Think Coldplay's Kiss Cam Scandal Was Dramatic? Sanjay Leela Bhansali Beat Them To It
When former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's HR head, Kristin Cabot, walked into a Coldplay concert, they were likely expecting a magical night filled with music and memories. Coldplay shows are often described as once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but for the duo, it became unforgettable for reasons no one could have predicted.
What was meant to be a private moment quickly spiralled into one of the most viral sensations online, now known as the Coldplay Kiss Scandal. Weeks have passed, yet the internet refuses to move on. Videos, memes and parody content continue to pop up on timelines regularly. And now, a surprising new twist has joined the fun. This time with a connection to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani.
'Bhansali Did It Before Coldplay'
A particular scene from the 2015 period drama, being shared across social media, is drawing comparisons to the Coldplay incident. The scene features Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai, wife of Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I, played by Ranveer Singh. After winning a battle, Bajirao returns home to their newly constructed palace, Shaniwar Wada. Kashibai lovingly shows him around, which also includes a special section called Aaina Mahal, a hall of mirrors.
She tells him that the mirrors were carefully designed so she could see into the room from her chambers. But what follows leaves her in total devastation. That night, Kashibai looks through the mirrors and catches the reflection of Bajirao embracing Mastani (portrayed by Deepika Padukone). The heartbreaking visual highlights her pain and sense of betrayal.
People online are now comparing this emotional scene to the viral Coldplay moment, saying that it reminds them of the unexpected incident involving the two senior executives.
The caption shared with the clip reads, 'Maybe Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot are just big fans of Bajirao Mastani!"
Watch The Video Here:
The video has already crossed three million views, and the comments section is filled with laughing emojis and varied reactions.
One user commented, 'The OG it seems," while another added, 'Whoever made this post deserves a raise."
Someone remarked, 'Priyanka's shocked & pained expression hits more than the reality of the Coldplay couple."
'What India thinks today, the World thinks tomorrow," a person said.
'That's so creative and on point," 'Epic", and 'Every masterpiece has a cheap copy!" were some other remarks.
Meanwhile…
Byron is reportedly planning to take legal action against Coldplay over the viral video. As per several media reports, he is considering filing a lawsuit against both the band and the event organisers. The cited reasons include 'emotional distress" and 'invasion of privacy."
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A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
First Published:
July 31, 2025, 08:05 IST
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News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Coldplay Song To SRK's ‘Josh', This ‘Goa-Like' Part Of Mumbai Region Is A Popular Shooting Spot
Last Updated: Vasai Fort was built by the Portuguese on the North West Coast of India during the 16th and 17th centuries. Just a few kilometers from Mumbai lies a destination that has become a favourite among Bollywood and global artists. The Vasai Fort, often compared to Goa for its old Portuguese charm, is more than just a scenic backdrop. From Coldplay's Hymn for the Weekend to Shah Rukh Khan's Josh, this centuries-old fort has been featured in many films and music videos. But apart from its screen presence, Vasai Fort has a rich past as there was a time when it was considered more important than Mumbai itself. We will also take a look at how you can reach the fort, if there is any entry fee and the best time to visit. History Vasai Fort, also known as Bassein Fort, was built by the Portuguese in in the North West Coast of India during the 16th and 17th centuries and became one of their most important strongholds on the west coast. The inner fort, called the Citadel of Saint or Bale Killa, was constructed in 1535 to guard the province. Surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Ulhas River and Vaitarna River, its location made it tough to breach. In 1736, the fort was captured by the Marathas under Chimaji Appa, younger brother of the famous Maratha Empire builder Peshwa Baji Rao. What now stands as ruins once housed a town with churches, colleges, libraries, hospitalsand markets. There were even fields where crops were grown within the fort's boundary. Centuries ago, when Mumbai was just a collection of seven islands, Vasai was already a thriving centre. Under Portuguese rule, it flourished with trade, culture and architecture. Its influence extended beyond India reaching as far as Pakistan, Oman and other parts of the Middle East. This suburb in Maharashtra's Palghar district was once the regional headquarters of the Portuguese, second in importance only to Goa. With a 4.5-km-long wall, 11 bastions, water tanks and granaries, it was a fully functional city protected by natural and man-made defences. Getting There, Best Time To Visit And Entry Info How can you reach Vasai Fort? By air: The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai which is about a two-hour drive from the fort. It operates regular flights to and from major Indian cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Hyderabad. By train: The cheapest and fastest way to reach Vasai from Mumbai is by local train. You can board a train from major stations like