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.
From her record-breaking number of songs to global recognition, Shreya Ghoshal’s journey as a playback singer has been nothing short of iconic. Her versatility, emotional depth, and ability to resonate with audiences across generations make her an unparalleled musical force.
Shreya Ghoshal performing live with unmatched energy and graceGetty Images
She’s the most-recorded female playback singer of this generation
With over 3,000 songs in 20+ languages, Shreya Ghoshal holds the record as the most prolific female playback singer of her era. From Hindi to Sanskrit, her voice has touched nearly every corner of India’s musical landscape.
She shot to stardom with her debut
Shreya made a stunning debut in Devdas (2002), earning a National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer right off the bat. That breakthrough track set the tone for a legendary career.
She’s a 5-time National Award winner
Her trophy cabinet includes five National Film Awards, proving not just consistency, but unmatched quality across decades and genres.
Her voice transcends borders and languages
Shreya’s versatility is unmatched—she’s sung in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Assamese, Bhojpuri, and even Sanskrit. Few artists can match her linguistic and stylistic range.
She’s honoured internationally—literally has her own day!
On June 26, 2010, the state of Ohio, USA, declared it Shreya Ghoshal Day to honour her musical achievements. That’s a global recognition very few Indian singers can claim.
She’s a Madame Tussauds icon
In 2017, Shreya became the first Indian singer to get a wax statue at Madame Tussauds Delhi, solidifying her status as a pop-culture and musical legend.
Her soulful voice resonates across generations
Whether it’s Bollywood blockbusters or regional gems, classical tunes or romantic ballads, Shreya’s singing brings depth, emotion, and beauty that captivates all ages. She’s not just a voice—she’s a feeling.
Shreya Ghoshal’s journey from a breakout star to a global music iconGetty Images
From Devdas to global fame, Shreya Ghoshal isn’t just a singer—she’s a musical phenomenon.
FILE PHOTO: A court drawing made by Jesper Andkjaer shows British businessman Sanjay Shah during a constitutional hearing at the Glostrup Court in Glostrup, Denmark, on December 7, 2023. (Photo by JESPER ANDKJAER/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
DENMARK has lost a landmark £1.4 billion tax fraud case at London’s High Court, in a ruling that placed the spotlight once again on Asian financier Sanjay Shah, the man once described as the “mastermind” of complex dividend schemes that cost European governments billions.
Shah, a British Indian trader and hedge fund manager, was the most prominent name in the eight-year legal battle brought by Denmark’s tax authority, Skatteforvaltningen (Skat).
At the centre was his company, Solo Capital Partners, which played a major role in so-called cum-ex schemes – a method of exploiting tax loopholes to generate multiple refunds of dividend taxes that had only been paid once.
Justice Andrew Baker, delivering his decision after an 18-month trial, said Skat had not proved that it was deceived into paying out the refunds. He was scathing about Shah’s evidence, calling him “not a trustworthy individual” who gave “implausible claims and obvious lies”.
“I do not consider it safe, in general, to treat anything Shah says for himself or about the Danish dividend tax refund factory he created as reliable evidence of fact,” the judge said.
Despite those words, the court found the Danish tax authority’s controls were “so flimsy as to be almost non-existent”. Of 4,170 refund claims examined between 2012 and 2015, none were valid under Danish law – yet all could have been rejected if proper checks had been in place.
Born to Indian parents and raised in London, Shah founded Solo Capital in 2009, building it into a hedge fund known for high-risk, high-reward strategies. By the early 2010s, it had become a key player in refining cum-ex trades, focusing particularly on Denmark.
In 2016, amid growing scrutiny, Solo Capital was shut down. Shah moved to Dubai, where he lived in luxury until Danish prosecutors secured his extradition in 2023. A year later, he was convicted of fraud in Denmark and handed the country’s toughest sentence in such a case.
The London ruling represents a major setback for Denmark, which had sought to recover billions through the English courts. “We strongly disagree with the premises of the judgment and are now seeking to appeal it,” the Danish government said in a statement.
The case, originally involving over 100 defendants, has been one of the most expensive civil proceedings ever brought in Britain. Legal sources suggest costs could reach hundreds of millions of pounds.
The court also cleared Jas Bains, a British lawyer of Indian heritage who worked at Solo Capital from 2010 to 2013. Bains later turned whistleblower, warning Danish authorities about the volume of trades. He said the long legal fight had cost him eight years of his life.
“I’m grateful to the justice system for exonerating me,” Bains told the BBC.
For Sanjay Shah, the judgment underlines his notoriety. Though Denmark failed in London, his name is now firmly associated with one of Europe’s biggest financial scandals. For many, the case highlights not only individual greed, but also the systemic failings that allowed billions to flow out of public coffers unchecked.
