Noufal PN`s first-half strike, backed by a standout defensive performance, guided Mumbai City FC to a 1-0 victory over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their Indian Super League match here on Friday. Mumbai City FC moved to the top of the standings with this victory, staying unbeaten and going one point clear of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who slipped to second with 13 points. Phurba Lachenpa was adjudged the Player of the Match for a series of crucial saves.
The contest began at a lively tempo, with Mohun Bagan dominating possession in the early exchanges, while Mumbai City looked to threaten on the counter. Noufal had the first attempt in the sixth minute but fired over from distance after being set up by captain Lallianzuala Chhangte. The Mariners continued to control the ball, with right winger Liston Colaco seeing his effort blocked by Mumbai City centre-back Nuno Reis in the 19th minute.
The Islanders responded with a swift counterattack three minutes later as Chhangte found himself one-on-one with Vishal Kaith, but the goalkeeper stood firm to deny him before Mehtab Singh cleared the danger. The Islanders took the lead in the 27th minute following a well-worked team move. A swift switch of play between four Mumbai City players from right to left found Noufal in space, and the winger produced a composed right-footed finish into the far corner to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Mohun Bagan pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but were repeatedly denied by Lachenpa. The Mumbai goalkeeper made an excellent diving save in the 40th minute to keep out Jason Cummings` header, and followed it up with a series of stops to deny Dimitri Petratos from distance. Despite end-to-end action, Mumbai City carried a slender 1-0 lead into the break. The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Mohun Bagan dominating possession and Mumbai City looking dangerous on the counter.
Colaco tested Lachenpa early after the restart, while Vikram Pratap Singh forced a save from Kaith at the other end. Maclaren came close in the 60th minute but dragged his effort wide, and moments later Petratos thought he had equalised after a rebound, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Lachenpa continued to stand tall, producing another fine save in the 69th minute to deny Mohun Bagan once again. Despite relentless pressure and dominating possession, Mohun Bagan were unable to find the breakthrough as Mumbai City`s organised defensive unit held firm.
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Days after getting discharged from the hospital following prolonged health crises, veteran writer Salim Khan made his first appearance on Saturday on the occasion of Eid. The screenwriter joined his family, including sons Salman Khan, Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan, as they all greeted their fans. Salman Khan also shared a video of the same, sharing his father`s health update, thanking fans and wishing them on the festival.
Salim Khan makes first appearance after discharge
In the videos surfaced on social media, Salim Khan is seen in a wheelchair on the balcony of their Galaxy apartment as he waved at fans and the media outside. Salim was joined by his entire family, including wife Salma Khan, sons Salman Khan, Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan and daughters Alvira Khan Agnihotri and Arpita Khan. Salim Khan’s grandchildren also accompanied him for the balcony appearance.
For the occasion, Salman Khan was seen sporting a brown shirt with blue denim as he greeted fans with folded hands, waved and even blew a kiss to his fans.
For the unversed, Salim Khan was discharged from Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital on March 17 following a month of treatment there. Doctors had earlier confirmed that the writer had suffered a minor haemorrhage. “There was minimal brain haemorrhage. A small procedure was done this morning, and it was accomplished. He is fine and stable, but is still on a ventilator. By tomorrow, hopefully, we will take him off the ventilator. All in all, he’s doing quite well. Keeping his age in mind, the recovery time is longer,” Dr Jaleel Parkar had stated.
Salman Khan wishes fans on Eid 2026
Meanwhile, Salman Khan took to social media to share a glimpse of his Eid celebrations with fans, where he was joined by his entire family. Wishing his fans, Salman Khan shared a video of Salim Khan waving at fans from their balcony. The clip also shows fans gathered outside the actor’s Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai.
Salman captioned his post, “Eid Mubarak, Thank you very much for your blessings, Dad is back home thank you,” accompanied by his latest song Chand Dekh Lena from his upcoming war drama Maathrubhumi.
