Dhurandhar: The Revenge is arguably the most anticipated Hindi film in years. The Aditya Dhar directorial brings back Ranveer Singh as Hamza aka Jaskirat, an Indian spy in Pakistan. The unprecedented success of Part 1 in December has paved the way for the sequel to generate immense buzz. In fact, the buzz is so huge that the makers are organising preview shows for fans on the eve of the release, but on a scale never-seen-before in Hindi cinema.
Dhurandhar 2: Ranveer Singh in a still from the Aditya Dhar sequel.
Dhurandhar 2 paid previews
The trailer of Dhurandhar 2 was launched on Saturday, as Jio Studios and B62 Studios released the 4-minute glimpse into the world of Jaskirat Singh Rangi. The important announcement came at the end of the trailer as the makers announced paid previews for the film on March 18. Online ticketing platforms like BookMyShow and District opened the bookings for paid previews on Saturday afternoon itself.
As of Tuesday, the paid previews of Dhurandhar 2 are set for the evening of March 18, the eve of its release. Many theatres across India are starting shows at 4-5 PM with some screens keeping multiple shows that evening. The paid previews are spread across India, but not in all locations. As per trade estimates, Dhurandhar 2 paid previews will be shown on around 5000 screens across India. The film’s release, the following day, will be wider as more screens will be added in more cities.
Dhurandhar 2 advance bookings
Fans have noted that the prices of the tickets for the paid preview of Dhurandhar 2 were abnormally high. Across India, the average ticket price for the Hindi version is around ₹417. In multiplexes, this figure is around ₹550, according to trade sources. Even the Kannada dub has tickets priced over ₹400 on an average. But despite this, tickets are selling like hot cakes. By Tuesday evening, the film had sold over 3 lakh tickets for paid previews, grossing over ₹16 crore domestically. Overseas, it has amassed over $700K for paid previews in North America, and is set to exceed $2 million for the weekend. With eight days to go for the release, these are promising numbers.
All about Dhurandhar 2
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 brings back Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy in Pakistan. The heavily-anticipated film also stars R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Danish Pandor, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun. Part 1 was a mega success, earning ₹1300 crore worldwide. The sequel is expected to repeat its success.
Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, Divya Deshmukh, and Harika Dronavalli (from left to right) (Photo by Maria Emelianova/Chess.com)
NEW DELHI: Last Sunday was International Women’s Day. Unless you’ve been on a total digital detox, your feed was likely buried under a mountain of Instagram stories and WhatsApp statuses celebrating the day. You probably liked a few, reciprocated a few wishes, and projected the vision of your values perfectly aligned with the cause.In keeping with the occasion, the FIDE Women in Chess Commission (WOM) and the University of Queensland published the 2026 Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI) on Sunday. In this index, India has slipped one place to 25th in the global rankings since the inaugural 2023 edition.
From No Laptop to Chess World Cup Dreams: GM Pranesh M Exclusive Interview
In isolation, a one-place drop might not appear alarming. But in a country currently hailed as the fastest-growing chess powerhouse on the planet, this ranking points towards a deeper structural imbalance. While there are certainly worse-performing countries on the list, questions may arise as to why India isn’t near the top.
What is the Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI)?
The Gender Equality in Chess Index is essentially an attempt by FIDE, the global chess body, to quantify gender balance across federations worldwide. The idea behind it is to measure where countries stand so they can improve.“When we created the GECI in 2023, we wanted to give federations a clear, evidence-based picture of where they stand on gender equality. You can’t improve what you don’t measure,” said Grandmaster (GM) David Smerdon, associate professor at the University of Queensland and the report’s lead author.
Change in average GECI score by continent (Grahpic from GECI Report 2026)
The report uses FIDE’s global ratings database and youth championship participation records to build a composite score that reflects female participation, performance, and development pathways. According to the report, there are 1,446,605 active chess players worldwide, but only 238,716 are women, meaning female participation overall stands at just 16.5%.
