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IANS News

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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

Kartik Aaryan looks forward to performing on home turf at IIFA awards
2287 days ago
Bollywood

Kartik Aaryan looks forward to performing on home turf at IIFA awards

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actor Kartik Aaryan is excited because he will get to perform live on home turf soon. The actor, who hails from Gwalior, says he looks forward to performing at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), which will be held in an Indian city for the second time in a row when the 21st edition is hosted in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.## "This is the first time it's happening in Indore. Earlier, they (people of Indore) didn't have the access (to stars), but this year such a nice line-up is arriving to perform, so all of us are excited. I am excited because it is taking place in my home state. I look forward to it. Right now, I am injured but I am dying to perform there," said Kartik at a press conference of the event that he attended with Katrina Kaif.## Did Katrina, who is known for her cool moves, give tips to Kartik on dancing? "He already performed when IIFA was held in Bangkok, so it will not be his first performance. I think he is fantastic on stage," Katrina replied.## Apart from Kartik and Katrina, celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez will perform on the awards night, which will be hosted by Salman Khan and Ritiesh Deshmukh.## While a pre-event will be held in Bhopal on March 21, the actual three-day event will take place in Indore from March 27 to 29.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Sara Ali Khan: I don't look at myself as a star
2287 days ago
Bollywood

Sara Ali Khan: I don't look at myself as a star

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actress Sara Ali Khan doesn't think she grew up in a family of stars and says she doesn't consider herself as a star.## "My parents are actors, but I don't think I have been grown up in the family of stars. Father, for instance, has always been very particular about education and my mother is the flagbearer of humility. She so believes putting your head down and letting your work speak for yourself," Sara said.## "I never had much exposure to Bollywood. I don't really think I come from a family of stars. I don't look at myself as a star," added the daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh.## Looking back at her growing up years, she said: "I was a mischievous student in school who played pranks on everyone. One of the pranks I remember was dropping glue on the fan blades which spilled all over the class when switched on. I almost got suspended for this because my principal kept asking why I did this, and I had no answer to it."## Asked about her equation with the wife of Saif and actress Kareena Kapoor, Sara replied: "I admire Kareena Kapoor and her work. She's a professional who always gives preference to work. Her style of working is something I would want to imbibe from her."## Sara opened up about her life in an episode of "Starry Nights Gen Y", which will premiere in India on Zee Cafe on March 8.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Coronavirus scare: Stars, filmmakers spread awareness and warn against rumours
2287 days ago
Bollywood

Coronavirus scare: Stars, filmmakers spread awareness and warn against rumours

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Coronavirus is now a reality in India, with 29 cases confirmed all over the nation by the first half of Thursday. Stars and filmmakers across Bollywood and the southern film industry have united to spread awareness about the disease and stop panic on social media.## Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu shared a list of dos and don'ts on Instagram story. The list includes observing good personal hygiene, frequently washing hands with soap, covering one's mouth while sneezing and coughing, refraining from the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, refraining from traveling to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered.## Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has suggested avoiding handshake or hugging. He has insisted on traditional Indian ways of greeting like salaam and namaste. Sharing Salman's post on Instagram, actress Bipasha Basu wrote: "With Awareness and good hygiene we can fight anything. Well said @beingsalmankhan."## Not mentioning coronavirus directly, director Rohit Shetty has reposted nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar's post pertaining to "Common sense to deal with uncommon threats" on Instagram. The post offers tips like having amla daily, consumption of turmeric milk at night, hot water bath with neem leaves, washing hands before eating and refraining from shaking hands.## Veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha took to Twitter to spread awareness through a series of tweets. In one tweet, he has appealed to all to stop rumor-mongering.## "From #SafdarjungHospital & to all other hospitals. The fear that has gripped the city/nation should be cleared out by the media who can play an important role by preventing outright negative & fake news. Rumour mongering must stop. Media can be positive & responsible in these fearful & stressful times. They can also be very helpful in keeping the matter calm & fruitful. #CaronaVirus"## Advising all to drink hot water in another tweet, he wrote: "This time, the Wuhan virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed at a temperature of 26-27 degrees. Therefore, drink more hot water. You can tell your friends and relatives to drink more hot water to prevent it. Go under the Sun. It has been cold recently, and drinking hot water is also very comfortable. It is not a cure and is good for the body. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink ice, remember!"## Director Ram Gopal Varma took to Twitter to sarcastically express: "If there are much lesser number of cases in India, it either means we are just plain lucky or that coronavirus doesn't like Indians much."## Director Anubhav Sinha also shared the same point as Ram Gopal Varma that the number of cases in India is very low and requested everyone not to panic.## He tweeted: "Influenza kills more people every year. We are panicking because we think this shit is new and there is no cure for it. But the truth is that the mortality rate is very low. So... #DontPanic #Corona BUT #TakeCare."## Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri tweeted: "A doctor told me that people who stay too much in central AC environment have a higher chance of catching Corona Virus than those who stay in an open and natural environment. By that logic, urban areas are more susceptible than villages."## For more and latest news about Bollywood and Tollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Esha Gupta makes her digital debut
2287 days ago
Bollywood

