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Television actor Nakuul Mehta remembers Navnindra Behl as a guiding presence

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Television actor Nakuul Mehta remembers Navnindra Behl as a guiding presence



Television actor Nakuul Mehta remembers Navnindra Behl as a guiding presence

Television actor Nakuul Mehta recently paid an emotional tribute to veteran actress Navnindra Behl following her passing, remembering her warmth and the special bond they shared. The respected actress, who was known for her work in theatre, television and films including Queen, passed away at the age of 76, leaving the entertainment fraternity saddened.

Navnindra Behl was admired not only for her acting but also for her contributions as a scholar and writer. Over the years, she earned immense respect for her thoughtful performances and her academic work in theatre and media studies. Many in the industry remembered her as a graceful and inspiring personality who left a lasting impression on everyone she worked with.

Nakuul Mehta penned a heartfelt note

Sharing his grief on social media, Nakuul Mehta penned a heartfelt message in which he affectionately referred to the late actress as “Dadi.” Reflecting on her presence and the warmth she brought to people around her, he wrote, “We will miss you, Dadi.” His note conveyed how deeply her loss was felt by those who had the opportunity to work with her.

The actor also recalled the comfort and positivity she brought to the sets. According to him, Behl had a rare ability to make everyone feel valued and welcome. Her gentle demeanour and thoughtful conversations often left a meaningful impact on younger actors who looked up to her for guidance.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Nakuul Mehta (@nakuulmehta)

In his tribute, Nakuul spoke about the many conversations they shared beyond work. He remembered how she would share stories, wisdom and encouragement with those around her. “Your warmth, your stories and your blessings will stay with us,” he wrote, expressing gratitude for the affection and kindness she showed throughout their time together.

The emotional post quickly resonated with fans and members of the television fraternity. Many people responded with messages remembering Behl’s kindness, intellect and grace. Several admirers also shared their own memories of meeting or working with the veteran actress, highlighting how she inspired many both on and off screen.

All about Navninder Behl

Navnindra Behl’s legacy extends far beyond her performances. As an actress, writer and academic, she influenced generations of artists and students with her knowledge and passion for the craft. For Nakuul Mehta and many others in the industry, her passing marks a deeply personal loss, but her memory and contributions will continue to be cherished.




Bruno Mars reacts to claims of liking post trolling Taylor Swift

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Bruno Mars reacts to claims of liking post trolling Taylor Swift



Bruno Mars reacts to claims of liking post trolling Taylor Swift

Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars has assured that he isn’t throwing shade at pop icon Taylor Swift. Bruno Mars became the focus of online discussion over the weekend after fans noticed he appeared to “like” a post on X criticising Taylor Swift.

However, the singer later distanced himself from the message, and publicly praised the singer, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Several social media users claimed that the 40-year-old singer had briefly liked a post featuring a video of Taylor Swift performing alongside a caption that read, “Genuinely how did she get famous? White privilege is crazy because imagine if an Asian was as talentless as her”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, the post was widely circulated but was incorrectly labelled as coming from BTS’s official account, despite not appearing on the group’s page.

As screenshots spread, Bruno addressed the situation directly, making clear he had no issue with Taylor. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Taylor has always been supportive and kind to me. Only love over here”.

He followed with a second post urging users to keep interactions positive, “Spread Love on these apps”.

Pop Faction later reported that Bruno had removed the like that initially sparked the speculation. The incident comes after Bruno replaced Taylor Swift at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

His single I Just Might reached the top spot in January, ending her 15-week run with The Fate of Ophelia from her album The Life of a Showgirl. The Bad Blood hitmaker Taylor hasn`t commented on the situation with her chart rival, though it seems there is no bad blood.

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




Indian Basketball player Aaron Monteiro’s India debut cut short

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Indian Basketball player Aaron Monteiro’s India debut cut short



Indian Basketball player Aaron Monteiro’s India debut cut short

The last two weeks have been a rollercoaster for India basketball player Aaron Monteiro, who resides in Vashi’s sector 9A.

The 28-year-old point guard, who received his maiden call-up for the India team participating in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, and subsequently made his debut in the 73-99 loss to Qatar on February 28, is going through mixed feelings at the moment. 

Had it not been for the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and the latter’s counter-attacks across US bases in West Asia, Monteiro might have added another international cap to his name, against Lebanon.

However, despite the loss to Qatar and being holed up in Doha until March 10, Monteiro has only fond memories of his relatively short debut (he was on court for 4 minutes and 44 seconds), as it gave him the conviction that he belongs on the biggest stage.