How the rankings are measured
The GECI score is calculated using three key pillars:
Participation – the share of women among active rated players in a federation. (The closer the figure is to 50%, the more balanced the ratio between male and female players)
Performance – the strength gap between men and women based on average Elo ratings.
Progress – the proportion of girls representing a country in international youth championships.
In the 2026 release, India’s overall GECI score stands at 71.04, resulting in that single-place drop to 25th globally. However, when you look under the hood, the numbers tell a story of two different Indias.
India’s numbers in 2026 GECI Report
In Performance, India holds a staggering 97.49 (up from 88.31 in 2023), which proves that our elite women are world-class. Nevertheless, Participation lags at a meagre 18.72, and Progress, the metric for the next generation, saw a slight decline to 49.09.The metrics suggest that while India is phenomenal at producing top-rated female players, the broader ecosystem is still struggling to get girls to the board and keep them there.
Where is India lacking?
From Viswanathan Anand inspiring a generation to teenage prodigies dominating global tournaments, the country now boasts more than 90 Grandmasters. Yet, in a nation of more than a billion people, only four women have reached chess’s highest title and become a GM.As GM Harika Dronavalli explained, the issue begins long before players reach the elite level. “Girls are not pushed to pursue ambitious goals in the same way boys are. The talent is certainly there, but societal expectations often clip those wings early,” she told TimesofIndia.com.The drop-off is particularly visible during adolescence. Coach GM Srinath Narayanan, who has worked with several of India’s top female players, says many promising girls leave the game between 13 and 15 years of age.“Girls in India often face more pressure to prioritise academics or domestic responsibilities over sports. Chess demands sustained investment, time, travel and coaching, and families may hesitate to support girls long-term in such a career,” he explained.
New additions to the GECI 2026 report
Even those who remain in the system face structural challenges. International Master (IM) Vantika Agrawal reiterates that competing internationally, a crucial step toward earning Grandmaster norms, is far harder for female players.“It is financially challenging to play a lot of tournaments abroad,” she said. “Female players don’t get much opportunity to play with stronger players, which hampers their growth. And our society is still male-dominated. Women don’t get equal opportunities and support.”Young girls often compete in women-only events rather than stronger open sections, limiting exposure to tougher opposition during crucial development years.
What can India do to improve and close the gap?
While recently speaking to this website, India’s veteran Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay broke down the reality of ‘individualism’ within the Indian chess ecosystem.“There is no system in Indian chess which will produce champions. It is basically the efforts of the parents and the players that are in place. Players have spent a lot of time and energy, and parents have sacrificed their careers; only then have some emerged as champions,” he elaborated.“Just because three players are doing well, it doesn’t mean that after five years we will have another three or five players who will do the same. We cannot say it is like the Soviet school where one champion goes and another comes. Even in China, they have a continuous chain of players, particularly among the women. Whenever one generation is no longer strong, a different generation has already been coming through. These are things which do not happen here; what we have is the individual effort of a person.“While some notable individuals have helped sow the seeds of chess culture in India, this growth has remained limited to certain pockets of the nation rather than expanding pan-India. And the movement may not reach its full potential without direct intervention from the All India Chess Federation (AICF). But how do they achieve this?
There is no system in Indian chess which will produce champions. It is basically the efforts of the parents and the players that are in place.
GM Pravin Thipsay
The GECI framework itself offers clues about the solution.First, female participation must increase at the grassroots level. Even a modest rise in the percentage of girls playing chess would significantly strengthen the talent pipeline.Second, exposure to stronger competition is essential. Coaches argue that talented girls should be encouraged to play in open events early in their careers.Third, the ecosystem needs financial backing, from travel grants and sponsorships to structured training programmes designed specifically for promising female players.
