Four-time world champion Max Verstappen cut a disconsolate figure Saturday after qualifying only eighth for the Chinese Grand Prix, saying every lap in his underperforming Red Bull was about “survival”.
The once dominant Red Bulls have suffered more than most from Formula One`s sweeping new regulations in 2026. Verstappen failed to finish in the points in the morning sprint race, limping home in ninth and for the second day running was no quicker than eighth on the timesheets in any session. “Nothing works. So it`s just not nice,” a down-in-the-dumps Verstappen told Sky F1 after finishing almost a second behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli`s Mercedes. “I cannot push. Every lap is honestly survival for me. I`m not enjoying it at all.”
The Red Bulls struggled for pace again on the second race weekend of the season with their new in-house power units backed by Ford having replaced Honda as engine supplier. They are also clearly far from getting to grips with the new aerodynamic and chassis regulations as Formula One enters an era of a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.
“It`s just very inconsistent. I cannot build a reference in qualifying,” said Verstappen. “Whatever lap I do, I`m like, that`s it? Can I go four tenths faster? Maybe? Can I go four tenths slower? That`s a big chance as well, because it`s just all over the place.” His teammate Isack Hadjar was ninth, having barely scraped into the top-10 shootout in qualifying.
Verstappen, who fought back from a qualifying crash in the opening race in Australia last weekend to finish sixth from 20th on the grid, held out little hope he could challenge in Sunday`s race. “It`s just incredibly difficult,” he said. “I honestly think it`s going to be quite tough tomorrow,” he added.
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The pictures capture several beautiful and memorable moments from their travels and personal life.
One picture shows the couple posing casually outdoors with Anu holding an ice cream and Juhi standing besides him.
Another picture features them enjoying a cosy dinner together while the other picture shows both of them seen enjoying a gondola ride through scenic waterways.
Another picture from indoors shows Anup standing besides Juhi with his arm around her shoulder posing romantically for the camera.
The final click features them seated at a table, smiling warmly for a selfie while enjoying drinks.
For the uninitiated, Anup Soni and Juhi Babbar got married on the 14th of March 2011 in a private ceremony attended by close friends and family members.
On the professional front, Anup Soni has built a long and successful career across television, films and theatre.
He has appeared in several projects including Balika Vadhu, Sea Hawks, and films such as Fiza and Raaz.
The actor also gained immense popularity as the host of the crime-based television series Crime Patrol.
Talking about Juhi Babbar, she is the daughter of veteran actor Raj Babbar and theatre personality Nadira Babbar, is also the sister of actor Arya Babbar.
She began her film career with movies such as Kash Aap Hamare Hote and Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar.
Apart from films, Juhi has been deeply involved in theatre and has performed in numerous stage productions.
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
Industrial gas consumption in Gujarat has been curbed due to disruption in the supply of imported natural gas due to constraints on energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, forcing many factories to reduce production, although authorities allow temporary use of alternative fuels and the Center is taking steps to ensure LPG supply to households.
Cut in gas supply in Gujarat forces factories to reduce production; Center allows alternative fuels and takes steps to secure LPG for households (Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)
Its impact is being felt across many gas-intensive sectors including ceramics, textiles, glass and chemicals. In the Morbi ceramic manufacturing cluster, more than 100 factories that depend on natural gas to run their furnaces have stopped production following a reduction in gas supply.
In Surat, one of the country’s largest textile hubs, thousands of units depend on natural gas for boilers and heating processes. Ashok Jirawala, president of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers Welfare Association, said, “There are about 55,000 textile units in Surat, of which about 12,000 run on gas. As of now, the crisis is not very serious. We have urged the state government to take action against those involved in black marketing of LPG cylinders. If the war goes on for long and no solution is found, the industry may be affected.”
Some industries have already adjusted production levels following the restrictions. In Vatva Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where there are more than 250 chemical manufacturing units, many factories have reduced production. Similar adjustments were reported from textile processing units and glass factories in south Gujarat.
About a quarter of India’s natural gas requirements have been affected by force majeure circumstances imposed by foreign suppliers due to the West Asia conflict, and the government is purchasing supplies through alternative routes to address the shortfall.
