Latest news with #Aamna


Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Aamir & Aamna on their bond: Having genuine friends is a big deal
Aamir Ali and Aamna Sharif's friendship isn't loud or flashy—it's the kind that runs deep, built over years of quiet loyalty and unwavering presence. Ask them about their first impressions, Aamna Sharif says: 'I'm very reserved—I don't even remember how we became friends. It must have just been a 'hello' many years ago.' Aamir adds, 'She's shy and reserved. People used to think she had an attitude, but I saw the real her. And after all this time, it just feels like family.' Aamir Ali and Aamna Shariff on their decade long friendship Their admiration for each other's work is evident, but it's the consistent support off-screen that makes their bond special. 'Every time I'm doing something new or I'm confused about something, the first call goes to Aamir. He's that one person whose advice I always count on.' Aamir adds, 'I've been Aamna's friend and fan since her TV days. She was huge then. I've always admired that we both prefer doing less work, but meaningful work—we're not hungry for just anything.' The 43-year-old actor says: 'While he's been the biggest support, it's also true that we are not running behind work just for the sake of it. When Aamir announces his new project I am keen to watch it as I know he aims at quality project just like me.' Ask them what friendship means to them in today's time, Aamna says, 'Having one or two genuine friends in the industry is a big deal. Especially during your lows more than your highs, because that's when you really need someone to stand by you. For me, that person is Aamir. He's honest, if he doesn't like something I've done, a character maybe, he'll just tell me, 'You could've done better,' and I really value that feedback of his.' Aamir adds, 'Be real and be there. In today's time everyone is caught up in their own lives. You being there for your friend KMC even without them voicing it out, makes a difference.' Seeing their busy schedules, the duo don't meet regularly but their connection remains intact. 'Even if we don't talk for one or two months, it's the same when we reconnect. We haven't met in almost ten months, but that doesn't matter. She (Aamna) knows I'm there for her, and I know she's there for me,' says Aamir. 'That silent support in friendship is what is the best. Our bond is not about calling each other every now and then,' says Aamna. Recalling their fondest moment together, the duo shares how little rituals—like their competitive gaming sessions are their favourite. Recalling the same, Aamna shares: 'There was a time we were playing UNO and whoever lost had to become a donkey. I had to make sure he (Aamir) lost. And when he did, I was the happiest!' Aamir admits, 'It's true, if ten people are playing, I don't care who wins or loses, but I have to beat her. That's the only thing that matters for both of us!' Reflecting on what initially surprised them about each other, Aamir says, 'When I first saw her, I thought she was just beautiful. But over time, I realised she's a lot of fun too—just with the people she's comfortable with. Amu is very particular about who she lets into her circle, and I'm one of the only few people who can make fun of her and get away with it,' says Aamir, adding, 'We don't intrude in each other's space, but we're always there if it really matters.' Aamna, in turn, says, 'He's a fun guy. And I used to think I'm boring, but with him, it's always a good time. No matter what time or what day it is, even if I call him after five months and say I need you, Aamir will leave everything and be there for me. I don't think I can ask for more from a friend.'