Biggest Moves in GECI Report 2026
In all, the UAE blueprint mentioned in the 2026 GECI report could prove highly effective.The UAE climbed 73 places in the rankings, from 77th in the last edition to 4th now, largely by dramatically increasing the number of girls sent to youth championships. The country boosted female participation in youth delegations from 12.5% to 43.75% in the “progress” indicator, demonstrating how targeted policy decisions can rapidly transform representation.Backed by their sports ministry and national councils, the UAE has institutionalised female chess through a specialised network of seven chess clubs with dedicated girls-only sections and two girls-only clubs. They have also made female representation mandatory in their governing body.By providing logistical support for families and embedding women in leadership roles, such as Secretary-General Dr. Maliha Mahmoud Al Mazmi, the federation has created a sustainable professional pipeline.READ ALSO: India gets its 93rd GM. Mother quit job for chess — the making of Aarav Dengla influenced by D Gukesh and Arjun ErigaisiFurthermore, the system is anchored by a year-round competitive calendar for girls, ranging from school-level events to national championships of all age categories. Away from the board, the federation has also invested in the inclusion of female international and national arbiters.For India, the lesson is simple. As the data shows, the country already has the talent. What it needs now is a system that keeps girls in the game long enough to create a sustainable model of development.
Team India emerged victorious by 96 runs against New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
After winning the title, Team India`s head coach Gautam Gambhir feels that Sanju Samson`s knock of 97 runs against the West Indies was the turning point of the hosts` campaign.
“It is very difficult to say, but I still believe that Sanju`s 97 against West Indies was the turning point of this campaign because again, it was a virtual quarter-final and someone making a comeback who did not play four or five matches before the Zimbabwe game. Chasing 195 in a virtual quarter-final, irrespective of whatever the ground is, in a World Cup game, is never easy. With the ease and the calmness that he batted, I think it gave us a lot of confidence in the group that now, probably, we are on the right track,” he said.
In the match against the Caribbeans, the Kerala-born cricketer played a knock of an unbeaten 97 runs off 50 balls, including 12 boundaries and four maximums. He continued his rich vein of form in the match against England as well, in which he garnered 89 runs in 42 balls, laced with eight boundaries and seven maximums.
He then stated that things started falling in place after the game against the West Indies.
“Before that, there was a lot of talk that we play very aggressively in the bilaterals but not in the ICC tournaments. After the West Indies game, when Sanju got going and how Ishan Kishan batted at three, I thought that a lot of things actually started taking shape,” said Gambhir.
The triumph helped the “Men in Blue” to successfully defend the shortest format world title. With this, India also became the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles.
T20 World Cup 2026: Player of the Tournament
Team India`s wicketkeeper-batsman Samson was named as the “Player of the Tournament”, and the side`s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah was the “Player of the Match” for his heroics in the title clash.
Samson scored 89 runs in 46 balls, with the help of five boundaries and eight maximums, whereas Bumrah returned with the figures of four wickets for 15 runs in four overs.
Aishwarya Rai started her career as a model and was already a household name with a soft drink commercial, before she won an international pageant title. People who have worked with her, even in her early days have always showered praise on her. In a recent interview, celebrity stylist Ashley Rebello reminisced about working with the actress long before she became a global icon. He recalled how she was hesitant to wear a revealing outfit. In an interview with Beyond the Frame with Avinash Tripathi, Ashley said, “Actually, when I first met her, she wasn’t ‘the Aishwarya Rai’ yet; she was just a simple girl. The first advertisement she did was a suiting campaign, and at that time, I used to conduct trials in my bedroom. Our first meeting happened when she came to my house for her fitting, and it was a backless dress. She asked, ‘Will I have to wear a dress like this?’ And I told her, ‘Yes, what’s the problem with it?’”Rebello also recalled that Aishwarya had arrived for the trial with her mother, who initially felt the outfit was too bold. However, he reassured her family that everything would be handled tastefully.“I remember she was very young and in the middle of her college days. She had come for the trial with her mother. Her mother said that the dress was too revealing. But I told her, ‘No, aunty, don’t worry. These ad films shoot everything very aesthetically, nothing will happen, and I’m here.’ I told her to first see the fitting and be happy with it. She was convinced, and from that point onward, I feel she developed a sense of trust in me.”According to Rebello, that trust gradually developed into a long-standing professional relationship. When Aishwarya travelled to compete at Miss World, he designed several outfits for her to wear during the event. He added, “When she went for Miss World, I gave her at least 20 sarees. I made chiffon sarees in different colours: rani pink, yellow, turquoise blue, black, white, and red. I also gave her lots of bangles and matching bindis and told her that when you go for breakfast every day, you must wear a new saree.”The stylist said the idea soon became a talking point among other contestants at the pageant. Aishwarya later called him to share how the colourful sarees had captured everyone’s attention. “I can’t tell you how every morning everyone just wants to see which colour saree I will wear today. Everyone has been asking me for my bindis, so all my bindis are finished and all my bangles are gone. My mother is coming, so please send more with her. That’s when I realised that she is not just beautiful but also such a nice person,” he said. Meanwhile, film producer Shailendra Singh, also recently spoke about spotting Aishwarya in her early advertising days. During an interview with Siddharth Kannan, he recalled how she began her career in commercials. He recalled, “I spotted Aishwarya when she was 18 or 19 at Marine Drive, if I recall correctly. She came to meet Kunal Kapoor and me at 8:30 at night with her parents. She was just 18 or 19, and she did our first three advertisements for just Rs 5,000. She was first, I think, an extra tied to a pole in Mukesh Mills for a commercial. Then she did a Ghrit Kumari Hair Oil ad with Malvika Tiwari, and then another commercial with Arjun Rampal. That’s how she started.”
The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has brought the Strait of Hormuz to the brink of closure, disrupting global oil supplies and forcing Gulf nations like UAE, Iraq and others, to slash production. With storage tanks filling rapidly, analysts warn of the growing risk of a total production shutdown if output is not carefully managed.The latest addition to this list is Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, which has reduced production by between 2 million and 2.5 million barrels a day. The kingdom is rerouting some supplies through the Red Sea to maintain exports, although the pipeline there cannot fully handle the usual volumes.“Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, is also rerouting some supplies through the Red Sea to maintain exports,” a source told Bloomberg.Earlier, the UAE also lowered output by between 500,000 and 800,000 barrels per day, rerouting some exports through Fujairah, which has also been struck by Iran. While this alternative route helps maintain shipments, it covers only a fraction of the Gulf’s usual exports. “The ongoing war in the Middle East has brought maritime traffic through Hormuz nearly to a halt, with mostly only Iranian shipments moving through,” Bloomberg reported.Kuwait Petroleum Corporation began cutting oil output last week and declared force majeure. The company said the reduction was precautionary and would be reviewed as the situation develops, adding that it remained ready to restore production levels when conditions allow. Back in February, Kuwait produced around 2.6 million barrels per day of crude oil. The production cut comes as the disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz begins to fill storage tanks, prompting proactive reductions to prevent storage facilities from reaching capacity too quickly.Iraqi oil production from its main southern fields has fallen by 70%, to just 1.3 million barrels per day, down from 4.3 million barrels per day before the war. Exports dropped sharply to an average of around 800,000 barrels per day, with only two tankers loading because vessels cannot move freely through the Strait of Hormuz.Iraq’s storage capacity has likely been exhausted, prompting output cuts of around 1.5 million barrels per day last week. Rystad Energy warned that Iraq’s remaining operational oil fields “face an imminent, near-certain shutdown.”Qatar, India’s largest supplier of imported natural gas, declared force majeure on LNG deliveries following a halt in production after an Iranian drone strike. Sources said the disruption has cut supplies to Indian industry by up to 40%, affecting power generation, fertiliser production, CNG distribution, and piped cooking gas networks.“Gas importer Petronet LNG Ltd has informed gas marketers of Qatar halting its liquefied natural gas production after Iran continued to strike Gulf countries in retaliation for Israeli and US strikes against it,” sources said.
Impact on global oil prices
The conflict has pushed oil prices to nearly $120 a barrel after Israel struck Iran’s energy infrastructure and Tehran announced Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Earlier on Monday, Brent crude reached $119.50 before easing to around $100 per barrel, still over 20% higher than pre-war levels.The war has created fresh fears for energy infrastructure across the Middle East, with producers already grappling with damaged sites from Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil shipping route.
