Jim Sarbh, who shot to fame after playing the antagonist in Ram Madhvani's critically and commercially successful film Neerja (2016), plays the role of Homi Jehangir Bhabha, in SonyLIV's latest streaming show, Rocket Boys.
The eight-episode series traces the lives and times of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, progenitors of India's nuclear and space programmes respectively.
Eastern Eye caught up with Sarbh to know more about how he onboarded the project, how familiar he was with Bhabha before he got to play him on screen, his working experience with co-star Ishwak Singh, and much more. Read on...
The trailer for Rocket Boys garnered a rousing response from the audience. How important is it to you as an actor?
Well, yeah, that’s obviously great. You know, the trailer’s job is to get people to watch the actual show. So, I hope that the response to the trailer means that all those people do find a way to watch that show because we put in so much hard work and love, and I don’t say that lightly. I know that in promotions you are supposed to say that and everyone’s supposed to be like, "You know, I really did so much work for this. I really put my heart and soul into it. " But in this particular case, it's honestly true. We worked really, really hard. I mean, I barely worked seventy days in the last year on it, but it feels like the entire year was Rocket Boys because you were prepping and planning and your work-shopping the scenes and you were learning your lines. And all of it has to just slip out of you like this knowledge is in the back of your hand, you know, because Homi Baba had such a penetrating intellect, had such a great amount of information at his fingertips because his interests were so varied. He was just a brilliant guy. I mean, he knew his Indian art and literature as well as his western art and literature. He knew how to play the violin and the piano, and he could paint and write books on culture. He wrote them. He wrote about his ideas of how culture is appropriated, what makes culture, what are the tenets of culture, and what are the pillars of culture. What a brilliant guy! What an incredible opportunity to play him.
What was your first reaction when the makers approached you to play Bhabha? Were you excited or nervous?
I was very excited, not necessarily nervous, but very excited because I believe that worrying about a character's legacy and greatness can potentially straitjacket you and make you feel basically like, "Oh, you are constantly worrying about how to play the character, like would a great man do this? Would a great man do that? I think that can sometimes result in a boring, one-dimensional cardboard character, whereas the approach that our director and writer, Abhay Pannu, took to this project was very much trying to break the myth of the idea of the scientist as a great man or as a person who acts in only some ways. The more I read about him, the more I realised that people described him as a complete man, a person who, apart from his interests in science, was interested in so many things. Art, politics, human relations, culture, and also just living life, you know, having a good life, having a memorable and brilliant life. We always try to forget about his legacy and instead try to play a guy that is young and figuring things out and searching for the answer, and you know, more human, humanising these great men.
How familiar were you with Homi Jehangir Bhabha before you got to play him on screen?
Not that familiar with him. I knew, of course, about his family and their contributions to both science and art and culture in Mumbai. I read about him a bit in school, of course. But he was a very untouchable sort of figure. That’s the issue with legends sometimes because they feel like, "Oh, they are in their own league; you can’t even consider them." But after learning more about his life, he is truly an inspiring person. The way he allowed his vision of a new India to become a reality at a time when resources were so limited. I mean, just coming out of colonial rule in the modern sense of a country, it was a new country, just born. Of course, not in the oldest sense of the country. In the oldest sense of the country, India is an incredibly old country. But in modern ideology, it was a newly birthed country and he could have settled down anywhere. In other countries, where resources and technology were more advanced at that time, neither of these men chose to do that because they wanted to be here. They wanted to improve not just the facilities and technology but also inspire new minds, to take on the same burden and to continue to move this vision into the future, and that’s just incredible. How do you plan so much in advance in your mind and then actually do it? I find that just incredible. If you ask me, where do I see myself in five years? I don’t know, whereas these guys had five-year, ten-year, and twenty-year plans. And they really did the hard work, the perseverance to achieve it. Their drive, their ambition, and their desire to give back for the greater good are just incredible. Even the Jehangir Bhabha estate, in their last move, auctioned off all of the contents of their house and gave it to the NCPA. Even in their last move, they were doing philanthropy. They are helping the world move forward. Incredible people, incredible families. Modern-day wealthy people are only concerned with increasing their wealth. Both of these men were privileged men. They were born with disposable wealth, but the way that they used it, they haven’t squandered it. They have acted more like caretakers of it in order to pass it on to future generations, and I think that’s brilliant. A truly inspiring man!
