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'12th Fail' actor Vikrant Massey begins preparation for his International project 'White' based on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Mahaveer Jain and Siddharth Anand's Marflix Pictures are coming together to create WHITE, an international thriller that delves deep into the life and teachings of the globally revered spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar starring Vikrant Massey in the lead role,
The team has now begun intensive prep for the film, laying the foundation for an authentic and immersive cinematic journey. As part of this preparation, Mahaveer Jain personally guided a meaningful visit to the Art of Living Ashram in Bengaluru. Vikrant Massey, who portrays Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, participated in the 'Happiness Program', a signature breathwork and meditation course founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar himself.
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A photograph shared from the ashram beautifully captures this serene moment, with the group dressed in simple white attire, embodying the film's spiritual essence. The caption, 'Hearts Filled with Gratitude 🌸 Grateful for this wisdom Gurudev Sri Sri @gurudev ❤️,' reflects the deep reverence and gratitude at the heart of the project.
Directed by Montoo Bassi and set to commence shooting in Colombia this July, WHITE is an ambitious and visionary endeavor from Mahaveer Jain Films and Marflix Pictures.
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News18
2 days ago
- News18
Peeling The Layer(s): UFC And Ur-Fascism(?)
Last Updated: Trump recently announced plans for hosting a UFC event on the White House lawn for America's 250th anniversary, highlighting the troubling mix of spectacle, and exploitation. On July 4, 2025, as fireworks illuminated the Washington sky, Donald Trump announced that he would stage a UFC fight on the White House lawn for America's 250th anniversary. With promises of a 20,000–25,000-strong crowd, Trump's gambit transformed the nation's highest office into a gladiatorial arena. For mixed martial arts enthusiasts, the spectacle felt electrifying. Yet beneath the roar of the crowd and the clang of the cage lies a troubling convergence: a pageantry, corporate exploitation, and the unsettling echoes of Umberto Eco's concept of ur-fascism —'Eternal Fascism" defined by an array of traits that can congeal into authoritarianism. As MMA fans, it's thrilling to witness combat on such a grand stage. But to appreciate the sport's heart and soul, we must peel back the veneer of political theater and examine how hypermasculine imagery and athlete oppression combine in a promotion that champions a nationalist spectacle while treating its fighters like mere commodities. Match made in Heaven Trump's ties to the UFC predate his presidency. In 2001, the Trump Taj Mahal rescued UFC 31 and 32 when the promotion was bankrupt, cementing a bond with Dana White that endures two decades later. An opportunity White credits with rescuing the organization from obscurity. Their bond transcended business. White publicly endorsed Trump in all three of his presidential campaigns, speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention and campaigning alongside him in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, White partnered with Florida's governor to stage UFC 249—earning praise and a personal video from President Trump as other leagues remained sidelined. After the Capitol raid on January 6 and ensuing political fallout, UFC events offered Trump welcome platforms; he launched his TikTok channel at UFC 302 in 2024, tapping into the promotion's young-male audience. At Madison Square Garden and Mar-a-Lago rallies, White energized crowds with fervent endorsements, even sharing the stage on election night when Trump reclaimed the presidency. White's political involvement culminated in a board appointment at Meta—widely seen as a nod to Trump's influence—before he vowed in November 2024 to avoid politics going forward. Their decades-long alliance illustrates how each elevated the other's brand across sport, media, and politics, forging an enduring partnership built on loyalty and spectacle. The Cult of Tradition Umberto Eco's ur-fascism begins with a cult of tradition, a reverence for the past that brooks no dissent and envisions truth as already revealed—Trump's UFC extravaganza on the White House lawn taps into this impulse. By invoking America's 250-year history, he frames the event as an inevitable, almost sacred continuation of national destiny. Tradition becomes a tool to stifle—a reminder that new ideas and critiques have no place when the founding myth is sacrosanct. This political spectacle almost mirrors the fascist pageantry of the 20th century, where mass rallies, grandiose symbols, and choreographed violence served to unite followers in a mythic narrative. The Octagon, normally a contained ring of athletic competition, becomes a stage for a hyperreal performance