When his country’s defense minister and namesake Israel Katz said Saturday that strikes against Iran would “significantly increase” in the coming weeks, it seemed to contradict what Donald Trump had said just hours earlier.
President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One on March 20 at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, where he spends the weekend. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
The US President had said that he was considering ending military operations. But this was typical Trump – unexpected, even incongruous.
Even the US military itself continues to take actions that seem to contradict Commander-in-Chief Trump, as the US administration has announced that it is sending its troops. More warships and navies Or soldiers in the Middle East (West Asia). Trump’s “winding down” comments came shortly after he also ruled out a ceasefire and left the door open for the deployment of ground troops.
“As we think, we are getting very close to meeting our objectives winding down Our great military efforts in the Middle East,” he said later in a social media post on Friday, US time.
In his own words he later told reporters that he “may, or may not, have a plan” about where the conflict goes from here.
There were mixed messages from the US under Trump after the US stock market fell after another rise in oil prices.
So much so, that the Trump administration even announced that it would lift the ban. Iranian oil loaded on ships, A move aimed at tackling rising prices. Iran has said there is nothing on its ships at sea anyway.
Social media was abuzz over how Trump’s war led to sanctions being lifted against the very country he attacked.
The irony matches how Trump has oscillated between claims of fear and calls for help throughout the three weeks of war, which began when the US and Israel bombed Tehran on February 28 and killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
the war continues
Iran has since escalated the conflict to Gulf countries where US bases are located. Thus, the war shows no signs of abating.
Iran said this on Saturday Natanz Nuclear Facility It was hit in an airstrike on Saturday but there has been no radiation leakage. Israel said Iran continued to fire missiles at it throughout the day, while Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a few hours in the country’s eastern region, which is home to major oil installations.
Iran has also hit an elite class F-35 US military jets tried to attack the US-UK joint base on Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean, about 4,000 km away. This raised some eyebrows regarding Iran’s stated positionAnd America claims that Tehran has missiles that can reach a maximum distance of 2,000 kilometers.
Trump’s departure from office was being linked to these incidents. But Trump’s commitment to more troops, and even being open to a ground invasion of Iran, muddied the message a bit more.
political mood within America
Inside the US, the Republican Party has so far supported Trump, despite the high-profile resignation of Joe Kent, Trump’s main man on counter-terrorism, less than a week ago.
Under the War Powers Act, the President can conduct military operations for up to 60 days without the approval of the US Congress. So far, Republicans have easily rejected several proposals from Democrats designed to halt the military campaign.
“The real question is: What are we really trying to accomplish?” Republican Senator Thom Tillis told news agency AP. “I generally support anything that takes out the mullahs,” he said, referring to Islamic fundamentalists.
“But at the end of the day, there has to be some kind of strategic articulation of the strategy, what our objectives are,” he said, underscoring the confusion so far over many of Trump’s stances. Trump’s Truth Social also reflects this fluctuation, as Hindustan Times analyzed earlier this week.
In terms of objectives, Trump and his team have talked about regime change, oil security, “freedom for women”, avoiding nuclear war, and general instability as reasons for attacking Iran. Israeli leaders have also talked about this from a religious perspective. Right now, there is much at stake in the Strait of Hormuz, which takes this conflict beyond just the immediate political, or religious, objectives of the US and Israel.
Support for the war within the United States remains weak. An NBC News poll last week found that 54% of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict.
The ability of Iran to attack the Diego Garcia base, or even a failed attempt, adds a new dimension to the conflict.
Iran has already compared the ongoing conflict “Another Vietnam” For the US, it refers to the war of the 1960s in which the US lost more than 50,000 soldiers.
Why does Diego Garcia matter?
Diego Garcia Air Base is home to approximately 2,500 US personnel and has supported US military operations from Vietnam to Iraq, Afghanistan and attacks on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. It is part of the Chagos Islands, a remote archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the tip of India. These islands have been under British control since 1814.