I read somewhere that you own a study table that Bhabha owned once. What’s the story behind that?
Yeah, everyone loves this story. I am gonna talk about this story for years now. So when Jehangir Baba auctioned off their estate, my uncle Dadiba Pandol's auction house conducted the auction. So I was leafing through the catalogue and I saw a desk that I thought was brilliant, really beautiful. It was this art deco, a semi-circular, curved desk where the top piece balanced both of the bottom pieces, which were balancing on two separate balls. You know, it was such an interesting design for a desk that I had never seen anything like it. So, I was like, "Oh, wow! Look at this. " I was doing theatre at that time and barely had any money saved at all. So it was more like, "Hey dad! Have you seen this desk? Isn’t it nice? Do you want it for the house? Should we get it? " And I was only joking. I didn’t think he would take it seriously, but then he did. He bid for it and got it. So I moved out of the house a long time ago, but the desk came with me, and I have been working on it for about 8 or 9 years now. It has gone to every house around Bombay and no other piece of furniture because I have lived in Four Bungalows, and then I lived in Versova, and then I lived in Juhu for a bit, and then I carried on to the place where I now live, and the only piece of furniture that has remained constant through all of these houses is this desk. So, you know, sometimes these connections are made in ways you can’t understand. So, just to make it clear, it was Jehangir Bhabha’s estate that was being sold, but this is the desk Homi used to work on when he would come to visit. Whenever he would stay with his brother, it was in his room. So it was his choice of the desk.
How was it to work with Ishwak Singh?
It was really nice. You know, I think our characters sometimes get along; they sometimes fight. They challenge each other and inform each other. I think that when you start talking about a genius or geniuses, basically a pretty fair rule is that they most likely think a bit faster than everybody else, and we don’t know how we don’t know why we just know that it is true that they think faster. So I imagine that it is also a bit lonely. It must be lonely to think faster than everybody else, you know, especially if you are not a psychopath, which I don’t think either of them was. So, I think they found comfort in each other, in each other’s friendship. This is a person that thinks as fast as me. They may not always agree with me, they may challenge me, they may annoy the hell out of me, but I do have to consider their opinion because, you know, they’ll think it through properly, and they won’t be saying it just to say it, they’ll have their reasons. So I loved the idea of a friendship, a friendship in the true sense of the word, where you don’t pander to each other, where you are not worried about saying the wrong thing because a friendship will break, but instead, you say the hard things and you say the true things, and you say things that the other person may not like because you believe it and it's true and that’s a wonderful thing, you know. So I really hope that our efforts to play the two characters come across in the final show because, you know, we really spent a long time working on it. We worked really hard.
Be it Malik Kafur in Padmaavat, Adil Khanna in Made In Heaven, or Homi Jehangir Bhabha in Rocket Boys, you have always picked up characters that are completely different from one another. Is that a conscious decision as an actor to keep the monotony at bay?
No, it's just kind of what I have been offered, I think. I mean, sure, you always want to be able to play slightly different characters. I was cast in something recently which I am not allowed to talk about, and the director had seen my performance in Made In Heaven, and he was like, "You know when I saw you in Made In Heaven, I was sure that you were the right person for the part. I was like, "Oh, okay, cool, great." But I am also shooting Made In Heaven 2 simultaneously, so I don’t want to just make the same character. It will become boring for me, you know. People will watch both and be like "See, he does not have any range." He does the same thing in every role." And that’s one of the dangers, I think, one of the ways people think in general across the world, you know. People, in general, do not have much imagination. Why? Because they don’t know you, they have never met you, they don’t know what is possible for you. So if you do the same thing in a couple of projects, then they are like "Huh, this is all they are good at". It doesn’t matter if the director has asked you to do it or not. They think it's your personal choice, right? So, yes, of course, I like to play characters that I don’t get to be in my regular life, like a hijacker or you know, like a manipulative slave general or like a person that has come out of a 20-year coma or you know, a doctor who is constantly running away from his childhood trauma. There are so many interesting people to try to get under the skin of and try to understand how they function, and Dr. Homi Bhabha is one of the greatest.