About 50% of India’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that Iran has effectively closed after the conflict with Israel and the US began. Fuel and gas prices have soared, raising concerns in India, which depends on imports to meet about 85% of its energy needs.
Center gives priority to domestic gas, transportation fuel
These restrictions follow the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’ notification on March 9 of the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, under the Essential Commodities Act to regulate natural gas allocation to all sectors amid supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
The order directs that the available natural gas be supplied to essential sectors including piped natural gas for households, compressed natural gas used in transportation and LPG production on priority basis.
Under the order, these sectors will receive up to 100% of their average consumption to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply and transportation fuel availability. Manufacturing industries and other industrial consumers connected to the national gas grid are expected to receive about 80% of their last six months’ average consumption, depending on availability, while fertilizer plants will receive about 70% of their last six months’ average consumption.
However, industry officials said the order does not clearly specify the quantum of gas allocation for gas-based power plants, leaving the utilities to manage operations based on the available supply.
Sector officials alleged that the implementation of the March 9 order has not been completely stabilized yet. GAIL (India) Limited has sought to coordinate the available gas supply. Many city gas distribution companies have said they will implement allocation as per the central framework, but have not yet formally informed industrial customers about the revised supply quantities.
Use of gas based power plants may reduce
Gujarat Gas Ltd, the country’s largest city gas distribution company, had earlier informed stock exchanges that the availability of regasified liquefied natural gas has been disrupted due to the West Asia conflict. As a result, it issued a force majeure notice restricting the daily contracted quantity of gas to industrial customers under existing gas supply agreements from March 6.
“Activities of war are not covered under the insurance taken by Gujarat Gas Limited. The potential impact of the force majeure event, which is an ongoing event, cannot be predicted. The company is closely monitoring the developments and will keep the stock exchanges informed about any significant updates in this regard,” the company said in its March 4 statement.
Across its 27 city gas distribution licenses spread across six states and one Union Territory, Gujarat Gas supplies piped natural gas to about 4,500 factories, including ceramic manufacturing units in Morbi and several industries across Gujarat. Many of these units operate in gas-intensive sectors such as ceramics, glass, paper, textiles and chemicals.
According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), Gujarat has the largest concentration of industries using piped natural gas in the country. As of January 2026, 5,895 factories in the state were using PNG for manufacturing processes out of a total of 21,373 factories in India.
Similarly, out of the 48,157 commercial establishments using PNG in India, more than 24,472 businesses are located in Gujarat, reflecting the state’s extensive city gas distribution network.
Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL) has revised downwards the price for excess natural gas supplied to some industrial customers. ₹82.95 per standard cubic meter (SCM). ₹119.90 per SCM, which is effective from March 16 to pass on lower upstream prices during the current supply constraints.
Following the disruption in LNG supply linked to the blockage in the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, ATGL had earlier asked commercial and industrial customers to reduce consumption by 40% of their contracted volumes.
Power sector faces limited gas availability
Lack of availability of gas has also drawn attention towards gas-based power generation in the state.
India has about 20,000 MW of installed gas-based power generation capacity, of which about 25-30% is located in Gujarat. Much of this capacity has been underutilized in recent years as imported LNG has often been too expensive to keep power generation viable.
A June 2025 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said 31 gas-based plants with a combined capacity of about 8 GW did not generate any power during FY2025, leaving them effectively stranded. About 5.3 GW of this idle capacity was exhausted in April 2025, while the remaining fleet is operating at plant load factors of about 14-17%.
State power utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) is running gas-based plants only when needed, a senior government official said. The installed gas-based capacity of GUVNL’s generation arm is around 1,800 MW, but the plants operate at plant load factors of around 20-30% and are often shut down when not required, the official said. They are used primarily during evening peak hours when solar energy production declines and electricity demand increases during summer.
“Gas-based power plants in the country require about 70 million MMBTU of gas, while the current supply is about 15 million MMBTU of gas. The government’s March 9 order has placed gas-based power plants in the lowest priority category and as a result these plants may not function fully. Many of them were already stranded due to feasibility issues,” said an official working with a major city gas distribution company.
To help industries manage the situation, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) issued a circular on March 5, allowing industries dependent on gas-based utilities to temporarily switch to the approved fuel where gas supply has fallen. This relaxation will remain in effect for three months, after which the board will review the situation.