They are at the center of Britain’s dispute with Trump over Britain’s plan to hand sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius and then lease back only the Diego Garcia base. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says this will protect the future of the base, which is currently vulnerable to a legal challenge. The Trump administration initially welcomed the agreement, but in January Trump called it a “big, stupid move.”
What does Iran say on the war situation?
Meanwhile, Iran informed India That the US and Israel should end hostilities, and international blocs such as the India-led BRICS should play “an independent role”.
He claimed that he had not started the war and had the right to defend himself.
The death toll from the war in Iran exceeds 1,300; More than 1,000 people in Lebanon, which is being attacked by Israel in parallel with the presence of Iran-backed Hezbollah; 15 in Israel and 13 US military members. Millions of people have been displaced in Lebanon and Iran.
Russia confirms Iran ties
As for Iran’s allies, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the attack on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility a “blatant violation of international law.” In a statement posted on the ministry’s website on Saturday, Zakharova said such “irresponsible actions” posed a “real threat of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East” and were “clearly aimed at further undermining peace, stability and security in the region”.
As the war has now spread to almost all countries in the Gulf region, sirens continue to sound, including in Bahrain on Saturday.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues
At the heart of the protracted war from the American perspective is Iran’s occupation of the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump has also claimed the US could open at any time, had refused to ask for NATO help, and is now saying it will open. Opens automatically at some point.
On top of that, the head of US Central said in his latest video update on the war that the US military “remains on track with a plan to eliminate Iran’s ability to project meaningful power outside its borders”.
Admiral Brad Cooper also detailed steps taken to weaken Iran’s control Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for international commerce Like oil shipment. Earlier in the week, several 5,000-pound bombs were dropped on an underground facility along Iran’s coastline that was used to store anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile missile launchers and other equipment “that pose a dangerous threat to international shipping,” he said in a post on Twitter.
“Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz has diminished and we will not stop pursuing these goals,” he said in the video.
Meanwhile, countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and Australia have all condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels as well as oil and gas facilities in the region.
Eid prayers in Tehran
Meanwhile, thousands of Iranian worshipers on Saturday gathered at Tehran’s Grand Mosque for Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. AP footage showed worshipers lining up for prayers at the Imam Khomeini Mosque and its vast courtyard, as Israel and the United States continued massive airstrikes against Iran.
“It’s really a painful feeling,” Masoud Alibenam, 50, said of prayers being offered without Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “The leader is no longer here, and we are praying in his absence.”
Worshipers also held the funeral for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Gen. Ali Mohammed Naini, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Friday. The last rites of pro-government cultural activist Amir Hussain Bedi were also held after Eid prayers.
Bahrain’s account differs from how the US military described the March 9 incident on the day
Published On 21 Mar 202621 Mar 2026
A Bahraini official has said a Patriot air defence system intercepted an Iranian drone over a residential neighbourhood earlier this month, an account that apparently differs from the United States military’s own description of the same incident.
Bahrain’s government spokesperson made the disclosure on Saturday, referring to an attack on March 9 in the capital, Manama.
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The interception had prevented a drone strike and saved lives, the spokesperson said.
The account given by the US military that day said an Iranian drone had struck a residential neighbourhood, injuring civilians.
On March 9, the US military’s Central Command posted on X that Russian and Iranian media had claimed a Patriot missile had missed its target and hit a neighbourhood in Bahrain. “LIE,” CENTCOM said, describing those reports as false.
CENTOM said that what had “really happened” was that “an Iranian drone struck a residential neighbourhood, injuring 32 civilians in Bahrain, including children who required medical treatment.”
Bahrain’s own Ministry of Interior had also posted on X on March 9, confirming that a 29-year-old Bahraini woman had been killed and eight people injured when a residential building in Manama was struck. It said the incident was the result of “Iranian aggression”.