Esha Gupta makes her digital debut

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Esha Gupta is set to make her digital debut with 'REJCTX 2'. On the show, the 'Rustom' actress will play a police officer.## The second season of the series, directed and produced by Goldie Behl, promises to be high on action and drama.## "I wanted to do something on OTT, and 'REJCTX' felt like the perfect opportunity. The story of the series in the second season and the arc of my character is really interesting. I have played the role of a police officer earlier too, but this is going to be completely different," said Esha, who had earlier donned the uniform for the 2019 film "One Day: Justice Delivered".## "I am playing the role of Officer Rene who isn't a corrupt cop, but she understood early that she needs to be flexible with her ethics if she needs to announce her presence in her office. She also has a hidden secret which she never reveals," she added.## The show is currently being shot in Thailand and will premiere later this year on ZEE5.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Smartphones may make your headaches worse: AIIMS
2287 days ago
Lifestyle

Smartphones may make your headaches worse: AIIMS

New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) Smartphone users who suffer from regular headaches and migraines may be more likely to use painkillers and find less relief, say researchers at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).## For the study, published in the jorunal Neurology: Clinical Practice, researchers have identified 400 people in India with a primary headache condition, which includes migraine, tension headache and other headache types that are not due to another condition.## "While the results need to be confirmed with larger and more rigorous studies, the findings are concerning, as smartphone use is growing rapidly and has been linked to a number of symptoms, with headache being the most common," said study author Deepti Vibha, from AIIMS in New Delhi.## According to the researchers, the study does not prove that smartphone use causes greater use of pain medication and less relief; it only shows an association.## For the findings, the research team asked the people about their smartphone use and their headaches and medication use.## Of the 400 people, 206 were smartphone users and 194 were non-users.## People who did not use smartphones were older, had a lower education level and were more likely to have a low socioeconomic status than those who did use smartphones.## The smartphone users were more likely to take pain-relieving drugs for their headaches than non-users, with 96 percent of smartphone users taking the drugs as compared to 81 percent of non-users.## Smartphone users took an average of eight pills per month compared to five pills per month for non-users, the study said.## Smartphone users also reported less relief from the medication, with 84 percent gaining moderate or complete relief of headache pain compared to 94 percent of non-users.## However, the study did not find any difference between the two groups in how often headaches occurred, how long they lasted or how severe they were.## The researchers noted that the study only examined people at one point in time; it did not follow them to look for changes over time.## "The root of the problem is not yet clear. Is it a user's neck position? Or the phone's lighting? Or eye strain? Or the stress of being connected at all times? Answers will likely emerge in upcoming years and eventually guide strategies for more sustainable use of the devices," said Heidi Moawad, member of the American Academy of Neurology.## "Features such as hands-free settings, voice activation, and audio functions could potentially hold the key to helping smartphone users benefit from their phones without exacerbating their headaches," Moawad added.## For more and latest news about Technology, stay tuned with us.

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'Made In Heaven' star Arjun Mathur turns vegetarian
2287 days ago
Bollywood