The sudden death of billionaire businessman Sunjay Kapur at the age of 53 has raised questions over the future of his vast wealth and who stands to inherit it. Best known in the public eye for his marriage to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, Kapur leaves behind a family spread across three marriages — including two children with Kapoor.
Global business, personal fortune
Kapur was the chairman of Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd, commonly known as Sona Comstar, a global automotive components firm headquartered in Gurugram, India. He took charge of the company after the death of his father Dr Surinder Kapur in 2015 and steered it to significant success, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The company was listed on the Indian stock exchange in 2021 and is now valued at approximately £2.95 billion, according to Bloomberg.
At the time of his death on 13 June in London, Kapur's personal net worth was estimated at around £980 million ($1.2 billion), with most of it tied to his stake in the company.
Family and children
Kapur was married three times. His first marriage, to designer Nandita Mahtani, ended in 2000. From 2003 to 2016, he was married to actress Karisma Kapoor, with whom he had two children — Samaira, now 20, and Kiaan, 14. He later married entrepreneur Priya Sachdev in 2017, and the couple have a six-year-old son, Azarias.
Inheritance and past settlements
There has been no official word from the family or company about the contents of Kapur’s will or the structure of his estate. However, reports suggest that under Indian inheritance law, his current wife Priya Sachdev would manage the estate unless otherwise specified in a will.
According to earlier reports from ANI in 2016, during divorce proceedings with Karisma Kapoor, Kapur had purchased bonds worth around £1.3 million (₹14 crore) each for Samaira and Kiaan. These bonds reportedly generate a monthly income of around £9,400 (₹10 lakh) for each child — a move seen as part of his legacy planning.
As part of the divorce settlement, a family property in Mumbai was also transferred to Karisma Kapoor, who retains full custody of the two children.
Uncertain future
While the details of Kapur’s current estate plan are not public, Indian media reports suggest his sisters may take on management roles within Sona Comstar. The company has said that business operations remain unaffected and pledged to uphold his legacy.
For now, it remains unclear how his estimated £980 million fortune will be distributed among his heirs.
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.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Aamir Khan addresses love jihad allegations and shares rare details about his family
In the lead-up to his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan has addressed a long-standing controversy that has trailed him for years: allegations that his 2014 film PK promoted ‘love jihad’ and disrespected religion. Speaking on Aap Ki Adalat, the actor finally offered his side of the story, calling the accusations “baseless” and “misinformed”.
“When two people fall in love and decide to marry, it’s not a conspiracy. It’s a human connection,” Aamir said, firmly rejecting the label of ‘love jihad’.
‘PK’ wasn’t against religion, it warned against blind faith: Aamir clarifies intent
Back in 2014, PK sparked debate for showing a Hindu woman in love with a Pakistani Muslim man. Critics accused the film of mocking religious beliefs. Responding to this, Aamir said the film respected all faiths and was never intended to ridicule anyone’s beliefs.
“We respect every religion deeply. PK was about being cautious of those who misuse religion to exploit people. This kind of manipulation exists in all communities,” he explained. He stressed the film’s core message: don’t fall for those who use faith as a tool for fear or financial gain.
Aamir Khan defends PK and calls out misuse of religion to create divisionGetty Images
Aamir also addressed questions about his children’s names. Despite being married to Hindu women Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao, his children carry Muslim names like Ira, Junaid, and Azad. “My wives chose the names. There was no pressure from me,” he said, adding with a smile, “Husbands don’t always get their way.”