How much more can their tanks store?
With storage tanks nearing capacity, Gulf oil-producing nations face the risk of a complete production halt. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows, making its closure a worst-case scenario for energy markets.“Collectively, Gulf nations can store about 343 million barrels of oil to delay an inevitable production stoppage,” JP Morgan said as cited by Deutsche Welle. However, with around 15 million barrels per day of crude and over 4 million barrels per day of refined products typically flowing through the Strait, storage buffers are extremely limited. Iraq, which had just six days of storage, has likely already reached its limit, prompting Baghdad to cut output by around 1.5 million barrels per day last week. Rystad Energy, a Norwegian research firm, warned on Monday that Iraq’s remaining operational oil fields “face an imminent, near-certain shutdown.”Saudi Arabia, by contrast, had 66 days of storage as of 28 February, according to JP Morgan, assuming the kingdom could reroute some exports through alternative routes. Rystad Energy cautioned, however, that the Saudis may have only seven to nine days of “effective runway before forced output cuts,” as cited by Deutsche WelleSaudi Aramco is redirecting as much oil as possible to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, while the UAE is sending some of its exports through Fujairah, despite the port also being targeted by Iran. These alternative routes currently handle only about a third of the volume that normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz.Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia has reduced oil production by up to 2.5 million barrels per day, with the UAE cutting output by 500,000 to 800,000 barrels daily. Kuwait has also lowered production by half a million barrels per day, and Iraq by roughly 2.9 million, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Death Valley in California – the hottest place on Earth and the driest place in North America – is currently carpeted in wildflowers in what is shaping up to be the best bloom in a decade.
The National Park Service (NPS) officially categorised this as an above-average bloom year on 22 February, with low-elevation flowers blooming throughout the park.
It is the best event the site has seen since 2016, with swaths of the desert transformed and covered in golden and violet flora.
Kyte discusses how rising global tensions, energy crises and resource conflicts are colliding with the climate emergency, disrupting life around the world and what is the UK’s response?
The West Asia tensions confirm the decision to become energy secure by investing in renewable energy to be less sensitive to international gas and oil markets and price increases, Kyte said. File Image/Getty
Geopolitical tensions are complicating the global transition away from fossil fuels, as governments clash over security energy supply and access to critical resources. Amidst all this, 2026 is on track to become one of the hottest years ever, with global warming and climate impacts already affecting lives and livelihoods.
CNN-News18 spoke to Rachel Kyte, the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Climate, about what these developments mean global climate cooperationThe future of the energy transition away from fossil fuels and the UK’s response to meeting its climate commitments.
Part:
With war in West Asia, rising geopolitical tensions, and the US retreating from its climate obligations, is climate cooperation in real danger? How is the UK responding?
These geopolitical tensions confirm the correctness of our decision to become energy secure by investing in our own renewable energy so that we become less vulnerable to international gas and oil markets and price spikes. We learned a lesson after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, moving away from a fossil fuel-based economy is absolutely fundamental to our national and economic security and our climate ambitions. The foundation of our cooperation with India following the Strategic Partnership and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) last year is technical cooperation on renewable energy to allow India to make its transition quickly and easily.
In terms of climate diplomacy, the United States has decided to leave the Paris Agreement and the underlying convention, but everyone else is still in, and everyone else understands the need for cooperation around the energy transition, and that has to continue despite conflicts and tensions around the world. So, as I always say, science didn’t change, and economics didn’t change; Politics remain difficult, and tensions are higher now than we have seen in recent memory, so we have to find a way to continue working together.
There are conflicting studies on Britain’s climate progress; How do you assess it? Is it on track to meet its emissions targets?