'Made In Heaven' star Arjun Mathur turns vegetarian

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) 'Made In Heaven' star Arjun Mathur says he has turned vegetarian for the sake of the climate.## "There is nothing more important in this world at this point or any other point than to be conscious of the environment. Changing climate has been a very natural force but I think it is being accelerated to levels that have been unprecedented by humans and by the so called progress of the human race," Arjun told IANS.## "Personally, I try to implement small changes in my life whether it's like composting the garbage or separating it, walking where ever I can and turning vegetarian. I've been vegetarian for the last 5 months. Eating non-vegetarian food is the biggest contributor to the destruction of this planet. You can just vegetarian and do your bit," he added.## The actor expressed his views on the sidelines of screening of Sony BBC Earth's docu-series "Climate Change - The Facts".## Actor Gautam Rode also shared his views about climate change.## "Being conscious of the environment is the most important thing. It is really common that taps are left running uselessly, the electricity is on all the time, a lot of plastic is used and because of the availability of these things, now, we need to take special care of our environment. Also, the first thing that comes to my mind from eco-friendly fashion is -- eco-friendly bags. Lots of people, lots of shops have started keeping them and avoiding plastics. It's important for us to use them as well," he said.## To which, Raj Singh Arora added: "As an individual, I use public transport, pool cars and especially prefer cars that run of CNG. Recently I bought a new house, which is very minimalistic and my consumption is very little. As a human being, these are my personal choices which are environmental and which could be looked at as a simple choice. The less you consume, the happier you are as a person. We all need to make a conscious choice."## Debina Bonnerjee also shared: "Speaking of combating climate change at an individual level, I have my YouTube channel Debina Decodes, wherein I talk about the changes that we can just bring about in our home to help the environment, help ourselves for a better future for a better living. I think sometimes I am on the repeat mode, but I can't stop talking about stop using plastic and aluminum, start using metal and glass bottles. These are small daily habits we can adapt at an individual level."## Narrated by David Attenborough, "Climate Change - The Facts" premieres on March 7 on Sony BBC Earth. It highlights the truths behind climate change.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Kajol: Give me three scenes, I can create magic
2287 days ago
Bollywood

Kajol: Give me three scenes, I can create magic

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) She ruled hearts with her celebrated roles in 'Baazigar', 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...', 'My Name Is Khan' among several others. From being the Bollywood heroine who broke all stereotypes of an image to become a superstar, Kajol also marks a huge change in her digital debut with the short film 'Devi', where she shares screen space with nine other actresses. She says she is at a point in her career where the impact of the character matters more than the length of the role.## In a three-decade mainstream career in Bollywood, she has proved herself as an actor and a star time and again. What does she look for in a script now? "The magic," she replied. "Give me three scenes and I can create magic. I do not need a title role where all I have is the title, a poster and, in the whole film, I am furniture. If you look at my career and choice of roles, I have always done something where the character has an emotional graph, something substantial. I want to create a memory in the mind of the audience through the characters I portray. That is precisely the reason I keep saying that I have to like the script. If the character I am offered is not impacting me how will it impact the audience? So, if you think I am choosy, I would say, I am living the life of an artist that I have earned through years of hard work," Kajol added while speaking to IANS.## Starting her career in 1992 with "Bekhudi", Kajol has bagged numerous popular awards and also proved her versatility with a variety of roles. She was equally impressive as the murdered Isha Diwan in the whodunit "Gupt" and the tomboy-turned-glam girl in "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai". She excelled as the mother who lost her only child in religious hatred in "My Name Is Khan", and she exuded effortless ease playing twin siblings of diametrically opposite nature in "Dushman". Indeed, there is hardly any experimentation that she is scared to try out.## Does success give her the confidence to do so? "Success surely gives you confidence, and financial independence also gives you the courage to live life on your own terms. But I have to mention that my idea of success is not just about earning fame and money. I know people who are successful by the definition of society but they are turning out to become people who suffocate in their own image. For me, I have to become the person I like in the first place. After a point, fame and money become inconsequential," replied the actress.## She added: "I feel I am successful not because of the fame and money but because of the individual I have become. The family I have, my kids, my husband, my choice of films -– success is a combination of everything to me."## Asked about if her criteria for choosing a film have changed, Kajol replied: "My choices of films are the reflection of what I believe in. That is how I can be honest with my choices as a performing artist. I know there are some mitigating circumstances under which one has to do a film. Having said that, I am practicing my choice because I am not working just to earn money. I rather earned this luxury through my body of work in the nineties. I am fortunate to have that financial freedom that many artists do not have, so I might as well utilize it to be a part of narratives that are thought-provoking."## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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'Kyunki Saas Bhi...' fame Rushali bags short film
2287 days ago
TV

'Kyunki Saas Bhi...' fame Rushali bags short film

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actress Rushali Arora, who is best known for her role in the popular TV show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', will be seen in a short film titled 'One Night Stand'.## "It's a thriller. It's about rape and revenge. I took up the role because it has some new challenges for me as an artist. It's always exciting to do different new characters, I always look for new elements," she said.## "One Night Stand" also features actor Mayank Mishra.## "For me before signing any character it is very important to make sure that the role is new to me and offers me a new challenge. I enjoy playing colorful characters on screen," Rushali added.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

