Paris and Marseille are held by the Socialists in local elections which saw the nationalist right win in Nice and certain towns.
France's Socialists hold onto power in major cities in election boost for mainstream
When Hema confessed love at first sight with Dharmendra
Dharmendra’s 2025 passing revived his epic romance with Hema Malini. She called it “love at first sight.” Already married to Prakash Kaur with four kids, he converted to Islam in 1980 to wed her, having Esha and Ahana. Prakash stood firm: “Any man would prefer Hema.”
Dharmendra‘s passing on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, didn’t just end an era, it reopened the pages of one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring romances. As tributes poured in from fans and stars alike, the spotlight certainly turned back to his love story with Hema Malini, a tale of sacrifice and stardom that captivated generations.
Hema Malini on love at first sight with Dharmendra
During an old interview with ITMB Shows, Hema got candid about the spark that confirmed Dharmendra was her soulmate, she laid it out plainly. Responding to how she defied conventions to marry him, she shared, “Love means you can’t see any right, left. You’re just simply in love with somebody and you go ahead. This is just a love at first sight, that’s it.”
Dharmendra’s family life before Hema Malini
Dharmendra’s personal life was anything but straightforward. At 19, in 1954, he entered an arranged marriage with Prakash Kaur, steeped in Punjabi traditions, well before his rise to fame. The couple welcomed four children: Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta Deol, and Ajeita Deol. In 1970, he met Hema Malini on a film set, and they fell deeply in love, despite him being a married father of four. Their bond flourished amid Bollywood classics like ‘Sholay’. In 1980, Dharmendra converted to Islam to wed Hema, using Muslim personal law that allowed a second marriage without divorce. They later had two daughters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.
Prakash Kaur on preferring Hema Malini
Through the entire saga, Prakash Kaur stood tall and proud. In a 1981 Stardust interview, she declared, “Why only my husband, any man would have preferred Hema over me. How dare anyone can call my husband a womaniser when half the industry is doing the same thing?”.
Hema Malini and family prayer meets post-Dharmendra
After Dharmendra’s passing thrust his layered family story back into the headlines one last time. Prakash Kaur gathered with sons Sunny and Bobby for a prayer meet at a Mumbai hotel, while Hema Malini held a different prayer meet for Dharmendra with daughters Esha and Ahana at their home. In Delhi, she organized yet another prayer meet, honoring him as Mathura’s BJP MP for the locals who cherished him deeply.
There were matters on which we agreed to disagree: HDFC CEO
HDFC Bank CEO and MD Sashidhar Jagdishan said in an interview with TOI that there were matters on which he and the former chairman agreed to disagree, and these were dealt with maturity on the board, and his resignation came as a surprise. However, Chinese whispers gave these a dramatic flavour outside.When did you come to know about the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty?After 4 pm, there were a few members who were a part of the nomination and remuneration committee (NRC), who got to know at about 2:30 p.m. But, I got to know as the meeting was being opened up.What was your initial reaction?Obviously, like every other member of the board, I was very shocked because there was no reason until then for him to do what he did because he was at the helm; he was rather intense and enjoying his role. He was efficiently handling the matters. So, we did ask him. We were even more shocked by the insertion of these two lines. We asked him, “If you do have any concerns or issues, why don’t you please table the same?” To which he said there were no issues to share. The board asked him vociferously to remove it. He remained steadfast and we had to accept and move on.Has the board constituted a committee or is looking at an independent evaluation? Will you recuse yourself in case of an enquiry?We will be convening multiple board meetings during the course of the week. There will be other meetings which we will convene to constitute such studies or examinations as they deem appropriate. It is very premature. If the board process says it is going to be independent, whether it’s a committee or otherwise, I’m not going to be a part of the committee.As CEO, are you comfortable with an independent investigation? Do you see the need for a completely independent panel?My personal view is that we should have one, ideally, an independent person as well in the committee. As to an independent panel, I need to understand… Are there people who will be available? Or whether there can be a firm which can be constituted? I’m not able to visualise as to what the collective body would be thinking about. But heart of hearts, that’s the right thinking to do-to have