The Guardian
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Tuesday briefing: The story behind the Edinburgh University ‘skull room' – and a reckoning over its history
Good morning. I'm Phoebe Weston, and I'll be bringing you First Edition alongside Aamna this summer. If there is anything you would like to see covered over the coming weeks, please hit reply and send us your suggestions. Today's newsletter takes you behind a series of locked doors at the University of Edinburgh's Anatomical museum. The 'skull room' is at the end of a long corridor, rarely visited by anyone outside the university – and inside it are mahogany-framed glass cabinets containing appropriately 1,500 human skulls, some with peeling labels and catalogue numbers, others bare. Hundreds of these were shipped to Scotland by supporters of 'phrenology', the belief that you can calculate someone's intelligence and character by looking at the shape of their skull. Spoiler alert: it was all nonsense. But back in the 18th century it carried weight. Generations of Edinburgh alumni dispersed across the British empire with beliefs about racial superiority encapsulated by the collections in this room. These skulls tell a story about the role played by one of the UK's oldest and most respected universities in creating and perpetuating ideas about white superiority from the late 1700s on. That is what prompted the university to commission the most extensive review by any UK university into its connections with transatlantic slavery and empire. For today's newsletter, I spoke to the Guardian's Scotland editor, Severin Carrell, on what has been found in this landmark inquiry and what the university is going to do about it. That's after the headlines. Israel | Two leading human rights organisations based in Israel, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, say Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and Israel's western allies have a legal and moral duty to stop it. Donald Trump has told Israel to allow 'every ounce of food' into Gaza as he acknowledged for the first time that there is 'real starvation' in the region. Politics | The US president heaped praise on Keir Starmer as the two met in Scotland, but in a domestic intervention that will not have been appreciated by the British PM, Trump urged him to cut taxes and tackle illegal immigration to win the next election. Economy | The French prime minister, François Bayrou, said the EU had capitulated to Donald Trump's threats of ever-increasing tariffs, as he labelled the framework deal struck in Scotland on Sunday as a 'dark day, when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission'. Labour | Angela Rayner has hit back at anonymous No 10 officials who have briefed against senior cabinet ministers in recent months, warning them they are committing 'self-harm'. Cost of living | Food prices rose by 4% in July from a year earlier, up from 3.7% in June and above the three-month average of 3.5% according to the latest snapshot from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The rising cost of staples like meat and butter – which have both increased by over 15% – has been blamed for large retailers struggling to entice shoppers back to the high street. In recent years there had been debate from within the university about its role in slavery. 'Working in Scotland for the Guardian for the past 19 years, I have been watching and following stories about Scotland's entanglements with transatlantic slavery and empire,' says Severin. In 2018 the University of Glasgow became the first UK institution to critically examine its role with transatlantic enslavement. That triggered other institutions – including the Church of England and the National Trust – to look into this issue. The Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 turbocharged these conversations. The Guardian has also done its own investigations into its founders' complicity with the slave trade in the Cotton Capital series. The Edinburgh review, though, is the most extensive investigation of its kind carried out by any university in the UK. The inquiry examined its own academics' conduct at the time, and also did investigations into the university's current demographics and its underrepresentation of Black professors and students. This included having two research fellows spend months going through archives, reading reams of lecture notes from the 1700s. 'Now that is a substantial advance on what other UK universities have done so far,' says Severin. It's likely that other universities might find similar material in their archives, says Severin. 'One of the interesting arguments that's levelled about Edinburgh is that, in its day – in the late 1700s early 1800s – it was one of the most significant and important academic institutions in Europe and possibly the world. The Edinburgh medical school was one of the world's first, so it had a disproportionate impact on the teaching of medicine, and also what the doctors it then taught were doing when they went out to work in the British colonies or immersed themselves in the plantation economies of the Americas.' What do we know about the skulls? The University of Edinburgh skull room was part of the former anatomy museum built in the 1880s (the museum is still there, just smaller). It was open to the public and was where the university could showcase its research. The skulls were obtained through networks linked to the British empire and the Edinburgh Phrenological Society. Many heads were taken without consent from prisons, asylums, hospitals, archaeological sites and battlefields. In the 19th century scientists