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While Mandelson was sacked as British ambassador in Washington over Epstein ties, Trump, closer to Epstein than either Mandelson or Fergie, was seated beside King Charles at a Windsor Castle banquet. (Photo: Getty Images)
LORD PETER MANDELSON was sacked as British ambassador in Washington because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Andrew’s former wife, “Fergie”, Duchess of York, has also been hauled over burning coals over her emails to the late financier.
However, US president Donald Trump, who was closer to Epstein than either Mandelson or Fergie, was placed next to King Charles at a state banquet in Windsor Castle.
As always, the Private Eye cover captured the double standards. “Mandelson crisis. Starmer Acts!,” was the headline, with the British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer declaring at the doors of No 10: “Goodbye, Peter – we can’t have anything to do with a friend of a paedo.”
There is an identical picture of Starmer, but this time he is saying: “Welcome, President Trump!”
The author, Lord Jeffrey Archer, who has got a new book out (End Game), has discussed Trump with the Daily Telegraph.
He outlines what he considers to be the “worst thing in the news?”: “He seems to have gone completely mad. He’s incredibly rude and childish, calling people ‘losers’. He insults other statesmen like Emmanuel Macron, taunting them. It shows no decorum.
Having served myself with a fantastic prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, I know that there’s no way a country’s leader should behave like that. Who does he think he is? I don’t understand why more people don’t see him for what he is. It doesn’t matter if what he says isn’t true, if he says it with such conviction his voters believe him. He claims he’s the greatest US president ever – what about Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington and so on?”
People who knew nothing about Sir Sadiq Khan will reckon there must be something good about the mayor of London after Trump told the UN general assembly: “I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law, but you’re in a different country.”
Sadiq shot back: “I think president Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic and he is Islamophobic.”
It would be better if Sadiq didn’t rise to the bait.
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Prince William attends the launch of the Global Humanitarian Memorial in London, Britain October 01, 2025. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
PRINCE WILLIAM has said protecting his family was the most important thing for him when his wife Kate and father King Charles became ill, and revealed that he will seek to modernise the monarchy when he becomes sovereign.
Speaking to Eugene Levy for the Canadian actor's TV travel show, the normally guarded British heir said he sometimes felt "overwhelmed" by family matters and vowed to keep his children safe from any excessive intrusion by the media.
"Worry or stress around the family side of things, that does overwhelm me quite a bit," the 43-year-old told the "Schitt's Creek" star.
"When it’s to do with family and things like that, then that’s where I start getting a bit overwhelmed - as I think most people would, because it’s more personal."
Last year both Kate and the king, now 76, began treatment for cancer. While his wife is now in remission, William said it had been the hardest year he had ever had.
"Life is sent to test us," he said. "And it definitely can be challenging at times, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are. I’m so proud of my wife and my father, for how they’ve handled all of last year. My children have managed brilliantly as well."
William made his unusually candid remarks as he showed the actor around Windsor Castle, the royal home west of London where the king hosted US president Donald Trump last month. He also took Levy to a local pub.
There were light-hearted moments - the prince said he was a big fan of Levy's bawdy "American Pie" comedy films - but William also spoke about life as a royal and his vision for the future.
He spoke of the intense press coverage of the break-up of the marriage of his father and his late mother, Princess Diana, saying the media had been "in everything, literally everywhere".
"The damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family," he said. "And so, I take a very strong line about where I think that line is, and those who overstep it, you know I’ll fight against."
He said he did not think much about becoming king, but acknowledged that he planned to perform the role differently.
"I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good," he said. "That’s the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen."
The episode of "The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy" featuring William is set to air on Apple TV+ on Friday (3).
(Reuters)
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Akshay Kumar revealed his daughter’s encounter with an online predator
The Bollywood star revealed a stranger asked his daughter for nude pictures during an online game.
His quick-thinking daughter immediately shut off the device and told her mother.
Kumar described this as a common entry point for more serious online crimes.
He made a direct appeal to the state's Chief Minister for immediate action.
The actor called for mandatory weekly cyber safety classes for students in grades 7 to 10.
You think you have a handle on what your children are up to online, and then a story like this hits. Akshay Kumar just dropped a bombshell about a scare involving his own family, the kind that makes every parent's blood run cold. His daughter was gaming, something millions of children do every day, when a random player slid into her direct messages with a demand for nude pictures. It is this exact horror that has him demanding a "cyber period" be incorporated into the school curriculum, and frankly, who can argue?
Akshay Kumar revealed his daughter’s encounter with an online predator Getty Images/Instagram/akshaykumar
What exactly went down with his daughter?
