&w=3840&q=100)
Shubhanshu Shukla returns Sunday after historic space mission, to meet PM
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to return to India on Sunday after his historic visit to the International Space Station (ISS) and is eager to share his experiences with friends and colleagues back home as ISRO eyes its maiden human spaceflight in 2027.
Shukla, who has been in the US, training for the Axiom-4 mission to ISS for the past one year, is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and travel to his hometown Lucknow soon after.
He is expected to be back in the capital to participate in the National Space Day celebrations on August 22-23.
Shukla posted on Instagram a smiling photograph of himself sitting in an aeroplane, and said in its caption that he was filled with mixed emotions as he left the US and could not wait to return to India to share his experiences with everyone back home.
"As I sit on the plane to come back to India, I have a mix of emotions running through my heart. I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people behind who were my friends and family for the past one year during this mission. I am also excited about meeting all my friends, family and everyone in the country for the first time post mission. I guess this is what life is -- everything all at once," Shukla said in the post.
"Having received incredible love and support from everyone during and after the mission, I can't wait to come back to India to share my experiences with all of you. Goodbyes are hard but we need to keep moving in life. As my commander Peggy Whitson fondly says, 'the only constant in spaceflight is change'. I believe that applies to life as well," he said.
Shukla also added, "I guess at the end of the day -'Yun hi chala chal rahi - jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiya'," recalling the song from the Bollywood movie Swades that was on his playlist just before he embarked on the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS on June 25 from the US.
Shukla and his backup astronaut Prashanth Nair participated in the Independence Day celebrations at the Indian Consulate in Houston on Friday.
Addressing the 79th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India was developing its own space station and recalled that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned from a space mission.
"Our Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned from the space station. In the coming days, he is returning to India," Modi had said.
Shukla was part of the Axiom-4 private space mission that lifted off from Florida on June 25 and docked at the International Space Station on June 26. He returned to Earth on July 15.
Along with three other astronauts -- Peggy Whitson (US), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) -- Shukla conducted over 60 experiments and 20 outreach sessions during the 18-day mission.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Janna Duggar is pregnant, expecting first baby with husband Stephen Wissmann
Jana Duggar is stepping into a new chapter of her life: motherhood. The 'Counting On' alum, 35, has announced that she is pregnant and expecting her first child with her husband, Stephen Wissmann. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The news comes almost exactly a year after the couple tied the knot. Jana shared the news with her followers on Instagram, posting adorable pictures with Stephen, including one where the pair kissed and another where she showed her growing baby bump. In her caption, she wrote about how "excited" they are for what lies ahead: "We are so excited. January 2026 is going to bring a little bundle of joy to our family! We're counting down the days and eagerly looking forward to this thrilling new chapter in our lives!" The pregnancy announcement comes a year after Jana and Stephen's wedding in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. According to PEOPLE, the ceremony, described as "classic" and "elegant," was attended by 500 guests. Her sisters and close family members stood by her side, with Jessa Duggar Seewald as maid of honour and Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, Jordyn Duggar, and Abbie Duggar serving as bridesmaids. Before her wedding, Jana had spoken about how meaningful the moment was for her. She admitted that for a long time, she felt like marriage might "never" happen. "I think it is one of those things that all girls envision someday," Jana told PEOPLE. "For me, it felt like, 'Okay, it's never coming.' But now it's starting to sink in. Reality is starting to set in, and I'm like, 'Wow, this truly is something that I've dreamed of.' Just to see it coming about is incredible and kind of hard to believe. It's a dream come true."