were intent on classifying the natural world into taxonomic categories. Typically, non-white populations were depicted as inherently inferior (a convenient truth for those promoting colonialism). Some of Edinburgh's most celebrated intellectuals argued that different human races were so distinct that they ought to be considered separate species. Despite the fact that phrenology was never formally taught at Edinburgh (it was criticised by some for its unscientific approach) the skull room was built to house these collections. Modern genetics has since shattered the idea that there are biologically distinct racialised groups – although this piece by Hannah Devlin shows there is a resurgence in interest about theories of racial exceptionalism. Once a source of pride, these heads are now a source of shame to the university. The skull room has been preserved in situ, but 'it's not accessible to the public and is rarely visited by anybody outside the university', explains Severin, who described coming face-to-face with the skulls as 'quite unsettling and sobering'. More than 100 of these skulls have already been repatriated, with plans for many more to be returned. In 2023 the remains of four tribal warriors were returned to Taiwan. Many of the skulls will never be identified and their provenance is likely to remain unknown. 'The university now regards this as a place which needs to be protected and looked after with respect and decorum. It's not a place they want people ogling,' says Severin. What has the inquiry found? The inquiry found that Edinburgh became a 'haven' for professors who developed theories of white supremacy in the 18th and 19th centuries. These individuals played an important role in the creation of discredited 'racial pseudo-sciences' that placed Africans and their descendants at the bottom of a racial hierarchy. Hundreds of graduates went on to make fortunes from the transatlantic slave trade or generally profiting from the empire. They served as doctors on slave ships, administrators, lawyers to enslavers, merchants, plantation owners, or were slavers themselves. The university raised the equivalent of at least £30m today from former students and donors with links to slavery or colonial wealth building, the report found. That £30m can, however, be interpreted in different ways: it can be argued it should be seen as the higher figure of £202m based on the growth of wages since they were received, and as much as £845m based on economic growth since then. The report's authors have said their findings show a darker side to the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th and 19th centuries during which time the university became famous for the work of celebrated individuals such as the economist Adam Smith and the philosopher David Hume. Sir Peter Mathieson, the university's principal, who commissioned the investigation, said Edinburgh could not have a 'selective memory'. Severin says: 'It's crucial that we understand our history accurately and are candid about what our country's societies, economies, history has involved in the past, and denying the bad things is not an intelligent way of grappling with our inheritance.' Demands to decolonise the curriculum One of the academics leading the university's inquiry is Tommy J Curry, who is the first Black philosophy professor in the university's 442-year history. The point is not to simply produce a report but to act, he said. Fewer than 1% of its staff and just over 2% of its students are Black, well below the 4% of the UK population, and despite Edinburgh's status as a global institution. The university will set up a new race review implementation group, which will actively support the review's call for Edinburgh to establish a centre for the study of racism, colonialism and anti-Black violence. Reparations are a key part of recommendations. 'Academics argue it's not about cutting a cheque, it's about making substantive change which addresses all of the damage and violations from our past, and making sure that we repair the harms,' says Severin. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion She'd be too modest to recommend it herself, but just before joining First Edition, in her day job as a biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston put together this stunning feature explaining in excruciating detail what microplastics do to our world, our wildlife … and our bodies. Charlie Lindlar, newsletters deputy editor Nesrine Malik wrote powerfully about children starving in Gaza (illustrated above). 'Every single one of these deaths, and those that will come, is preventable,' she writes. An aid worker overheard children telling their parents that they want to die and go to heaven, because 'at least heaven has food'. Phoebe The EU has 'capitulated' to Trump with its new trade deal, writes academic Paul Taylor in his breakdown. Worse? The 'humiliation' Ursula Von der Leyen and company have put the continent through doesn't even put a permanent end to its economic problems with the US. Charlie Sympathies to Samuel Rowe who returned home from his allotment in Manchester with a trug of vegetables only to be arrested by armed police. Within a canvas sheath he had a Niwaki Hori Hori gardening trowel that aroused particular suspicion. 