Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex rose in opening trade on Thursday on the back of positive global cues. While Nifty50 was above 25,500, BSE Sensex rose around 200 points. At 9:18 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,547.25, up 65 points or 0.25%. BSE Sensex was at 82,467.65, up 192 points or 0.23%.Equity markets moved higher on Wednesday, supported by firm global cues, although investor sentiment remained guarded due to ongoing trade-related uncertainties. Analysts said markets are expected to remain range-bound in the near term.Foreign portfolio investors were net buyers of equities worth Rs 2,991 crore on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors also remained positive, purchasing shares worth Rs 5,119 crore.Wall Street ended Wednesday’s session on a positive note, extending a technology-driven rally and reaching two-week highs as concerns over the cost and disruption risks of artificial intelligence eased amid renewed optimism about its long-term potential.Asian markets rose for a fourth straight session as volatility linked to artificial intelligence concerns subsided. However, the gains were limited as markets reacted cautiously to Nvidia Corp.’s strong sales outlook.Meanwhile, gold prices edged higher on Thursday, supported by a weaker dollar and safe-haven demand amid uncertainty over US tariff policies and ongoing US-Iran negotiations.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
Composer Ismail Darbar and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali have several notable collaborations. The composer scored the music of many of Bhansali’s early hits, including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, both known for their iconic soundtracks. The two were set to reunite after years in Heeramandi, Bhansali’s ambitious project, before the filmmaker decided to score it himself.
Ismail Darbar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali in happier times.
Ismail Darbar on being replaced in Heeramandi
In a recent interview, Ismal Darbar said he felt ‘betrayed’ by being replaced in the project after giving it over a year of his life.
In an interview with Subhojit Ghosh on YouTube, Ismail Darbar looked back at his exit from Heeramandi, which was in development for half a decade before its 2024 release. The composer said of Bhansali, “He betrayed me, not once, but twice. He committed to working with me, and then didn’t do so. I had worked on Heeramandi for 1.5 years, and he didn’t tell me before replacing me.”
The composer added that Bhansali tried to reconcile later by inviting him to the show’s premiere, but he felt heartbroken and could not attend. “We used to fight during the making of every song. I respect him a lot in this matter because he gave my family and me a lot of love. We had a good bond till Heeramandi, he called me from the front to invite me to the show’s premiere. He had told me that he didn’t call anyone else but me, but by that time, my heart had already broken. If Sanjay and I would have done Heeramandi together, we would have created history,” Darbar added.
About Heeramandi
Heeramandi, directed and created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was originally conceptualised as a film in the 2000s. However, after being stuck in development hell for a decade, it was eventually revived as a web series after the pandemic. The show stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha. It was released on Netflix in May 2024 to largely negative reviews but was a success on the streaming platform, setting new viewership records in the first week. A second season is in development. Sanjay Leela Bhansali composed all the original songs for the show, while Benedict Taylor scored the background.
Ismail Darbar began his journey as a composer in Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999, for which he won a National Award. He has composed music for around two dozen films in his career.
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi does not often speak about his personal life, so when he does, it always makes for an interesting read.
Speaking on the Miro de Atras podcast on Tuesday, the World Cup-winning captain recently recalled how he proposed to his wife and childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo during a dinner date in Barcelona. “We had already been together for many years. We already had [sons] Thiago and Mateo. So, one time we went out to eat in Barcelona, at a hotel, we spent the night there, and that’s where I proposed to her,” Messi said.
The Inter Miami forward added that it was no surprise though. “More or less it was already something that was known, it had to be, but it was more in a romantic style. It wasn’t like suddenly one day you said, ‘Ah, let’s get married, that’s it’,” he added.
Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu recently addressed the film industry’s obsession with female actors’ midriffs and cleavage. The actor clarified that her earlier remarks about Bollywood being obsessed with cleavage and the South film industry with midriffs were taken out of context. She also revealed why she initially chose not to take up such roles at the start of her career.
Taapsee Pannu talked about the film industry’s obsession with female actor’s cleavage and midriff.
Taapsee Pannu on film industry’s obsession with female actors’ cleavage and midriff
Earlier, in an interview with Galatta Plus, Taapsee explained that in a previous podcast she was asked about the South industry’s alleged obsession with the midriff and told that Hindi cinema focuses more on a female actor’s cleavage. However, her response was taken out of context. She added that, for her, the issue is about a certain gaze, whether it is the cleavage or the midriff.
