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Director Sriram Raghavan reveals why Saif Ali Khan was hesitant to join Ek Hasina Thi

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Director Sriram Raghavan reveals why Saif Ali Khan was hesitant to join Ek Hasina Thi


Today, Saif Ali Khan is widely recognised for his versatility onscreen, effortlessly moving between romantic dramas, comedies and dark thrillers. But even the most seasoned actors cannot always predict which films will eventually become cult favourites. One such film is Ek Hasina Thi — a gritty thriller that Saif himself was initially unsure about.

Saif Ali Khan with Urmila Matondkar in Ek Hasina Thi
Saif Ali Khan with Urmila Matondkar in Ek Hasina Thi

Released in 2004, the film marked the directorial debut of Sriram Raghavan and was produced by Ram Gopal Varma. Starring Saif alongside Urmila Matondkar, the revenge drama has since earned a strong following for its dark storytelling and sharp performances. However, according to Raghavan, Saif was hesitant about taking on the role when the project first came his way.

Why was Saif unsure about the film?

At a Masterclass session at the Red Lorry Film Festival Raghavan revealed that Saif was still navigating his career choices at the time. Raghavan said, “For Urmila, it was a role she was comfortable with, but Saif was unsure because he had just done Dil Chahta Hai and was starting to figure out what people liked. He hadn’t had many hits for a while. Ek Hasina Thi was his 44th film, and he wasn’t sure if it was the right choice. But we got along well, liked the same movies and books, so he trusted me.”

The filmmaker, who later became known for stylish thrillers such as Johnny Gaddaar (2007), Badlapur (2015) and Andhadhun (2018), also shared how the idea for Ek Hasina Thi emerged during a period of uncertainty in his career.

Lessons from Ram Gopal Varma

Raghavan also recalled the advice he received from producer Ram Gopal Varma after completing the film’s final cut. He shared, “After finishing the final cut, Ramu said, ‘You’ve made a good film. Don’t try to repeat it. Decide if you want to enjoy the film’s success or focus on your next project.’ I had to choose, and I think I chose well.”

The filmmaker also revealed that he once considered adapting Ira Levin’s novel A Kiss Before Dying, but eventually dropped the idea after learning that the story had already inspired the Hindi film Baazigar, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

He said, “I used to pick up second-hand books at Churchgate in Bombay. One was Ira Levin’s A Kiss Before Dying, and I wrote a script for it. But then I found out it was already being made in Hindi as Baazigar. It’s a great novel and worth reading.”

Raghavan’s latest film is the war drama Ikkis, based on the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal. The film stars Agastya Nanda as the young war hero and has received praise for its peace-focused narrative, though it did not see a large turnout in theatres.


Roger Binny reacts after receiving the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award

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Roger Binny reacts after receiving the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award



Roger Binny reacts after receiving the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award

Former BCCI President, Roger Binny, expressed gratitude after receiving the lifetime award at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026. The former Indian cricketer said that it was an award that every cricketer would cherish.

Roger Binny, along with Rahul Dravid, were both awarded the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, while Mithali Raj received the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women at the prestigious BCCI Naman Awards 2026 held in New Delhi.

The BCCI Naman Awards are the annual ceremony held to reward exceptional performances throughout the year in both men`s and women`s cricket. India enjoyed a historic year, winning 5 ICC trophies for the first time in history.

The Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour bestowed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to former Indian cricketers for their supreme contribution to the sport.

Roger Binny `proud` to receive the lifetime award

Speaking about the honour, Binny said receiving a lifetime achievement award from the BCCI was a special moment after his decades of involvement in and around Indian cricket as a player, coach and an adminsitrator.

“Well, I was very proud to hear it from the BCCI that I`d been given this award. I think it`s something that any cricketer would cherish, being a lifetime achievement. You work so much to achieve so many things in the game. It`s not only just cricket, but it`s also admin, coaching, everything revolves around cricket. To me, it was a great honour, and I`m very proud to receive it,” Binny said.

In 1999, Binny began his career in cricket administration with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) following his retirement from international cricket. He advanced through the ranks over time, holding a number of positions before rising to the position of president of the KSCA and then chairman of the BCCI.

“I headed the BCCI for a period of time, which I enjoyed very much again. Because in all these state and national postings, I was able to contribute again towards the game. So, I was very happy for that,” the former BCCI president added.