The Bahrain Defence Force said at the time that its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 102 missiles and 171 drones since Iran began targeting the country on February 28, describing the attacks as a “brazen violation of international humanitarian law.”
The March 9 incidents took place during an intensifying wave of Iranian strikes across the Gulf, following the US-Israeli military attack against Iran that began on February 28.
An estimated 1,400 people have been killed in Iran and just over a thousand in Lebanon, where at least a million people have also been displaced.
Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and Naval Forces Central Command, making it a strategically significant target.
Bahrain’s government has not addressed the discrepancy between its current account and the US military’s statement from March 9. Al Jazeera has contacted CENTCOM for comment on the discrepancy between its account and Bahrain’s.
Abhishek Sharma put behind his early struggles in the T20 World Cup 2026 with a blistering knock in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s intra-squad clash, smashing a quickfire 94 to signal his return to form. The left-hander, who endured a mixed World Cup campaign, looked in full flow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The 25-year-old opened for SRH A in a warm-up game on Saturday and played his trademark attacking brand of cricket, racing to 94 off just 42 balls before being dismissed by Brydon Carse. Speaking after the game on social media, Ravichandran Ashwin noted how Abhishek seemed to be building towards something bigger.
Watch the video here:
“SRH ‘A’ just finished their batting innings and ended up making 240+ in their practice match at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium… Abhishek Sharma narrowly missed a ton to probably save up for the main event…”
Abhishek’s knock was the standout performance in a high-scoring outing, with Heinrich Klaasen contributing 49 off 31 balls, while new recruit Salil Arora impressed with a rapid 47 off just 16 deliveries. Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan added 18 as SRH A posted a massive total in excess of 240.
Abhishek’s World Cup campaign was a tale of two halves. After missing a group-stage game due to illness, he returned to register three consecutive ducks, raising concerns over his form at a crucial stage.
However, the left-hander bounced back when it mattered most. He finished the tournament with 141 runs in eight innings, including a crucial 52 off 21 balls in the final against New Zealand and a quickfire 55 in the Super 8 stage against Zimbabwe.
Those performances helped him end the tournament on a high, even if the overall numbers did not fully reflect his impact.
With IPL 2026 around the corner, Sunrisers Hyderabad will take confidence from Abhishek’s return to form. They begin their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, with Ishan Kishan set to lead in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins.
Actor Rakesh Bedi is currently receiving immense praise for his performance in Dhurandhar The Revenge. The film has been breaking records since its release, and the frenzy around it continues. Amid this, a 12-year-old video has surfaced online showing Rakesh calling himself ‘Dhurandhar’ in one of his TV appearances, and fans believe he may have manifested being a part of the film.
Rakesh Bedi’s old video calling himself Dhurandhar surfaces online.
Rakesh Bedi’s old video calling himself Dhurandhar surfaces online
On Saturday, an Instagram user shared a video of Rakesh Bedi from the popular show Qubool Hai. In the series, which featured Karan Singh Grover and Surbhi Jyoti in lead roles, Rakesh appeared as an official determined to deport Jyoti’s character, Zoya Faruqui. He appeared in a few episodes during Zoya and Asad’s fake engagement track.
In the clip, which has now become the talk of the town, he is heard warning Zoya’s character, “Aansun, paisa, political pressure yaa aapki faltu ki dramebazi, in sab baaton ka Dhurandhar Watavdekar par koi asar nahi padta (Neither tears, money, political pressure, nor your pointless drama has any effect on Dhurandhar Watavdekar).” The caption on the video read, “Bro mentioned before that he was a Dhurandhar, but no one believed him.”
The video sparked hilarious reactions from fans. One of the comments read, “Bro manifested the peak detailing.” Another joked, “Qubool Hai was the prequel to Dhurandhar.” Another commented, “He is the ‘project Dhurandhar’… Ranveer is just Jaskeerat Singh Rangi.” Another fan wrote, “Sir, manifestation at its peak.” Another added, “Peak detailing by Aditya Dhar.” Another comment read, “Bro was the real Dhurandhar all along.”
