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THIS Thunderbolts star has a desi connection and fans are already predicting her MCU future

THIS Thunderbolts star has a desi connection and fans are already predicting her MCU future

Time of India30-04-2025

Thunderbolts
, the latest suphero outing from the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
, is already one of the most anticipated titles of the summer, winning critical acclaim ahead of its May 1 debut. The film brings together some familiar faces in the superhero universe like
Florence Pugh
,
Sebastian Stan
,
David Harbour
, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and
Wyatt Russell
. However, it also adds some new faces and characters to the mix, one of who is
Lewis Pullman
starring as Sentry and
Geraldine Viswanathan
as Mel, adding a Desi connection to the franchise.
Mystery Role
Viswanathan, an Australian actress who shares Indian roots, plays the role of Mel, the assistant to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. While her role has been kept largely under wraps, her character will be pivotal to the storyline. Adding intrigue to her appearance in the franchise, eagle-eyed Marvel fans are abuzz with speculation following the release of new promotional material that sees her wearing a necklace that closely resembles the emblem associated with the Marvel Comics character
Songbird
.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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In the comics, Songbird, whose real name is Melissa Gold, is a former supervillain turned superhero known for her sonic abilities and affiliation with the Thunderbolts team.
About Geraldine
Geraldine is the daughter of Indian Tamil doctor Suresh Viswanathan and Swiss actress Anja Raith. Her breakout role came in 2018 with the comedy Blockers, and she has since earned acclaim in films like Hala, Bad Education, 7 Days, and the series Miracle Workers.
Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts received a U/A certification and arrives in theatres a day ahead of its global premiere on May 2.

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I've never tried to master Hyderabadi biryani, says chef Himanshu Saini
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  • Mint

I've never tried to master Hyderabadi biryani, says chef Himanshu Saini

Two nights before Dubai's Michelin Awards ceremony, I found myself at Trèsind Studio, discreetly nestled within The St. Regis Gardens at Palm Jumeirah. Unassuming on the outside, it unveils a world of precision, poetry and personality once you step in. Today, it proudly holds the distinction of being the first Indian restaurant in the world to be awarded three Michelin stars. We were ushered into the restaurant's 'living room', where the story of Indian cuisine was about to unfold, one course at a time. Our evening began at the Papadom Botanic Bar, where cocktails are reimagined using kitchen scraps. Every drink told a story, from chai to shrikhand, dal baati churma to coconut moilee, elevated into liquid art. The zero-waste philosophy extends into the bar, with syrups made from trimmings and botanical spirits crafted from stalks to roots, and seeds to blossoms. I choose the Gun Powder cocktail, a bold whisky concoction with curry leaf, sesame oil, jasmine, fino sherry, and Kashmiri chilli — smoky, complex, and unmistakably Indian. Chef Himanshu Saini appeared soon after — gracious, understated, and warm. We were led to the intimate 20-seat dining room, where his team moved with quiet precision in the open kitchen. A manager approached with a framed map of India, guiding us through the evening's agenda, traversing the salt flats of Gujarat, the Himalayan foothills, the Deccan plateau, and coastal plains. This visual introduction, mapping terrain, produce and regional techniques, set the tone for the immersive, multi-course experience that followed. In May, a couple of days after Trèsind Studio made history as the first Indian restaurant to receive three Michelin stars, I reconnected with chef Saini to reflect on what this recognition truly means. 'The moment was surreal," he recalls. 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Saini's early professional grounding came under chef Manish Mehrotra at Indian Accent, but it was in Dubai his vision came alive. "Mr Bhupender Nath [founder & MD] believed in me. The trust gave birth to Trèsind and later Trèsind Studio," he says. Saini talks about the current wave of modern Indian cuisine, and acknowledges peers like Gaggan Anand, Vineet Bhatia and Vikas Khanna as fellow trailblazers. "Progressive Indian cuisine isn't about leaving tradition behind, it's about interpreting it through a new lens," he adds. The focus on narrative is evident in every detail of the culinary experience. 'About 50% of the menu evolves annually, allowing us to continually reinterpret and refine regional flavours, while retaining standout favourites that have resonated deeply with our guests," he informs. A signature dish that captures this ethos is the Tender Coconut Kushiyaki with Yuzu Rasam. 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G-Dragon to go on world tour; North America and Europe venues added – anticipated return to the U.S. confirmed
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time23 minutes ago

