BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 14 (IANS) "Bigg Boss 13" contestant Arti Singh urges people to practice yoga during these times of COVID-19 stress.## The quarantine has given a chance to people to do the things that they didn't otherwise get time for, owing to their busy work schedules.## Apart from doing daily household chores, cooking and catching up on films and web-series, Arti has also been practicing yoga.## "I used to practice yoga daily when I was in Lucknow but I lost touch in between. Now that we are all home and have time in our hands, I have got back to doing it daily. Usually, I try to do it as soon as I wake up or in the evenings, depending upon how I am feeling that day," she said.## "Yoga has positively affected me as it helps calm down my mind. I encourage everyone to do a short session of yoga every day, as these are testing times we are all facing. Yoga will essentially keep you calm and patient," she added.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 14 (IANS) Actress Akansha Ranjan Kapoor says she is utilising her lockdown days to catch up on some great movies. Akansha, who garnered acclaim for her debut role in the recent digital film "Guilty", wishes to be part of a film like "Thappad".## "I am utilizing this time that I am sitting home productively. I am one of those people who used to watch a lot of TV series rather than film, but now I have made a list of important films that I am watching to understand performance better. It is useful for me as an actor. I have watched 'The Platform', 'The Report' and 'Lady Bird'. I am watching more films -- for my acting purpose, these are important," Akansha told IANS.## Asked about if there is any Bollywood film she has watched that made her feel like she would want to be a part of it, and Akansha replied: "Every time I watch a film, I feel like I want to do this one! I wish I could get a chance to play a character like this! Recently when I watched 'Thappad', I was like 'I so want to play the part at Taapsee did'. I wish to be a part of that kind of film."## "There are films that I watch as an actress. When I watched 'Section 375' I was moved. I so wish to be part of a story like 'Udta Punjab'. I want to work with Anubhav Sinha, Shakun Batra, and Luv Ranjan. All of them are so distinct in their style of storytelling and I think working with them would help me to grow as an actor," Akansha signed off.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 14 (IANS) Remember December 2017, when Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma tied the knot in an exclusive ceremony at Italy's breathtaking Borgo Finocchieto? Far away from paparazzi, the two exchanged garlands in a private affair and then had revealed the news on social media with a picture of the ceremony. Till date, their wedding videos make the fans ask for more.## The fairytale touch to Virushka's wedding nuptials was given by Vishal Punjabi, filmmaker and founder of the production company, The Wedding Filmer. He's the one who shot Virat and Anushka's destination wedding along with his team. It's been almost three years since he filmed the festivities, and he naturally considers it a career milestone.## "I didn't know it was their wedding until I got there!" Vishal told IANS, adding: "I was proud of the fact that they picked me for their wedding. It was a private affair and we respected their privacy as we wanted them to freely live their special moment. It was not that difficult to shoot their wedding. In fact, they made us so feel comfortable that I felt I was a part of their celebrations. Once the wedding was done, I realized that I had finally accomplished something big. I had covered one of the biggest and beautiful weddings in the world. Virat and Anushka taught me the difference between hope and expectation."## To make their marriage video special, Vishal decided to give it a musical effect. Instead of depending on Bollywood Shaadi songs, Vishal tried something original.## The Sufi song "Peer vi tu" was created for Virushka's wedding video. It was sung by Harshadeep Kaur and Mohan Kannan.## "Why go for Bollywood when one can create something original? It's so boring to use the same songs at almost every wedding. Every bride should feel special on her special day. So, I thought it was important to come up with original tracks," Vishal emphasized.## Apart from Virat-Anushka, Vishal has also captured the moments of Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh and Bipasha Basu-Karan Singh Grover's weddings.## Vishal also spoke about how the wedding industry has faced the brunt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.## "The wedding industry has taken a huge hit. Many wedding assignments that I was really excited about and worked really hard on have been pushed and there is nothing that can be done about it. At this time, the best you can do is help those around you, accept what is happening and stay positive by turning this around to improve your life and the lives of those you love. I am worried what if people start marrying online," he quipped.