After retiring, Binny continued contributing to Indian cricket as India U-19 coach, guiding the team to the 2000 ICC U-19 World Cup title, and later served as a national selector (2012-2016)

(With ANI input)


'Dune: Part Three' first look out, teaser trailer to release tonight

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'Dune: Part Three' first look out, teaser trailer to release tonight


'Dune: Part Three' First Look: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh return in Denis Villeneuve's epic conclusion; teaser trailer to release TONIGHT

After months of waiting, the first look at ‘Dune: Part Three’ is here!Timothee Chalamet took to his handle to unveil his character’s masked first look poster, ahead of its teaser trailer debut. The post was followed by the official ‘Dune’ handle, unmasking Timothee’s character while also unveiling nine character posters. The handle also officially announced that fans can expect a trailer launch on Tuesday.

Timothee Chalamet unveils ‘Dune: Part Three’ first look

‘Dune: Part Three’ makers unveil character posters

“Are you ready? #DuneMovie Be the first to see the teaser, live on TikTok. Tomorrow at 9:00am PT / 12:00pm ET” read the post.‘Dune: Part Three’ cast and charactersAs the poster suggests, the upcoming film will serve as “the epic conclusion” of director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi trilogy based on the acclaimed novels by Frank Herbert. Chalamet, returns to play Paul Atreides in the film series. This time around, a much older, version of his scarred and battle-worn character, Paul Atreides. He returns along with Zendaya as Chani, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica.Anya Taylor-Joy, whose appearance was teased at the end of the previous instalment, will join the cast as Alia, Paul Atreides’ younger sister. Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson will appear as Scytale, and Isaach De Bankole has been cast as Farok. ‘Dune’ box office performanceThe previous film, ‘Dune: Part Two’, was both a critical and commercial success, earning over USD 714 million at the global box office and winning two Oscars from five nominations at the Academy Awards. The ‘Dune’ franchise, has earned more than USD 1.12 billion at the worldwide box office and collected eight Oscars from 15 nominations, including Best Picture nominations for two film entries.‘Dune: Part Three’ release date‘Dune: Part Three’, is currently scheduled to release on 18 December 2026 and is set to clash at the box office with the Marvel blockbuster ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.


'My mother cried out one last time': Palestinian boy, 12, describes how Israeli forces killed his family in car

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'My mother cried out one last time': Palestinian boy, 12, describes how Israeli forces killed his family in car



Khaled Bani Odeh’s parents and two brothers were shot dead as they drove home from a shopping trip in the occupied West Bank.


No gas, no problem: Ready-made meals and frozen foods take over Indian homes

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No gas, no problem: Ready-made meals and frozen foods take over Indian homes


No gas, no problem: Ready-made meals and frozen foods take over Indian homes

The Middle East conflict continues to boil, sending ripples through global oil supplies. As concerns rise over liquified petroleum gas (LPG) shortages, Indian households are increasingly relying on ready-to-cook meals, frozen snacks, and no-cook foods. Retailers report a sharp rise in demand, with sales climbing up to 20% month-on-month as consumers seek alternatives to traditional cooking.“Categories such as ready meals, frozen snacks, instant noodles and ready-to-cook products have seen strong traction, leading to about a 10-12% rise in this segment. While the surge appears temporary, we are proactively stocking these categories to ensure adequate availability,” Karan Ahuja, spokesperson at premium grocery retailer Le Marche told ET.The shortage intensified last week due to the ongoing Gulf War, causing severe disruption in gas cylinder supplies for restaurants, factories, corporate and school cafeterias, and households alike.

LPG Panic: Hormuz Miscalculation And How India Could Have Avoided The Crisis I Anand Ranganathan

“Our Thai curry ready-to-cook pastes are seeing the highest consumer sales for the first time since launch in two years. This may also lead to a long-term shift in consumer behaviour towards adapting ready-to-eat pastes even when things normalise,” said Deb Mukherjee, founder of Asian packaged ready-to-eat foods and condiments label Moi Soi.

Poll

Do you think the current LPG shortages will lead to long-term changes in cooking habits among consumers?