It’s kind of fast and furious. A new government was elected in July 2024 and set up mission controls to ensure that our grid can absorb all the new energy we are creating. We want to produce clean energy as soon as possible, so that we can have energy security. The regulatory framework and administrative rules have been significantly improved. We had a successful auction for offshore wind and drove a policy change around rooftop solar, driven largely by India’s ambition for rooftop solar. We have now changed the rules to allow onshore wind and last week opened our first geothermal plant to connect to the grid.
We are moving forward with our nuclear capacity and investing in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) at sites of heavy industrial activity because it is going to be an essential part of the very small amounts of gas that we will continue to use in our system. At the same time, we are working to keep energy bills affordable for people as we invest in upgrading the grid and its resilience.
Let’s talk about climate finance – developed countries made many promises at the last climate summit, but is the money actually reaching developing countries?
Clearly, there are many countries, including ours, that have invested more money in building their defense capability than they can to meet their obligations in a world that is experiencing war and conflict at a level we have not seen for many years. Then what we are working to do is leverage our public climate finance to attract other forms of finance, such as private funding. We are working with other funding partners and using new tools such as guarantees to bring in more investment. This is at the heart of another area of collaboration between India and the UK, where we have a climate finance initiative in which we are trying to ensure that India attracts more long-term investors, particularly in renewable energy, so that pension funds and insurers who act as investors and other long-term finance see India and India’s green growth story as an attractive place to invest.
There is an international conversation going on about where we can find the new forms of finance, new revenue streams for adaptation and resilience that are needed for the growing climate impacts we are seeing. We’ve just seen scientific reports that sea levels are actually rising faster than we thought due to the effects of extreme heat and flooding around the world. Therefore, we are working on new ways to take insurance forward and spread insurance to cover more people.
India is going to be the testing ground for some of these innovations and we are fully involved in that. It is true that we have come to the end of the era of the traditional way of using public money. But, we are not retreating from our obligations under the convention; Instead, we’re trying to bring more innovation to the discussion.
While developed countries are experiencing climate impacts themselves, how are you building public support for international climate finance?
British people know climate change is real because they see it in their gardens, in flowers blooming at the wrong time and changes in the behavior of birds. They are experiencing more frequent floods, wetter winters, hotter and drier summers and extreme temperatures that they have never experienced as children. And, when they watch the news, they see it happening all over the world. Therefore, there is no doubt that climate change is happening.
What this Government have said is that the UK contributes only one per cent of emissions today; We had contributed more in the past. But we can’t be as safe as Britain if we don’t help other countries make their transition safe. So, I think previous governments have said why are we investing abroad if we contribute only one per cent? So, we’re like, “Okay, because we’re only one percent.” Investing in India’s success is a big part of ensuring our own security.
So, what are the key areas of UK-India cooperation in terms of climate action?
We have an offshore wind task force, which came out of the strategic partnership and free trade agreement signed last year and the meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Technical cooperation is ongoing on various aspects of long-term battery storage, green hydrogen and energy transition. We have a climate finance initiative, which includes connecting with pension funds in the UK and bringing long-term investors and asset owners to India. We also carry out technical cooperation on grid stability, building on our extensive experience in grid regulation, achieving resilience, as well as disaster risk management.
I mean, for a small country like Britain, if India doesn’t succeed then we won’t succeed in our climate ambitions.
The last UN climate summit in Brazil was the “COP of Implementation”. Has there been any concrete progress since then?
The rhythm is fine. There was the COP, then we had different international meetings, the World Bank and IMF spring meetings, and then now there are regional climate weeks. So, there’s a different rhythm now because this is the era of implementation, and I think that’s really important. I don’t think we can have 11 months and then just one COP and then 11 months and then one COP. Of course, Turkey is very busy hosting, and Australia is very busy managing the negotiations, but we are focused on the things that need to be accomplished in this decade. There is a huge emphasis on delivering on the promise of reducing methane as it is an accelerant and short-lived climate pollutant.