an independent person or an independent body of persons.There have been rumours about issues between you and the former chairman which led to this episode… In good governance, it is important that there are constructive deliberations and discussions. But I need to put my differing views on the table and not necessarily accept whatever is being thrust upon. I would expect a similar thought process in board and committee discussions. So, I’m not apologetic that there have been cases where we have agreed to disagree. But, it is only on substantive matters, and not on all matters. They could be people issues. For example, we would have a view as management on promotions or in reorganisations. Or, it could be performance assessment matrices: what should be thresholds for a good performance.There was talk that the former chairman had strong views on some issues and addressed executives, and at some point, RBI had a word with him. Are you aware of that?No, on the latter one, I don’t have visibility. I’m not aware of this. But, the ultimate authority of approval is with NRC, where he’s just a member; he is not the one who does that. One report spoke about a power struggle in management… there have been talks about division heads behaving like satraps…One of the positives of HDFC Bank is there are people with a lot of institutional knowledge. This gives solidity to the organisation. So, if some people have this perception, that is unfortunate. I am proud of my team. I wish I could protect and have all of them during my tenure. And, if at all I’m nominated or if the approvals come even in future, I would like to carry on with my team. If I’m unable to satisfy their ambitions, I’ll be sad to see them go. But having said that, we have enough depth in the organization.The action against the employees for mis-selling was taken immediately after the chairman resigned. There are reports of a police complaint filed by an employee, which triggered all this. Can you clarify?No link exists between the AT1 bond issue and the chairman’s exit. There is a timing overlap, nothing more. The Dubai regulator triggered a review that examined staff accountability, with the disciplinary panel sending findings to the board’s nomination committee, reflecting a rule-bound process. The issue was a Dubai onboarding/documentation gap, not mis-selling. Gaps were identified and actions taken across levels. In the Credit Suisse issue, the clients were well off and could take rational financial decisions. But when they lost money, they tried to find technical loopholes and tried to pin blame on the distributor. . On social media, there are complaints over mis-selling by the bank and also allegations against senior management persons. I’m happy to say that despite being one of the largest institutions in terms of distributing third-party products, we have one of the lowest mis-selling complaints accepted. I am not apologetic about it.
Chappell Roan controversy: Jorginho's wife issues statement – WATCH
Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan responded to accusations made by Brazilian-Italian soccer star Jorginho that a security guard mistreated his 11-year-old stepdaughter after she recognized the singer.In an Instagram post, Roan addressed the incident on Sunday, and said that the security guard was not her personal security and that she didn’t see a woman and a child.“It’s unfair for security to just assume someone doesn’t have good intentions,” Roan said. “I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do no hate children.”
Catherine Harding issues statement
After the singer distanced herself from the guard, Catherine Harding, the wife of footballer Jorginho Frello, a player for Flamengo widely known as Jorginho took to her social media handle to issue a video statement saying, “This is the last thing I am going to say about this now, because its getting a bit crazy.”Reacting to Roan’s claim that the security guard was not hers, Harding said that the man was not a part of the hotel’s team as well and told Chappell, “You have a responsibility as a celebrity…”Quoting the singer, she said, “She ‘didn’t notice anything’ or anyone, because, as my husband said, ‘nothing happened.’ Literally, we were staying in the same hotel. We were at breakfast, we noticed a girl walk past with long red hair, curley.” She then went on to share the conversation she had with her daughter, who was debating if the girl who passed them was the singer. Narrating the events that unfolded, she added, “My daughter didn’t have her phone, she didn’t try to take a picture, she didn’t approach her, she literally didn’t do anything. She just looked at her and smiled.” She went on to add that even after seeing Roan, her daughter was not convinved and thought that the woman may have been the singer’s sister. She also shared that they were in Brazil only to attend the concert, as it was a birthday present for the 11-year-old as she loved the singer and her music. However, after the diss, Harding confirmed that the family skipped the concert.