Churchgate, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri or Borivali and get down at Vasai Road station. The journey takes about an hour and costs just Rs 20–30 per person. From Vasai Road, the fort is around 10 km away and can be easily reached by auto-rickshaw or local bus. By road: If you are travelling by road, you can either drive or take a bus to Vasai. Buses are available from major terminals like Mumbai Central, Dadar or Borivali and cost around Rs 100–150 and take roughly two hours. From the Vasai bus depot, the fort is about 8 km away and easily accessible by auto-rickshaw or local bus. If you are driving or booking a cab, the journey via Western Express Highway or NH 8 takes about 1.5 hours. You will find parking space near the fort. Is there an entry fee? No, entry to Vasai Fort is free. When is the best time to visit? The fort is open throughout the day generally from 4 AM to 11 PM. The ideal time to visit is between November and March when the weather is pleasant enough to explore the fort on foot. The charm of Vasai Fort has drawn filmmakers and artists for decades. Shah Rukh Khan's Josh and Ram Gopal Verma's Aag were filmed here along with Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Khamoshi and more. Internationally, it grabbed attention when British band Coldplay shot parts of Hymn for the Weekend here. The video, featuring Beyoncé and Sonam Kapoor, showED the fort's rustic beauty. Popular Bollywood tracks like Kambakkht Ishq from Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Poster Lagwa Do from Luka Chuppi have also been filmed here. view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 02, 2025, 08:30 IST News viral Coldplay Song To SRK's 'Josh', This 'Goa-Like' Part Of Mumbai Region Is A Popular Shooting Spot Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Telangana's surrogacy scam: The business of selling babies
The Secunderabad railway station in Telangana is a noisy transit hub. Thousands of people enter and exit the concourse every day. Ad jingles in Hindi, Telugu, English, and Bengali, about the various medical procedures offered by hospitals across the city, blare over the din. Billboards outside the station feature smiling couples with babies. The city, along with Hyderabad, is a significant hub for medical tourism in India. In August 2024, after having done some research, Sonam Singh and her husband Akshay travelled to Secunderabad from Kuharwas village near Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan for an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure. They rented a house near the railway station and began searching on the Internet for hospitals nearby. Near the railway station, they found the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, which promised them an 85% success rate for an IVF procedure. The hopeful couple met the owner, Pachipala Namratha aka Athaluri Namratha, 64. 'The test results showed that we were medically fit to conceive,' says Sonam, speaking over the phone from Kuharwas. 'But the doctor insisted that we opt for surrogacy. She told us that it was safer and more reliable. She also assured us that the clinic would use our sperm and egg, and also handle all the paperwork and legalities.' While an IVF procedure can cost anywhere between ₹2 lakh and ₹6 lakh per cycle, Namratha told the couple that surrogacy would cost them ₹30 lakh. She asked Sonam and Akshay to transfer half the amount through their bank account and pay the remaining in cash, supposedly for the surrogate. Convinced, the couple made their first payment on August 16, 2024. According to the First Information Report filed by Akshay, Namratha also promised the couple that 'a healthy child [would be] delivered... after DNA confirmation.' Nearly a year later, on June 5, Sonam and Akshay were handed a baby at Lotus Hospital in Visakhapatnam. 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Promising these couples a baby through surrogacy, it has charged them between ₹20 lakh and ₹30 lakh each, and handed them babies not related to them. It has also furnished falsified documents, say the police. An investigation has revealed that the clinic paid commissions to smaller centres for referrals of potential surrogate mothers and women who wanted to undergo abortions, forged medical reports, and operated without proper licensing. According to the police, an agent called Dhanasri Santoshi struck a deal between a couple from Assam and the clinic. They say the Assamese couple's baby was given to the couple from Rajasthan. The police have arrested the couple from Assam on charges of selling their baby. 'Instead of getting ₹15 lakh, the couple from Assam got ₹90,000 for selling their baby,' says a police officer. The baby has been moved to foster care at Shishu Vihar, a childcare centre under the Women and Child Welfare Department. The police add that they have discovered a disturbing pattern in how surrogates are sourced. The sealed medical facility in Secunderabad is surrounded by lodges and bed-and-breakfast rooms. These lodging facilities were used to house women. A police officer says, 'The agents would approach vulnerable women, particularly those seeking abortions, and offer them money to continue their pregnancy so that they could take the baby later. These newborns would then be passed off as children conceived through surrogacy. This is how people were misled into believing that the babies were biologically theirs.' In at least four known cases in Telangana, women were not paid at all and completely abandoned post-delivery, the officer adds. On November 26, 2024, a woman engaged as a surrogate by a couple died after falling from the ninth floor of a building in Raidurgam in the western part of Hyderabad. 