Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Modi is the ‘best leader' for India, says US singer Mary Millben

Millben has earlier also praised Modi for his proposal to include the African Union as a full member of the G20, a move supported by the US.

Modi is the ‘best leader' for India, says US singer Mary Millben

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the "best leader" for India and for the relationship between the two countries, Mary Millben, a prominent African-American Hollywood actress and singer, has said noting that many in the US desire to see him re-elected so the ties can continue to be strengthened to greater levels.

Millben, 41, also said that she believes that “the Prime Minister is on track to win in May.”


“I tell you certainly there's a lot of support for the Prime Minister here in the United States. I believe many desire to see the Prime Minister re-elected because again, he's the best leader for India,” Millben, a popular African American singer and actress told PTI in an interview on Thursday.

She has a huge fan following in India, in particular after her rendition of the national anthem “Jana Gana Man” and the popular Hindu song “Om Jai Jagdish Hare”.

India is headed for general elections in 2024. The US is headed for its presidential elections this November and she is supporting former US president Donald Trump.

She sang India's national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' at an event in June in the US during the prime minister's state visit.

“This election season, I believe, is going to be one of the most important election seasons for the United States, for India, and for the world. So there's a tremendous responsibility that we all have and carry as citizens. It's my encouragement, certainly to all of my beloved family in India to make your vote, your voice heard in this election season,” she said.

“Certainly, it's no secret...all of India knows that I'm a big supporter of the Prime Minister and believe that he's the best leader for India and he's the best leader for the India-US relationship. These are the times when we as citizens need to be vocal, sharing our convictions, sharing those things, those policies that are important for our countries and certainly to our leaders. But we hold the power to bring change to our countries,” she said.

“We hold the power to usher in the policies that are best for all people. So I hope that every Indian citizen will make their voice and their vote heard during this election season, as I know well here in the United States,” she said.

Modi, she said, has done extraordinary things to position India as a real economic player, not only in the region but across the world.

“His policies for advancements in technology certainly promoted women in leadership. Of course, he was the reason in many ways that we saw the rise of President (Droupadi Murmu) as president and certainly his efforts to populate the Cabinet with more women leaders," she said.

"I think that's a great example and testament to the commitment to bringing in greater diversity into leadership; policies that are pushing efforts toward developing young leaders in India, I think is very important. Setting a precedent for the next generation, coming into leadership in India that will be great players in the world, that is evident, certainly in the Prime Minister's leadership,” she added.

“Then of course what we all know is how the prime minister's policies have placed India on the map as a real economic player. The advancements in trade, certainly his infrastructure policy, you could go on and on about the things that the Prime Minister has done that makes him the right candidate and the right leader to continue leading India to greater heights,” Millben told PTI.

“As it relates to the United States, he is the best leader. There is no competition there. I hope that he'll be re-elected so the US-India relationship can continue to be strengthened to greater levels,” she said.

Millben has earlier also praised Modi for his proposal to include the African Union as a full member of the G20, a move supported by the US.

More For You

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers

Sons of the late, legendary Ustad Bahauddin Khan Qawwal

Najmuddin Saifuddin Qawwal Group

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers carry forward a timeless Sufi tradition

At a time when the spiritual essence of Sufi music is often diluted by commercial reinvention, Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers Qawwali Group stand tall as torchbearers of an unbroken tradition stretching back more than 700 years.

Sons of the late, legendary Ustad Bahauddin Khan Qawwal, the five brothers continue a sacred musical lineage dating back to the 13th century and the disciples of the genre’s founding figure, Hazrat Amir Khusro.

Keep ReadingShow less
Patrick Gibson

Although IO Interactive has yet to officially confirm the identity

Getty Images

Patrick Gibson linked to James Bond role following 007 First Light trailer reveal

Speculation is growing that Irish actor Patrick Gibson may be involved in the next phase of the James Bond franchise, following the release of the trailer for IO Interactive’s upcoming video game, 007 First Light. The cinematic trailer, which debuted on Wednesday during Sony’s State of Play presentation, showcased a younger version of the iconic British spy, and fans were quick to point out the character’s resemblance to Gibson.

The game introduces a 26-year-old Bond in a third-person action-adventure format, set to release in 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Within hours of the trailer’s release, social media was abuzz with fans speculating that Gibson is either portraying or voicing the new digital version of Bond.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bryce Dallas Howard and Cast Sparkle in Crime Comedy ‘Deep Cover’ at SXSW London

A post-screening Q&A that revealed how their off-screen camaraderie and improvisational skills helped

Getty Images

Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed shine in crime comedy 'Deep Cover' at SXSW London

The world premiere of Deep Cover lit up the inaugural SXSW London Screen Festival on Wednesday night, with stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed attending a post-screening Q&A that revealed how their off-screen camaraderie and improvisational skills helped shape the film’s comic energy.

The crime caper, directed by Stath Lets Flats creator Tom Kingsley, was screened as the festival’s Centrepiece Headliner and will be available to stream on Prime Video from 12 June.

Keep ReadingShow less
Thug Life

A gangster who faces repeated brushes with death

YouTube/ Saregama Tamil

Thug Life reviews say Kamal Haasan shines but Mani Ratnam’s gangster epic falls flat


Thug Life brings together two giants of Indian cinema, director Mani Ratnam and actor Kamal Haasan, for the first time since their 1987 classic Nayakan. Hopes were understandably sky-high, especially following Ratnam’s recent success with the Ponniyin Selvan films. Unfortunately, the film struggles to match the weight of its own ambition.

A promising start with technical brilliance

The film opens with style. A gritty voiceover by Haasan sets the tone, followed by a black-and-white flashback in Old Delhi that is visually stunning and thematically rich. Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography and A. Sreekar Prasad’s editing stand out, creating a slick first act filled with betrayal, tension, and dramatic flair.

Keep ReadingShow less
Janhvi Kapoor Channels Sridevi’s Iconic Style with Heartfelt Jacket Tribute

The jacket tribute, blending personal sentiment with fashion

Instagram/ janhvikapoor

Janhvi Kapoor’s jacket tribute brings Sridevi’s magic back to life

Actor Janhvi Kapoor recently paid tribute to her late mother, the legendary Sridevi, by wearing a custom denim jacket inspired by the 1990 Telugu cult classic Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari. Janhvi took to Instagram to share the look and express her admiration for the film and her mother’s performance, calling the experience deeply emotional and nostalgic.

In her post, Janhvi described the jacket and film as something she is “obsessed” with. She revealed she had watched the re-released version of the film a few days prior and was reminded of the cinematic magic that brought it to life. “Mumma is like an angel fairy princess and so funny and so cute,” Janhvi wrote, remembering Sridevi’s ethereal screen presence.

Keep ReadingShow less