he doesn’t let it get to him anymore. “My life is pretty steady. I’ve got good friends, good love, a good sense of myself. The noise is just background now.”
Brad Pitt during filming of his new motorsport drama Getty Images
F1, which co-stars Damson Idris and has Lewis Hamilton as a producer, faced delays due to the Hollywood strikes. Filming wrapped in Abu Dhabi just as Pitt closed a chapter of his personal life, his long-drawn divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The split, which began in 2016, was finalised in December 2024 after years of legal battles, including a public dispute over their shared French winery, Château Miraval. Jolie alleged that Pitt had been abusive, claims his team has consistently denied. While she sought peace and privacy for her family, Pitt stayed mostly silent, until now.
Brad Pitt breaks silence on Angelina Jolie split Getty Images
When asked if he felt any relief now that the divorce was done, Pitt’s answer was surprisingly flat. “Not really,” he said. “It was just a legal thing being wrapped up. That’s all.”
Their separation stemmed from a disturbing flight in 2016, where Jolie claimed Pitt was violent towards her and their children. Her legal filings later added that the abuse began earlier. The divorce became a drawn-out affair, involving custody issues, asset disputes, and conflicting lawsuits.
Despite the noise, Pitt isn’t stepping back. Though he hinted at slowing down in the past, F1 seems to have reignited his passion. “I wondered if I had more to give,” he said. “But this reminded me why I love doing this.”
Brad Pitt says finalising Angelina Jolie divorce brought 'no relief' as F1 movie wraps Getty Images
With F1 hitting cinemas in June and new projects already lined up, Brad Pitt seems focused on the road ahead, leaving the headlines in the rear-view mirror.
Keep ReadingShow less
Mani Ratnam responds to Anurag Kashyap's English lyrics remark as Thug Life track sparks debate
Director Mani Ratnam has addressed the recent debate over English lyrics in Tamil songs, sparked by Anurag Kashyap’s comments questioning their relevance. Kashyap had called the trend of mixing Tamil with English lyrics in South Indian films “pointless,” setting off discussions in film circles and online.
Mani Ratnam, who’s promoting his upcoming film Thug Life, responded to the criticism with a calm but clear perspective. One of the songs from the film, Sugar Baby, features English lyrics, a detail that caught attention in light of Kashyap’s remarks.
Mani Ratnam didn’t dismiss the concerns outright but explained why he sees no problem with using English, as long as it suits the context. “Most of my titles have always been in Tamil,” he said. “But I don’t believe in setting limits like ‘only Tamil’ or ‘only English’. If it works for the film, I use it.”
Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan reunite for Thug Life after nearly four decades Getty Images
He made it clear that his choices are not about trying to be trendy or appealing to younger audiences for the sake of it. “It’s not about chasing coolness,” he said. “You use what feels right for the story and characters. Not everything has to follow a set pattern.”
Mani Ratnam also touched on his long-standing love for Tamil language and poetry. Many of his most memorable songs, in collaboration with A.R. Rahman, was inspired from classical Tamil literature. “When we adapt old Tamil poems into songs, it brings out the richness of the language,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a ‘Sugar Baby’ if it fits the vibe of the scene.”
Mani Ratnam and composer A.R. Rahman attend the unveiling ceremony for Hindi movie "Raavan" Getty Images
He rejected the idea that English lyrics dilute the essence of Tamil cinema. “Why lock yourself into one way of doing things?” he asked. “Films are about expression. You don’t have to follow made-up rules.”
Thug Life also marks Ratnam’s reunion with actor Kamal Haasan, 38 years after their landmark film Nayakan. The cast includes Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Nasser, promising a wide canvas for storytelling, in any language Mani Ratnam sees fit.
Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Gupta during her crowning moment at Miss Grand International 2024
Rachel Gupta, the first Indian to win Miss Grand International, has walked away from the crown just seven months after her historic win. She announced her decision to step down on Instagram, citing “broken promises” and an unhealthy work environment as reasons. However, the organisation behind the pageant says she did not resign, and they fired her.
Rachel Gupta leaves Miss Grand crown months after win organisers claim she was firedInstagram/_rachelgupta
Gupta posted a statement online explaining that she could no longer remain silent about how she was treated. Though she called winning the crown a dream come true, she said the experience that followed was nothing short of disappointing. “There were promises made, none of which were kept,” she said, later sharing a detailed video about everything that happened.
While her tone was emotional and apologetic towards fans, the organisers’ response was firm. The Miss Grand International (MGI) Organisation issued a statement confirming her removal, claiming she did not meet the expectations of her role. They alleged she skipped official duties, worked on outside projects without their approval, and refused to travel for a scheduled event in Guatemala.
The organisation has asked her to return the crown within 30 days.
— (@)
Gupta had been crowned in October 2024, becoming the first Indian woman to win the MGI title. Her win was celebrated widely, especially given her previous success at international pageants like Miss Supertalent in Paris.
But trouble had been brewing from the beginning. Pageant followers might recall an awkward moment from the same crowning night when the second runner-up was stripped of her title on stage by the organisers. Now, Gupta’s exit has only intensified scrutiny around how these events are run.
Both sides are sticking to their version though. Gupta says she quit on her own terms; the organisers insist she was fired. What is clear is that this was not the fairy tale ending anyone had hoped for. Whether it is a matter of clashing expectations or something deeper, Gupta has promised to tell all in the days to come.
For now, the crown may be off, but the conversation is not going away anytime soon.
Path-breaking Pakistani film The Glassworker is the country’s first-ever hand-drawn animated feature and was selected as its official Oscar entry for 2025. The dubbed English version of debut director Usman Riaz’s contemplative Urdu-language original closed this year’s UK Asian Film Festival.
Clearly influenced by the works of Studio Ghibli and legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, the lovingly crafted story is set in a fictional town and centres on Vincent, a gifted young glassblower who works for his pacifist father, and Alliz, the spirited violinist daughter of a fierce military officer. Their relationship blossoms just as the threat of war looms. What unfolds is a poignant tale of love, art, duty, patriotism and difficult choices during turbulent times.
The emotional sincerity and visual richness of the film are striking. It blends the romance of star-crossed lovers with a thoughtful exploration of human connection and an anti-war message. The warm, detailed animation – with its rich colours and fine textures – is beautifully accompanied by an evocative score. A standout moment features Alliz performing a solo violin piece, which is particularly moving.
While the film’s various elements come together with care, what prevents this meticulously crafted project from reaching masterpiece status is its uneven writing, which proves increasingly frustrating. The script’s flaws make parts of the narrative, especially the ending and a supernatural subplot, confusing and affect the pacing. As a result, some aspects feel underdeveloped.
Even so, this remains one of the most unique films ever produced in Pakistan. It is a testament to what can be achieved when creative vision and a desire to innovate are backed by hard work and conviction. As both director and composer, Usman Riaz has opened the door for a new generation of South Asian animators to dream bigger. With stronger writing, Pakistani animation could soon compete on the global stage.
Justin Bieber faces backlash for ‘I love you’ comment on 17-year-old star Ariana Greenblatt’s post