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But just a short turn away from this arterial road, the noise fades. A narrow bylane, about 20 feet wide, is almost hidden in plain sight. Two old gates, one swung wide open and the other barely ajar, lead into it. Two policemen sit here, silent witnesses to what the North Zone police uncovered. The building of Namratha's clinic has been sealed and the clinic shut down, following an investigation that exposed the baby-selling racket running under the guise of fertility treatments. 'The hospital operated only on the first two floors. The rest were empty,' says one constable. The two floors were filled with equipment required for childcare and fertility treatment. Rajesh Ravi lived here for 16 years before moving closer to the city centre. He is shocked by the revelations. 'You live somewhere for over a decade and you think you know your neighbourhood. I found nothing suspicious. The only time we were mildly inconvenienced was when too many patients came and there would be many cars on the street,' he says. Rajesh says there was a police case involving the same place about 10 years ago. 'No one talked about it much because back then, news on social media did not reach us as fast as it does now,' he says. 'We knew what was happening here,' says Manu, a lawyer who lives across the street of the four-storied Rushi Test Tube Bab Cent. While the name in English has missing letters, the name in Telugu etched beneath it reveals the complete name — Srusthi Test Tube Baby Centre. 'This place was sealed five times earlier. But eventually things got back to 'normal'. This time I think it is serious and she (Namratha) will not be allowed to carry on the business.' The Telangana Medical Council says Namratha was involved in a surrogacy scandal in 2016. A U.S.-based couple, who had used the clinic's services, had discovered that the child born to them through a surrogate was not biologically related to them. 'Following a police case and court hearings, we suspended the doctor's license for five years, with a lifetime ban on conducting surrogacy procedures,' says Dr. G Srinivas, Vice-Chairman of the Council. Yet, when the suspension period ended, the doctor returned, seeking to have her license reinstated. 'We refused. She was still involved in a court case, and our rules are clear on that,' Dr. Srinivas adds. A stringent law As surrogacy has become an increasingly popular option for couples grappling with infertility, Indian law has become more stringent to ensure that the practice remains ethical and free from commercial exploitation. What once operated in legal grey zones is now bound by clear rules, thanks to the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. Under the Act, only altruistic surrogacy is permitted in India. This means a surrogate mother cannot be paid for carrying a child, except for her medical expenses and insurance coverage. Commercial surrogacy, any arrangement involving monetary compensation or profit, is banned and is a punishable offence. According to the Act, all surrogacy procedures must take place at clinics registered under the Act and authorised by the office officially designated as the State Appropriate Authority. . These clinics must comply with strict medical standards and ethical norms. Any attempt to bypass the law, whether through brokers, unregistered clinics, or financial inducements, is considered a criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching ₹10 lakh. Fertility specialists say the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation Act, 2021, and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, have brought much-needed order to what was once a loosely regulated and, at times, opaque system. Dr. Preethi Dayal, who runs the Preethi Fertility Centre in Jangaon district, says prior to the enforcement of the ART law in January 2023, 'many centres operated without oversight. You could bring in any random donor, collect the sample, and proceed with checks or documentation. But we are now bound by very strict protocols. Every donor must be sourced only through a registered ART bank, which keeps Aadhaar-linked records of every sample, though the identity is never disclosed to either doctors or patients.' She adds that the new law mandates comprehensive screening of all donors, including genetic testing, and imposes tight eligibility criteria based on age and health. 'There is no room for ambiguity now. Everything has to be documented and traceable.' Dr. Preethi also points out that, legally and ethically, all third-party donor procedures must be conducted with confidentiality. 'Patients are never informed about the identity of the donor. The child born through surrogacy belongs legally and emotionally to the intended parents. That is the framework we follow,' Dr. Preethi says. To reduce the risk of human error, the doctor says many IVF clinics have now adopted the RI Witness system, a high-tech safety protocol that tracks every sample using barcode verification. 'Every patient is given a barcode-linked card. Before processing a sample, we scan the card in the system. If there is any mismatch, the entire hospital is alerted,' she says. While many corporate hospitals have already adopted this system, Dr. Preethi says smaller or less-regulated clinics may not yet have the infrastructure or the will to comply. 'Some centres are still conducting 10 to 15 IVF cycles a day. Without safeguards like the RI Witness system, the chances of mix-ups increase,' she says. Additional reporting by Naveen Kumar Names have been changed to protect privacy
NDTV
17 hours ago
- NDTV
Two Weeks Since Saiyaara Release, How India Is Reacting To Ahaan Panday And Aneet Padda's Film Across Ages