'That's not a garden tool,' the officer said as he pulled it out. Phoebe Our film team's series on feelgood movies by design yields all sorts of surprising picks, but perhaps few quite so terrifying yet touching as James Cameron's genre-defining Aliens. Emily Steer writes thoughtfully on how the film's body horror and take on motherhood provided a release during 'an IVF crisis'. Charlie Football | Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton (pictured above) are expected to be awarded MBEs with England's Lionesses set to be lavished with nominations in the new year honours list after their historic European Championship victory. Cycling | Demi Vollering's hopes of continuing in the Tour de France Femmes were uncertain after she crashed at speed on the approach to the finish of stage three in Angers. Vollering landed on her back and left side, and hit her head, but was able to remount and finish the stage, which was won by Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx-ProTime. Cricket | Jamie Overton has returned to England's squad for the final Test against India, which starts at the Oval on Thursday, to provide cover should the seamers who toiled through the drawn fourth fixture fail to recover in time. 'Trump urges Israel to let food aid into Gaza to tackle 'real starvation'' says the Guardian while the i paper has 'You can't fake that starvation: Trump and UK send new Gaza warning to Israel'. The Financial Times leads with 'EU markets reel as bloc's big nation cast doubt on Washington trade deal'. The Mail says 'Trump tells Starmer how to see off Farage' and the Express splashes on 'Trump's 'pretty simple' advice for PM' – that advice being 'Cut tax to beat Farage', the Times shares. Similarly the Telegraph says 'Trump: Cut taxes and stop the boats'. 'It's come home again!' – the Metro continues to celebrate the Euros win. 'For my brother' – the Mirror reports on the posthumous graduation ceremony that awarded honorary degrees to Nottingham stabbing victims Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar. Protests against Zelenskyy as drones torment Ukraine Luke Harding talks to people in Kyiv protesting against the Ukrainian president's recent changes to the country's anti-corruption bodies, and analyses where the war against Russia is heading next A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad Three months ago, the Guardian's Arifa Akbar set out to kick that most modern of vices: her coffee habit. For our series The one change that worked, she writes about how she finally got off it … sort of. 'Three months ago, I decided, emphatically, not to kick the habit but to enjoy a single daily dose,' she writes. 'This was initially born out of necessity: I went to a retreat where we were limited to a single cup of freshly ground coffee a day, at a time of our choosing, and I took great pains over deciding when I'd have mine, and where. Then I savoured it, desperate to make its effects last. 'Strangely, when I got back home, I stuck to that single cup.' Why? Read on for more. Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply


India.com
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This Muslim actress believes in both Hinduism and Islam, became hugely popular after..., but failed in Bollywood, her name is.., she is now...
This Muslim actress believes in both Hinduism and Islam, became hugely popular after..., but failed in Bollywood, her name is.., she is now... In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, many stars come with a suitcase full of dreams to make it big on the silver screen. But there are rarely a few who achieve that stardom and carve a name for themselves on the big screen. One such similar tale is of an actress who, although she garnered a lot of love and attention in the Television industry, couldn't find her footing in Bollywood. But despite that, her strong screen presence, beauty, and grace made her a household name. Besides being a familiar face in the TV industry, this actress is also in the spotlight because of her unique approach to faith and personal beliefs. Who was Aamna Sharif? The actress that we are talking about is none other than Aamna Sharif. Born on 16 July 1982 in Mumbai, Aamna comes from a culturally diverse background. Her father is Indian, while her mother is of Persian-Bahraini origin. Being born in a mixed-religion household, she believes in both the faiths – Hinduism and Islam. Aaamna Sharif Breakthrough Moment, Big Screen Debut, and More Aamna, best known for her work in Ekta Kapoor's hit TV show Kahin To Hoga, became a household name with her portrayal of Kashish Sujal Grewal, opposite Rajeev Khandelwal. The on-screen chemistry and the duo made them iconic. The show garnered a lot of love and attention and became one of the most loved serials of its time. In 2007, the show ended, and Aamna ventured into Bollywood. She appeared in films like Aloo Chaat, Aao Wish Karein, and Shakal Pe Mat Ja, but unfortunately, none of them couldn't made a mark and turned out to be a flop at the box office. After a streak of flops, she returned to television and appeared in Honge Juda Na Hum, opposite Rakesh Bapat. Unfortunately, this show also couldn't sustain for long and was pulled off-air within just 6 months of its start. Aamna's Personal Life Speaking of her personal life. Aamna tied the knot with film distributor-turned-producer Amit Kapoor in 2013. The couple embraced parenthood in the year 2015 and welcomed their son Aarain. Aamna, who believes in Hinduism and Islam both is seen celebrating Karva Chauth and Eid. Aamna is also quite close to actress Mouni Roy, who ties Rakhi to Amit every year. Where Was She Last Seen? After six years, in 2019, Aamna made her comeback with Kasautii Zindagii Kay. She played the role of Komolika Choubey, replacing Hina Khan in the iconic role. She played the role till the show continued in 2020. She was last seen in Damaged 3 on Hungama Play and Aadha Ishq on Voot Select in 2022, venturing her foot in OTT.


