Latest news with #ChristUniversity
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who is Medha Rana? Meet actress who is 12 years younger than her Border 2 co-star Varun Dhawan
Medha Rana is the latest addition to the star cast of Border 2. The upcoming war film is headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahaan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh. Medha is paired opposite Varun in the Border sequel. The actress has been grabbing headlines for her association with the Border team and the fact that she is 12 years younger than him. If you are interested in learning more about the fresh face, here's all you need to know about her. Medha Rana's Bollywood debut with Border 2 Medha Rana is an aspiring actress and model who will be making her Bollywood debut with Border 2. The makers recently announced it on social media. The official Instagram handle of T-Series shared the news by saying, 'Every story finds its people. We're happy to welcome Medha Rana to the Border 2 family as the female lead opposite Varun Dhawan. Get ready for a monumental saga of courage and patriotism, as Border 2 arrives in cinemas on January 23, 2026.' Medha Rana began modelling at the age of 16 Born in December 1999, Medha Rana hails from Bengaluru. She is originally from Gurgaon. Medha comes from an army background. The young actress studied at the Army Public School. She then pursued a BBA specializing in finance and marketing from Christ University in Bengaluru. Medha began modeling at a young age. She was 16 years old back then. Medha was spotted at a fashion show in Chandigarh and later walked the ramps for various leading fashion designers. The Border 2 actress later shifted to Mumbai to pursue her acting career full-time. Medha Rana's previous works Medha Rana was a part of the Voot Select web series London Files (2022), which co-starred Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli. In 2023, Medha appeared in Juhi Chawla and Babil Khan's 2023 Netflix movie, Fright Night Plan. Her other works include a documentary titled Dancing on the Grave and the Amazon miniTV series, Ishq In The Air, opposite Shantanu Maheshwari. Medha also collaborated with playback singers Armaan Malik and Anuv Jain for their respective music videos, Barsaat and Gul. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Border 2 begins from November 25 in North India; Recce begins soon in Jammu and Srinagar
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Varun Dhawan's new heroine in Border 2, Medha Rana and Anushka Sharma have something in common; here's what we know
Following the rise of fresh talents like Nitanshi Goel, Medha Shankr, Pratibha Ranta, and Aneet Padda, another newcomer is ready to make her big-screen debut, Medha Rana. Cast opposite Varun Dhawan in Border 2, the upcoming war drama, she is set to step into the spotlight. While the film is scheduled to release on January 23, 2026, curiosity has already begun to build, who is Medha Rana, why was she chosen, and where have audiences seen her before? Why Medha was picked for the role The makers of Border 2 have revealed how they were looking for someone who could naturally fit into the world of the story. Since the film is based on a real-life historical event, it required actors who could speak the regional dialect and carry deep emotions on screen. Producer Bhushan Kumar shared that Medha stood out during auditions. 'She had a strong grasp on the dialect and impressed us with her emotional depth. We truly believe she will bring realism and depth to the character,' he said. Another producer, Nidhi Dutta, added that Medha's sincerity and natural energy match the film's tone. 'She brings freshness and strength to the role,' she added. Medha Rana and Anushka Sharma have this in common Born on December 25, 1999, Medha Rana is originally from Bengaluru but grew up in Gurugram, Delhi. She comes from an army background and studied at Army Public School, Bengaluru, where she completed her senior schooling. Later, Medha pursued a BBA degree in finance and marketing from Christ University, Bengaluru. An interesting parallel, actor Anushka Sharma also studied at Army School, Bengaluru, and later pursued her graduation in arts from Mount Carmel College. Moreover, cricketer Devdutt Padikkal was a student in the same school before making it big in the IPL and representing India. Clearly, the school has been a stepping stone for many shining stars. From modeling to acting Medha's journey into modeling began unexpectedly. At just 13, she was shopping with her parents in a mall in Chandigarh when she met fashion stylist Prasad Bidapa. He encouraged her parents to consider modeling. While they didn't take it seriously at the time, it eventually became a stepping stone in her career. Work before Border 2 Though still new to films, Medha has done a few projects. She was seen in the Voot web series London Files and later in Netflix's Friday Night Plan. She also starred in the Amazon mini-series Ishq in the Air. In addition to acting, she has appeared in several ad campaigns and music videos. She was featured in Armaan Malik's song Barsaat and worked with brands like Lenskart and Cadbury. About Border 2 Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is set to release on January 23, 2026. The film is inspired by the Battle of Saragarhi, where 21 Sikh soldiers fought against thousands of Afghan tribesmen in 1897. Although the title may suggest otherwise, the film is not a direct sequel to the 1997 film Border. It features an all-new story, new characters, and a different war setting. Along with Varun Dhawan and Medha Rana, the cast also includes Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. Fans now wait to see who will be cast opposite the other two by T-Series and JP Films, Border 2 promises to be an emotional and powerful tribute to India's soldiers.