‘Humanity over headlines’: Aamir gives personal examples to challenge narrative
To further break down the ‘love jihad’ myth, Aamir pointed to his own family. “My sister Nikhat is married to Santosh Hegde, Farhat to Rajeev Dutta, and my daughter Ira to Nupur Shikhare, all Hindu men. Will you call that love jihad too?” he asked.
He urged people to look beyond religion when it comes to relationships, calling love a personal choice that transcends labels. “When two minds connect, it’s above any religion. It’s about humanity,” he said.
Aamir says real love is a human bond not a conspiracy Getty Images
Aamir also addressed criticism for delaying his response to a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The actor clarified that he isn’t active on social media and said the timing of his statement and the trailer release of Sitaare Zameen Par was purely coincidental.
Sitaare Zameen Par hits cinemas on 20 June.
Keep ReadingShow less
5 moments from the Kantara 2 shoot that shocked fans and halted filming
The shoot of Kantara 2 has been anything but smooth. What was meant to be a spiritual sequel to one of Kannada cinema’s biggest hits has instead been plagued by a series of disturbing incidents, including a drowning, a boat capsizing with Rishab Shetty on board, and even environmental fines. While the production team insists filming is on track, the number of on-set mishaps has left fans concerned and questioning the safety standards behind the camera. Here's a timeline of five serious events that disrupted the shoot.
A minibus ferrying around 20 junior artists back from set rolled over near Jadkal, Karnataka. Initial reports pointed to injuries. Hombale Films quickly countered, insisting it wasn’t their official transport and no one was seriously hurt. Filming pushed ahead almost immediately. The conflicting accounts left questions hanging about crew safety during transit.
A lunch break tragedy (7–8 May 2025)
The shoot took its darkest turn during a break at the Kollur Souparnika River location. Junior artist M.F. Kapil, just 24, went for a swim off-duty. Strong currents swept him away. Hours later, his body was recovered. Production halted. While the makers stressed this happened off-set and was a "personal accident," the death of a young crew member cast a long shadow over the production. A police probe followed.
Off-set losses (May–June 2025)
Within weeks, two more deaths struck, though not directly tied to set conditions. Comedian Rakesh Pujare succumbed to a cardiac arrest in May. Then, in June, mimicry artist Kalabhavan Niju collapsed on set with chest pain, dying en route to the hospital. While health-related, each incident highlighted the importance of on-call medical support.
Massive set destruction & environmental fines (Early 2025)
Months before the drownings and boat capsize, the team faced a different kind of blow. A massive, expensive set built for the film was utterly destroyed by fierce, unexpected storms and relentless rain. To compound the problem, the crew later drew flak and fines from forest officials, accused of disrupting habitats and illegally dumping waste during their work.
Boat capsize at Mani Reservoir (16 June 2025)
The most recent jolt came with the boat capsizing incident at the Mani Dam reservoir. While filming a scene, the vessel, overloaded with Shetty and crew, overturned, plunging everyone into the water. Shallow depths prevented fatalities, but equipment was lost, production stopped, and safety protocols came under intense scrutiny. Police are investigating overloading as a likely cause.
Each setback, from overturned vehicles to environmental pushback and sudden fatalities, has tested Kantara 2’s planners and crew. While no further fatalities have occurred since 15 June, production delays and budget increases are almost inevitable. The team now faces the dual task of maintaining its ambitious 2 October 2025 release date while ensuring every member can work without fearing for their safety.
Keep ReadingShow less
Jay Sean is confirmed as the headline act for Middlesbrough Mela 2025
Chart-topping singer Jay Sean has been announced as the headline performer for this year’s Middlesbrough Mela, and he’s set to bring the party after dark. In a historic first, the 2025 edition of the UK’s longest-running multicultural festival will introduce a Saturday evening concert headlined by the Down hitmaker, marking a major moment in the Mela’s 35-year legacy.