Scored a two-point goal

“My debut was a really good experience. My biggest takeaway was that I can play at that level. I felt I also learnt where I’m lacking, and now it’s all about polishing my weaknesses,” Monteiro, who also scored a two-point field goal against Qatar, told mid-day.

India’s Aaron Monteiro (extreme left) attempts a three-pointer during a practice match in Dubai recently. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Monteiro took to the sport at the age of five, thanks to his dad Stanney — a basketball player himself — who took him to YMCA, Chembur to get a feel for the game. Stanney himself got a call-up to the national team camp, but never won a cap for India.

Monteiro Jr fell in love with the sport right from the get go, and began playing at his school, Fr Agnel Multipurpose school in Vashi, from the second grade onwards. He still trains there. By the age of 13, he believed he could make a career out of it.

“My love for the sport began as soon as I started playing it. My journey has been quite fun, I’ve represented teams at multiple levels: school, district, state, national, and now finally at the international level,” explained Monteiro.

Reflecting on his Team India call-up, Monteiro, who plays for Karnataka at the domestic level, thanks to his performances for Bengaluru’s Jain University where he did his Master’s degree, said it did not come as a surprise.

‘I was expecting the call-up’

“I was expecting the India call-up based on my performance at the 75th Senior National Basketball Championship in Chennai in January,” said Monteiro, who led the tournament charts for having the highest three-point percentage in the tournament (50 per cent) and second highest field goal percentage (54 per cent).

Although India are currently at the bottom of Group D in the qualifiers, having lost all three games so far (twice to Saudi Arabia), Monteiro is confident that brighter days lie ahead.

“We have a young team, but we’re on the path to do better in the coming years as we get more experience,” concluded Monteiro.

50
Aaron Monteiro’s three-pointer conversion percentage at the Senior National Basketball C’ship recently — the highest

54
Aaron Monteiro’s field goal conversion percentage at the Senior National Basketball C’ship recently — the second highest

73-99
Scoreline of India’s defeat to Qatar

4 mins 44 secs
Time spent by India’s Aaron Monteiro on court during the match against Qatar at the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers recently

Five
The age when Aaron Monteiro started playing basketball


Millions without electricity as power grid collapses

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Millions without electricity as power grid collapses


“There is no water because there is no electricity to run the pumps. There is no electricity, no food, no oil, no fuel, and private businesses have high prices because everything is going up now, since they have to move their goods by truck and transport. All of this is really very bad.”


Vicky Kaushal’s comments at a private wedding spark online discussion

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Vicky Kaushal’s comments at a private wedding spark online discussion



Vicky Kaushal’s comments at a private wedding spark online discussion

Vicky Kaushal recently faced criticism online after a video of him making “wife jokes” at a wedding event went viral on social media. The actor, who is married to Katrina Kaif, received mixed reactions from fans, with some calling the remarks harmless humour while others described them as outdated and inappropriate.

Vicky Kaushal cracks wife jokes at a wedding

In the viral clip, Vicky can be seen interacting with guests during a wedding celebration. At one point, he asked the groom’s father to encourage the groom to repeat his popular dialogue “How’s the josh?”, a line that became widely associated with his performance in the film Uri: The Surgical Strike. The crowd enthusiastically responded with “High, sir!”, recreating the well-known moment.

After the crowd reaction, the actor added a humorous remark about married life. He joked that bachelors usually have consistently high enthusiasm and energy, but once people get married, that excitement tends to decrease over time. He quickly clarified that such changes do not happen immediately, telling the groom that it does not “drop in just four days.” While the comment appeared to be made in a playful tone, it did not sit well with several viewers online. The video was posted on Reddit, however, now it is deleted. 

Actor receives flak from netizens

The clip quickly spread across social media platforms and sparked debate among fans. Many viewers criticised the joke, describing it as “cringe” and arguing that stereotypes about marriage and wives feel outdated in today’s context. Some also felt that humour portraying marriage as a burden can come across as insensitive, especially when directed toward one’s spouse.

A number of social media users expressed disappointment, saying they expected more thoughtful humour from the actor, who is often admired for his grounded personality and progressive image. For some critics, the moment slightly changed their perception of him, with a few calling the remark inappropriate for a public event.

However, not all reactions were negative. Several fans came to the actor’s defence, saying the comment was simply a light-hearted wedding joke and should not be taken too seriously. They pointed out that such humour is common at wedding celebrations and is often meant to entertain guests rather than offend anyone.

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif are widely regarded as one of Bollywood’s most popular celebrity couples. The two tied the knot in December 2021 in a private ceremony in Rajasthan after keeping their relationship largely away from the public eye for several years.