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Harshvardhan Rane appeals to fans amid Mumbai rains: 'Guys please make your own food today'
Harshvardhan Rane of Sanam Teri Kasam posted a story on Instagram cautioning his followers not to order food from outside in Mumbai due to the intense rain. Mumbai has been experiencing heavy rains for the past two days, and authorities imposed a red alert on Monday. Many delivery workers have been finding it difficult to travel during this time because it has been so hard for people to move around. Rane published a story to address this problem. "Guys pls make your own food today," Harshvardhan wrote, sharing a photo of a delivery man struggling with his two-wheeler halfway submerged in the water. Take a look at the post below: Regarding the Rains in Mumbai Heavy rains woke Mumbai up again Monday, causing traffic jams and tree collapses in several areas of the city's waterlogged roads. Mumbai's orange alert was upgraded to a red one by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A heavy to very heavy spell of rain was predicted for a few locations in Mumbai, with isolated areas seeing extremely high levels of rainfall, according to the weather service. Concerning Harshvardhan Rane Rane's film Sanam Teri Kasam, in which actress Mawra Hocane co-stars, is well-known. Although Sanam Teri Kasam 2 had previously been confirmed, following Hocane's remarks regarding war, Harshvardhan Rane quit from the film if the producers continued to use the same cast. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo In 2016, Sanam Teri Kasam made its theatrical debut. Though it only made about Rs 9 crore at the box office at the time, it later became iconic. With his next romantic-action movie, Silaa, the actor is back in the limelight. Omung Kumar, the National Award-winning director of the Priyanka Chopra-starring biopic Mary Kom (2014), is directing Silaa. Ipsitaa, Karanveer Mehra, and Sadia Khateeb play important parts in the movie as well. Sameer Joshi wrote the screenplay, and Aarambh M Singh wrote the dialogue. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Monalisa, Raju Kalakar, Ranu Mondal: Viral sensations who ruled social media—and what they're doing today
In an industry where stardom is usually built on years of auditions, film debuts, and family legacies, a handful of unlikely names found themselves catapulted into the spotlight overnight—not by producers or casting calls, but by the power of a viral clip. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From a rudraksh seller at the Kumbh Mela to a schoolboy humming in class, and a peanut hawker whose sales pitch became a global dance track, these ordinary faces became extraordinary sensations. But in Bollywood and beyond, virality is only the opening scene. The real story lies in what happens after the likes and shares fade away. Monalisa Bhonsle (Kumbh Mela rudraksh seller with 'amber eyes') Before fame: A teenage garland/rudraksh-mala seller from Indore, working stalls at the Maha Kumbh. How she got picked up: In January 2025, short clips of her selling malas at the Kumbh Mela went viral. People were drawn to her calm style and graceful presence, and within days her follower count shot up as birthday wishes and reels celebrating her flooded social media. Claim to fame: Soon, people began calling her the 'Kumbh beauty,' and her videos traveled far beyond the mela through endless reels and reposts. As her following grew, she started sharing a more glamorous side of herself—posing in designer outfits and polished settings. But like many viral stars, the big question remained: could this online buzz truly open the doors to a lasting screen career? Where she is now (2025): Music video debut: Monalisa has starred in a music video titled 'Saadgi', marking her first venture into filmed entertainment. Film debut underway: She's been cast in The Diary of Manipur as the leading lady opposite Amit Rao (brother of Rajkummar Rao), under Sanoj Mishra's direction. The film commenced shooting earlier this year, including a crowd-drawing sequence in Pichore (MP), halting briefly under fan overwhelm. Raju Kalakar (Raju Bhat) — the 'two stones' singer from Surat Before fame: Raju was a street performer and puppeteer from Surat, earning a living on the margins. His life changed when a simple clip of him singing the Bewafa Sanam classic 'Dil Pe Churiyan Chalai' while tapping rhythm on two chipped stones went viral in mid-2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The video crossed 100 million views, and soon even celebrities were sharing it, pushing him into the spotlight. Claim to fame: It was the sheer authenticity—the rough edge in his voice, the simple rhythm of stones—that turned Raju into a national mood for a few weeks. The wave reached its peak when himself stepped in, teaming up with him for an official collaboration. Where he is now (2025): These days, Raju can be seen performing at local events, appearing on