## Vishal is all set to come up with the streaming service Wedflix for people to watch wedding content directly at their homes.## "We coined the term Wedflix to encourage people to stay at home and watch their wedding films. A lot of couples we've filmed for -- who have children now or who are stuck at home with their families -- end up watching their wedding videos and relive their memories again.## "Your lehenga ain't gonna comfort you in times of distress. Your wedding film has the potential to remind you of why you got married in the first place. So, when life is going uphill, Wedflix and Chill," Vishal ends with a smart hard sell punchline for his trade.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Actor Sharad Kelkar has an interesting slate of Bollywood work lined up including "Laxmmi Bomb" and "Bhuj: The Pride Of India". He has opened up working with the cast of these films and the equation he shares with actors like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt, with whom he shares screen space.## The Akshay-starrer "Laxmmi Bomb" is a remake of the superhit Tamil horror-comedy "Muni 2: Kanchana". It revolves around Raghava, a cowardly man who gets possessed by the ghost of a transgender woman, who takes revenge on the ones who destroyed her life. The Tamil film featured R. Sarathkumar, Raghava Lawrence, Lakshmi Rai, Kovai Sarala, Devadarshini and Sriman in pivotal roles.## "Bhuj: The Pride of India", stars Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Ammy Virk, and Pranitha Subhash. The film tells the tale of Indian Air Force pilot Vijay Karnik. The period drama looks back into the journey of 300 women of Madhapar village in Gujarat's Kutch district, who played a pivotal role in helping India win the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The women came together to rebuild and repair the only runway in Bhuj, which was crucial for the war. Sharad recently worked with Ajay in "Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior". He played the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the film.## "Working with all the actors in both the films it feels nice because I worked with them earlier also. Mr. Dutt and I have major sequences in 'Bhuj: The Pride Of India'. I worked with him in 'Bhoomi', there is great chemistry between us... He treats as his younger brother...," Sharad told IANS.## "With Ajay sir, it feels like family and the Akshay sir I worked with him in 'Housefull 4'. If you work with people whom you know or worked with before then you are more comfortable with them and because I am much younger than them they treat me very nicely. They have been very kind to me," he added.## Currently, Sharad is at home due to the nationwide lockdown.## Does he see a silver line as he is getting to spend time at home with his family?## "In TV days obviously I used work every day. But films or web-series we don't work non-stop. I used to go every day for meetings, narrations, and other things. But the break is needed but not for such a long time... I'm a workaholic its very troublesome for me," he added.## But Sharad says he has now gotten used to staying at home.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY IANS NEWS

Beijing, April 14 (IANS) The novel coronavirus that has infected more than 1.9 million people globally is not just a physical health threat as researchers have found that more than a third of medical staff responding to the outbreak during its peak in China suffered from insomnia.## According to the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, the healthcare workers who experienced sleeplessness were also more likely to feel depressed, anxious and have stress-based trauma.## "Typically, stress-related insomnia is transient and persists for only a few days. But if the COVID-19 outbreak continues, insomnia may gradually become chronic insomnia in the clinical setting," said study co-author Bin Zhang, Professor at Southern Medical University in China.## The results are based on a series of self-administered questionnaires conducted online between January 29 and February 3 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.## Researchers used the WeChat social media platform to gather answers from 1,563 participants in the medical field. Of that number, 564 people, or 36.1 percent, had insomnia symptoms.## The authors of the current study note that the statistic is consistent with previous research conducted on the psychological effects of the 2002 outbreak of SARS, a related coronavirus that also causes severe respiratory distress.## For example, 37 percent of nurses who worked with SARS patients experienced insomnia.## The insomnia group in the current paper experienced significantly higher levels of depression than the non-insomnia group, 87.1 percent versus 31 percent, especially in moderate (22.9 percent versus 2.8 percent) and severe (16.7 percent versus 1.8 percent) cases.