The incident also reflects how quickly casual remarks made by public figures can become subjects of widespread debate in the age of social media. Even brief moments captured on camera can spark strong reactions and discussions online.


Renault bets on Duster revival to power India turnaround| Business News

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Renault bets on Duster revival to power India turnaround| Business News


Renault India is doubling down on its most iconic nameplate to reclaim market share in the world’s third-largest auto market.

The Renault Duster retails at a starting price of  ₹10.49 lakh.
The Renault Duster retails at a starting price of ₹10.49 lakh.

On Tuesday, the French automaker’s local subsidiary launched the all-new Renault Duster, featuring a heavy emphasis on turbo-petrol performance and a sophisticated new platform designed to compete in the increasingly crowded mid-size SUV segment.

The launch marks a critical pivot for Renault India. Built on the advanced Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), the new Duster aims to balance “real-world durability” with “everyday usability”. Prices for the turbo-petrol range start at ₹10.49 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), though early adopters can access an introductory price of ₹10.29 Lakh via the R-Pass pre-booking program until March 31, 2026.

Renault Duster specifications

The standout in the new lineup is the Turbo TCe 160 engine, a 1.3-liter four-cylinder unit delivering 163 PS and 280 Nm of torque. This powertrain has already captured over 90% of initial petrol bookings. Buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed wet-clutch DCT specifically calibrated for Indian road conditions.

For those looking toward electrification, the E-Tech Strong Hybrid variant has seen “exceptional response,” with its entire 2026 allocation already sold out. The hybrid system allows for up to 80% electric-only driving in city environments, highlighting Renault’s “Renaulution” strategy toward a more electrified range.

Localisation

Renault’s journey in India has been defined by its ability to disrupt established segments. The original Duster, launched over a decade ago, effectively created the compact SUV category in India. Following its success, Renault found a massive hit with the Kwid, which challenged the dominance of entry-level hatchbacks.

Today, Renault operates a massive manufacturing facility in Chennai with an annual capacity of 480,000 units. Its footprint has expanded to over 350 sales and 450 service touchpoints, including 250 “Workshop on Wheels” locations designed to serve rural markets.

Ownership and Aftersales

To bolster consumer confidence, Renault is introducing a 7-year “Renault Forever” warranty for customers adhering to scheduled maintenance. This is paired with flexible subscription options, reflecting a shift in how Indian urbanites are choosing to “own” vehicles.

With the Strong Hybrid capacity already exhausted for the year, Renault confirmed that bookings will reopen ahead of the Diwali festive season.


MS Dhoni has a ‘sheesha man’, Khaleel, whose sole job is to look after it: Former CSK teammate spills the beans

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MS Dhoni has a ‘sheesha man’, Khaleel, whose sole job is to look after it: Former CSK teammate spills the beans


Ever since a video of MS Dhoni enjoying a sheesha surfaced after IPL 2024, fans have been left wondering: Was it a one-off or does he indulge occasionally? As it turns out, it’s the latter. Sam Billings, the England batter and former Chennai Super Kings player, has revealed that Dhoni travels with a sheesha, which is usually set up in his hotel room. In fact, the five-time IPL-winning captain even has someone specifically tasked with looking after it.

MS Dhoni has a dedicated person to look after his sheesha (AFP)
MS Dhoni has a dedicated person to look after his sheesha (AFP)

Billings made the revelation on the Stick to Cricket podcast, alongside England greats Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell. Asked to name his favourite figure in franchise cricket, Billings wasted no time in picking his former CSK captain. But while praising Dhoni’s greatness, he also let slip the quirky detail about the sheesha.

Also Read: MS Dhoni hookah controversy – A puff of smoke doesn’t define MSD’s legacy. What Dhoni does in Dhoni time is his business

“Has to be Dhoni. I think just in terms of his captaincy, his aura, it’s fantastic. He’s incredibly calm and genuinely cool. There aren’t many cool people. You don’t meet many cool people these days. But he is. Wow, what a lovely guy, considering how much stardom he has. He’s a superstar. Obviously, a Manchester United fan, like myself. We have watched quite a few games together. Because he can’t leave the hotel or go downstairs to the bar,” said Billings.

Also Read: After Dhoni’s internet-smashing ‘smoking’ video, George Bailey’s quirky 6-year-old ‘MSD likes hookah’ comment resurfaces

“He leaves his hotel room open, and he has this little sheesha man, whose sole job is to look after the sheesha. Khaleel.”

What about Virat Kohli?