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'Kasautii Zindagii Kay' gets fresh faces in cast
2287 days ago
TV

'Kasautii Zindagii Kay' gets fresh faces in cast

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) 'Divya Drishti' actress Parull Chaudhry and Kunal Thakur, who played Shahid Kapoor's on-screen friend in the blockbuster 'Kabir Singh', have joined the cast of 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay'.## " 'Kasauti...' is my debut on television and it couldn't have been better, because this is a legendary show. I grew up watching this show. TV as a medium is new to me but it's great fun," said Kunal about "Kasauti...", which is a reboot of the 2001 show of the same name.## "On set, I am learning so many new things, the production people, director all are very nice and helpful. Working with Balaji Telefilms will give me great exposure," he added.## Parull is also thrilled about joining the show. " 'Divya Drishti' wrapped up less than two weeks ago and I was holidaying in Kerala when I got a call from Balaji Telefilms, so I was finalised without any audition or look-test, based on a previous audition. In 'Kasauti...' I am playing Anurag's elder sister, Rakhi, who has returned from Canada."## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

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Shivin Narang: Our film on 1983 World Cup win is different from '83'
2287 days ago
Bollywood

Shivin Narang: Our film on 1983 World Cup win is different from '83'

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actor Shivin Narang's digital film 'Dheet Patangey' is set against the backdrop of India's 1983 World Cup cricket win, but he says it is different from Ranveer Singh's upcoming movie '83'.## "We shot this film way before, but yes that ('83') is a film by a bigger brand. That film is about Kapil Dev and the cricket team winning the 1983 World Cup. This film is not about cricket win, but the lives affected by it. I am not playing a cricketer. This film is not about the match. Things are interlinked but we are not playing. So, that is a big difference," shared Shivin.## "When we started the film, we had not decided if it would be a feature film or digital but within two years you can see how the web has grown. All the biggest stars, great stories are coming on the web. Like in the last two years, a lot of stuff has changed. We decided that if the film comes on the web, it will have a bigger reach. It is a very special movie and not a regular masala film. It's different from a formula film," he added.## Despite getting busy with OTT content, Shivin still takes out time for TV shows. He is currently seen in "Beyhadh 2" and "Khatron Ke Khiladi".## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Rupali dances barefoot on scorching floor of Sun temple in Ahmedabad
2287 days ago
TV

Rupali dances barefoot on scorching floor of Sun temple in Ahmedabad

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actress Rupali Ganguly is preparing hard for her new show 'Anupamaa', in which she will be seen playing a mother, who has the hidden talent of a Kathak dancer. And to get into the skin of the character, Rupali danced barefoot on the scorching floor of the Sun Temple in Ahmedabad.## "It might sound a little weird but I love being barefoot. Hence, I loved dancing barefoot on the heated floors of Sun Temple. Although my feet are scorched and burnt, I enjoyed so much that I couldn't feel any pain and continued giving the shot. I hope the audiences love my performance too," Rupali said.## "Anupamaa" will soon air on Star Plus.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

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From 'Barsaat' to 'Ramayan': Ramanand Sagar between covers
2287 days ago
TV

From 'Barsaat' to 'Ramayan': Ramanand Sagar between covers

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Late filmmaker Ramanand Sagar would have been 102 if he was around. His life has now been documented in the form of a book unveiled by his son, cinematographer Prem Sagar.## Ramanand Sagar is best known as the maker of the popular mythological show of the eighties, "Ramayan", which ran on Doordarshan from January 1987 to July 1988. The book, in the form of a memoir, captures Ramanand Sagar's life and times from 1949 when he first made his mark as a writer in Raj Kapoor's "Barsaat" to the time he created "Ramayan" for national television.## Aptly titled "An Epic Life: Ramanand Sagar, From Barsaat To Ramayan", the book was unveiled on Sony TV's "The Kapil Sharma Show".## Presenting a copy of the book to actor-comedian Kapil Sharma, Prem Sagar recalled how Indian television changed forever after the first episode of "Ramayan" was aired on January 25, 1987. He remembered how the show became a national obsession within weeks.## Ramanand Sagar started his Bollywood career as a clapper boy in the 1936 silent movie "Raiders Of The Rail Road" and went to become a successful writer, director, and producer. The book reveals several hitherto unknown facts about his life.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

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