Brands are responding with heightened promotions. Mother Dairy revived advertising for its frozen vegetable range over the weekend, while Swiggy Instamart has begun promoting ‘induction-friendly’ cookware.“We are consistently seeing significant traction for our ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook range. Moreover, if the shortage and uncertainty continue over the coming weeks or more, we expect the ready-to-eat category to see higher sales offtake,” said a spokesperson for LT Foods, the maker of Daawat ready-to-cook biryani kits and rice mixes.Analysts note that the adoption of ready-to-cook and frozen foods, which had surged during Covid-19 lockdowns before stabilising to single-digit growth, may now become a long-term trend as households seek alternatives to gas cooking.“Products such as protein oats and millet muesli are witnessing strong traction, making them particularly popular among working professionals and health-conscious individuals,” said Ankit Jha, founder and chief marketing officer at health and nutrition brand Doctor’s Choice.Despite the ministry of petroleum and natural gas prioritising domestic LPG supplies from March 5, shortages persist, with some households reporting cylinder price hikes of up to 30%. The disruption has also driven demand for electric cooking alternatives.“We have observed a sharp and immediate uptick in demand for induction cooktops over the past few days with our average daily run rate having surged to nearly three times the usual levels,” said Shibashish Roy, managing director at Infiniti Retail, which operates the Croma electronics and appliances chain.


Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: ‘I want to break that’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi targets Chris Gayle’s iconic IPL record | Cricket News

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: ‘I want to break that’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi targets Chris Gayle’s iconic IPL record | Cricket News


‘I want to break that’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi targets Chris Gayle’s iconic IPL record
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has set his sights on one of the most iconic records in T20 history ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season — the legendary 175-run knock by Chris Gayle.After a sensational 2025 that saw him emerge as one of Indian cricket’s brightest young stars, Sooryavanshi is preparing for another explosive campaign with Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. The teenager had taken the tournament by storm last year by becoming the youngest centurion in IPL history, before continuing his dream run with centuries in England and Australia.

IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!His remarkable rise reached another high earlier this year when he smashed a stunning 175 in the final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to guide India to the title. Now, the prodigious batter wants to scale another big milestone.

Poll

How do you feel about the performance of young players in IPL?

Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in New Delhi, Sooryavanshi made it clear which record he would most like to achieve. Asked to choose between hitting six sixes in an over, scoring the fastest IPL century, or surpassing Gayle’s famous 175, the youngster didn’t hesitate.“To break the 175-run record,” he said.Gayle’s blistering 175 for RCB against Pune Warriors India in IPL 2013 remains the highest individual score in the history of the league — and in all T20 cricket — more than a decade later.However, Sooryavanshi’s main focus remains helping Rajasthan Royals win their second IPL title.“The goal this IPL season is to win the trophy for the team. It is a very important thing. I want to do well, and my performance will help the whole team,” he said. “My goal is to contribute to RR’s wins and win the trophy for the franchise.”Sooryavanshi, who was picked up by the Royals as a 13-year-old in 2024, credited the franchise for backing his talent early.“When I made my domestic debut, RR had been keeping an eye on me during my domestic and Under-19 games. Their scouting team had been tracking me for a long time. My trial went very well and I felt I could go to RR,” he said.The youngster also acknowledged the influence of former India great Rahul Dravid and senior teammates during his early IPL days.“Rahul sir was there at that time, so I got to learn a lot from him. There were a lot of senior players in the team and it was a great learning experience,” Sooryavanshi added.

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Oscars 2026: Check out full list of winners

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Oscars 2026: Check out full list of winners



Oscars 2026: Check out full list of winners

Hollywood`s best and brightest have been honoured with the most coveted awards in the movie industry, the Oscars.

One Battle After Another led the way with six wins, including Best Picture, while Hamnet`s Jessie Buckley and Sinners` Michael B Jordan scooped the top acting honours.

See the full list of winners and nominees below.