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Medha Rana, Varun Dhawan's co-star in Border 2, 13 years younger than him, worked with Irrfan Khan's...
Meet Medha Rana, Varun Dhawan's co-star in Border 2, 13 years younger than him, worked with Irrfan Khan's... The makers of highly-anticipated war epic Border 2 have finally got its female lead- Medha Rana, who is set to star opposite Varun Dhawan. The ambitious project, which is slated to release in theatres on January 23, 2026 is a follow-up to the iconic 1997 film Border . Producer Bhushan Kumar praised Medha's raw talent, stating they wanted someone who could 'naturally embody the dialect, spirit, and essence of the region.' While Medha is a fresh name for everyone, but she has been quite active on social media with 185k followers on Instagram. She is consistently establishing herself through modelling, music videos and OTT appearances. Who is Medha Rana? Born in 1999, Medha belongs to an Army Family. She grew in Gurugram and spent few years in Bangalore. She studied in Army Public School and later pursued BBA in Finance and Marketing from Christ University. In 2002, Medha ventured into acting, portraying female lead alongside Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli in London Files. She later appeared opposite Babil Khan in Netflix's Film Friday Night Plan , as well as in Amazon's MX Player series, Ishq in the Air. She even starred in popular music videos such as Armaan Malik's Barsaat and Anuv Jain's Gul, showcasing her impeccable screen presence. Border 2 marks her first big Bollywood release. T-series posted an introductory post for Medha on their official Instagram handle. The caption read, 'Every story finds its people We're happy to welcome #MedhaRana to the #Border2 family as the female lead opposite #VarunDhawan. Get ready for a monumental saga of courage and patriotism, as Border 2 arrives in cinemas on January 23, 2026.' Take a look! View this post on Instagram A post shared by T-Series (@ Helmed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 promises to be exciting and bold in its vision as well in its storyline. Varun Dhawan will be taking an intense role in the power-pact war drama. The film also stars Diljit Dosanjh and Sunny Deol.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
South Asian Symphony Orchestra's opera in Bengaluru from August 2
Bengaluru: Former diplomat Nirupama Rao's musical initiative, the South Asian Symphony Orchestra (SASO), will perform an opera in Bengaluru from Aug 2-4. The performance will include arias from the operas Carmen (Georges Bizet, 1875), La Traviata (Giuseppe Verdi, 1853), and Roméo et Juliette (Charles Gounod, 1867). The concert will be held at Christ University on Aug 2 at 5pm, Bangalore International Centre on Aug 3 at 6pm, and a workshop at Sabha Blr on Aug 4 at 7pm. Nirupama founded the musical collective in 2018. "This is a mission to encourage togetherness, promote conversation and dialogue across borders, and to diminish ignorance, prejudice, and stereotypes about each other," she said. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The performance will feature conductor Maria Badstue, soprano Chery Bains, and tenor Alok Kumar.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
No nearby centres for disabled: UGC NET exam raises accessibility concerns
Siddharth B. Mahajan was looking forward with confidence towards the Junior Research Fellowship exam. 'After qualifying UGC-NET in my first attempt, I was determined to get the JRF. But I had to cancel my participation,' said Mr. Mahajan, a 100 percent visually impaired student from Christ University, Bengaluru. When Mr. Mahajan applied for the UGC NET 2025 exam, he was allotted a centre 35 kilometres away from his residence in Bengaluru. Unable to travel such a long distance independently, he cancelled his attempt. His experience highlights a recurring concern among candidates with physical disabilities — lack of clear guidelines or accommodations when it comes to examination centre allocation. While the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the UGC-NET, allows all candidates to select their preferred cities during registration, it does not provide assurances about the exact centre location within those cities, regardless of disability status. In some cases, candidates from nearby towns and villages have reported