She further clarified that she never demarcated it as Hindi being obsessed with cleavage and the South with midriffs. She also spoke about how she was never asked to expose her midriff or pad her bras in Bollywood, but was asked to do so in the South, largely because she did not take up glamorous roles in Hindi cinema.
She said, “I don’t know what the obsession is, but let’s own that there’s an obsession, whether in Hindi or in the South. Which part of yours is highlighted, that’s not the point. The point is, there’s an obsession. It was obviously awkward for the director as well because they had to convey this to me. And how do you do that when the set hardly has any women, right? So, you have to convey it indirectly. When she comes back from the van, the director obviously has to check whether it works or not. So, this whole process is slightly awkward.”
She further defended taking up those parts and said, “I was too new. I thought this was how it’s done. The director is the captain of the ship, and you have to listen to the captain. I had to do it, unless it was really crossing the line. You also feel this is what heroines are doing, so I’m also supposed to do this. I never look back at it thinking I wish I hadn’t done those parts. Because if I didn’t do it, I’d always be craving to do that. No matter what you do, you want to be called a mainstream actress. Unless you do those parts, you won’t be called a mainstream actress.”
About Taapsee Pannu’s recent release
Taapsee is currently winning praise for her performance in Assi, directed by Anubhav Sinha. The courtroom drama, which sees Taapsee play a lawyer fighting to secure justice for a rape survivor, also stars Kani Kusruti, Revathi, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in key roles. The film has received a mixed response from critics and has so far collected over ₹5 crore at the box office.
Bad Bunny and his longtime love Gabriela Berlingeri turned heads with a sun-drenched beach escape in Australia, confirming whispers of their rekindled flame. The Puerto Rican superstar, fresh off conquering the Grammys and Super Bowl stages, traded the spotlight for sandy shores alongside the jewelry designer. Fans watching from afar felt that familiar spark, as these two seemed to rediscover the joy that first drew them together years ago.
Beach bliss before the big shows
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the couple hit Tamarama Beach in Sydney, one of the city’s most stunning coastal spots, ahead of Bad Bunny’s debut Australian tour shows. Photos captured by paparazzi show Gabriela, 32, radiant in a skimpy brown G-string bikini that highlighted her impressive tattoo collection, including a palm tree matching Bad Bunny’s own ink.Bad Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, kept it casual in a blue T-shirt, denim shorts, a green hoodie, a white baseball cap, and sunglasses, shielding himself from fans and the sun. He even paused for a quick photo with an excited admirer on the sidewalk before dipping a toe in the water himself. Earlier that day, the pair grabbed breakfast at a trendy Darlinghurst café and shopped for beachwear in nearby Bondi, blending right into the laid-back Aussie vibe. It’s the kind of easy, carefree moment that makes you root for them, picturing laughter over coffee and waves crashing nearby.
A rollercoaster romance full of love
Their outing fuels weeks of romance rumors that started heating up at the 2026 Grammys, where Gabriela subtly cheered as Bad Bunny snagged Album of the Year. She doubled down at the Super Bowl, snapping a pic with Lady Gaga after her halftime triumph. Just days ago, they shared a cozy Valentine’s-style dinner in Buenos Aires, dodging paparazzi in hoodies and masks.The two first connected in 2017 at a Puerto Rico restaurant during a family meal, sparking an on-again, off-again romance that lasted until 2022. They collaborated on his “Tití Me Preguntó” video, made their red carpet debut at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and stayed close friends post-split, with Bad Bunny calling her his “best friend” in a 2022 Instagram Live, as per reports from People Magazine. A rumored fling with Kendall Jenner from 2023 to 2024 faded, paving the way for this apparent reunion. Insiders tell Daily Mail Australia the pair looks “joyful” and solid, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who’s ever bet on second chances.As Bad Bunny gears up for February 28 and March 1 gigs at Sydney Showgrounds, this beach bliss feels like the perfect recharge. Their story reminds us that real connections often circle back, stronger and sweeter.
Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli and girlfriend Eliska Babickova have parted ways, the latter announced via social media on Tuesday.
“Yes, we did break up. I was the one to end the relationship because I felt that we [were] no longer aligned in our personal lives and in what we wanted for our future. Also, our values towards the end of the relationship were very different,” Babickova, a social media influencer, said via a video on her Instagram account. The pair had reportedly been dating since 2023.