Billings then turned to Virat Kohli, recalling the former India captain’s fiery send-offs. While he didn’t share any IPL anecdotes, Billings looked back at an ODI between India and England in 2017, where Kohli made his feelings towards the England opener abundantly clear.

“Played against him. He gave me a couple of send-offs. The passion… yeah, I got bowled out in Kanpur by Yuzvendra Chahal. Yorked myself, round the wicket. Virat, I remember, was at mid-wicket. He took a massive turn just to scream in my face. I was like, ‘Why are you wasting your time with me?’ All the great players have something special, and if you can’t quite put a finger on one aspect in particular.”

CSK got Billings on board ahead of the IPL 2018 season for ₹1 crore and was retained in 2019. In 10 games, he scored 108 runs, emerging champion when CSK beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets.


Dhurandhar actor Vivek Sinha breaks silence amid backlash for his ‘darpok Hindu’ dialogue in film: ‘Itna gussa?’

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Dhurandhar actor Vivek Sinha breaks silence amid backlash for his ‘darpok Hindu’ dialogue in film: ‘Itna gussa?’


Actor Vivek Sinha, who played the role of hijacker Zahoor Mistry in Dhurandhar, is addressing the hate comments over his character and dialogue in the film. Taking to his Instagram account, Vivek posted a video to clarify that he is not a Pakistani and added that he was surprised by the amount of anger over the dialogue and his character in the film.

Vivek Sinha has shared that many social media users expressed their rage over the dialogue in Dhurandhar.
Vivek Sinha has shared that many social media users expressed their rage over the dialogue in Dhurandhar.

What Vivek said

In Dhurandhar, Zahoor says, “Hindu ek darpok qaum hai, pados mein hi rehte hai hum, goodebhar ka zor laga lo aur bigaad lo joh bigaad sakte ho (Hindus are a cowardly community, we live in the neighbourhood, use all your strength and spoil whatever you can).” Vivek also posted a reel on his Instagram account with the same dialogue, which attracted a lot of comments.

Addressing the viewers in a new reel, the actor shared, “Hi, namaste mera naam hain Vivek Sinha. Kal maine ek video daali thi ki dialogue Dhurandhar picture ka… Bhai itna gussa, itne saare comments? Pata hai har comment mein kya ho raha hai? ‘Teri shakal humein aatankwadi jaisi lag rahi hai’, ‘Mann kar raha hai ki screen ke andar ghuske maarte hain’, ‘Tune humein gussa dila diya’… Ek baat bolun? Itna achha laga na mujhe ye jo deshbhakti hai na hamare andar, salute hai isko. Ek keh raha hai, ‘Tujhe Pakistan mein ghuskar maarunga (Hi, I am Vivek Sinha. I had put up a video with a dialogue from the film… So much anger, so many comments? Do you know what each comment says? ‘You look like a terrorist,’ ‘I feel like thrashing you through the screen,’ ‘You have made us angry’… Should I tell you something? I really liked this patriotism inside us—I salute it. One person is saying, ‘I’ll come to Pakistan and beat you).”

He went on to add, “Ek baat bolun mujhe sach mein itna accha laga na, humare andar jo deshbhakti hai na, usse salaam hai. Ek keh raha hai ‘Tujhe Pakistan mein ghus kar maarunga’, toh bata du bhai main Pakistan ka nahi hoon. Main Bijnor ka rehne wala hoon aur filhaal Mumbai mein rehta hoon (I really liked the amount of love we have for our nation. Salute to that. One of you said that I want to come to Pakistan and kill you there. I want to clarify that I am from Bijnor and currently stay in Mumbai). He concluded saying that even if many are abusing the character he is grateful for the attention to his part and urged everyone to go watch the sequel in theatres.

About Dhurandhar

After its release in December last year, Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar went on to make history, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. It tells the story of an Indian spy infiltrating Karachi’s criminal and political underworld in Pakistan. The plot weaves together several real-life events involving geopolitical tensions, such as the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and events surrounding Operation Lyari.

The sequel is slated to release on March 19.