having to travel to city centres, spend the night on campus grounds, and appear for the exam the next day. Though the agency mentions that 'all efforts will be made' to consider the comfort and convenience of persons with disabilities (PwD), there is no specific provision in the UGC-NET information bulletin that ensures visually impaired candidates are allotted nearby or accessible centres. Although there are many provisions for relating to Persons with Disability (PwD)/ Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities's 'Guidelines for conducting written examination for persons with benchmark disabilities 2018,' such as the option of using a scribe, reader, or lab assistant, writing the exam in Braille, availing compensatory time, and being provided proper seating arrangements at the venue, however, these provisions do not extend to centre allocation. Mr. Mahajan's case has triggered questions around whether India's examination system truly can truly accommodate persons with disabilities, particularly when it comes to logistical and infrastructural access. Despite existing legal protections under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, candidates and advocates argue that such policies fall short, leaving students such as Mr. Mahajan navigate gaps on their own. Medical and social problems On June 27, Mr. Mahajan was fully prepared for his UGC NET exam and had even arranged for a scribe to accompany him. However, upon assessing the route to his allotted centre, he realised the journey involved navigating multiple modes of transport and following signboards, something particularly challenging for someone who is 100 percent visually impaired. Considering Bengaluru's infamous traffic congestion, restrictions like the bike ban, and his disability certificate, he had expected the UGC or the NTA to provide a centre closer to his residence. Ultimately he decided to cancel going to the venue. Gyanendra Purohit, a disability rights advocate based in Indore who works closely with students who are deaf, mute, and blind, says that students with physical disabilities, especially those who are visually impaired, often face difficulties arranging scribes. 'Scribes sometimes cancel at the last moment, fall ill, or simply refuse to show up on the day of the exam,' he said. He also said that when a scribe cancels last-minute or the venue is too far to reach, students often lose the opportunity despite being academically prepared. Speaking about Mr. Mahajan's situation, Mr. Purohit said: 'It's not that they lack academic ability but It's the behaviour of society that disables people.' Dr. Mita Joshi, an Indore-based ophthalmologist who specialises in advanced treatments in treating young adults with visual impairments, explains that once a thorough eye examination is conducted, doctors determine whether the condition is treatable or not, depending on the medical status of the cornea. 'When the condition is found to be untreatable, we categorise the degree of visual impairment. Based on this, a disability certificate is issued, ranging from 50%, 70% to 100% blindness,' she said. Dr. Joshi added that individuals certified with 100% blindness are typically only able to perceive light, without the ability to detect shapes, movements, or any visual cues in front of them. Support measures UGC Chairman, Vineet Joshi, responded to a request for an interview on candidates with disabilities, saying due to 'prior official commitments and important official meetings' he was unable to 'accede to your request.' According to the official information bulletin, candidates can indicate their preferred cities when applying for the UGC NET exam. However, there is no explicit mention of additional considerations during centre allocation for candidates with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired. Both the UGC and NTA guidelines refer to broad provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, including the availability of scribes and compensatory time. Yet, specifics around exam centre proximity, transport challenges, or facilitation on the day of the exam are not mentioned in the publicly available documents. In such situations candidates often rely on informal support systems or self-arrangements to reach exam venues, which may prove difficult, especially in large, traffic-heavy cities or while moving between cities.