About Dhurandhar The Revenge
In Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Rakesh essays the role of a Pakistani politician and Ranveer Singh’s character’s father-in-law, Jameel Jamali. His witty one-liners and dialogues add humour to the film. Helmed by Aditya Dhar, the film released in theatres on March 19. The much-awaited project opened to positive reviews from both audiences and critics. However, it has also faced criticism, with some calling it “propaganda”. Despite this, the film has crossed the ₹300 crore mark at the domestic box office in just three days.
The film stars Ranveer Singh as Hamza Ali Mazari, aka Jaskirat Singh Rangi, an Indian spy who infiltrates the Pakistani underworld to dismantle the terror network affecting India. While the first part set the base, the sequel explores his backstory and the path to his revenge. The film also stars Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt and R. Madhavan in key roles and is expected to outperform the first instalment, which collected ₹1300 crore worldwide.
India is preparing a contingency plan to evacuate its ships currently stuck in the Persian Gulf. (AI image)
Looking to secure crucial energy supplies amidst the Middle East crisis and US-Iran war, India is readying a plan to get ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz. India is preparing a contingency plan to evacuate its ships currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, aiming to secure supplies of around roughly three days of the country’s total demand for crude oil, natural gas, and cooking fuel. The plan may involve deploying naval escorts to guide vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, discussions are in progress to facilitate the movement of two container ships stranded in the region that are awaiting transit through the same route, according to an ET report.
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India Weighs Return To Iranian Crude As US Grants Short Waiver During Oil Supply Disruption
Altogether, 22 vessels, including 20 carrying energy cargo and two container ships, have been identified for evacuation to ensure a safe and coordinated withdrawal. India imports a big percentage of its crude oil, LPG, and LNG needs and a substantial portion of that transits through the Strait of Hormuz which is a narrow maritime route, in effect closed since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war.
Ships stranded near Strait of Hormuz – hit on Indian economy
A near-term impact assessment on the Gulf situation noted that efforts are underway to organise naval protection and other safety arrangements to enable these ships to exit the Strait of Hormuz in an orderly manner. The vessels in question are three liquefied natural gas carriers, 10 liquefied petroleum gas carriers, seven crude oil tankers, and two container ships.According to the assessment prepared by the Directorate General of Shipping, prolonged disruptions to maritime activity in the Gulf region could create notable macroeconomic challenges for India. These pressures are expected to stem from higher shipping costs as well as a persistent increase of $3–5 per barrel in crude oil prices.Also Read | Trump sanctions waiver for Iran crude oil: What does it mean for India amid Strait of Hormuz supply disruptions?India’s annual import expenditure is projected to rise by Rs 30,000–50,000 crore, which could expand the quarterly trade deficit by $5–10 billion. As a result, Wholesale Price Index inflation is likely to increase by 0.3 to 0.7 percentage points, while logistics costs across the country may temporarily edge up from the current 13–14 percent to about 14–15 percent of GDP, the ET report said.
The DG Shipping assessment also highlights that shipment delays, pressure on margins, and a spike in container freight rates could drag overall export growth down by 2 to 4 percentage points.In addition, nearly 70,400 TEUs of containers remain stranded at both major ports operated by the central government and non-major ports managed by state authorities. To tackle these challenges, the Centre is considering measures such as the RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme, along with waivers on port-related charges like ground rent and dwell time.The escalation in West Asia follows a joint Israel-US airstrike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has carried out strikes across the region, targeting vessel movement near the Strait of Hormuz.
Juhi Chawla started an eco-friendly initiative for years with a gesture — planting trees for friends and family as a gift on their special days. Instead of traditional presents, the actor prefers celebrating occasions like birthdays or anniversaries by planting saplings.