After 30 years of speculation, it’s finally happening! Leonardo DiCaprio is set to headline the long-awaited sequel to Heat, and he won’t be alone. Another Oscar winner, Christian Bale, has now confirmed his role in the upcoming film, marking one of the most exciting casting announcements in recent Hollywood history.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale to star in Michael Mann’s long-awaited Heat 2
In a recent interview with Fox News journalist Jake Hamilton, Christian revealed, “I’ll be back in Chicago soon for Heat 2!” The statement marks the first official acknowledgement from the actor that he is part of director Michael Mann’s much-anticipated sequel. While rumours of Bale’s involvement have been circulating since November, this is the first time he has confirmed it publicly.
A return to Michael’s crime universe
Production on Heat 2 is expected to begin in August, with shoots planned across global locations including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Singapore, and Paraguay. The film will adapt Michael’s 2022 novel of the same name, co-written with author Meg Gardiner, which serves as both a prequel and sequel to the 1995 crime epic.
The original Heat — starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and the late Val Kilmer — became an instant classic, widely regarded as one of the greatest crime thrillers ever made. Known for its intense performances, intricate storytelling, and the legendary face-off between Pacino’s detective Vincent Hanna and De Niro’s master thief Neil McCauley, Heat remains one of Michael’s defining works.
Who’s playing who?
While Leonardo and Christian’s roles are being kept tightly under wraps, the film’s dual timeline, unfolding both before and after the events of the 1995 original, has sparked speculation about how younger versions of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s characters will be portrayed. Michael has hinted that he may use AI-assisted de-ageing to achieve the desired effect, saying at the Lumière Film Festival, “I don’t experiment with technology gratuitously. When I have a dramatic need or aesthetic need for it, then I go deep into what I need. Aging and de-aging may be very important in the next film.”
Al himself once suggested that Timothée Chalamet could play a younger version of him, but also said he would be open to reprising the role with de-aging technology. Meanwhile, rumours suggest Adam Driver might portray a young Neil McCauley, while Austin Butler is being eyed for the role of Chris Shiherlis, originally played by Kilmer.
With Michael returning to direct and two powerhouse actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale, officially on board, Heat 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated sequels of the decade.
Opening thoughts. Microsoft Corp. has a new CEO for the Xbox division—someone called Asha Sharma, who has (just in case you’d suspected this) zero previous experience in the gaming industry.
XBox new CEO Asha Sharma.
Sharma started out in marketing at Microsoft, then moved to operations at the home services startup Porch Group. Next, she ran Facebook Messenger at Meta Platforms Inc., served as COO of Instacart Inc. (coinciding with the IPO), and then returned to Microsoft to lead the CoreAI product. Two years later, she’s CEO of an $18 billion gaming division.
She takes up the Xbox business when gaming revenue fell 9% last quarter, hardware sales fell 32%, Game Pass has flatlined after reaching the 34 million subscribers, and content+services revenue declined 5% over the holidays. This is perhaps her most challenging role yet, but it’s surely not off to a good start, as X users are up in arms claiming that she’s only started gaming this year using her publicly shared gamertag, and that her replies to X posts seem AI generated. Irrespective, nothing about Microsoft surprises me. Not one bit.
EDITOR’S CORNER
Cricket being the thing that keeps me sane on most days (at least till Formula 1 returns, then it’ll be that), I had to sit through UPI app Navi’s ads more than once, emphasising an essence of speed, perhaps in aspects of life where speed isn’t exactly a good fit. Anyway, that got me wondering about India’s UPI app landscape.
PhonePe leads with 9,809.97 million transactions valued at ₹13,61,309.94 crore, while Google Pay (7,496.48 million at ₹9,57,752.89 crore) and distant Paytm (1,654.69 million at ₹1,76,846.14 crore) make for the three most popular UPI apps in India.
I noticed Navi is just behind Paytm, clocking 678.28 million transactions valued at ₹35,928.62 crore. Month-on-month, that shows an upward trajectory in both volume and value. It must be noted that the trend is very much similar among the top players.
UPI transactions have grown by leaps and bounds in India. (HT)
As a consumer, the UPI space is bursting at its seams with choice. There’s BHIM, CRED, Amazon Pay, Mobikwik, Tata Pay, Kiwi, and Airtel Payments Bank, to name a few. There are some challenges, and the answers will depend on when someone decides to tackle them.