Best picture:
One Battle After Another (Winner)
Bugonia
Frankenstein
F1
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams

Best actress:
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Winner)
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I`d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Emma Stone – Bugonia

Best actor
Michael B Jordan – Sinners (Winner)
Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best supporting actress:
Amy Madigan – Weapons (Winner)
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Best supporting actor:
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (Winner)
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Stellan Skarsgard – Sentimental Value

Best director:
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Winner)
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

Best animated feature:
KPop Demon Hunters (Winner)
Arco
Elio
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2

Best international feature:
Sentimental Value (Winner)
It Was Just an Accident
Sirât
The Secret Agent
The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best documentary feature:
Mr Nobody Against Putin (Winner)
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through the Rocks
The Alabama Solution
The Perfect Neighbor

Best original screenplay:
Sinners – Ryan Coogler (Winner)
Blue Moon – Robert Kaplow
It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
Sentimental Value – Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier

Best adapted screenplay:
One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson (Winner)
Bugonia – Will Tracy
Frankenstein – Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet – Chloé Zhao and Maggie O`Farrell
Train Dreams – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

Best original song:
Golden – KPop Demon Hunters (by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park) (Winner)
Dear Me – Diane Warren: Relentless (by Diane Warren)
I Lied to You – Sinners (by by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson)
Sweet Dreams of Joy – Viva Verdi! (by Nicholas Pike)
Train Dreams – Train Dreams (by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner)

Best original score:
Sinners – Ludwig Goransson (Winner)
Bugonia – Jerskin Fendrix
Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat
Hamnet – Max Richter
One Battle After Another – Jonny Greenwood

Best cinematography:
Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Winner)
Frankenstein – Dan Laustsen
Marty Supreme – Darius Khondji
One Battle After Another – Michael Bauman
Train Dreams – Adolpho Veloso

Best film editing:
One Battle After Another – Andy Jurgensen (Winner)
F1 – Stephen Mirrione
Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
Sentimental Value – Olivier Bugge Coutté
Sinners – Michael P Shawver

Best sound:
F1 – Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A Rizzo and Juan Peralta (Winner)
Frankenstein – Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern
One Battle After Another – José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor
Sinners – Chris Welcker, Benjamin A Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker
Sirât – Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas

Best visual effects:
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett (Winner)
F1 – Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson
Jurassic World Rebirth – David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould
Sinners – Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean
The Lost Bus – Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K McLaughlin

Best production design:
Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau (Winner)
Hamnet – Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton
Marty Supreme – Jack Fisk and Adam Willis
One Battle After Another – Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino
Sinners – Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne

Best casting:
One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis (Winner)
Hamnet – Nina Gold
Marty Supreme – Jennifer Venditti
Sinners – Francine Maisler
The Secret Agent – Gabriel Domingues

Best make-up and hairstyling:
Frankenstein – Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey (Winner)
Kokuho – Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu
Sinners – Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry
The Smashing Machine – Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein
The Ugly Stepsister – Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg

Best costume design:
Frankenstein – Kate Hawley (Winner)
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Deborah L Scott
Hamnet – Malgosia Turzanska
Marty Supreme – Miyako Bellizz
Sinners – Ruth E Carter

Best animated short:
The Girl Who Cried Pearls (Winner)
Butterfly
Forevergreen
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters

Best live action short:
The Singers (Winner tied)
Two People Exchanging Saliva (Winner tied)
A Friend of Dorothy
Butcher`s Stain
Jane Austen`s Period Drama

Best documentary short:
All the Empty Rooms (Winner)
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
Children No More: Were and Are Gone
The Devil Is Busy
Perfectly a Strangeness


Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan retitled as Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace

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Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan retitled as Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace



Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan retitled as Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace

Salman Khan Films has officially announced the new title of its much-anticipated film Battle of Galwan, which will now be called Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. The makers of the Salman Khan-starrer unveiled a striking new poster, marking the title change and sharing a message that carries deep relevance in today’s world.

Battle of Galwan gets new title

At the heart of the new title lies the powerful tagline, “May War Rest in Peace.” With this thought, Salman Khan makes a bold and profound statement.

While the film draws inspiration from the historic Galwan Valley events, the message behind the title goes beyond the battlefield. With Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, Salman Khan presents a thought that resonates deeply with audiences. The announcement has already sparked conversations across social media, with many praising the powerful sentiment behind the title and the bold stance it represents. The new poster does not carry the release date of the film hinting that reports of the film postponing is true. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan)

Battle of Galwan release to be rescheduled?

According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the makers are considering postponing the film’s release as the shoot is yet to be completed. Quoting a source, the portal stated, “Battle of Galwan is scheduled to release on April 17. However, the shoot is not yet over, and the reshoot is taking more time than expected.” The team was reportedly set to wrap filming by the end of February, but the schedule was disrupted due to Salim Khan’s sudden ill health.

