As the fans of Dhurandhar continue enjoying the sequel, which hit the screens on March 19, and heap praises on the film, casting director Mukesh Chhabra penned a special note of appreciation for director Aditya Dhar. Mukesh praised Dhar`s commitment to the project, revealing that the director was working until the early hours of Thursday, just before the official release of Dhurandhar 2.
Mukesh Chhabra hails Aditya Dhar
He shared a photo with Dhar on social media and spoke about his dedication, calling it inspiring and rare. Along with the photo, the post also included a long note for the filmmaker calling him a genius. “I`ve known you for so many years. We were supposed to start your first film-that didn`t happen. Then your second-again, that didn`t happen. Years later, we found our way back, worked together on 370, and even after that, things didn`t always fall into place. And then… Dhurandhar happened. I have seen you closely over the years, but I had no idea that the person I knew was actually a genius-truly a genius. The way you`ve made this film… the detailing, the conviction, the emotion… but more than that, the way you respect every single person around you, the love you give, and the love you receive-it`s something rare. And now the entire country is seeing it, feeling it, and talking about you. And you know the best part… while we were working on the film, you kept saying, `You`ll see… you`ll see what I`m going to do.` You kept pushing your own boundaries, saying that you`ll make sure everyone talks about this film. And you did it. You said it… and you actually did it.”
The caption of his post read, “This morning at 2:30 am, he was still working, giving everything till the very last moment. That kind of dedication is rare, and honestly, it`s inspiring. (sic)”
Notably, the post came after a section of fans expressed disappointment about several paid preview shows being abruptly cancelled on Wednesday.
Dhurandhar 2 paid previews cancelled
The paid previews of Dhurandhar 2 were cancelled across multiple cities in the country. Cinema halls cited technical issues and the unavailability of content, especially for the Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions, as reasons for the cancellations.
Dhar issued a statement addressing the issue and described Dhurandhar as a film they had nurtured and dreamed of sharing simultaneously with audiences across all languages. Dhar assured fans that most Hindi shows would run as scheduled from 5 pm, while Tamil and Telugu screenings would begin from 9 pm. On the other hand, Malayalam and Kannada shows were postponed to the morning due to technical difficulties
Two-time Olympic medal-winning Indian badminton ace PV Sindhu on Wednesday advised aspiring athletes to have good education, warning that “it can be risky if you have a [career threatening] injury or have to undergo surgery.”
Speaking to students at DPS International here, Sindhu said: “I’ve been playing for many years, but at some point you have to retire. You can’t be playing at the highest level till you are 45 or 50 or 60, but education will be with you lifelong. I’ve done my MBA, so I know it’s not easy. You train in the morning, come back, study, and go for evening sessions. But at the end of the day, that’s the truth.
Sports is a very small thing while education will always be by your side.”
Qatar continues to be the top source of LNG for India. In 2023, India imports around 10.6-10.7 million tonnes of LNG from Qatar.
Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city came under Iranian attack. (Photo: X)
India is watching closely as the US-Israel-Iran war turns into what many were afraid of – an energy war. While Israel took the first step by attacking the South Pars gas site in Iran, a move condemned by many countries, Tehran’s retaliation by striking Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city, the world’s largest LNG hub, has worried many.
Qatar is now paying the price of the energy war that Israel started as Iran continues to attack its major LNG sites. QatarEnergy confirmed “extensive damage” to its main gas facility following the Iranian attack at Ras Laffan. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as “a gross violation of the state’s sovereignty, as well as a direct threat to its national security.” It reiterated its call on Iran to refrain from targeting civilian facilities and energy infrastructure.
How the Ras Laffan attack affected oil and gas prices
Oil prices jumped strongly after the attack – Brent crude rose to around $110-112 per barrel, a notable daily gain as traders priced in higher supply risks.
Natural gas benchmarks also rose sharply amid fears of disruption to LNG exports from Qatar, one of the world’s top suppliers.
Qatar projects supply of about 80 million metric tons of LNG in 2025, according to recent energy-market data. That 80 million tonnes was about 18.8 percent of total global LNG exports in 2024-25, making Qatar one of the world’s largest LNG exporters (usually behind the US and Australia). This volume mainly reflects cargo shipped from its major liquefaction facilities at Ras Laffan.