There is also a focus on how we finance adaptation and on countries that have not yet filed their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). We are really eager to see the subjugation of India.
first published:
March 10, 2026, 16:29 IST
newsWorld Global conflicts show why we need clean energy faster: UK climate envoy Rachel Kyte | exclusive interview
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Television actress Ridhima Pandit has reportedly taken legal action against fellow reality show contestant Vanshaj Singh after a heated confrontation between the two escalated beyond the show and allegedly led to online harassment. The dispute initially began during an episode of the reality series The 50, but the situation intensified on social media soon after the episode aired.
Ridhima Pandit takes legal action
According to reports, Pandit has sent a legal notice to Singh and also filed a complaint with the cyber police after she started receiving abusive and threatening messages online. The actress’ legal team claims that the hostility increased after Singh’s social media activity allegedly encouraged his followers to target her.
Sources suggest that Pandit began receiving a large number of offensive messages shortly after the on-screen argument between the two contestants was shown. These messages reportedly included derogatory comments and serious threats across social media platforms. Concerned about the growing severity of the situation, the actress decided to pursue legal action.
Through her lawyers, Pandit has now formally approached the authorities and requested an investigation into the matter. The complaint filed with the cyber police aims to identify the individuals responsible for the threatening messages and ensure that appropriate action is taken.
Confirming the development, Pandit’s team said, “Yes, it’s true. We have taken legal action against Vanshaj and the legal proceedings are underway.”
All about the controversy
The controversy reportedly stems from a verbal spat between Pandit and Singh during The 50. The reality show is known for its competitive format and intense challenges, which often lead to dramatic exchanges among contestants. However, the disagreement between the two participants appears to have extended beyond the show and sparked heated discussions online.
Following the legal notice, Vanshaj Singh also reacted on social media. Addressing the situation in a post, he wrote, “You have no concept of the forces you have just set in motion,” while referring to the legal action taken against him.
The current season of The 50 features several well-known personalities, including Karan Patel, Divya Agarwal, Prince Narula, Urvashi Dholakia, Nikki Tamboli, and Faisal Shaikh, among others. With multiple strong contestants and intense competition, the show has already been generating headlines for its dramatic moments and unexpected twists.
As the dispute now moves into the legal arena, the controversy has attracted significant attention from viewers and fans of the show. Authorities are expected to review the complaint and determine the next steps as the investigation into the alleged online harassment continues.
India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Arshdeep was found guilty of breaching Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”
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In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Arshdeep’s disciplinary record. It is his first offence within a 24-month period.The incident took place in the 11th over of New Zealand’s innings when Arshdeep fielded the ball on his follow-through and threw it back aggressively, striking batter Daryl Mitchell on the pads.Arshdeep accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing.The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf, third umpire Allahuddien Paleker, and fourth umpire Adrian Holdstock.Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.HOW DEMERIT POINTS WORKWhen a player accumulates four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points, which can result in a ban.Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever comes first for the player.Demerit points remain on a player or player support personnel’s disciplinary record for 24 months from the date they are imposed, after which they are expunged.
“The Revenant returns to theaters this Friday, March 13,” they wrote on Instagram.
Earlier in February, Deadline reported that the film will be released internationally in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.
Alejandro G Inarritu`s The Revenant was released in 2016, bringing DiCaprio the coveted Academy Award for Best Actor for his gruelling role.
Playing frontiersman Hugh Glass, DiCaprio endured physical hardship and isolation for months to deliver one of the most intense performances of his career.
Speaking about his character, Leonardo DiCaprio once described it as the “most difficult film.”
“It was the most difficult film, I think, that any of us has ever done. It was almost like a silent-movie performance,” as quoted by Variety.
Inspired by real events, The Revenant follows DiCaprio`s character through deep snow and challenges, including battles with Native Americans and a near-fatal mauling by a bear.
Besides the Academy Award, the film also won big at the Golden Globe, Critics` Choice, Screen Actors Guild, and BAFTA, among others.
On the work front, Leonardo DiCaprio is currently vying for another Oscar ahead of the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.
This year`s nominations are led by Sinners, which has earned a record-breaking 16 nods. The best actor category includes Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15, 2026, with Conan O`Brien set to return as the host.
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