Separately, the central government has also taken steps to secure the supply of cooking fuel. On March 5, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas directed oil refineries to make maximum use of propane and butane streams for production of liquefied petroleum gas and supply it to public sector oil marketing companies for distribution to domestic consumers.
The captain of the Iranian women’s football team has withdrawn her bid for asylum in Australia, Iran’s state media says, making her the fifth member of the delegation to change her mind after her team’s participation in the Asian Cup.
Zahra Ghanbari will fly from Malaysia and travel to Iran within the next few hours, the IRNA news agency said on Sunday.
Three players and one backroom staff member had already withdrawn their bids for asylum and travelled to Malaysia from Australia, where the team participated in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said his country had offered asylum to all players and support staff members prior to their departure over fears they might be punished upon their return home after the team refused to sing Iran’s national anthem at the tournament.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday that the three had “given up on their asylum application in Australia and are currently heading to Malaysia”, posting a picture of the women allegedly boarding a plane.
The news was confirmed by Burke a few hours later.
“Overnight, three members of the Iranian women’s football team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,” Burke said.
“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options.”
Five players took up the offer and signed immigration papers last week, with one more player and a member of staff joining them a day later. It leaves two Iranian players in Australia, where they have been promised asylum and an opportunity to settle.
Iran played their three group games of the Asian Cup at the Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland on March 2, 5 and 8, after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28.
The initial attacks killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders.
Overall, an estimated 1,444 Iranians have been killed since the war began, including more than 170 people, mostly schoolgirls, who were inside a primary school in the city of Minab.
After refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem at their first match, players on the Iranian women’s football team were branded “traitors” by an IRIB presenter.
When Iran played their second game of the tournament against Australia three days later, not only did the players sing the national anthem, but they also saluted it, prompting fears that they may have been forced to change their stance after receiving backlash in Iranian media.
While neither the players nor the team management explained why they refrained from singing before the first match, fans and rights activists speculated that it may have been an act of defiance against the Iranian government.
On the day of the team’s departure from Australia, Burke announced his government had offered all players and staff members the chance to stay back in the country.
On Tuesday, Burke told reporters that five Iranian players had decided to seek asylum in Australia and would be assisted by the government.
“They are welcome to stay in Australia, they are safe here, and they should feel at home here,” he said.
A day later, Burke confirmed that an additional player and a member of the team’s support staff had received humanitarian visas in the hours before their departure.
However, one player, who previously chose to stay behind, changed her mind and decided to return to Iran.
The player, who was later identified as Mohadese Zolfigol, changed her decision on the advice of her teammates, Burke told the Parliament of Australia.
“She had been advised by her teammates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.
The players who managed to escape with the help of Iranian rights activists were taken away by Australian police officials to a safe house, where they met immigration officials and signed the paperwork.
“Our understanding is that every single member of the squad was interviewed independently by the Australian Federal Police,” Beau Busch, the Asia/Oceania president of players’ welfare body FIFPRO told Al Jazeera last week.
“[The players] were made aware of their rights and the support available to them. They certainly weren’t rushed through that process.”
Abhishek Sharma was expected to have a blazing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign after he took the format by storm in 2025, but it did not turn out as he had hoped. He suffered a duck in each of the first three matches he played in the tournament, which sparked fierce criticism, with some even starting to question his place in the playing XI.
Abhishek Sharma reacts as he returns to the pavilion after his dismissal by New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra during the T20 World Cup 2026 final (PTI)
Abhishek was dismissed for a duck against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands. The hat-trick of dismissals for nought left the India opener disappointed and on the verge of an emotional breakdown, before the seniors in the dressing room came to his aid.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Abhishek revealed that after his third dismissal for a duck — in India’s final group game in Ahmedabad against the Netherlands — head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya told him to cut himself off from every social media app on his phone to avoid getting distracted by the comments from fans.
“Slowly you get used to it. But it does feel bad when there is criticism. That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi’ [take your phone and uninstall social media right now].
“That was the first thing I did after my third zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people. That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore, because people have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver and sometimes you don’t. I expected this,” he said.