influencer pages, and even hinting at professional releases built around his viral track. Videos show him arriving at shows, meeting established playback singers, and slowly stepping into bigger circles. For now, though, it feels like the industry is testing the waters with him rather than embracing him outright. Bhuban Badyakar — the ' Kacha Badam ' folk hook that went global Before fame: Bhuban Badyakar was a peanut seller from Birbhum, West Bengal, who came up with a playful jingle—'Kacha Badam'—to draw customers while cycling through villages. In late 2021, short clips of his sing-song sales pitch landed on social media, and almost overnight, the tune turned into a viral sensation across India. How he got picked up: What followed was a whirlwind—remix versions flooded the internet, TV channels booked him, and stage shows started pouring in. Interviews even hinted at performance offers abroad, waiting only on paperwork to take him there. Claim to fame: The catchiness of 'Kacha Badam' made Bhuban a regular face on talk shows and award nights for a while. At the peak of the craze, he even landed a cameo in a daily soap—his first brush with acting. Where he is now : Today, Bhuban still leans on the 'Kacha Badam' brand, sharing new versions of the song on his Instagram. But the journey hasn't been smooth—between 2023 and 2024, reports highlighted money troubles and even a rights dispute that, for a time, stopped him from performing his own viral hit on stage. His story has come to feel like a classic cautionary tale of how an overnight sensation doesn't always translate into long-term success. Sahdev Dirdo — the school-assembly voice of 'Bachpan Ka Pyaar' Before fame: Sahdev Dirdo was just a schoolboy in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, when his teacher filmed him singing 'Bachpan Ka Pyaar' in class. The video, reposted endlessly in 2021, turned him into a national meme almost overnight. How he got picked up: When rapper-producer stepped in with a polished remix and music video, Sahdev suddenly had a real bridge into the industry. The track went on to rack up hundreds of millions of plays and became one of the most unforgettable Reels sounds of that time. Claim to fame: It was the classic child-star viral arc—TV shows, brand cameos, and of course the Badshah collab that firmly tied his face to the song's hook. Where he is now: After a much-talked-about road accident in late 2021, Sahdev made a full recovery and has stayed active online. His Instagram still teases 'new music' as of mid-2025, marking his slow shift from a viral schoolkid to a steady teen performer—one whose name the internet hasn't forgotten. Ranu Mondal — the Ranaghat station singer who cut tracks in Bollywood Before fame: A widow from Ranaghat, West Bengal, Ranu Mondal used to sing old Bollywood songs at the railway station to make ends meet. In 2019, a passerby filmed her rendition of 'Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai,' and the clip went viral—suddenly she was on reality shows and recording in Mumbai studios. How she got picked up: brought her into the studio for multiple tracks in Happy Hardy and Heer (2020), most memorably 'Teri Meri Kahani.' The media framed it as a fairytale leap—from a railway platform to Bollywood playback almost overnight. Claim to fame: It was the ultimate rags-to-recording-booth story, symbolising the late 2010s dream of viral fame leading straight to Bollywood. A biopic titled Miss Ranu Maria was even announced, with reports in 2022 claiming she had recorded songs for it. Where she is now : By 2025, she's resurfacing through viral street clips from Ranaghat, often sparking 'where is she now?' stories. Most reports suggest she's back in her hometown, doing the odd paid gig or online video, with her social pages flickering on and off. It's a reminder that one big studio break doesn't guarantee a permanent place in the industry. The Pattern Behind the Posts If there's one thing these stories prove, it's that the internet can crown you a star overnight—but it doesn't promise how long the crown will stay. Each of them had that one raw, unpolished video that caught fire and turned strangers into household names. But going from viral to valuable is a very different journey. Bhuban learnt it the hard way when legal and money troubles kept him from even singing his own song on stage. Monalisa and Raju, despite millions of views and celeb shoutouts, are still figuring out how to turn curiosity into a career. And for Ranu and Sahdev, the internet remains their lifeline—sometimes they fade, sometimes they pop back into our feeds, but they're still recognised, still remembered. Final word Virality can change lives in a heartbeat, but only a few turn it into lasting success. Whether their fame burned bright or flickered out, Monalisa, Raju, Bhuban, Sahdev, and Ranu have all given us unforgettable moments—proof that sometimes, even a single song or clip is enough to make someone part of pop culture forever.