Juhi Chawla
On International Day of Forests today, Juhi insists how this practise has become a part of her being. “Recently, a cousin asked me, ‘you have been planting trees for so many people, and Jay (Mehta, husband) and your kids, when are you doing it for me?’ I found it amusing as, in the beginning, no one cared, but now it is expected of me,” she tells us.
While the actor feels glad when people appreciate her gesture, she emphasises on why it is the need of the hour: “Trees don’t need us, we need them. We are not saving the Earth [by planting trees], we do this to save ourselves.”
Sharing how this practise of her came into effect, the actor adds, “So many environmental movements begin with a lot of enthusiasm, but die out in time. I thought, how about I pledge trees for my friends and family on their birthdays instead of sending them flowers? It will become an annual thing and they would flourish for generations. Somewhere even the winds would carry the freshness from those trees to all our children. Thus it began, and I’m so happy that today, we have crossed our target of planting one lakh trees, with many people getting inspired to join this initiative.”
Chandigarh: A lingering chill in the Mullanpur air—unusual for this time of the year—set the backdrop as Punjab Kings (PBKS) began their preparations for IPL 2026 on Saturday. With nine days to go before they open against Gujarat Titans, the mood in the camp was focused and purposeful.
Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh. (HT Photo)
At the centre of that intent is middle-order batter Shashank Singh, who has emerged as one of PBKS’s most reliable finishers over the past two seasons. He echoed captain Shreyas Iyer’s outlook, the ambition clear.
“This year is all about winning the trophy,” Shashank said. “Everyone, from players to support staff, shares that mindset. We know where we fell short last year and we are determined to cross that line this time.”
The pain of last season lingers. PBKS finished runners-up, falling just six runs short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a gripping final. For Shashank, 34, that loss has only made the team hungrier for the first title.
He has risen in IPL only after joining PBKS in 2024. After stints on the bench with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Rajasthan Royals, he finally made his league debut with Sunrisers Hyderabad, a barely noticed 69 runs in 10 games in 2022. However, the Madhya Pradesh player’s transfer to Chhattisgarh via Puducherry finally saw him make a mark in domestic cricket.
In 2024, he made his IPL breakthrough—354 runs playing all 14 matches (avg 44.25, SR 164.65). His 61* off 29 balls against Gujarat Titans was a defining innings. It showcased his finishing and earned the trust within the setup. One of only two players to be retained ahead of 2025 IPL, he scored 350 with three fifties, averaging 50 across 17 games.
Shashank credits head coach Ricky Ponting for shaping his mindset.
“Ricky sir has been a huge influence. Last year, when I wasn’t scoring much in practice games, he told me to stop overthinking and just express myself. That really helped me. Even during my injury, he kept checking in. That support builds confidence.”
Injuries did interrupt his domestic season, a shoulder issue and a fracture limiting his appearances. However, Shashank says the continuity within PBKS has helped offset any disruption.
“The preparation has been really good,” he said. “I couldn’t play many matches, but as a team, we have great continuity—most of the squad is the same as last year. That brings clarity in roles. We know what we need to do, and we have match-winners.”
Having batted in most positions, Shashank has settled into the lower middle-order, where the ability to handle pressure has made him an asset. “Over the last two seasons, I’ve mostly batted at No.5, 6, or 7, and I’ve started enjoying that role. Those are crucial moments in the game, and I like the responsibility. With more experience, I feel comfortable there.”
The focus thus is no longer on himself. “Last year was about proving myself, but this year is about consistency and contributing to wins,” he said. “It’s not just about how many runs I score, but about making those runs count in match-winning situations.”
In a batting line-up anchored by Shreyas Iyer and having emerging names Nehal Wadhera and Mitchell Owen, Shashank’s role becomes more crucial. “Power-hitting is part of the role, but finishing matches is what I crave. There were games last season where I couldn’t finish, so this year I want to make sure I do that and win matches,” he said.
Shashank praised Iyer’s leadership.
“Shreyas is a fantastic leader and, more importantly, a great human being,” he said. “He treats everyone equally, whether you perform or not… His attitude never changes, and that’s very important in a team environment.”