of strength, suggesting that national greatness lies in sanctioned brutality rather than democratic discourse. Machismo and the Cult of Death Eco describes a cult of death and machismo inherent to ur-fascism, where heroism equates to a willingness to die—and to send others to their deaths. The UFC's brutal aesthetic, with its visceral bloodsport and knockout highlights, feeds this allure. MMA fans revel in displays of striking prowess and submission mastery, but the narrative often glorifies the idea of 'sacrifice" without acknowledging the human cost. Fighters endure punishing training camps, chronic injuries, and repeated concussions. Yet the UFC offers no cover, or disability benefits. Medical expenses fall squarely on the athlete, who may face lifelong disabilities once the cheering subsides. The Ngannou Episode Eco's essay identifies the rejection of modernism and anti-intellectualism as twin pillars of ur-fascism. This can be noted in UFC's apparent dismissal of practices considered boilerplate for athlete protection. In the UFC's case, White actively discourages fighters from voicing concerns about pay and healthcare, labeling such calls for reform as 'disgusting politics" unworthy of serious debate, and often leverages his relationship with Trump to safeguard UFC's model. When fighters attempt to unionise or demand better conditions, White's retort is swift and dismissive. He uses the same rhetoric as past dictators: framing criticism as betrayal and disloyalty. Francis Ngannou, the heavyweight superstar, requested that the UFC provide health insurance and in-cage sponsorships for all fighters, as well as an athlete advocate to assist them, only to receive the proverbial boot when White refused to extend his contract and accused him of ducking Jon Jones, resulting in a prolonged spat that continues to date. This divide-and-conquer approach ensures that fighters remain isolated, unable to band together for better wages, or safety protocols. It echoes the operator of ur-fascism: by making the very act of questioning a betrayal, authoritarian leaders maintain unquestioned control over both physical and ideological battlegrounds. White reinforces a cult of action for action's sake, ensuring that compliance and spectacle take precedence over meaningful reform; and he amplifies this message through conservative media allies, framing these concessions as a slippery slope toward socialism. The Pay Dilemma For all its blockbuster events, the UFC's financial model is notoriously lopsided. Entry-level fighters earn merely $10,000 to show plus a $10,000 win bonus, while champions rarely exceed $5 million per fight. UFC retains only 13–14.5% of its revenue for fighters which brings into question the bifurcation of its funds. Preliminary-card athletes endure the harshest disparities. In UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs. Song, compliance pay—a catch-all for media obligations, weigh-ins, and promotional interviews—ranged from $4,000 for newcomers to $21,000 for veterans like Andre Fili, who earned that sum despite a loss. Considering most fighters average 2 to 3 appearances a year—after training, travel, management fees, doctors and taxes, many prelim fighters pocket barely enough to cover rent. This economic pressurisation makes athletes feel crushed by larger forces—powers beyond their fathoming. Selective Populism Selective populism, another ur-fascist trait, treats 'the people" as a monolithic entity whose will is embodied solely by a charismatic leader. Trump's UFC spectacle leveraged chants of 'U.S.A." and flag-waving to equate cheering for fighters with patriotic duty. Fans became actors in a populist drama, instructed to see any critique of the event or its labour practices as 'un-American". Some of the fighters themselves are roped in as proxies to add to a general sense of approval—recent examples being Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison—champions who unwittingly contribute to the optics. Newspeak: Limiting Criticism In Eco's framework, Newspeak—an impoverished vocabulary—ensures that only sanctioned ideas survive. UFC discourse is riddled with slogans like 'Protect the P—pay-per-view" or 'UFC family," conflating corporate messaging with genuine community. Terms like 'fighter empowerment" ring hollow when voices are silenced, replaced by soundbites curated to glorify management's narrative. This controlled vernacular discourages nuanced debate about fundamental assistance, representation, and political influence. Fans are invited to chant and cheer, not to question the tightening grip of corporate and political interests that exploit passion for profit. Toward a Fighter-Centered Future For MMA enthusiasts who breathe every takedown and celebrate each submission, confronting these ur-fascist tendencies is daunting but necessary. The sport's essence—skill, strategy, and sheer willpower—deserves a foundation of fairness and solidarity. Transformative steps include: Establishing a genuine fighters' union to negotiate living wages, transparent