New Delhi: At a recent screening of Saiyaara in Delhi, a man stood up mid-show, tore off his shirt as the title track began, and dropped to his knees weeping in front of the screen. In another viral clip, a boy is filmed lying back in a theatre seat with an IV drip in his hand, eyes fixed on the screen as his friends cheer him on. A movie ticket these days doesn't just buy a two-hour romantic drama. It buys a front-row seat to India's most passionately divided emotional event of the year. And if you've been on Instagram lately, you'll know: everyone has a Saiyaara opinion, and a generational one, at that. Because the truth is, Mohit Suri's newcomer-led musical romance has done more than just mint box office gold. It has split the country into three emotional camps, and no, they're not defined by critics or fans, but by age brackets. Gen Z And The Cry- aara If you're in this bracket, chances are you've either sobbed in a cinema watching Saiyaara or posted about not sobbing and felt a bit left out. The youngest demographic, fuelled by reels, Reddit threads and fandom breakdowns, has latched on to the film like a lifeline. TikTok-style reaction videos, eyeliner-smudged selfies post-credits, and "why am I crying over a fictional man again" memes have flooded the Internet. For many, Saiyaara feels like their Rockstar moment, a romance that somehow speaks to their specific flavour of heartbreak. "I don't know what happened to me. When Krish said tu ro sakti hai, main dekh loonga, I just... started bawling. It felt personal. Like this film knew my trauma," says 20-year-old Kritika from Lucknow. College groups have even started unofficial "Saiyaara sobbing squads," where watching the movie alone is forbidden. "We bring tissues. And chocolate. And water. We don't talk till we leave the theatre. It's sacred," jokes Arjun, 22, from Pune. From flash mobs in cinema halls to fans creating aesthetic edits layered with dialogues and Arijit vocals, Gen Z has fully claimed the film as their own. The Quarter-Life Romantics This is the category where appreciation lives, but with a seatbelt on. The 25-35 crowd is enjoying Saiyaara for what it is: a nostalgic throwback to early 2000s Bollywood romance, rich in melody and melancholy. They're the ones who grew up on Jab We Met and Aashiqui 2, and they see Saiyaara as a well-executed genre piece, but not an emotional apocalypse. "I liked it. The music is great. Ahaan and Aneet have chemistry. But when I saw someone fainting in the theatre on Instagram? I was like... please. Get a grip," says Simran, 30, a marketing professional in Mumbai. 28-year-old Tanushree says, "More than anything, I enjoyed the aesthetics of the film. Ahaan Panday's performance as a debutant is commendable. For someone who enjoys the romantic genre, I went to watch it with that expectation, and I think it fit the bill along with a great album after a very long time." There's a clear sense of admiration mixed with gentle mockery. "We clapped when the kiss happened," shares Raghav, 28. "But the couple next to us were holding hands, whispering I'll never leave you to each other. We were like... bro, this is just a movie," he adds. Many in this group admire the film's restraint. "I think Saayiara did a fabulous job with casting, cinematography, and music, but the realist in me missed the relatability of a love story. What I loved about the movie, though, was its simplicity. The focus wasn't on portraying the girl as the stereotypical heroine or the guy as a symbol of masculinity, which is usually the case in most Bollywood movies. It has heart," says Tanya, a 32-year-old working professional. The 35+ Age Group Is Not Buying The Hype This group is the hardest to convince. For those 35 and older, Saiyaara is less an emotional event and more an online mystery. The film's impact is incomprehensible, and the reactions feel overblown. Some are baffled by the spectacle; others, frankly, annoyed. "I kept waiting for the twist or the tragedy," says 41-year-old Varun Mehra, who watched the film with his teenage daughter. "But it ends happily. And yet people around me were sobbing. I felt like I'd walked into a parallel universe." "Blame it on my age, or the millennial hangover, I didn't like Saiyaara much. I felt the story was a rehash of Aashiqui 2. I liked Ahaan and Aneet's chemistry. I think it's the saving grace for the film," says Neeta Arora, 36. While some acknowledge the film's melodies and performances, the consensus here is clear: it's good, but not life-altering. "We're from the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai era. We invented crying in the theatre," laughs Abhinav, 39. Between Love And A Like Button So, what's really happening? The theatrical experience today is not just about sitting in a dark hall and watching a story unfold, especially not for Gen Z. It's about content creation, identity signalling, and shared cultural participation. Exhibitor Vishek Chauhan puts it best: "They don't just want to love the movie. They want to own it." That explains why someone fainted and friends filmed it. Why dance circles break out mid-show. Why people are treating Saiyaara less like a film and more like a festival. Interestingly, part of Saiyaara's success lies in its anonymity. Lead actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda are fresh faces, blank slates. So, Is the Film Really That Deep? Maybe. Maybe not. What's certain is that Saiyaara has tapped into a long-dormant hunger for classic Hindi romance-dramatic, musical, earnest. It has made young people feel seen, millennials feel nostalgic, and boomers feel... confused. And that, perhaps, is its real triumph: a movie that can make three different generations argue, weep, scoff, or shrug, all under the same roof. Cinema is back. And apparently, it's bringing tissues (or maybe not).