Shashank is ready to bat wherever he is asked to. “We have a strong batting line-up with players capable of performing in different roles. The best part about this team is the trust given by the management—there’s no fear of failure, and that freedom helps us perform better.”
For a team that has often come close without crossing the line, that flexibility could make the difference.
The off-screen friction between Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon during the filming of Andaz Apna Apna has long been the stuff of Bollywood legend. Over the years, even Aamir Khan and Raveena have spoken about how the lead actors struggled to get along on set. Now, costume designer Ashley Rebello has shed fresh light on how this rivalry extended to their on-screen appearances, particularly their costumes.Rebello, who had earlier worked with Aamir Khan on Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, recalled how he landed the opportunity to design for Andaz Apna Apna. He shared that after his previous project, he had expected more offers, but when that didn’t happen, he briefly shifted to production work. During an ad shoot with Raveena, he stepped in to fix a last-minute wardrobe issue after her designer failed to turn up.“I went to Raveena and asked what the issue was with her outfit. I told her I would fix it, and I delivered the corrected outfit on time. After trying it, she said, ‘My God, this is amazing. Did you do this?’ She asked me what I do, and I told her I am a designer and that I had worked on Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. She said, ‘Oh, you are that Ashley Rebello?’ I said yes. She then asked why I wasn’t doing more films. I told her no one was offering me work. Raveena told me, ‘Ashley, don’t wait for people to give you work, ask for it.’ So I asked her if she would give me work, and she said, of course. She called me home and told me she was starting a new film. That film was Andaz Apna Apna,” he said on a podcast with Avinash Tripathi.He went on to explain that the competition between the actresses even influenced how they styled themselves on screen, especially in the song ‘Yeh Raat Aur Yeh Doori’. “Raveena told me we had to wear nighties for the song, but we needed to make them look different. I watch a lot of English films, so I wanted to bring that aesthetic into Hindi cinema. I added feathers and fur to her nighties. The director loved it and said it looked beautiful and could become a trend. There were three nighties in the same song, and we made each one better than the other.”Rebello also revealed how closely Karisma’s team kept tabs on Raveena’s looks during the shoot.“At that time, Karisma would often send someone from her team to see what Raveena’s costumes looked like, who was designing them and what exactly was being made. She would then tell her own stylist to take note of it. Raveena looked fabulous in the film. I didn’t know then that I would go on to work with Karisma in so many films later.”The strained dynamic between the cast has been acknowledged multiple times over the years. Aamir Khan once described the shoot as chaotic due to clashing schedules and interpersonal tensions.“It was a lovely time that we had; it was also a tough time because I was the only actor who used to come on time. Nobody else would. Back then, Raveena and Karisma also had some issues, they didn’t get along. When Raveena came, Karisma would leave, and vice versa. I used to wonder how the film would ever get completed since we just couldn’t shoot together. The film was ultimately made with great difficulty,” he said during India Today Conclave in 2025. Raveena Tandon herself admitted that despite the friction, the experience was memorable.“It was fun because while we were shooting, none of us were speaking to each other. Everyone had their own fights going on. Aamir and Salman weren’t talking to each other. Karisma and I weren’t talking, and neither were Salman and Rajkumar Santoshi. I don’t know how the film got made. But it shows we are damn good actors.” She also shared how Salman Khan and Aamir Khan attempted to reconcile the two actresses during the climax sequence.“The boys tried to bring Karisma and me together. In the climax, there’s a scene where we are tied to a pillar. Rajji said, ‘We won’t untie you unless you talk to each other.’ It was all very funny. We laughed a lot during the shoot because the dialogues were so hilarious. We had fun and we fought as well.”Released in 1994, Andaz Apna Apna may not have made a big impact at the box office initially, but over time it has earned cult status, with its quirky characters and iconic dialogues continuing to resonate with audiences.