## The percentages and differences between the groups were similar for anxiety and trauma as well. The team also identified certain factors that were correlated with insomnia.## "The most important factor was having very strong uncertainty regarding effective disease control among medical staff," Zhang noted.## Strong uncertainty was 3.3 times higher for those exhibiting insomnia than not, the study said.## Staff with less education were also prone to sleep disorders.## Specifically, researchers found the risk of insomnia among medical staff with a high school education or below was 2.69 times higher than those with a doctoral degree.## They speculated that less education led to more outcome-based fear.## The authors noted that healthcare workers were also under incredible stress in general.## They were in close contact with infected patients who could pass on the disease to them. They were worried about infecting their own family and friends.## "Under these dangerous conditions, medical staff become mentally and physically exhausted, and therefore experience an increased risk of insomnia due to high stress," they wrote.## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3 to control the spread of the Corona Virus Pandemic. During his addressed the nation on the last day of the first 21-days lockdown (14 April), the PM thanked people for following the lockdown with calmness and discipline.## During the address to the nation, PM Modi has urged the countrymen to follow 7 rules in upcoming weeks as follow - ## 1. Taking extra care of the elders at home especially those who have pre-existing diseases. They have to be extra careful.## 2. Do not violate the Lakshman Rekha of Social Distancing and lockdown. Make compulsory use of homemade face covers or masks.## 3. In Order To Increase Immunity, Follow Guidelines Of Ayush Ministry. Drink warm water & Kadhaa.## 4. Download the Aarogya Setu App to restrict the spread of COVID 19. Motivate others to install the app.## 5. Take care of poor families around you and feed them.## 6. Show empathy towards your Co-Workers. Don't sack employees.## 7. Respect Corona Warriors like Doctors, Nurses, Cleaning Staff, Police Personnel.## In India, the coronavirus cases have crossed 10,000 marks with 339 death. Over 1000 people have recovered. While in the world, the cases have reached near 2 M with the US being most infected with 6 lakh. The death toll rises to nearly 1,20,000 while over 4,50,000 people have recovered. ## COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases in India | State Wise | Other Details## Follow for more... Follow for more...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi extended nationwide lockdown till May 3 considering the Corona Virus threat. On the last day of 21-days lockdown, PM Modi addressed the nation and thanked the people of India for being calm and discipline during the first 21-days of the lockdown.## However, PM Modi also indicates that any decision on easing restrictions in parts of the country would be taken after April 20, keeping in mind the difficulties faced by the country's poorest. ## "After taking into account all suggestions, we have decided to extend the lockdown till May 3. Till April 20, each district, each state will be monitored closely to see whether the lockdown is being followed. Then we can decide on relaxing the restrictions," said the Prime Minister. Till yesterday, Corona Virus cases crosses 10,000 marks with 339 death. ## "We absolutely must ensure that this virus does not spread to any further parts of the country. We should be worried every time we hear that someone in some part of the country has died of the virus. We must ensure that new hotspots do not spring up."## Talking about India's step to controlling the spread of the Virus, PM Narendra Modi said## "Today, you are well aware of the various aspects of Coronavirus Pandemic worldwide. You all have been a participant as well as a witness to the way India has taken steps to control the spread of coronavirus infection in comparison to other countries. We started screening of passengers coming from coronavirus affected countries even before when there was any case of infection in India. Even before the number of positive cases reached 100, we made it mandatory for passengers coming from abroad to stay in isolation facilities for 14 days.## When we had only 550 cases of coronavirus, India took a major decision to implement a complete lockdown of 21 days. India did not wait for the problem to become big but took major steps to tackle it even when it just started to emerge". The Prime Minister also said that India has been proactive than many of the developed countries and that helped us to be in a better position. ## "This is the sort of crisis in which it is not right to make comparisons between countries. But it is also true, that when we compare the numbers related to #coronavirus with that of other big capable countries, it shows that, India is in a far better position.