About the controversy
The controversy erupted after Jorginho Frello, said that his wife and the child were staying at the same hotel in Sao Paulo as the singer, who was in the country for the Lollapalooza Brazil music festival, when the controversy occurred.“During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognized her, got excited and just wanted to make sure it was really her,” Jorginho said, in a lengthy text posted on Instagram in Portuguese and English on Saturday. The girl is the daughter of Catherine Harding and British actor Jude Law. “She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything,” Jorginho said, adding that a security guard then came over to his family’s table and spoke “in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife and my daughter.”Jorginho said that Roan did not deserve her fans’ affection.
Chappell Roan barred from performing in Rio
Rio’s new mayor Eduardo Cavaliere weighed in on the controversy late on Saturday, saying that while he was mayor Roan would never perform on Copacabana Beach as Madonna and Lady Gaga have, and as Shakira will do in May.“I doubt that Shakira would do that!” he said, adding that Jorginho’s daughter would be a guest of honor at the Colombian superstar’s upcoming free concert on Rio’s sprawling sands. Cavaliere replaced former Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes on Friday.Roan, who is openly queer and taps into drag culture, was the sassy toast of the pop world in 2024 with tracks that include “Good Luck, Babe!” “Red Wine Supernova” and “Hot To Go!” from her 2023 album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Roan nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for best new artist last February.
Abhishek Sharma had ‘six-hitting skills from the start’, teammate reveals untold story | Cricket News
India’s Abhishek Sharma (ANI Photo)
Abhishek Sharma entered the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the No.1-ranked batter, expected to dominate with his aggressive strokeplay after a breakthrough 2025 season. However, the tournament turned into an early struggle for the 25-year-old, who began with three consecutive ducks and added a few more low scores, leading to criticism and questions over his place in the XI. Despite the poor start, Abhishek found his rhythm at a crucial stage. A composed 55 against Zimbabwe in the Super 8s hinted at a turnaround before he delivered when it mattered most. In the final against New Zealand, he smashed a 21-ball 52, putting on a 98-run opening stand with Sanju Samson to set up India’s title-winning victory. Having entered the tournament as the top-ranked batter, it was a campaign that tested both his methods and temperament before ending on a high. In an interaction with TOI, his long-time childhood friend and Punjab teammate Nehal Wadhera opened up on Abhishek’s journey, recalling how his talent was evident from a very young age. “Abhishek and I have been playing together since Under-14. So, yes, Abhishek definitely had those hitting skills from the start,” Wadhera said. He went on to recount a memorable Under-16 game that underlined Abhishek’s ability to perform under pressure. “I still remember when, in the Under-16 state tournament, he was captaining us. Him, me, Shubman, Prabhsimran, Naman Dhir — every one of us was together, and we won the championship that year as well. There was a game against Gujarat where we were chasing 410 on a turning track on the last day. Abhishek and Shubman chased it down. I think one made 150 and the other made 180. We always knew what he was capable of.” Wadhera emphasised that the aggressive batter the world sees today is a result of both natural ability and sustained hard work. “The game that we are watching now, we already knew about it. But he has definitely worked on it. How he has maximised the opportunities in the powerplay is really commendable. All thanks to Yuvraj Singh and his father, who coach and mentor him.” From watching Abhishek’s rise, Wadhera has also built his own path in the IPL, growing steadily as a dependable middle-order batter.
Learning from Ricky Ponting
Wadhera spoke about the impact of head coach Ricky Ponting at Punjab Kings, recalling his first interaction during a camp in Dharamshala. “That was the first time I met him. He’s a very jolly person, always positive and always keeping the environment happy,” Wadhera said. “When I was hitting boundaries and sixes, he was appreciating me. I even asked him about his mindset while playing international cricket and how he handled fast bowlers during his time.” “For a head coach, maintaining a positive environment is the most important thing. I think he’s doing a really good job.”