  • Time of India

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K-pop star G-Dragon is all set to go on his world tour, performing in different venues around the globe. The idol will be going around different countries to perform his songs and meet up with fans. Recently, he added North American and European tour dates, building up anticipation over the upcoming shows. G-Dragon to return to the U.S. with upcoming tour, new dates added G-Dragon recently announced that he will be touring across venues in North America as well as Europe, making his much-awaited return to the States. His 2025 tour titled 'Übermensch' started in March in the idol's home country in Seoul. Previously, through his official tour website, the idol had announced dates for the Asia-Pacific leg of the tour and has now brought forth new updates about new concert dates. G-Dragon will be touring in different cities and regions like Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Newark, Las Vegas, and also Paris. More about G-Dragon and his new album, as well as his tour This is the idol's first solo tour in almost 8 years since his 2017 tour titled 'Act III: M.O.T.T.E'. His new tour shares the same title as his latest third solo album release, 'ÜBERMENSCH'. The idol's album sold out almost immediately after its release and garnered a lot of success and love for G-Dragon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Card Payment Has Failed? Update payment… McAfee Learn More Undo Pre-sale of the concert tickets is supposed to start for fan club members on the official website from June 25 to June 26. General sales, on the other hand, will begin on June 27. Ever since the announcement of the new tour dates, fans have been buzzing with excitement and have been preparing to buy tickets for the North American and European locations.

'Ronaldo for President': Cristiano Ronaldo's jersey gift to US President Donald Trump fuels wild fan reactions
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Cristiano Ronaldo (via Getty Images) A signed jersey from Cristiano Ronaldo to Donald Trump during the G7 Summit has dominated social media—but not quite for the reasons you might guess. When the President of the United States posed wearing the Portugal star jersey that carried the message 'To President Donald J. Trump, playing for peace," fans on all sides of the globe lit up social media platforms X and Instagram with everything from admiration to sarcasm at lightning speed, transmuting a diplomatic gesture into viral internet history in an instant. Fans lose it as Cristiano Ronaldo presents Donald Trump with signed jersey during G7 Summit: "Playing for peace!" It wasn't another summit handshake. At the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, European Council President Antonio Costa pulled a surprise out of his bag for Donald Trump—a signed Cristiano Ronaldo jersey. The message on it, "Playing for peace," appeared to be targeting higher than football. Trump's reaction? Classic. "Oh! I love that! Playing for peace," he exclaimed, smiling as he clutched the Portugal jersey for the cameras. But as the photo went viral on social media, the real spectacle started—in the comments. From Ronaldo enthusiasts to political satirists, the internet went wild. "I guess the Democrats love Messi and Barcelona, and the Republicans love Ronaldo and Real Madrid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We are Looking for People to try this revolutionary Hearing Aid AudioNova Undo NGL Like my mind works LOL," commented one user, echoing many's sentiment that viewed the moment as a power play prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Another quipped, "CR7 doing more for world peace than Dala Llama." Some followers recognized it as GOAT behavior. "Goat recognize goat," commented one Instagram user. Others were making tongue-in-cheek remarks: "Bro saw that message and continued his day," one person wrote, while another responded, "Goatnaldo." Ronaldo's global impact was in full bloom. "Cristiano. You're the greatest man Alive. Keep using your influence for Good. We love you," one X user wrote. Another said, "Ronaldo for President." Meanwhile, some weren't impressed, mocking the gesture with political jabs. 'FREE IRAN BUTTON ——>,' one user wrote and another also commented "FREE PALESTINE BUTTON—->". An Instagram user decided to give Ronaldo some geopolitics advice, "Our king! Don't play with him! You want a Tshirt orange man? Sure, but let me tell you something… he could have just gave him a Tshirt but one thing Ronaldo will do is use his voice! Tell him peace in Ukraine free.' 'The only red things he wants in his hands is a button and blood,' a seemingly angry fan said. Others were caught between admiration and unease: 'Messi fan but that's heroic class from Cristiano,' shared one conflicted commenter. Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo melts hearts with shirtless photo of Ronaldo Jr. in adorable 'like father, like son' moment Regardless of how fans and the internet have reacted, with mixed feelings, one this is clear: with this gesture, Cristiano Ronaldo proved he's still making news internationally and showed everyone that when he talks, the world listens—even when it is via a jersey.

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