Although Abhishek eventually scored his first runs in the next game against South Africa and then struck a fifty against Zimbabwe, his low scores against West Indies and England continued to raise concerns.
Abhishek’s turnaround came at the right time for India in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand, where he smashed a blistering 21-ball 52 as part of a 98-run opening stand alongside Sanju Samson that laid the foundation for a huge win.
Aviation safety regulator DGCA has granted temporary relaxations in flight duty norms for Air India’s long-haul flights as the carrier takes longer routes because of airspace restrictions in the Middle East amid the ongoing Iran conflict, sources cited by news agency PTI said on Sunday.With Iranian and Iraqi airspace restrictions in place, Air India is routing many of its European and North American flights via Egypt, leading to longer flying hours and extended duty periods for pilots.As per PTI, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed certain exemptions in Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for these long-haul operations until April 30.There was no immediate comment from either Air India or the DGCA on the temporary relaxations.
What relaxations has DGCA allowed?
According to PTI, the relaxations apply to long-haul flights operated with two pilots.Under the temporary exemption, the DGCA has:
Extended Flight Time (FT) by 1 hour 30 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes
Extended Flight Duty Period (FDP) by 1 hour 45 minutes to 11 hours 45 minutes
Relaxed the 30-minute roster planning buffer requirement
For a single landing, the normal maximum FT and FDP are 10 hours and 13 hours, respectively.Flight Time refers to the period from when an aircraft first moves for take-off until it comes to rest at the end of the flight, while Flight Duty Period begins when a crew member reports for duty and ends when the engines are shut down after the final flight.
Allegation of breach in Jeddah flight planning
Even as the regulator has offered temporary relief, sources told PTI that Air India may be stretching the exemption beyond the permitted limit in at least one case.According to a source quoted by PTI, Air India has been scheduling its Jeddah flight with an FDP of 11 hours 55 minutes, which is 10 minutes beyond the extended ceiling of 11 hours 45 minutes allowed under the relaxation.“While flight duty period (FDP) has been extended by 1.45 hours, Air India is forcing its pilots to operate Jeddah flight, which has an FDP of 11.55 hours, thus exceeding the allowed relaxations by 10-minutes,” a source told PTI.
Why are Air India flights taking longer routes?
The change comes as the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict, which began on February 28, has led to significant airspace curbs across parts of the Middle East, disrupting airline operations globally.Air India is now flying to Europe and North America via Oman, the southern part of Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead of using more direct routes through restricted airspace.For some ultra-long-haul services, the airline is also making technical stops in Rome.It was not immediately clear whether IndiGo has received similar temporary exemptions for its own long-haul operations.
Wider disruption in UAE operations
The temporary duty norm relaxation comes against the backdrop of broader disruption to Indian carriers in the region.Air India cancelled several flights on Sunday to the UAE, including services to Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, after airport authorities there directed airlines to reduce operations amid the evolving West Asia crisis.In a statement on X, Air India said: “In view of the latest instructions from Airport authorities in the UAE, Air India and Air India Express are compelled to curtail their ad-hoc operations for 15 March 2026.”Air India operated only one Delhi–Dubai return flight for the day, while four of five planned Dubai flights were cancelled. Air India Express also operated just one Delhi–Dubai return service, with five of six scheduled Dubai flights cancelled, while all five Abu Dhabi flights by the budget carrier were cancelled.Passengers affected by cancellations were offered free rebooking or full refunds.
Conflict continues to hit aviation
The wider aviation sector has been under pressure as the West Asia crisis disrupts air corridors and pushes up aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs.IndiGo also warned of further restrictions in Dubai operations and asked passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.
Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus Ramayana has sparked casting buzz since its announcement. While actor Bobby Deol was earlier linked to the role of Kumbhakaran, younger brother of Ravan (Yash), that has now been denied.
Actor Faisal Malik will be seen as Kumbhakaran in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana (Photos: Instagram)
We have exclusively learnt that Faisal Malik, known for his role in Panchayat and recently seen in Subedaar, will play the mighty warrior. He has already completed the first schedule of the film, slated for release this Diwali.