Playing under Rohit Sharma
Wadhera began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians, making his debut under Rohit Sharma, an experience he still values highly.
Rohit Sharma with Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera (PTI Photo)
“I was fortunate enough to make my debut under Rohit Sharma. He’s someone I idolised growing up. I’ll always be grateful. I really enjoyed my time with MI as well, the two years I was there.”
Leadership of Shreyas Iyer
Now part of the Punjab Kings setup, Wadhera highlighted what sets captain Shreyas Iyer apart. “He has a different aura. He encourages players to play freely, regardless of results. That gives a lot of confidence.”
Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera (ANI Photo)
He added that such freedom allows players to express themselves fully and carry their domestic form onto the IPL stage without fear. Wadhera’s own IPL journey reflects steady growth. He made his debut in 2023, scoring two half-centuries in his first season. While opportunities were limited in 2024, he still made an impression with a 49 off 24 in his comeback match. After being released ahead of the 2025 Mega auction, he attracted interest from multiple franchises before Punjab Kings secured him for INR 4.20 crore. He justified that investment by scoring 369 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of over 145, playing a key role in the team’s run to the final.
Nehal Wadhera
Looking ahead, Wadhera remains firmly focused on collective success rather than personal milestones, especially after Punjab Kings fell agonisingly short last season. “There are personal goals, but I’ll speak about them once they are fulfilled. The only goal right now is to win the trophy.” Having missed out on the title by the narrowest of margins — a six-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final — Wadhera is determined to go one better this time. With a settled core, clearly defined roles and strong backing from the management, Punjab Kings head into IPL 2026 with renewed belief as they aim to turn last year’s heartbreak into silverware.
Ranveer-Deepika pose for selfies post lunch date – PICS
As the internet went into a meltdown questioning Deepika Padukone‘s silence on her husband, Ranveer Singh‘s box office blockbuster, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the couple made a calm and cool appearance in the city. While the film shattered box office records at the domestic and international box office, Ranveer and Deepika were spotted enjoying a quiet day out in the city, on a lunch date. Ditching the usual celebrity hotspots, the couple made a low-key appearance at a local restaurant to mark their first public appearance together following the release of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’.Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone spotted on a lunch dateAfter photos of the two braving the large crowds went viral, new photos of the couple, obliging the restaurant’s team with selfies, have begun doing the rounds online. In the pic, Ranveer and DP, rocking simple tees and jeans, were seen cuddling up together as they posed for a selfie with the restaurant’s staff. The couple also obliged a few others with selfies as they casually wrapped their arms around them. Both actors appeared in high spirits, as they flashed wide smiles while posing for the photos. Fans cheer for Ranveer Singh after lunch dateIn videos from their day out, fans could be heard chanting “Babbar Sher” as Ranveer made his exit. Despite tight security, some fans were seen reaching out to shake Singh’s hand as he followed Deepika to their waiting car. Fans slam Deepika Padukone for silence on ‘Dhurandhar 2’ successTheir outing and viral photos come amid chatter online with fans slamming Deepika for her alleged ‘silence’ on her husband’s film. The actress set tongues wagging over the weekend when she skipped the film’s special screening, but was spotted attending a concert in Mumbai with her mother-in-law the very next day. Social media users have also pointed out that Padukone had not shared any posts promoting, reviewing or even congratulating Singh or ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ team for the film’s success on her social media platforms.While neither actor has addressed the controversy, their joint appearance has seemingly quietened down the nasty messages online.
IPL 2026: Kohli, Iyer put in the hard yards during training
RCB began their preparations for the upcoming IPL season with an intense three-hour training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday.
Opener Virat Kohli was seen playing a few shots and taking on the bowlers in a video posted by RCB on their social media handles.
The session also saw wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma and new recruit all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer spending extended time in the nets.
Iyer found his rhythm after initially struggling, while top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal looked composed despite mistiming a few shots against both net bowlers and throwdown specialists.
