Akash Kapoor: Portraying Shri Ram is not just an acting assignment, it's a sacred responsibility
Actor Akash Kapoor, known for his performances in television dramas such as Na Umra Ki Seema Ho and Thoda Sa Baadal Thoda Sa Paani, is set to take on the role of Lord Rama in an upcoming mythological series, Ramayan.
Speaking about the part, Akash said the portrayal demands more than acting skill. 'Portraying Shri Ram is not just an acting assignment – it's a sacred responsibility. It required not only performance, but spiritual discipline and deep emotional connection,' he said, adding that he hopes to bring 'a balance of grace and gravitas' to the role.
This is not his first association with Ramayan-based storytelling. He previously played the son of Ravan in Shrimad Ramayan.
The actor revealed that while working on that project, he began envisioning himself as Lord Rama.
'I've always believed in the power of manifestation,' he said. 'When I was playing that role, the love and appreciation I received were overwhelming. But deep inside, I felt a calling to play Sri Ram. I began manifesting that role—through focused intention, aligning my actions, and working on the gentleness of Sri Ram. I visualised myself embodying the qualities of Ram ji, felt his presence, and knew this was something I was destined for.
With dedication, faith, and the blessings of Ram ji, it all came together,' he said.
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Reddy and setting Indian motor racing on the speedway
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Time of India
26 minutes ago
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Agatha Christie's Baghdad home almost in ruins: Here's the SHOCKING story behind it
Credit: X/Old Iraqi Pictures For some readers, it isn't always about the book, it is also so much about the author. Many readers, in a bid to connect with their favorite writer, start doing intensive research on that person. ...The research often goes so on point that there's no chance of making any mistake: be it where that writer stays, to how they may have written the pieces, every detail brings some weird joy of discovering the unknown facts of a known person. Literary village 'Beit Melek Ali'-a name that may bring a broader smile to some readers. On the banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad's Karadat Maryam district stands a fading piece of literary history-a villa once graced by the 'Queen of Crime' herself, Agatha Christie. Today, that riverside retreat is a collapsed shadow of its former elegance, its walls weakened, its charm buried under years of neglect. But is it just an old building falling apart? Sitting at any corner of the globe, be a reader or a non-reader, when a report by a Turkish-based international broadcaster projected the current condition of Christie's house,it broke many is proof of how global literary heritage is fighting to survive. Today, this riverside retreat is barely standing. Its faded cream walls,loosely hanging wooden shutters, swaying with the desert wind as if asking for help. The tiled floors that might have felt the brush of Christie's designed skirts are now coated in dust and silence. Credit:X/nermeen al mufti The house where 'Mystery-dishes' were prepared: Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie first set foot in Baghdad in 1928, shortly after the difficult end of her first marriage. Leaving behind the familiar landscapes she chose to embrace the timeless charm of Mesopotamia. Traveling alone by train on the famed Orient Express, she arrived in Iraq where she met Max Mallowan, whom she would later marry. 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Her continued love for The city of Baghdad didn't stay locked in her diaries, rather they blended into her fiction flawlessly ,featured in her of the classic examples being: Murder on the Orient Express ,at the time, a train from Baghdad could take people to Turkey and Europe. Murder in Mesopotamia , another piece of writing inspired by her visits to archaeological digs and her close observations of life in excavation camps, stands as one of her most iconic works, a murder mystery set against the backdrop of an Iraqi dig site. Likewise, They Came to Baghdad captured the intrigue, chaos, and charm of the city itself, blending Christie's signature suspense with vivid descriptions of the bustling streets, the distant hum of bazaars, and the layered tension of post-war politics. This house is more than a mere structure standing next to the banks of the Tigris, it's a doorway to an era when literature and archaeology weaved together and created wonders. 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Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
Feeling terribly bored? Your brain might be thanking you