## Had India not adopted a holistic and integrated approach and took immediate steps, our situation would have been different. But, our experiences over the last few days have shown that the path chosen by us is correct". ## PM Modi has again said that the lockdown may affect the economy but the lives of the people are more important at this time.## "If you look at it from an economic point of view, it would look like a huge cost. But the lives of the people of India are far more valuable. Today the world is appreciating the way India is moving forward even with the limited resources".## COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases in India | State Wise | Other Details## Follow for more...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Anchor-actress Mini Mathur is a great cook too! Two years ago, she came up with a show titled "The Mini Truck", which saw her cooking and chatting up along with Bollywood celebrities in a food truck. And now, she has taken to reminiscing about the show's journey by re-posting its episodes on Instagram, aiming to lighten up the mood of people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.## "Some shows are special. Because they are conceived with love and passion. Where every little detail is put out there from a piece of someone's heart. And yet there is organic, free-flowing magic to its birth. The Mini Truck is THAT show," she wrote on Instagram.## For Mini, "more than cooking itself, it's the memories and stories behind it that taste better".## She also shared how the show came into existence.## "My friend @nikkhiladvani decided I should cook my recipes with my stories on camera. @onlyemmay & @gauravvkchawla decided we should have celebrity friends come in. @anaghar who has always believed in me & Rajeshree from @indiafoodnetwork gave us the most amazing platform and fantastic sponsors.## "Nikhil bought us a bus, we stripped it down and then @karishmakohli came and poured in her soul into mine and we created the look, color, feel of the showdown to every cup, saucer, spatula & tea towel. The way the food would look. And she directed it like a dream along with our producer @kaachua! Then I met the most amazing food team @thefoodkonnect & @anushakay curated the recipes and we were set," Mini added.## The first person to visit her show was filmmaker Farah Khan. The two had made Mathur Alan ka saag and chicken together in the first episode.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) In keeping with the trend of re-telecasting hit old TV shows during the COVID-19 lockdown, the popular "Balika Vadhu" is in for a re-run, and actress Avika Gor, who played the central role of Anandi in the serial, is clearly on cloud nine.## Taking to Instagram Story, Avika posted a video that shows her singing the show's title track, "Choti Si Umar Mein", a Rajasthani folk.## "Balika Vadhu re-telecast... I am so overwhelmed," she captioned the video, thanking her other former co-stars.## "Balika Vadhu" was aired from 2008 to 2016. The show deals with the issue of child marriage. The cast included Surekha Sikri, Vikrant Massey, and Sidharth Shukla.## Colors channel decided to re-telecast the show in the wake of several Doordarshan repeats including "Ramayan", "Mahabharat", "Byomkesh Bakshi", "Circus", and "Shrimaan Shrimaati". Several other private channels have also already brought back many popular old shows.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

BY IANS NEWS

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) Hrithik Roshan's 2019 hit "Super 30" is lined for release in China once the COVID-19 pandemic blows over and normalcy returns.## Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibashish Sarkar said that they were in the midst of the censorship process before the lockdown in China, and are looking forward to taking the movie to the foreign market once they get a go-ahead signal.## Asked if "Super 30" will be the first Bollywood film to get a release in China after the health crisis -- as being speculated widely by a section of the Indian media -- Shibashish told IANS: "I don't think that is the fact."## "The fact is that we have applied for the censor, and we were in the midst of the censorship process. There are three stages and we have completed the first stage. We were in the midst of the process when the lockdown happened in China," he added.## Sarkar continued: "I assume that there will be many other films in the pipeline, maybe many Indian films in the pipeline as well, which I am not sure about. But I am pretty sure that our film was in the censorship process, and once the sensor clears it, we will gear up to release our film in China. But whether it is our film which will be the first (to release in China) or some other film, I don't have any idea."## "Super 30" is based on the life of Anand Kumar, who runs the Super 30programme for IIT-JEE aspirants from poor families. Produced by Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Films, and directed by Vikas Bahl, the film also stars Mrunal Thakur, Amit Sadh and Nandish Sandhu in pivotal roles.