Apart from completing the shoot, the makers are also required to screen the film for the Ministry of Defence as per protocol. The source added, “Due to these two reasons, the makers feel they may not be able to meet the April 17 deadline. Salman Khan believes that such a special, patriotic film needs to be nurtured well. He has told the team not to rush the process and to take their time to ensure the final product looks appealing, compelling, and cinematic.”

Battle of Galwan is inspired by the real-life clash between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh on the night of June 15–16, 2020. Following the teaser’s release, Chinese media alleged that the film misrepresented facts. Salman Khan and director Apoorva Lakhia have not commented on the controversy.

The film also stars Chitrangada Singh in a key role, along with Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, Abhilash Chaudhary, Vipin Bhardwaj, and Heera Sohal.




Shahid Afridi blasts selectors over Shaheen captaincy call after Bangladesh defeat: Real surgery should be on committee

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Shahid Afridi blasts selectors over Shaheen captaincy call after Bangladesh defeat: Real surgery should be on committee


Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the country’s selection committee, holding them directly responsible for the humiliating 2–1 ODI series defeat to Bangladesh on Sunday in Dhaka. Afridi not only questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board‘s decision to hand the ODI captaincy to his son-in-law Shaheen Afridi but also said he found little logic in the removal of Babar Azam from the squad following his underwhelming show in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan lost 1-2 against Bangladesh in ODIs
Pakistan lost 1-2 against Bangladesh in ODIs

Pakistan’s struggles in international cricket continued as the team, after failing to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup earlier this month, went on to lose the ODI series against Bangladesh.

ALSO READ: Fee paid to Pakistani cricketers contributes to Indian deaths: Gavaskar fumes at blood money spent by Sunrisers Leeds

Speaking in a video posted on his social media account, Afridi blamed the selectors and their questionable decisions for Pakistan’s disastrous run in 2026, including the call to appoint Shaheen as ODI captain.

“You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.

The 49-year-old also criticised Pakistan’s approach of looking to domestic cricket for immediate international solutions, arguing that many of the players selected lack sufficient experience.

“You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first-class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of the standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.

Afridi further questioned the decision to sideline senior players such as Babar based on their T20 performances despite their strong records in the 50-over format.

“The senior players who actually deserved their place — even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances — had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he said.

The former all-rounder concluded by criticising the selectors for what he described as a lack of long-term planning.

“Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again — this is not surgery. If anything, the real surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.


Exclusive | Love & War makers get over 500 NDAs signed to ensure no leaks from Sanjay Leela Bhansali film

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Exclusive | Love & War makers get over 500 NDAs signed to ensure no leaks from Sanjay Leela Bhansali film


Expectations are high for Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s upcoming period love story Love & War, which is one of the most-awaited releases of the year. The film, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, is slated to release later this year. Now, an industry source tells HT that the makers are taking strict measures to prevent leaks from the shoot ahead of the film’s release. (Also read: Exclusive | Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal-starrer Love & War not pushed to 2027)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is currently busy with the shoot of Love and War. (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL / AFP) (AFP)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is currently busy with the shoot of Love and War. (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL / AFP) (AFP)

What the source said

A source close to the film reveals, “The team of Love & War is leaving no stone unturned to protect the film’s world and prevent any content from leaking out. Not just the principal cast, but makers has reportedly asked a large section of the crew working on the project to sign strict NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements). Over 500 NDAs have already been signed or are currently in process, ensuring that information, visuals, or material from the sets do not make their way into the public domain.”

Earlier this month, Alia had teased details about the ongoing shoot. In a video with Vogue Italia ahead of her appearance at the Milan Fashion Week as a Gucci ambassador, the actor shared, “I am working on a movie currently called Love & War. It is a film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. We are at the tail end of filming. It has been quite a magical experience. Working with Sanjay sir is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am so grateful that I get to do it.” The film marks Alia’s second collaboration with Bhansali after 2022’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, for which she won a National Award for Best Actress.

About Love and War

Leaked photos of actors Ranbir and Alia from the sets went viral last year, hinting at a 1960s setting for the film. Details about the plot remain under wraps.

When the film was originally announced, it set a release date of Christmas 2025. However, just months before that date, it was pushed to March 20, 2026. However, earlier this year, it was reported that the film will now release only in 2027. HT learnt that the film has no release date but is committed to release in 2026. It was reported that filming was on track and most of the major sequences had been wrapped up. However, no release date has been locked for the film.