Global LNG trade totals run at more than 400 million tonnes per year, with Qatar consistently contributing about a fifth of that total – meaning one in every five tonnes of LNG shipped internationally came from Qatari facilities before the disruption.
Because so much of LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz and originates from Ras Laffan, even short-term production stoppages or export disruptions could reduce supply globally, pushing up natural gas prices in Europe and Asia and depleting broader energy markets.
What was the impact on Indian and Asian markets?
Major equity markets fell after the South Pars and Ras Laffan attacks, with indices in Asia, Europe and the US falling as investors moved into safer assets and higher energy costs increased economic risks.
The S&P 500 fell 1.36 percent while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.63 percent. The Nasdaq Composite declined 1.46 percent.
in india, A huge decline was seen in the stock indices Rising oil prices weighed on sentiment. Nifty 50 and Sensex witnessed losses, tracking losses in global equities as oil prices rose due to fresh escalation in Iran war. Nifty 50 fell by more than 522 points while Sensex saw a fall of 1,722 points.
Asian markets fell in early trading, mirroring overnight weakness on Wall Street. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi were down 2.74 percent and 2.50 percent, respectively.
Why do Qatar’s LNG sites matter to India?
Qatar continues to be the top source of LNG for India. In 2023, India is expected to import about 10.6-10.7 million tonnes of LNG from Qatar, which is about 35-54 per cent of India’s total LNG imports. Recent trade data shows Qatar’s share in India’s LNG imports by value in 2025-26 is about 46.8 per cent.
LNG is an important fuel for India’s industries, power generation, fertilizer production, city-gas distribution (CNG and piped gas), and as a clean alternative to coal and oil.
India’s leading LNG importer Petronet LNG has a long-term contract with QatarEnergy for about 7.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG, the deal has now been extended till 2048. This provides stable and predictable LNG supply to India, and helps price stability for gas users compared to volatile spot markets.
India is expected to import about 27 million tonnes of LNG in 2024-25, almost half of its total natural gas use. Qatar supplies 40-47 per cent of LNG imports, any disruption in Qatar’s production or logistics could directly impact India’s gas availability.
LNG is the largest component of India’s imports from Qatar (about 40-50 per cent by value). In the first 11 months of 2024, India’s total imports from Qatar stood at $11.49 billion, of which the share of LNG was 38.8 per cent by volume and 41.2 per cent by value.
What impact could the attack on Ras Laffan have on India?
The extent of damage caused by the Ras Laffan attack has not yet been assessed. After reporting “extensive damage”, Qatar’s state energy company, QatarEnergy, said there have been further attacks on its LNG infrastructure by Iran.
Qatar had announced it had halted production of LNG and some downstream products at its Ras Laffan facilities earlier this month amid the escalating war. Some reports had indicated that it could take several weeks to resume operations at Ras Laffan. With “extensive damage” now to the facility, it remains to be seen when Qatar fully resumes LNG operations.
However, it has a direct impact on India, and here’s how:
Inflation is increasing due to disruption in LNG supply
With Qatar’s production affected or halted, India is facing a cut in LNG supplies, leaving the industry scrambling for alternatives. Spot prices of LNG in Asia more than doubled – reaching record highs – increasing cost pressures on importers. Higher LNG and crude oil prices directly impact India’s energy import bill and inflation.
Conflict-related increases in global oil prices increase the cost of petrol/diesel, resulting in higher transportation and commodity prices domestically. Although there has been no increase in fuel prices in India so far, it remains to be seen what happens after the attack on Ras Laffan.
Impact on strategic areas
Fertilizer Production: India’s urea industry is dependent on LNG as a feedstock; Disruptions may result in reductions in production, affecting agricultural input supplies and farmer costs.
Urban Gas Distribution and CNG: The cut in LNG deliveries has reduced the supply of CNG used by vehicles and piped gas in cities, which will potentially increase retail CNG prices.
What could be the impact on Indian families?
Even if you’re not buying LNG directly, disruptions are mitigated in obvious ways:
Energy and fuel prices increased
Petrol and diesel prices often rise with the increase in crude oil prices. These fuel prices affect everything from commuting costs to food transportation and prices of bulk goods – leading to higher daily expenses.
Even if LPG prices (for cooking) are subsidized, higher global energy costs put pressure on government budgets and may influence future pricing decisions.