Zero MDR, or Merchant Discount Rate: The policy of not charging transaction fees (on UPI via bank accounts, specifically) has accelerated adoption but stripped banks and fintechs of a sustainable revenue model. And speaking of high operational costs, maintaining a digital infrastructure for UPI costs banks an estimated ₹0.80 per transaction, which in a way disincentivises system upgrades for reliability.
Fintech fatigue: Major players such as PhonePe have often cautioned that without a stable monetisation structure, the fintech ecosystem’s ability to invest in innovation and fraud prevention may be limited beyond a point.
RuPay cards are unwelcome on UPI: In a stark contrast, the MDR on transactions made using RuPay credit cards on UPI, is between 1.1% and 1.9% per transaction above ₹2,000. This is supposed to be borne by the merchant, and that’s exactly why shopkeepers, businesses and establishments turn this off on their payment terminals. Having been used to a ‘free’ UPI, this change was always going to face resistance. RuPay’s challenge to Mastercard and Visa would stall if merchants don’t accept UPI payments from RuPay cards.
TECH SPOTLIGHT
UltraProlink DriveLink
As essential as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto seem to be for in-car infotainment, not every car gets wireless connectivity for either platform. A USB cable is the only way in most cars, but the problem with that is dual-pronged—constant charging of the phone as long as it remains plugged, and the inconvenience of wired. Over the past few months, wireless adapters have emerged as viable options.
Indian tech company UltraProlink (known for their impressive lineup of charging accessories, in particular), has launched its wireless adapter called DriveLink at ₹2,999. It joins something I already use—the Portronics Tune—as well as options from Ambrane, Lifelong, Zebronics and Ottocast.
The most impressive thing about the DriveLink is its really compact size—no wider than a fingernail.
The headline specs of the UltraProlink DriveLink are wireless CarPlay and Android Auto support, Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 5.8 GHz. This is incredibly simple to set up, and the pairing process is a one-time task that takes less than a couple of minutes.
Importantly enough, every time you start the car, wireless CarPlay or Android Auto are connected in less than a minute. No video streaming support, though, and that’s a plus—we anyway have enough fools driving distracted, while watching YouTube videos or JioHotstar shows on their aftermarket music systems.
On the DriveLink, Music streaming quality betrays absolutely no loss in quality or fidelity, and crucially, there is absolutely no lag in operation or responsiveness within the CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces on the infotainment system’s touchscreen.
What worries me about leaving an adapter connected after I’m out of the car is how soon it powers down. Safer side—physically remove it from the USB port, before leaving the vehicle, particularly if it’s for a few days at a stretch.
Leaving the best for the last, the most impressive thing about the DriveLink is its really compact size—no wider than a fingernail. The Portronics Tune is much bigger, like a USB ‘pen drive’ from a few years ago. All in all, the UltraProlink DriveLink is a must-have accessory if your car has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but just wired by default. Looking at you, Hyundai, Kia and many others.
SECOND THOUGHTS
PhonePe’s update
A few months ago, the Reserve Bank of India and the National Payments Corporation of India enabled biometric authentication for UPI payments. That allows a user to authenticate UPI transactions using their phone’s fingerprint sensor or facial recognition, instead of having to punch in the pin every time. This week, this two-factor authentication (2FA) has been adopted by PhonePe.
PhonePe has enabled biometric payments on its UPI app.
“By integrating biometric authentication, we are taking a significant step toward a truly frictionless payment experience. This feature not only saves time but adds a hardware-grade layer of security that protects users in their everyday environments,” says Deep Agrawal, head of payments at PhonePe.
The fintech says UPI payments up to ₹5,000 can be authenticated using fingerprint or face authentication. For now, PhonePe’s Android app unlocks this feature, and the company says iOS functionality expected to launch shortly.
Currently, the rollout is primarily focused on Android phone with native fingerprint or facial-recognition hardware. The second layer of participation is from a user’s bank, which must enable biometric verification for that user’s account. And for now, this works for transactions up to ₹5,000—any more, and the UPI PIN is still needed.
Wired Wisdom peels away the glitz for a closer look at Technology & AI, with the hope to critically analyse how it impacts you, the human. Want this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox?Subscribe here.