Jitesh combined wicketkeeping drills with batting and appeared comfortable against short-pitched deliveries.
Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and leg-spinner Suyash Sharma kept the batters in check with disciplined bowling.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Dhurandhar 2 chaos in Hyderabad: Hindi-Telugu clash sparks fight
Fight erupts at Hyderabad PVR over Dhurandhar 2 screening mixing Hindi-Telugu tickets on one screen. Viral videos show chaos during Cocktail 2 promo; cops intervene. Theater plays Hindi despite Telugu bookings. Netizens meme it up. Aditya Dhar’s spy sequel earned ₹500cr+; South dubs delayed to March 21.
Aditya Dhar expanded ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ beyond Hindi, releasing it in every major South Indian language, unlike the first installment. Tensions boiled over at a Hyderabad multiplex during the Ranveer Singh spectacle, with a clash breaking out amid tickets sold for Hindi and Telugu on one screen.
‘Dhurandhar 2 ’ screening chaos
An Instagram user shared a video alleging she had booked seats at the PVR in Hyderabad’s Next Galleria Mall, Punjagutta. As the screening halts for an on-screen ‘Cocktail 2’ promo, viewers are visibly arguing among themselves. She notes that the multiplex sold tickets for both Telugu and Hindi versions on the same screen.She mentions that the tickets were purchased via a popular ticket booking app, which listed screenings for both Telugu and Hindi versions. The crowd argues over which language to play, with a woman shouting, “But the Telugu version was booked first.” While the Instagram user quips about having ‘fun,’ police and theater staff work to de-escalate, as viewers demand a separate screen for Hindi or Telugu, or threaten to watch from the stairs.
She followed up with another video, stating the theater screened the Hindi version despite tickets sold for Telugu. As the clips went viral, one Instagram user quipped, “Movie already 4 hours, Inko 1 hour extra fun (Movie is already four hours long, one more hour of added fun).” Another suggested, “1st half telugu lo vesi 2nd half hindi lo veste saripothunde anthey simple (Play first half in Telugu and second in Hindi, simple).” One even joked she should’ve picked tickets for Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh instead.
‘Dhurandhar 2’ plot and release
Aditya Dhar wrote, directed, and produced ‘Dhurandhar 2’, the sequel to his 2025 hit ‘Dhurandhar’. The spy action film follows an Indian spy sent to Lyari in Pakistan to stop a terror group. It mixes real events with made-up story in two parts. Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and others came back for the movie. The Hindi version released on March 19, with paid previews on March 18. South Indian language versions got delayed due to late content delivery, even though tickets were sold. The CBFC approved the dubs on March 19, and they hit screens on March 21.
Socialist Emmanuel Gregoire wins Paris mayoral race | Elections News
Results show lie of political land before 2027 presidential election to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron.
Published On 22 Mar 2026
The Socialist Party’s Emmanuel Gregoire has won the Paris mayoral race, as the results of nationwide municipal elections showed gains for the traditional left and right, and a major win for the far right in the city of Nice.
Sunday’s run-off votes in more than 1,500 communes saw Gregoire on course to become mayor of the French capital, with exit polls showing that the far-right National Rally (RN) fell short of taking control of the key southern cities of Marseille and Toulon.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
Gregoire, who headed a list uniting the traditional left, the Greens and the Communists, clinched the prized mayoralty with an estimated 51 to 53 percent of the vote, according to pollsters, seeing off Conservative rival Rachida Dati, who conceded defeat.
The 48-year-old son of a teacher and civil servant is stepping into the spotlight after previously serving as deputy to outgoing mayor and fellow Socialist Anne Hidalgo. During his bid, he had promised that Paris would stand as a “city of refuge” and a “bastion against the right and the far right”.
In Marseille, the second-largest city in the country, Socialist Mayor Benoit Payan was on track to be re-elected with 56.3 percent of the vote, according to an Elabe poll for BFM TV. RN’s chances of winning the coveted prize took a hit after the withdrawal of a hard-left candidate from France Unbowed (LFI) aimed at uniting left-wing voters.