Remember the days of calling out, 'Ma, I'm bored"? That simple universal refrain now almost seems alien and challenges the current 'hustle culture' riddled with constant notifications, places to go to and to-do lists. Yet, for a growing chorus of voices — from therapists to educators, musicians, and artists — boredom is an unlikely gateway to emotional clarity, creativity, and deeper well-being. For Bengaluru-based artist and general physician Dr Bhoomika Ananth, boredom at 2 am resulted in a spur-of-the-moment Instagram story which in turn led to one of her most iconic works. 'After a day spent sleeping, I was wide awake in the middle of the night and decided to recreate Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' in the city. I posted a story requesting people to join me – there was no venue, no plan — just an idea born out of boredom," recollects the founder of Creatibeeti, an artist collective specialising in mural art. What she expected to be a quiet, quirky idea shared with a handful of friends quickly snowballed. Interest poured in, messages began stacking up, and before she knew it, dozens of art-lovers had committed to join. On the D-day, they gathered at the iconic Airlines Hotel, brushes and paints in hand. Over plates of crisp masala dosas and steaming cups of filter coffee, the group of 40 transformed a 35-foot-wide wall in five-and-a-half hours, reimagining the masterpiece in bold, vibrant strokes! THE SPACE TO THINK 'In today's hyper-stimulated world, with constant notifications and the pressure to always be 'active', we often view idleness or boredom as unproductive," says Deepti Chandy, therapist and COO at Anna Chandy & Associates. 'But in reality, boredom offers us an invaluable opportunity: the space to slow down and reconnect with ourselves. When we allow ourselves to be bored, to sit without an agenda, we create the mental room necessary for emotional clarity and creative thinking." Research too supports this. A study cited by the Academy of Management, USA, found that people given a boring, repetitive task — like sorting beans by colour — later came up with more and better creative ideas than those who skipped the monotony. More recently, the UK-based scientific journal Nature reported that brief periods of low-stimulation or 'mental idleness" can help improve problem-solving and foster cognitive flexibility. Deepti expresses that our most powerful insights often emerge during moments of pause — 'like on a quiet holiday or in between tasks." Even children benefit when not constantly entertained, she says, because they're more likely to invent games and think in new ways. 'The same holds true for adults too," she adds. BOREDOM IN CURRICULUM Education spaces are also embracing this idea. At Openhouse, a learning centre co-founded by Yashovardhan Poddar, boredom is woven into the curriculum. 'Boredom isn't emptiness, it's a blank canvas. When children are given time to 'just be', their imagination and inner voice come alive," he says. These findings echo what Poddar sees in his classrooms — that unstructured time, far from being wasted, actually boosts cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and independent thinking. 'At Openhouse, boredom is embraced, not eliminated, through thoughtfully curated open-ended activities, quiet corners, and time for free play," Poddar explains. These calm moments let children guide their own learning, explore emotions, and build resilience. 'Instead of being void, boredom becomes a doorway to creativity, clarity and well-being." TUNING INTO TEDIUM For Mumbai-based musician and storyteller Raman Iyer, boredom is rare in today's hyper-connected reality. 'With our phones being an extension of our limbs, the art of deriving wisdom from boredom seems to be losing its essence! With AirPods on, we always have something to consume while completely cutting ourselves off!" He defines boredom as 'a sudden, unexpected availability of time" — often arriving after frustration when plans are cancelled, meetings rescheduled, or a phone signal drops. 'I feel boredom in today's times is the only window to listen to our own selves," he says. THE PRACTICE OF STILLNESS So, what are the signs that one needs to calm down and not be immersed in back-to-back tasks? Chandy lists them out: feeling constantly on edge, the need for continuous stimulation, emotional exhaustion, burnout, chronic irritability, or the sense of always being in a state of flux. 'These are indicators that your nervous system is overstretched and that you're operating outside your window of tolerance," observes Chandy. Instead of waiting for burnout, she recommends making boredom a regular practice — 'Stillness isn't a void; it's a powerful space of possibility." Iyer believes that boredom doesn't come easily to the privileged! 'So, take up a long-distance train journey, trek or hike to a network-free place, or seriously commit to 'Screen-free Sundays' to actually know what it means to get bored. And don't forget to keep a notebook handy to jot down the thoughts and ideas that dance freely in the stage of boredom," he wraps up. Deepa Natarajan Lobo is an independent journalist based in Bengaluru.