So, here is the scene. A few months ago, his daughter was deep into one of those video games where you play with strangers from who knows where. Everything seemed normal until a private message popped up. The first question was creepy but simple: "Are you male or female?" She answered, probably without a second thought. Then came the next message. No pleasantries, no warning. Just a straight-up ask for her nude pictures.
The sheer audacity of it is staggering. Thankfully, the child has a good head on her shoulders. She did not engage, nor did she panic. She just switched the whole thing off and went and found her mother, Twinkle Khanna. This is a lesson right there in why children need to feel they can tell you anything.
Is online crime really bigger than street crime now?
Kumar might be onto something. Think about it. That first creepy message? It is never just a one-off. It is a test. They are seeing what they can get away with. If a child even hesitates, the situation changes completely. Then what? Blackmail? Threats? It is a short hop from a nasty direct message to something far worse. The whole thing gets really dark, really fast.
Kumar's argument is that you would not send a child out onto a busy motorway without teaching them the Green Cross Code. So, why are we sending them into the digital wild west with zero training?
Concerned parents are backing the actor’s call for cyber awareness in classrooms iStock
What would this proposed 'cyber period' actually do?
He is not being vague about it. He stood there at a police event and made a direct plea to the state's top minister. His idea is a dedicated lesson every single week for children in standards 7 through 10. This would cover practical, necessary stuff, such as how to spot a scam, what a predator's grooming messages look like, why you never share that kind of personal information, and crucially, what to do the second you feel uncomfortable. It is about building a reflex, like his daughter had. Switch it off. Tell an adult. Do not be a victim. It seems so obvious, but apparently it has to be taught. And after a story like this, good luck finding a parent who would say no.
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Lord Tariq Ahmad speaks at the event in London last Thursday (25)
FORMER Conservative minister Lord Tariq Ahmad praised Asian property developers for building not just brick-and-mortar homes, but also “communities and futures”, while paying tribute to generations of migrants who built the UK’s economy.
Lord Ahmad most recently served as minister for south Asia, the United Nations and the Commonwealth from September 2022 until July 2024 and previously held roles in Tory governments.
He is now a non-executive director at the Asian Media Group, publishers of Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat news weeklies.
At the Eastern Eye Property Awards last Thursday (25), Lord Ahmad said “property ownership very much is within the British Asian DNA”.
“Property ownership is part of what defines Asian communities now,” the peer said.
The senior Tory politician recalled growing up in Glasgow, with Asian shopkeepers and pharmacists settled within the wider Scottish community.
Reflecting on his father’s journey as a migrant in Glasgow in the 1950s, Ahmad said, “He came with three pieces of advice – learn the language, understand the language fully, be a productive citizen of the country which is now your home, and also understand the culture. And the third thing was – give back to the community.”
He pointed to the resilience the generation who arrived in the UK during the 1950s and 1960s, often facing discrimination, but who responded with determination and a commitment to give back to their adopted home.
Though his father faced racism, he immersed himself in English literature, embraced local culture, and invested in property. This, Lord Ahmad said, became part of the wider story of how migrants helped build lives and communities through ownership of homes, shops, and small businesses.
“It’s important when you look at society, we look at the different contributions. Not only do our British Asian pharmacists dispense prescriptions, keep job, but they also dispense wisdom,” Ahmad said.
He added, “British Asian developers have contributed to building communities. They have built futures.”
He described them as a symbol of aspiration and perseverance who helped transform neighbourhoods, created jobs and were known for their business acumen.
Highlighting the role of shopkeepers as the “backbone of British life,” Ahmad said corner shops became the seed for larger enterprises such as Bestway, among others.
Pharmacies, too, played a crucial role not only in dispensing medicines but also in providing advice and support to families. These professions, combined with investment in housing and hotels, showed how property ownership has long been tied to social mobility and economic growth within British Asian communities, he added.
Lord Ahmad also underlined the value of hospitality and entrepreneurship, pointing out that Asian hoteliers and developers had become a vital part of the country’s economic fabric, driving growth and opportunities.
“From small acorns, great oak trees grow,” he said, noting how modest ventures had expanded into national and international businesses.
He also expressed concern over divisions in society today and said bigotry and racial slurs had resurfaced in public life. It was the responsibility of leaders to confront division, he said, and he added that patriotism should not be confused with narrow nationalism.
“Our true strength comes from the rich tapestry of our diversity, and British Asian success is intrinsic to that,” he said.
Lord Ahmad described British Asians as “dreamers, doers, and dealmakers” whose efforts had helped Britain prosper.
Migration, he argued, had made the country stronger and more dynamic.
“Britain today is much stronger, much warmer, and much spicier, because of all of you,” he said at the event.