Socialist Party chief Olivier Faure hailed the wins in Paris and Marseille, positioning his party as a bulwark against the far right. “Only the left can prevent France from this regression,” he said.
In Toulon, an Elebe poll showed centre-right candidate Josée Massi leading at 53.5 percent, with RN candidate Laure Lavalette conceding defeat. Yet, senior RN officials rejected suggestions that the party’s loss indicated it had hit a “glass ceiling” ahead of next year’s presidential election.
“The National Rally and its candidates have achieved tonight, in this municipal election, the biggest breakthrough in its entire history,” RN chief Jordan Bardella said, alluding to wins in local constituencies where it previously had no presence.
In the first round, Bardella’s anti-immigration party won re-election in the southern city of Perpignan, and it won in smaller cities, too. And on Sunday, exit polls indicated that Eric Ciotti, a former mainstream conservative who is now an ally of the RN, won in Nice, France’s fifth-biggest city.
Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was re-elected mayor in his northern city of Le Havre, according to the TF1 and LCI broadcasters, delivering a better-than-expected performance that boosts his hopes of running for president in 2027.
Philippe, a centre-right politician who served as prime minister under centrist President Emmanuel Macron, made a speech with a clear national message, saying his victory showed that “there were reasons to be hopeful” in the values of France and that the extremes can be beaten.
Turnout at 5pm local time (16:00 GMT) was just higher than 48 percent in France’s mainland, more than than in the 2020 vote held during the COVID-19 pandemic, but four points lower than in 2014, according to the Ministry of Interior.
IPL 2026: Ali Bacher’s grandson Jarren turns net bowler at CSK, dreams big | Cricket News
Jarren Bacher (Image credit: Instagram)
CHENNAI: Aron ‘Ali’ Bacher is a South African cricketing legend, a name that is firmly etched in the country’s history. As a player, captain and longserving administrator, he made an impact both on and off the field. He led South Africa to a 4-0 Test series whitewash over Australia in 1969-70, during the Apartheid era, and later played a key role in helping more nonwhite cricketers get opportunities at the highest level.While his nephew Adam Bacher played Test cricket for South Africa in the late 1990s, now it’s Ali’s grandson Jarren’s turn to try and make a mark. The 22-year-old off-spinner is contracted with the Johannesburg Super Kings in the SA20 league and is currently at the Chennai Super Kings camp here as a net bowler.
Jarren initially began as a wicketkeeper-batter before shifting to off-break bowling. When asked who his role model, pat came the reply: “My hero is Ravi Ashwin since I was about 13. He’s a fighter. He never gives up. Some people say he plays the game quite hard, but I like that. He’s got this real never-give-up attitude, and I feel like batters fear him like they would a fast bowler. I enjoy that aspect of his game a lot. Unfortunately have not met him yet, but I hope that the opportunity comes,” Jarren, who hopes to play for CSK one day, told TOI on the sidelines of the 12th Pavit Singh Nayar Memorial T20 tournament at Guru Nanak College Ground on Saturday.Going back in time about his initial days as a cricketer, Jarren said: “I first took an interest in cricket because of my family. My dad (David) was a cricket coach and my uncle (Aaron Nickel) and grandfather (Ali) both played cricket professionally. And when I was about three, my dad started teaching me how to bat for the first time. My family never put too much pressure on me. They wanted me to figure out my love for the game by myself. And speaking for myself, the love for the game has always been there.”Jarren acknowledged that he wasn’t the “best cricketer for a very long time”. “I never played at high level while I was growing up at school. It was when I turned 17 that I decided I really want to make a career out of this. So then I decided to leave South Africa by myself and moved to England for four years and sacrificed a lot. My parents sacrificed a lot for me to give me the opportunity to develop my game. I trained as hard as I possibly could and when I felt I was ready to become a professional, I moved back to South Africa. And I took opportunities that were there for me,” Jarren said.