revenue sharing, and comprehensive healthcare. Demanding independent oversight of compliance pay and medical protocols, ensuring transparency in how the UFC allocates its billions. Cultivating fan-champion advocacy, where support for killer five-round wars extends to backing athletes' rights outside the cage. top videos View all By recognising the hallmarks of ur-fascism —from the cult of tradition and rejection of modernism to Newspeak—we can reclaim the Octagon as an arena of true athleticism and solidarity, rather than a stage for corporate-authoritarian theatrics. While Dana White's business acumen has propelled both the sport and the UFC to heights unimaginable, there comes a time to evolve and adapt—especially when a business model is growing ever-obsolete owing to current trends. In doing so, MMA fans honour not just the fighters they idolise, but also preserve the sport's integrity for generations to come. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Dana White donald trump mixed martial arts ufc Ultimate Fighting Championship view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 05, 2025, 14:35 IST News sports Opinion | Peeling The Layer(s): UFC And Ur-Fascism(?) 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.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans ad isn't the real crisis. Our reaction to it is
Yet again, Sydney Sweeney has found herself at the centre of a controversy and somehow, this one feels even louder than the rest. At first glance, her new American Eagle ads barely registers. It's a denim brand, after all. They're known for slightly cheeky, occasionally cringey, mostly forgettable commercials. From Levi's to Calvin Klein, sexualised ads have been part of the playbook for decades. The whole point is for the jeans to look good, not necessarily for the ad to spark a national debate. So why did this one go viral? The campaign featured Sweeney in a pair of jeans, accompanied by the tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.' A harmless pun, right? Jeans, genes — you get it. But the internet quickly found a rabbit hole to spiral into. In one of the now-pulled ads, Sweeney deadpans to the camera, 'My body's composition is determined by my genes,' and gives a cheeky wink — yes, she meant the pants and the DNA. But hey, where's the lie? The jeans fit perfectly. And she is beautiful. It didn't take long for things to spiral. Critics, largely from the American liberal Left, claimed the ad was pushing White supremacist ideas, reading the 'genes' pun as a wink at racial purity. Some went as far as calling it Nazi propaganda. Conservatives quickly hit back. American media personality Megyn Kelly called the backlash absurd, accusing the 'lunatic Left' of trying to cancel a woman for wearing jeans. J D Vance mocked the idea that finding Sweeney attractive now makes someone a Nazi. Even The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, not one to mince his words, joked that just maybe, people were overreacting. They were. The whole thing exploded so fast, American Eagle's stock jumped 19 per cent in pre-market trading. Sweeney was instantly crowned a 'meme stock icon'. That says a lot, not just about her celebrity power, but about how tangled culture, outrage, and finance have become. Today, financial analysts don't just treat controversies as PR crises — they see them as trading signals. In this case, a series of ads dropped, shares spiked, and speculators cashed in. Let's be real: This isn't even Sweeney's most eyebrow-raising campaign. A few months ago, she fronted an ad for Dr Squatch soap called Sydney's Bathwater Bliss — supposedly made with water from her actual bath. Before that? A cheeky promo for a bar named Morning Wood. No outrage. In fact, Sweeney's campaign feels almost quaint compared to Brooke Shields' 1980 Calvin Klein ad. The one where the then 15-year-old famously said, 'Nothing comes between me and my Calvins.' That sparked real public outrage and justifiably so because it crossed ethical lines by sexualising a minor. But Sweeney is not 15. She's a grown woman doing a denim ad with a bad pun. There's no hidden agenda here, just a joke that's barely clever. If anything, it's dorky. Over analysing it is not only a reach, it's a waste of critical thought. The Summer I Turned Pretty actor Gavin Casalegno did a similar Dunkin' Donuts' ad. He said: 'This tan? Genetics. Just got my colour analysis back. Guess what? Golden Summer.' While there has been outrage around this ad too, it is nowhere near the number of eyeballs Sweeney's campaign has drawn. In Casalegno's case, it seems it's just a hot guy doing hot-guy things. At the end of the day, we have dissected a series of 30-second ads like they are a leaked manifesto. Meanwhile, real crises rage on like famine, war, displacement, systemic oppression. The world is on fire, and we're debating denim. In a time where so many are desperate to be heard — from conflict zones to hunger zones — we're burning outrage capital on a celebrity ad. Not because it truly harmed