Time of India
20-06-2025
- Time of India
Hubby, in-laws throw woman from roof
Kanpur: In Jalaun's Tilak Nagar area, a woman was allegedly thrown off the roof of her two storey house by her husband and in-laws late on Thursday night. CCTV cameras outside the house captured the entire incident. The woman's family members took her to the district hospital from where she was later shifted to a medical college for treatment. Her father, Qamar Siddiqui of Shyam Nagar, Orai, filed a complaint at the Orai police station. Qamar stated that his daughter Aamna (35) married Arif four years ago. This was Aamna's second marriage, and she had three children from her previous relationship. Arif, a Tilak Nagar resident, had promised to look after her children before the marriage, but soon after marriage, he forced two children to leave the house, said Qamar. A rif started physically assaulting Aamna and asked her to bring Rs 1 crore from her family as a condition for her to stay. "On the evening of June 19, my grandson called to inform me that Arif threw Aamna off the roof. I rushed there and took my daughter to the hospital," he said. Aamna, undergoing treatment at the district hospital, stated that her husband Arif, brother-in-law Imran, sister-in-law Shehnaz, Arif's daughter from his first marriage, Nida, and Arif's father Rehmatullah severely beat her. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo She tried to run to her room, but Shehnaz and Nida locked her inside and continued the assault in the room. As she escaped to the roof, they pushed her off to kill her. Two videos of the assault have emerged. In one of the videos, a woman is seen falling from the roof onto a motorcycle below and in the second video she is seen being assaulted. The footage shows the woman trying to reach her room, but her way is blocked after which she runs to the roof. Her husband follows her and hits her before pushing her off. Circle officer Archana Singh said, "The police have registered a case against four people, including the husband, based on the complaint by victim's father. Currently, all the accused are on the run, and police teams are conducting raids to nab them," she said. "Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators," she added.


NDTV
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Manali, You Have My Heart", Says Aamna Sharif As She Shares Pictures From Her Vacation
Aamna Sharif traded city life for a mountain getaway as she jetted off for a vacation to Manali, Himachal Pradesh. On Tuesday, the actress shared glimpses from her trip on Instagram. The opening frame captured Aamna posing on a bridge with her back to the camera. She wore a maroon top and skirt co-ords set, which she paired with black boots and a matching bow in her hair. Aamna was at one with nature, surrounded by serene hills, flowing rivers, and lush greenery. An image featured the actress dressed in traditional Himachali attire called Kulluvi. It is made of woollen fabric, which is warm and suitable for the cold climate of the region. Aamna also enjoyed Bedua roti with saag and some raw onions. The side note read, "Manali you have my heart." Check out the post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by aamna sharif (@aamnasharifofficial) Earlier, Aamna Sharif shared a video of her getting dressed up in Kulluvi attire on Instagram. The video captured a woman helping the actress wear the outfit. There were glimpses of Aamna posing, standing on a bridge with a flowing river in the background. In the caption, she wrote, "I had stopped by to see the bridge in Manali. These lovely people insisted I wear their traditional dress, which was lovely; the warmth and love that they showered me with truly touched me." Watch the full video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by aamna sharif (@aamnasharifofficial) We can't wait for Aamna Sharif to embark on a new travel adventure.