A source said, “He joined Yash for the introductory Kumbhakaran scene at Prime Focus studio in Mumbai, shot with an international action crew. The sequences are heavy on graphics — similar to Avatar.”
The source added that the major fight sequences, part of the second installment, are yet to be filmed. “His height and heavily built frame perfectly suit the character,” they noted. The Ramayana team has not officially confirmed the cast, and Faisal Malik declined to comment.
Meanwhile, actor Raghav Juyal has been linked to the role of Ravan’s son Meghnath, though this remains unconfirmed. The film’s first look was reportedly slated for Ram Navami (March 27) at the Gateway of India, but the unveiling has been delayed due to the ongoing Middle East crisis. Till then, the cast has been kept under wraps.
Produced by Namit Malhotra, the film has music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer, both Oscar-winning composers. Director Tiwari has also written the script with Shridhar Raghavan.
The team has confirmed this year’s Diwali release for Part 1, while Part 2 will be released on Diwali 2027. The production house has roped in top international crew members for the film.
About Faisal Malik:
First noticed in Anurag Kashyap‘s film Gangs of Wasseypur as a comic cop, the actor shot to fame with the OTT series Panchayat as Deputy Pradhan Prahlad Cha, which has had four seasons so far. Since then, he has done many films and series, including Tribhawan Mishra CA Pass and Swipe Crime (2024).
His last two feature films, the horror-comedy Thamma (2025) where he played a cop, and the Anil Kapoor-starrer Subedaar, where he played the antagonist Softy Bhaiya, have worked well for him. Panchayat’s next season is expected to be shot soon.
The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, celebrating the inspiring journeys and achievements of India’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. TOISA 2025 will recognise performances delivered between January 1 and December 31, 2025, highlighting standout displays at global championships and major international competitions. Featuring more than 45 award categories, the event honours both established stars and emerging talents who made the nation proud through exceptional performances.The winners will be selected by a distinguished jury comprising some of India’s most respected sporting icons, including Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, hockey legend PR Sreejesh, batting great Mithali Raj, Paralympic champion Devendra Jhajharia, table tennis stalwart Sharath Kamal and tennis legend Leander Paes. Their collective expertise ensures a credible and balanced evaluation of excellence across Indian sport.The shooting nominees for TOISA 2025 reflect India’s remarkable depth in the sport, with several athletes delivering medal-winning performances on the global stage. Among the men, Samrat Rana created history with gold at the ISSF World Championships, while Ravinder Singh also emerged world champion in the 50m pistol. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anish Bhanwala impressed with podium finishes at the World Championships and World Cup Final, while Varun Tomar and Rudrankksh Patil added key World Cup and championship medals.In the women’s category, teenage sensation Suruchi Inder Singh enjoyed a breakthrough year with multiple World Cup gold medals. Simranpreet Kaur struck gold at the ISSF World Cup Final, while Esha Singh showcased her versatility with medals across two pistol events. Elavenil Valarivan and Sift Kaur Samra also enjoyed outstanding seasons, while Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker maintained her consistency with multiple podium finishes across major competitions.SHOOTING – MALESamrat RanaDate of Birth: January 8, 2005Place of Birth: Karnal, HaryanaSport: Shooting (10m Air Pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Gold (Individual), Gold (Team) & Silver (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Final: Bronze (Individual)Young Samrat Rana created history last year by becoming the first world champion from India in his event, the 10m Air Pistol, marking a defining breakthrough in his career. The former junior world champion delivered a sensational performance at the ISSF World Championships 2025, where he emerged as one of the biggest stars of the tournament with a haul of three medals. Rana clinched the gold medal in the individual event and followed it up with another gold in the team competition. He also secured a silver medal in the mixed team event alongside Esha Singh.With this outstanding performance, Rana became only the third Indian shooting world champion, joining the elite list that includes Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and world champion Rudrankksh Patil. The 21-year-old continued to shine later in the season, adding a bronze medal at the Doha World Cup Final, ensuring that the year would go down as one of the most memorable and significant