The festival, which takes place on 16 and 17 August at Middlesbrough’s Albert Park, expects over 50,000 visitors across the weekend. But all eyes will be on Saturday night, when the park transforms into a concert-style arena from 6pm onwards, with Jay Sean taking the stage in a ticketed evening slot curated by BBC Asian Network presenters.
Fans are expected to travel nationwide for Jay Sean’s UK exclusive performance
South Asian trailblazer returns to UK stage
Jay Sean, widely regarded as one of the most successful British Asian artists of all time, made history by becoming the first South Asian artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100. His chart dominance in both the UK and US in the late 2000s helped redefine South Asian representation in mainstream pop.
In 2024, he launched his own record label, 3AM Entertainment, under Virgin Music Group to champion emerging South Asian talent. Now, his return to UK stages for this exclusive Middlesbrough Mela performance has created major buzz, with organisers expecting fans to travel from all corners of the country.
The 35th edition of Middlesbrough Mela promises music food and cultural festivities
Festival Director Kash Patel called Jay Sean’s appearance “a game-changer” and said it reflects the energy and cultural pride that the Mela has come to represent. “Jay Sean’s legacy goes beyond music. He’s inspired generations of British Asians. Having him here is a proud moment for Middlesbrough,” he added.
The first wave of discounted tickets, priced at £15 (₹1,600) plus booking fee, is now live exclusively for Tees Valley residents, with general sales to follow. VIP Golden Circle packages, offering perks like fast-track entry, priority viewing, and complimentary food and fairground rides, are also available via the official Middlesbrough Mela website and Skiddle.
Jay Sean is confirmed as the headline act for Middlesbrough Mela 2025
The Mela’s free daytime programme remains packed with live music, dance, street food, shopping stalls, a funfair, and activities for all ages. Community members, performers, and local businesses are also invited to get involved through stalls, advertising, or volunteering.
US singer Chris Brown launched the UK leg of his Breezy Bowl XX tour in Manchester on Sunday, just days before he is due in court over a grievous bodily harm (GBH) charge. The 36-year-old artist performed at the Co-op Live arena, marking his 20th year in the music industry.
Brown was arrested in Greater Manchester last month in connection with an alleged assault during a previous visit to the UK in 2023. He is accused of attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London. The incident is said to have taken place during his last UK tour. Brown has been charged with GBH and is currently on bail.
‘Thank you to the jail’, singer jokes on stage
Addressing fans during Sunday’s performance, Brown joked about his recent time in custody. “Thank you for coming and supporting me,” he said, before adding, “And thank you to the jail. It was really nice.” The comment was met with cheers from the audience, who had earlier watched a montage of Brown’s career highlights — including footage from outside Manchester Crown Court during his arrest.
The video package, which showed both his achievements and controversies, appeared to be a deliberate acknowledgement of his legal troubles. The singer has previously faced legal issues in the United States, but continues to maintain a large fan base internationally.
Bail set at £5 million
Brown was released after agreeing to a £5 million security fee. He had been held in custody for nearly a week before the court granted bail. A security fee serves as a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court, and can be forfeited if bail conditions are breached.
As part of his bail terms, the judge permitted Brown to continue with his scheduled performances. He resumed his tour with a show in Amsterdam before heading to the UK.
Upcoming court appearance in London
Brown is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in London on Friday, 21 June, alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old US artist known as HoodyBaby. Both are facing charges in connection with the alleged nightclub assault.
So far, no plea has been entered by Brown or Akinlolu.
Tour continues across UK stadiums
Following his Manchester shows, Brown will perform in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium on Thursday. After his court hearing on Friday, he is scheduled to appear at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.
The tour will continue with stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, followed by two additional arena dates in Manchester. The Breezy Bowl XX tour celebrates two decades of Brown’s career, which began with his debut single Run It! at age 16. On Sunday, he opened the Manchester show with the hit and went on to perform several of his UK top 10 singles, including Turn Up The Music, With You, and Don’t Wake Me Up.
Brown recently won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist at the 2025 BET Awards, held in Los Angeles.