Salman Ali Agha runout row: Should umpires have called dead ball? MCC settles debate | Cricket News

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Salman Ali Agha runout row: Should umpires have called dead ball? MCC settles debate | Cricket News


Salman Ali Agha runout row: Should umpires have called dead ball? MCC settles debate

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardians of the laws of cricket, clarified on Monday that the controversial run-out during the Bangladesh vs Pakistan ODI match was correctly given out under the Laws of Cricket.“Under Laws, there is little that either umpire could have done differently. The non-striker was clearly out of his ground when the wicket was broken, and the ball was in play. That is out,” MCC said in a statement. The MCC statement further read, “It is also worth pointing out that the non-striker had left his ground when the ball was in play and had just started to attempt to regain his ground when he collided with Mehidy. Furthermore, no batter should attempt to pick the ball up without the consent of the fielding side, and had he done so, he would have been at risk of an Obstructing the field dismissal. In retrospect, he would have been better using that time to attempt to regain his ground.“Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha was involved in a rare and controversial dismissal during the second ODI against Bangladesh played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka last week.The incident occurred in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings when the visitors were building a strong partnership. Agha and Mohammad Rizwan were on the crease and had added 109 runs for the fourth wicket after Pakistan lost three early wickets.On the fourth delivery of the over, bowled by Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rizwan played a gentle push down the ground. The ball rolled towards Agha, who was standing outside his crease at the non-striker’s end after backing up.As the ball made contact with his pads, Agha bent down and tried to pick it up. Miraz quickly collected the ball and broke the stumps with Agha still outside the crease, appealing for a run-out.The on-field umpire upheld the appeal and referred the decision upstairs. The third umpire also ruled in Bangladesh’s favour, confirming Agha’s dismissal.The decision left Agha visibly frustrated as he walked back to the pavilion. Visuals showed the Pakistan batter expressing his displeasure after the dismissal.On the suggestions that the ball should have been declared dead, MCC clarified, “There have been some suggestions that the ball should have been treated as Dead. That is not viable under the Laws; the ball does not become dead when players collide – if it did, that would incentivise players to seek out collisions when the situation was advantageous. There was no question of a serious injury, so there could be no call of Dead ball for that. It could not have been clear to the umpire that all the players ceased to consider the ball to be in play, since Mehidy clearly believed it was live, even if Agha did not. And it cannot have been finally settled in the hands of the bowler or wicket-keeper, since it was on the ground.”

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Exclusive | Nora Fatehi's Sarke Chunar lyricist Raqueeb reacts to backlash: I had objected; new version is on the way

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Exclusive | Nora Fatehi's Sarke Chunar lyricist Raqueeb reacts to backlash: I had objected; new version is on the way


Social media has been raging over this song since Monday, which features in the upcoming film KD The Devil. Titled Chunar Teri Sarke, it has been filmed on Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, and the vulgar lyrics have led to widespread condemnation.

Raqueeb Alam has been credited for the lyrics of Chunar Teri Sarke
Raqueeb Alam has been credited for the lyrics of Chunar Teri Sarke

When HT City reaches out to Raqueeb Alam, credited for the lyrics, he categorically denies it as his own creation. He exclusively tells us, “Yeh lyrics maine nahi likhe hain, they were written by the film’s director Prem in Kannada. When I was asked to write all this, I refused, saying such songs won’t work, and will be censored too. They told me to only literally translate the Kannada version and give it to them, they will set it to the song’s meter. Words like ‘Choosega’, ‘chaatega’ are all there in the original version only.” A line in the song reads, “Pehle Uthale, Ander Wo Dale, Neeche Ek Boond Na Girae, Khali Kar Ke Nikale, Mujh Pe Na Girana Mujhe Lagta Hai Dar, Bhed Khul Jaae Na Sambhal Ke Jaana Ghar, Choosega ya chatega, jo karega kar, Teri Bottle Pe Na Pade Kisi Ki Bhi Nazar.”

Acknowledging the lyrics as double meaning, he adds, “Last mein jaake batate hain that the entire song is about an alcohol bottle. Lekin usse pehle sab kuchh itna ganda hai. Maine mana kiya tha. Mujhe kya zaroorat hai aise gaane likhne ki? When I write good songs, people don’t notice. I have written Chikri Chikri in Hindi for Ram Charan’s upcoming film Peddi. All the songs of Pushpa in Hindi were written by me. I am feeling humiliated myself because of Sarke Chunar.”

The official song version had been removed by the makers from YouTube at the time of this article going live. Raqueeb adds, “They called me on Monday night, and requested me to write a fresh version with clean lyrics. I sent it to them on Tuesday morning, it was being recorded the same day. They are planning to release the song on Tuesday evening along with an apology note.”

People from within the industry have expressed shock over the song. Singer Armaan Malik tweeted, “Sad to see commercial songwriting hit a new low.” Filmmaker Onir wrote, “And the Censor board is busy with The naming of a film #GhooskhorPandat . Strange country we are becoming… opposing Valentines day celebration, interfaith marriage/ celebration while ok with this rubbish.”