phases of his rapidly progressing shooting journey.Ravinder SinghDate of Birth: October 17, 1996Place of Birth: Bishnah, Jammu and KashmirSport: Shooting (50m Pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Gold (Individual), Silver (Team)Asian Championships: Silver (Team)Ravinder Singh, a 29-year-old Naik Subedar in the Indian Army, achieved the biggest success of his shooting career by winning gold in the 50m pistol, a non-Olympic discipline, at the ISSF World Championships in Cairo. Hailing from Bishnah in Jammu and Kashmir, he delivered a composed, high-quality performance to finish atop the podium against a strong international field. He also secured a team silver, capping a remarkable and highly successful year.Aishwary Pratap Singh TomarDate of Birth: February 3, 2001Place of Birth: Khargone, Madhya PradeshSport: Shooting (50m rifle 3 positions)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Silver (Individual)ISSF World Cup Final: Silver (Individual)Asian Championships: Gold (Individual), Silver (Team)Two-time Olympian Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar rounded off last year with podium finishes at the ISSF World Championships and the ISSF World Cup Final. The 50m rifle 3 positions specialist claimed individual silver in Cairo and followed it up with another silver in Doha. He also enjoyed success at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kazakhstan, where he secured individual gold and a team silver to complete an impressive season.Anish BhanwalaDate of Birth: September 26, 2002Place of Birth: Sonipat, HaryanaSport: Shooting (25m rapid fire pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Silver (Individual)ISSF World Cup Final: Silver (Individual)Asian Championships: Silver (Individual), Silver (Team)Young pistol shooter Anish Bhanwala won his career’s second medal at the ISSF World Championships last year, securing an individual silver in Cairo. He followed it up with another individual silver at the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha. It turned out to be a rewarding year for the 23-year-old, who also claimed two silvers at the Asian Shooting Championships, one each in the individual and team events.Varun TomarDate of Birth: September 8, 2003Place of Birth: Baghpat, Uttar PradeshSport: Shooting (10m air pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Gold (Team), Bronze (Individual)Young pistol shooter Varun Tomar, who took up the sport inspired by his Olympian cousin Saurabh Chaudhary, won two medals at the ISSF World Championships. He secured bronze in the individual event, which was won by teammate Samrat Rana, and combined with Samrat and Sharvan Kumar to clinch team gold. He had also claimed team gold and individual bronze at the Junior World Championships three years earlier in 2022.Rudrankksh PatilDate of Birth: December 16, 2003Place of Birth: Thane, MaharashtraSport: Shooting (10m air rifle)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Cup Buenos Aires: Gold (Individual), Silver (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Lima: Silver (Mixed Team)Asian Championships: Gold (Team)Young 22-year-old rifle shooter Rudrankksh Patil enjoyed a highly successful 2025 season, winning multiple World Cup medals. He began the year with individual gold at the ISSF World Cup in Argentina and also secured a mixed team silver with Arya Borse at the same tournament. The pair went on to win another mixed team silver at the ISSF World Cup in Peru, taking his tally to three World Cup medals for the year. Patil also clinched a team gold at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kazakhstan, capping a fruitful and impressive season.SHOOTING – FEMALESuruchi Inder SinghDate of Birth: April 28, 2006Place of Birth: Jhajjar, HaryanaSport: Shooting (10m air pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Silver (Team)ISSF World Cup Final: Gold (Individual)ISSF World Cup Buenos Aires: Gold (Individual), Bronze (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Lima: Gold (Individual), Gold (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Munich: Gold (Individual)Asian Championships: Bronze (Team), Bronze (Mixed Team)2025 was a breakthrough year for teenage shooter Suruchi Singh. The 19-year-old rose to prominence after winning five gold medals across ISSF World Cup stages. She began with individual gold at the ISSF World Cup in Argentina, where she also claimed mixed team bronze. She followed it up with a double gold at the ISSF World Cup in Peru, winning the individual title and the mixed team gold with Saurabh Chaudhary. Suruchi then secured another individual gold at the ISSF World Cup in Germany before clinching her fifth gold at the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha. She also added a team silver at the ISSF World Championships and won two bronze medals at the Asian Championships, completing a remarkable season. Simranpreet KaurDate of Birth: October 2, 2004Place of Birth: Faridkot, PunjabSport: Shooting (25m pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Cup Final: Gold (Individual)ISSF World Cup Lima: Silver (Individual)Asian Championships: Bronze (Team)Young pistol shooter Simranpreet Kaur made 2025 a memorable year by winning gold at the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final in Doha. She clinched the title with a new junior world record score of 41 out of 50. Earlier in the season, she secured her first senior international medal — an individual silver at the ISSF World Cup in Peru. She also added a team bronze at the Asian Shooting Championships, capping off an impressive year.Esha SinghDate of Birth: January 1, 2005Place of Birth: Hyderabad, TelanganaSport: Shooting (10m air pistol, 25m pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Bronze (25m pistol – Individual), Silver (10m air pistol – Team), Silver (10m air pistol – Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Buenos Aires: Silver (25m pistol – Individual)ISSF World Cup Ningbo: Gold (10m air pistol – Individual)Asian Championships: Bronze (25m pistol – Team)Young pistol shooter Esha Singh had a stunning 2025, winning multiple medals at major competitions in both her events — 10m air pistol and 25m pistol. The 21-year-old claimed three medals at the ISSF World Championships, securing individual bronze in 25m pistol and two silvers in 10m air pistol (team and mixed team), an outstanding feat for the youngster. She also won individual gold in 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup in China and an individual silver in 25m pistol at the ISSF World Cup in Argentina earlier in the season. She further added a team bronze in 25m pistol at the Asian Shooting Championships, making it a true breakthrough year marked by success across both disciplines.Elavenil ValarivanDate of Birth: August 2, 1999Place of Birth: Cuddalore, Tamil NaduSport: Shooting (10m air rifle)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Bronze (Individual), Bronze (Team)ISSF World Cup Munich: Bronze (Individual)Asian Championships: Gold (Individual), Gold (Mixed Team), Bronze (Team)Two-time Olympian Elavenil Valarivan won two bronze medals at the ISSF World Championships in Cairo, taking her overall tally at the event to three bronzes after her team podium finish in 2022. The rifle shooter also secured an individual bronze at the ISSF World Cup during the season. She enjoyed an outstanding continental campaign as well, winning two gold medals (individual and mixed team) and a team bronze at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kazakhstan, capping off a highly successful year.Sift Kaur SamraDate of Birth: September 9, 2001Place of Birth: Faridkot, PunjabSport: Shooting (50m rifle 3 positions)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Cup Buenos Aires: Gold (Individual)ISSF World Cup Munich: Bronze (Individual)Asian Championships: Gold (Individual), Gold (Team)Sift Kaur Samra has carved a name for herself in one of the toughest events in shooting sports — the 50m rifle 3 positions. She won her first individual gold at the ISSF World Cup last year, marking a major milestone in her career. She then added another individual World Cup medal, securing bronze at the ISSF World Cup in Germany. Sift also enjoyed a dominant run at the Asian Shooting Championships, clinching two gold medals with top-of-the-podium finishes in both the individual and team events in Kazakhstan.Manu BhakerDate of Birth: February 18, 2002Place of Birth: Goria, HaryanaSport: Shooting (10m air pistol, 25m pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Silver (10m air pistol – Team)ISSF World Cup Lima: Silver (10m air pistol – Individual)Asian Championships: Bronze (10m air pistol – Individual), Bronze (10m air pistol – Team), Bronze (25m pistol – Team)Manu Bhaker, a double medallist at the Paris Olympics, had a steady 2025 season even though gold at major events eluded her. She secured a team silver at the ISSF World Championships and followed it up with an individual silver at the ISSF World Cup. Manu also enjoyed success at the Asian Shooting Championships, winning three medals — an individual bronze and two team bronzes — to cap off a consistent year.
Farah Khan’s directorial debut, Main Hoon Na (2004), remains one of Bollywood’s most beloved films, starring Shah Rukh Khan alongside Sushmita Sen, Amrita Rao, Zayed Khan and Suniel Shetty. While audiences know it as a mix of action, comedy, and family drama, Farah recently revealed that the film’s concept started much smaller, as a simple rom-com set in a college.
Main Hoon Na, Farah Khan’s directorial debut, began as a small rom-com but became a bigger film later.
Farah says Main Hoon Na was supposed to be a rom-com
Speaking to Ranveer Allahbadia on his podcast, Farah shared, “Actually, at first, it was purely a rom-com. He goes to school, then he falls in love with a teacher. Everyone has a teacher that they are in love with. So the idea came from there.”