Electricity bills may increase
Some power plants use imported gas for electricity; Higher LNG costs could increase production costs, which could be reflected in higher tariffs or greater subsidies required over time.
Inflation affects the household budget
Rising transportation and energy costs are impacting the economy – food, goods and services have become more expensive, reducing disposable income for ordinary households.
indirect agri-food effects
Fertilizer shortages or high fertilizer costs drive up agricultural input prices, which can increase the cost of foods at the grocery store.
What is the current situation in India?
The government has asked people to conserve gas and energy instead of panicking, as officials are making arrangements to supply alternative crude oil and gas.
There are noticeable, localized LPG supply challenges in parts of India as geopolitical tensions impact supply flows (particularly through the Strait of Hormuz). Governments are prioritizing domestic LPG supplies, but commercial allocations have been cut and many industries are switching fuels.
The Center has urged states to expand piped gas (PNG) infrastructure so that households can rely less on cylinder supplies in future.
The government says India’s crude oil supplies and refined fuel reserves are safe and sufficient to meet current domestic needs.
Also, it acknowledged that the LPG supply situation is worrying (“still worrying”), while urging calm and action to manage consumption and distribution.
first published:
March 19, 2026, 13:13 IST
newsIndia Iran attacks Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG hub: Should India prepare for gas shock?
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No offence, but MS Dhoni continuing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) seems like some sick joke Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are playing on their fans as well as the player.
MS Dhoni looks trapped at CSK! There is no way out. (AFP)
Sometimes it feels like he is being blackmailed or being held hostage. How else can you explain his participation in the league year after year, when he has totally run out of steam, cutting a sorry figure at the same time?
It’s a very smart and brainy player we are discussing here. Not like S Sreesanth or Prithvi Shaw. It’s a player who is sworn by in the global cricketing circle, for his acumen behind the wicket as well as on the wicket. Whose match-finishing abilities, whose lightning-quick stumpings have become part of folklore.
And the man in question is extraordinarily successful. He is the only captain in the world to date to have won all three ICC white-ball tournaments: 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. He has led the Chennai franchise to a whopping five IPL titles. He is one of only two wicket-keeper batsmen, alongside Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, to have scored 10,000 runs or more in ODIs. Sure, this guy would know when to hang up his boots or gloves for that matter.
Last year, for the first time in history, CSK finished last (10th) in the IPL. The year before, they had finished fifth. And in these two seasons, Dhoni has kind of batted at all lower-order positions, which suggests that he has lost all confidence in his ability. The other point of view could be that he is mentoring the team, and results don’t matter to him. He is grooming players. That sounds good, like a noble cause, but there are no ensuing great results, sorry to say.
If CSK want to keep Dhoni in one capacity or another, they very well can. He could be a full-time mentor or even coach. He could be their director of cricket. There are dozens of ways CSK can make Dhoni stay. But instead, he is asked to play when he can not play. When his beard is greyer than the grey.
Again, no offence, it looks like he is being punished like a petulant child. And he has not done anything wrong. The only blemish during his long association with Chennai was when the franchise was banned for two years for indulging in betting and spot-fixing. Dhoni and several other players were understood to be in the know, but later they were given a clean chit.
The horrible novel similarity!
The Dhoni situation also reminds one of the novel Misery by Stephen King where the protagonist, a lady, is so obsessed with a writer that she takes him hostage after an accident, and subjects him to all kinds of torture, including cutting off his foot and thumb for the silliest reason ever. Because he happened to kill a favourite character of hers in his novel.
Former BCCI president and former ICC chairman N Srinivasan, the owner of India Cements, which owns CSK, has a lot of explaining to do in this matter. It’s understood he has a special relationship with Dhoni. During his tenure with the BCCI, he was accused of being partial to Dhoni, letting him continue as captain despite his horrendous away Test results, whitewashes to be precise, in England and Australia in 2011-2012. His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was the only big casualty from the betting and spot-fixing scandal. One wonders if Srinivasan is that lady Anne Wilkes from the novel Misery!