## Sarkar says they are looking forward to releasing the film in China.## "If the sensor gets cleared, which will get cleared in all likelihood because it is an inspirational film, then we are all geared up to release the film in China," he said.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) "Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal", which ran from 2014 to 2016, is back on television. Its cast members Vishal Kotian, Delnaaz Irani and Kishwer Merchantt went down memory lane to shared some anecdotes from the shoot.## The popular historical comedy, with a lot of drama, suspense, and thrills, was inspired by the tales of Akbar and Birbal.## Vishal, who played Birbal in the show, said: "My experience of working in the show was amazing as I was surrounded by a set of close friends. Sometimes, magic just happens and the exact thing happened with this show. Nobody knew at that time that '...Akbar Birbal' will become such a hit."## "I remember when I first went for the reading session for the show, Kiku (Sharda) and I were there and this movie 'Jodhaa Akbar' had released and was already a huge hit. So I had the image of Akbar as a well-built guy and when I went for the reading, I actually thought that I was called for the role of Akbar as I believed it suited me more. When I started doing the show, I realized how Birbal's character is so much like me in real life as well.## "Another thing which changed with the show was my Hindi, as being a Mumbaikar, my Hindi was not up to the mark and no one could have thought of casting me in a show like '...Akbar Birbal' but as the show progressed, my Hindi actually improved," he added.## Delnaaz was seen as Maharani Jodha in the TV show. "There are some beautiful memories associated with the show. As we used to spend most of our time on the sets, each one of us had decorated our rooms as per our choice and requirement. For instance, my room had a prayer corner, office corner, Mirchi lights and I would light a Diya every day.## "On the other hand, Kiku being a foodie, had his room filled with eatables, fridge, microwave, etc. There was altogether a different level of comfort between each and every member of the show where we were like one big happy family on the set."## Kishwer essayed the role of Urvashi, a beautiful dancer appointed by Emperor Akbar.## "It's a show that has been very close to my heart and always will be. This was a character that I thought I could never pull off but I still ended up giving it a shot. I am not very comfortable with comedy as most of my roles have been negative characters. But working with Kiku, Delnaaz and Vishal actually taught me a lot," she said.## "Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal" is aired on BIG Magic.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) As the world is staying indoors due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, veteran Bollywood actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik is more than happy to celebrate his 64th birthday at home among his near and dear ones.## The actor says his seven-year-old daughter Vanshika has planned a special surprise in the evening.## "This is a really special birthday because I get to spend it entirely with my family at home. My daughter, Vanshika, gifted me with a lollipop, which she made herself by using many chocolates. She kept her room locked for the last two days, so I'm sure she has been whipping up something creative for me," Satish told IANS.## He said he would know what the surprise is by evening.## "I'll know that by the evening and I'm really excited about it. Just being home gives so much joy, and that makes this day even more special for me," he said.## How has he been keeping himself busy in lockdown?## "The only thing that's good about this lockdown phase is that I'm getting to stay home. I haven't spent so much time at home during my entire career. Now I get to see how the household is managed. I get to spend so much time with my wife and daughter. I don't feel I'm missing out on anything," he said.## Satish says he socializes with his friends Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor via video calls.## "I often indulge in video calls with my besties Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor. I've also been helping my daughter with studies and I enjoy playing with her. Of late, I've learned how one can walk and do proper exercise and yoga even at home. I've been watching a lot of movies and epic mythological stories like 'Ramayan' and 'Mahabharata'."## He has been exploring his creative sides even more now.## "I'm glad that I didn't allow my creative faculties to rest. I narrated and put together a poem, which was penned by Rashmi Virag, which went viral on digital platforms. So I'm glad I've got to explore different facets of my personality. This time has also been great for penning new content and ideas and deciding the way forward," he said.## Stay tuned...