Originally, she planned to shoot the story at St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai with a modest scale. “It was small-scale. But then I thought, why am I making such a small picture? So I made it bigger and bigger. Then the India-Pakistan angle came in, the step-brothers angle came in. Drama is my forte. I enjoy shooting dramatic scenes,” she explained, drawing parallels with her later hit, Om Shanti Om.
The final version of Main Hoon Na follows Major Ram Prasad Sharma, an Indian Army officer who goes undercover as a college student to protect a general’s daughter from a rogue soldier, while also reconnecting with his estranged family. Farah said adding layers of action and drama transformed the initial rom-com idea into the multi-genre entertainer that became a box-office success.
Fans have speculated for years about a sequel, especially after Shah Rukh Khan hinted at various upcoming projects. Rumours about Main Hoon Na 2 suggested it might be Shah Rukh’s next film after King. However, Farah recently addressed the speculation, and asked fans not to believe in rumours.
Farah’s YouTube journey
Farah Khan has turned her creative energy to YouTube, where her cooking vlog series with longtime chef Dilip has become a viral sensation. Launched in April 2024, the channel quickly captured audiences with its mix of easy-to-follow recipes, playful banter, and candid celebrity guests. It now boasts nearly 3 million subscribers, while Farah herself has around 4.5 million Instagram followers. Before her digital success, Farah last film, Happy New Year (2014), starred Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sonu Sood, and Boman Irani, and was a major box-office hit.
Lavanya Tripathi recently opened up about a difficult phase in her career, recalling how turning down a Tamil film led to legal trouble and negative media coverage. Speaking at an Open House With Fans session organised by Mahi Originals, the actress said the incident took place nearly a decade ago and that she had never spoken about it publicly until now.
Lavanya Tripathi recently opened up about a difficult phase in her career, recalling how turning down a Tamil film led to legal trouble and negative media coverage. Speaking at an Open House With Fans session organised by Mahi Originals, the actress said the incident took place nearly a decade ago and that she had never spoken about it publicly until now.
‘I just didn’t feel comfortable’
During the session, Lavanya was asked by a fan if she had ever experienced moments when she cried her heart out at home but carried on normally the next day.Responding candidly, the actress said such moments have occurred several times in her life.“As a single woman and no family background, sometimes there’s no one to help you. So, you’re like, okay, what can I do? There was a time, there was a movie in Tamil which I was supposed to do. And I felt something was not right with the director. Maybe I can be wrong but I just didn’t feel comfortable and nenu no cheppesanu (I said no),” Lavanya shared.She added that things took an unexpected turn after she declined the project.“After that, they kind of put a case on me and they were putting out wrong articles about me in the newspaper,” she said.
‘I told no one and asked for no help’
Lavanya revealed that she chose to remain silent about the ordeal at the time and didn’t seek support from anyone.“Nenu ipudu cheptunanu, gaani aa time ki nenu evariki cheppaledu. Nenu evariki help adagaledu (I am talking about it now, but back then I told this to no one or asked for anyone’s help),” she said.Recalling how the pressure affected her emotionally, she admitted there was a day when it all became overwhelming.“But because of that pressure, one day I just came home, and I was just crying. Normally, I don’t cry. After crying, I got up, made myself some tea and chilled. Crying is good, no problem, but I have faced such situations. All these times, they make you very strong,” Lavanya said, drawing applause from fans.
Varun Tej & Lavanya Tripathi welcome baby boy: Konidela family celebrates
‘If you’re going through hell, keep going’
When asked how she coped with the situation, Lavanya said her decision had been simple — she refused the film because she didn’t feel comfortable.“All I did was say no because I wasn’t comfortable working with the person. They troubled me a lot afterwards, too. If you’re going through hell, keep going,” she said. Lavanya made her acting debut with the 2012 Telugu film Andala Rakshasi directed by Hanu Raghavapudi. Her Tamil debut came with Bramman, which also starred M. Sasikumar.The actress married Varun Tej, her co-star from the 2017 film Mister, in 2023. The couple welcomed their son Vaayuv in November 2025.