Arjun Tendulkar is preparing for a new chapter in his IPL career after moving to Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2026 season. After playing just five matches across five seasons with Mumbai Indians, the left-arm pacer was traded to LSG for ₹30 lakh prior to the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi last December.In a video shared by LSG, where Pant and Arjun are seen talking, Pant struck up a conversation about Arjun’s batting approach. Curious about his preference for heavier bats, Pant asked, “Tera kitna hae bhai (What’s the weight of your bat)?”“1220,” Arjun replied. Pant followed up, “Bhaari se kya faida hae (What’s the advantage of using heavier bats)?”Arjun explained, “Touch karo ho jaata hae. Papa to 1310-1315 mein khelte the. 1200 se halka jaata nehi hoon main (Just a touch does it. My father used to play with bats weighing 1310-1315. I don’t go below 1200).”The reference, of course, was to his father, Sachin Tendulkar, who famously used heavier bats during his career.Pant was equally impressed by Arjun’s work ethic, especially after learning that he had trained with Yuvraj Singh immediately after his wedding. Arjun tied the knot with Saaniya Chandhok on March 5 in Mumbai but wasted no time getting back to cricket.“You were also practising with Yuvi paa… full-time? Shadi ke agle din hi? You are so enthu bhai,” Pant remarked in admiration.While images of those sessions did not surface publicly, it is understood that Yuvraj worked closely with Arjun on his batting. The interaction ended on a warm note, with Pant offering his support: “Agar kuch lage to batana… Always open for you.”Arjun’s IPL journey began in 2021 when he was picked by Mumbai Indians for ₹20 lakh, though he did not feature that season due to injury. He was bought again in 2022 for ₹30 lakh but remained on the sidelines. His debut finally came in 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium, where he played four matches and picked up three wickets. In 2024, he featured in just one game, coincidentally against LSG, but went wicketless.
Acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, whose films often delve into the mysteries of the cosmos, recently expressed his deep conviction that we are not the only beings inhabiting Earth. This revelation comes on the heels of comments from former President Barack Obama, who has also shared his thoughts on extraterrestrial life.
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has a unique perspective on ‘life’ on Earth. Recently, the ‘Disclosure Day’ filmmaker commented on the presence of extraterrestrial beings on Earth. He also said he believes in life beyond Earth, though he’s never encountered a UFO. Recently, former US president Barack Obama also went viral for saying aliens exist.
Steven Spielberg believes we’re not alone on Earth
Steven Spielberg, 79, gave his take on the existence of life beyond Earth during a keynote interview at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin. “I don’t know any more than any of you do, but I have a very strong suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now,” Spielberg said. “I made a movie about that.”
Former President Barack Obama also believes in the existence of aliens
Previously, Barack Obama also made a similar comment. The former president, 64, said that aliens are real in an interview with YouTuber and political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen released on February 14, but added that he has yet to see any with his own eyes. During a rapid-fire round, Obama was asked, “Are aliens real?” Obama responded, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them.”
Steven Spielberg’s joyful remark on Barack Obama’s take
When Spielberg first heard Obama’s words, the legendary filmmaker admitted his first thought was, “Oh my God, this is so great for Disclosure Day.”After his comments fueled conspiracy theorists, the former president, 64, later clarified his statement on Instagram, saying, “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there.” “He stepped back to say what he believed was life in the cosmos, which, of course, everybody should believe in,” Spielberg added. “No one should really think that we are the only intelligent civilization in the entire universe.” “The big question is, are we alone now? And have we been alone over the last 80 years? Have we been alone over the last few thousand years?” he added.
About Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’
‘Disclosure Day,’ which is the Oscar-winning director’s latest addition to his alien movies filmography (such as ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and ‘War of the Worlds’), is coming to theatres on June 12, 2026. The film stars Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo.
Television`s star couple Dipika Kakar and Shoaib Ibrahim recently shared an adorable moment featuring their young son Ruhaan in a vlog on Shoaib’s YouTube channel.
The family was seen driving past Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai’s Bandra area when their little one surprised everyone with his singing skills.
In the vlog shared by Shoaib Ibrahim on Tuesday night, Dipika, Shoaib and their son Ruhaan were travelling past the famous residence of Salman Khan.
During the drive, Dipika asked Ruhaan to sing his favourite Salman Khan song. As soon as she asked him, the toddler began singing O O Jaane Jaana in his babyish voice.
Not only did he sing the popular track, Ruhaan also repeated the opening dialogue from the song beginning with “Na koi manzil hai, na koi safar…”, impressing his parents and fans.
