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.
Jennie from BLACKPINK is at the centre of an online firestorm after her name was dragged into a scandalous podcast discussion. In an episode of Above The Influence, two influencers, Kira and Woohak, shared unverifiable stories accusing female K-pop idols of engaging in sexual activities with wealthy businessmen. Jennie was specifically named in one of the most shocking claims.
During the podcast, co-host Woohak claimed he once attended a summer camp with the son of a BMW heir. According to him, this person allegedly paid to sleep with Jennie and even had a video of the encounter. No video has surfaced, no names were confirmed, and no evidence was shown, yet the clip quickly spread online, causing major backlash.
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Adding fuel to the fire, Kira, who said she had previously dated BIGBANG’s T.O.P, went on to make sweeping claims about prostitution in the K-pop industry. She stated that even top-tier idols, including solo artist IU, were involved, quoting an alleged price for a night with IU at £400,000 (₹4.2 crore). Again, no proof was provided.
These comments sparked immediate backlash from fans. Social media was flooded with calls for both Jennie’s and IU’s agencies to take legal action against the podcast hosts for defamation. Many pointed out the serious consequences of spreading baseless accusations, especially in South Korea, where defamation laws are strict even when the remarks are made abroad.
Fans demand legal action after BLACKPINK’s Jennie named in shocking podcast claimsGetty Images
While neither YG Entertainment nor EDAM Entertainment has issued an official response yet, fans continue to demand accountability. Many fear that these kinds of reckless public claims can have a lasting emotional toll on the artists involved. They argue that spreading rumours in the name of entertainment crosses a line, especially when real lives and reputations are at stake.
Jennie, who recently performed at Coachella 2025 and released her solo album Ruby, is no stranger to media attention. But this latest controversy is different. It’s serious, personal, and, most importantly, unproven.
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As pressure mounts online, many are waiting to see if any legal steps will be taken or if the people behind the podcast will face consequences for what they’ve said. Until then, fans remain vocal in their support, calling for respect, responsibility, and justice.
Raj almost wasn’t Indian, Tom Cruise was the idea.
The title? Kirron Kher just threw it out there.
Pigeon scene: Totally SRK winging it. Kajol freaked a little.
Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna got added last minute. Can you imagine?
Maratha Mandir. Playing. Every day. Since 1995. Fans love it.
You might think you’ve seen it all in DDLJ. Raj, Simran, the songs, yes, we all know them. But there’s a lot behind the camera that most people have no clue about. Some of it was luck. Some of it Shah Rukh Khan just winging it. And some… well, Aditya Chopra being a little crazy. Here’s the stuff nobody really tells you.
How Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became a Bollywood legend: 10 untold stories Youtube Screengrab
1. Raj almost had a totally different face
Aditya Chopra literally imagined an American guy and an Indian girl and had Tom Cruise in mind. But then his dad, Yash Chopra, stepped in and said, “Nope, Indian boy.” And then the story completely changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t Hollywood, but NRIs, family, love, and all the cultural stuff that actually hits you in the gut.
2. Kirron Kher named the film
That long, unforgettable title? Shah Rukh Khan thought it was clunky. But the rookie director, Aditya, heard it from Kirron Kher and went with his gut. And yes, she got a credit in the opening titles.
3. Script written in a month
Three years of thinking, then all of a sudden, the final script was done in three or four weeks. Can you imagine? The blueprint for the biggest romantic film of the ’90s, completed in less than a month.
4. Accidental magic
That pigeon-feeding scene with Amrish Puri? Totally improvised by Shah Rukh. Even Kajol’s shocked face in Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane was not planned. Aditya kept it a secret to get a real reaction. And it worked big time. Fans don’t even know half the story behind that moment.
5. Director hiding in a car
During the Zurich car ride, Aditya wasn’t just lurking behind the camera. No. He was lying flat in the back of the red convertible, flat out of frame, watching every move. Can you imagine lying like that for hours? Wild.
6. Raj’s leather jacket wasn’t a costume
Raj’s iconic leather jacket? The one every guy copied? Uday Chopra just bought it from a Harley shop in California and cost 400 bucks. Not a big fancy wardrobe magic, it was just a cool jacket he found.
7. Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhnaalmost didn’t happen
That wedding song everyone hums? Almost didn’t exist. It got added at the very last second, borrowed from another Yash Raj project. Imagine weddings without it!
8. Kajol’s towel moment
Kajol wasn’t a fan of that towel scene. She seriously didn’t want to shoot it, but the director insisted. And that white skirt in the song? The director said it looked frumpy. Manish Malhotra, the designer, had to take scissors and cut it shorter on the spot.
9. Shah Rukh’s prophecy
After reading the script, Shah Rukh told Yash Chopra: “This will define my stardom.” And he nailed it. Spot on.
10. The first “making of” documentary
Before YouTube, before making-of reels, they aired a half-hour documentary on Doordarshan.
Chaudhary Baldev Singh Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Shah Rukh Khan Kajol www.easterneye.biz
24*7- for 365 days
And then there's Maratha Mandir. This old theater in Mumbai. It's still showing the film. Every. Single. Day. For 30 years. Tickets are 50 rupees. Fans go to watch it like a ritual, some book the gallery for birthdays or anniversaries. People even fly in from abroad. Iconic, right?
30 years later, Raj and Simran are on stage in Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical in Manchester. 18 original English songs. Same story. Same magic. New audience. And people are loving it.
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