anyone, but because it trended. Because it was easy. Because outrage is now a reflex. And let's be honest, because it pays. A viral takedown gets clicks. The more extreme the outrage, the better the engagement. We're not just reacting anymore, we're performing. Sometimes, it's less about justice, more about the algorithm. Maybe that sounds naive. But if your biggest outrage this week is over a series of denim ads, it might be time to look inward. When jeans spark more fury than war, hunger, or human suffering, the problem isn't the ad, it's us. So sure, Sweeney looked stunning. The wordplay was a bit much. And yes, we all could have just kept scrolling. It wasn't that deep. And the fact that it became this deep? That might be the most disturbing part of all.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
NFLPA stuns league with Hollywood bombshell, hires SAG-AFTRA powerbroker David White as interim chief
David White makes his blockbuster NFLPA entrance (Image via Getty) The NFL Players Association has stunned league watchers by reportedly tapping a blockbuster new leader from outside the football orbit. In a bold move to reshape its negotiating firepower, the union is said to be bringing in seasoned labor heavyweight David White as interim executive director. The timing comes as player contract battles and revenue issues approach critical mass this season. A blockbuster crossover hire that blends big-league football, Hollywood leverage, and high-stakes negotiations David White previously served as the national executive director and chief negotiator of Hollywood's performers' union, SAG-AFTRA — a role that saw him steer high-stakes negotiations with major film studios and streamers. His entertainment-industry pedigree is now positioning him as a potential secret weapon in the NFLPA's long-term bargaining strategy. The prospective hire signals a deliberate shift toward a more media-savvy brand of union leadership. Hollywood powerbroker steps onto the gridiron, ready to shake up football's old guard Having led contract showdowns in Hollywood, White is no stranger to navigating headline-hungry stakeholders. According to industry insiders, his unexpected arrival reflects a calculated culture shift inside the players' union. Many believe his outsider perspective could help the NFLPA square up to billion-dollar TV and ownership interests with unprecedented aggression. Quiet discussions among agents suggest the move is aimed at future-proofing player leverage ahead of the next CBA standoff. By crossing over from Hollywood to the gridiron, White embodies the modern merging of sport and entertainment. Sources familiar with the process say union leaders wanted someone who truly understands visibility, narrative and public momentum — qualities not always found in traditional sports executives. His résumé appears to tick every box as the NFLPA gears up for fresh battles over media rights, branding and player marketing. Aggressive strategy ahead of negotiation battles Union insiders describe White as bringing a heavyweight résumé to an already charged landscape. His ability to identify leverage opportunities is expected to become a serious factor as the NFLPA plots its strategy against increasingly corporate league interests. While 'former national executive director of SAG-AFTRA' may be an eyebrow-raising title for football fans, supporters believe the surprise choice is precisely what makes him dangerous. Veteran agents predict White could deploy Hollywood-style pressure tactics designed to spark headlines, sway public sentiment, and build global fan support. With players becoming more vocal on revenue splits, turf safety, healthcare and discipline issues, his outside-industry playbook may supercharge the fight. Internally, his addition is being framed as a necessary step toward transforming the NFLPA into a next-generation entertainment union. Why this surprise hire could change the game for NFL stars around the world White's anticipated appointment comes at a moment when top athletes are doubling as influencer-brands with commercial crossover ambitions. His reputation for controlling public narratives is seen as increasingly valuable. One source close to the process says the union wanted someone who could 'speak legal and go viral.' From Hollywood sets to locker rooms nationwide, this move suggests future player empowerment campaigns will look very different. The union is expected to hand White the reins immediately as interim director. He steps into a post previously held by some of the most influential leaders in modern sports labor. Whether he stays beyond the interim period may depend on early traction. But one thing is clear — bringing in a Hollywood-forged negotiator signals a dramatic strategic shift as the NFLPA braces for its next high-stakes clash with the most powerful league in American sports. Also read: ESPN just took control of NFL fantasy, RedZone & streaming—and it's about to change how fans watch football forever Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