The little one even mentioned that he likes Salman Khan.
Talking about the song, O O Jaane Jaana is among the most popular tracks from the 1998 film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya.
Directed by Sohail Khan, the film featured Salman Khan alongside Kajol and also starred Arbaaz Khan and Dharmendra in key roles.
The popular track was sung by Kamaal Khan and continues to remain a fan favourite.
Talking about Dipika Kakar and Shoaib Ibrahim, they first met on the sets of the popular television show Sasural Simar Ka.
The two dated for several years before tying the knot in February 2018. The couple welcomed their son Ruhaan in June 2023 and often share glimpses of their family life through their vlogs on their respective YouTube channels.
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Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik and squash player Dipika Pallikal have announced the birth of their daughter, Raaha Pallikal Karthik. The couple shared the news on their social media account.
“With blessings in our hearts and gratitude beyond words, we joyfully welcome our precious girl into this world. Kabir and Zian are thrilled to introduce their baby sister, Raaha Pallikal Karthik. Love, Dipika & Dinesh.” Karthik wrote on Instagram.
The couple got married in 2015 and have two sons already, Kabir and Zian. Both Karthik and Pallikal are established international athletes. Karthik made waves in cricket as a wicket-keeper batter for India, while Pallikal is well-renowned as a successful international squash player.
Karthik played his final Test match against England in 2018 after making his debut against Australia in 2004. He scored 1,025 runs at an average of 25 across 26 Test matches and 42 innings, including one century and seven half-centuries.
Karthik made his One Day International debut against England at Lord`s in September 2004. He played his final ODI against New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Men`s Cricket World Cup. In 94 games and 79 innings, he amassed 1,752 runs at an average of 30.20, including nine half-centuries.
He made his Twenty20 International debut against South Africa in 2006 and played his last game against Bangladesh in November 2022. In 60 games and 48 innings, Karthik amassed 686 runs at an average of 26.38, including one half-century.
Dinesh Karthik joins the RCB camp for IPL 2026
Dinesh Karthik is the mentor and batting coach of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The former Indian star has joined the RCB camp before the start of the IPL 2026. RCB will be the defending champions in this year`s edition.
Karthik made an immediate impact with the RCB. The wicket-keeper played a key role for the Bengaluru-based franchise in the final year of his playing career and has since then joined them as a batting coach and mentor. Karthik was a key coaching figure as RCB ended their 18-year wait for an IPL title, when they won the final against the Punjab Kings last year.
Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer has learned some lessons, and she has done that through losing people in her life.
The 67-year-old actress has “suffered losing someone who was meaningful” to her more than once in her life, and Michelle admits that the experience has taught her some valuable lessons, reports ‘Female First UK’.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress said, “For a brief amount of time, all that really matters is connection with other human beings. I remember feeling it a couple of times in my life when I suffered losing someone who was meaningful to me”.
She went on, “I remember thinking, `Oh my God, how can I hold on to this?` It felt so good and so real and authentic and safe. And in a weird way, it was relaxing, because I wasn`t busy just trying to make things happen. You just stop all that”.
Michelle also said that it can be hard to think clearly in the midst of heartbreak.
The actress, who was married to actor Peter Horton between 1981 and 1988, said, “When you have grown up with someone and you`re so entangled with each other, after a while, you don`t really even know where you end and the other person begins. How do you even start to imagine your life without them and rebuild when everything you knew has fallen apart?”
Meanwhile, Michelle recently revealed that she agreed to star in The Madison without reading a script for the show. The actress took a “leap of faith” to join the cast because of creator Taylor Sheridan`s previous involvement in successful series, such as Yellowstone and Tulsa King.
Michelle told ‘Variety’, “Taylor reached out to me and said he had an idea and would like to meet me. So I`m off to Texas, I went to his ranch and had a wonderful evening meeting people”.
“He talked to me about the arc of the character and the concept of the show, and it was very broadly laid out. I said, `Okay, when could I read something?` He said, `Well, I`d like to know who I`m writing for before I start writing. So after you commit’”, she added.
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-1773901289995_d.png?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik and his wife Dipika Pallikal welcome a baby girl")
-1773901289995_d.png "Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik and his wife Dipika Pallikal welcome a baby girl")
