Latest news with #Junoon
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Celebrity Masterchef's Vikas Khanna opens up about being shamed early in his career; writes ‘It drove me to follow my purpose'
World-renowned chef, filmmaker, and author Vikas Khanna recently opened up about a formative moment early in his culinary career—one that could have broken his spirit, but instead ignited a lifetime of purpose and perseverance. In 1992, while training at the Mughal Sheraton in Agra, Khanna was working the tandoor during the lunch buffet. One afternoon, as he placed fresh rotis on a guest's table, he overheard a mother scolding her son: 'If you don't take your studies and summer homework seriously, you'll end up like him.' The table turned to stare. Khanna simply smiled and walked away. That moment, painful yet pivotal, stayed with him. 'When I returned home to Amritsar, I told my grandmother what had happened,' he recalled. 'She simply said: 'Listen to your heart and choose happiness over money. Choose purpose over business.'' Her words became a guiding light. Rather than letting shame define him, Khanna doubled down on his passion. Over the next four decades, he honored his roots, culinary heritage, and craft with relentless dedication. His journey—from Amritsar's bustling kitchens to Michelin-starred acclaim in New York—became a testament to self-belief and resilience. Today, Vikas Khanna is celebrated globally for his contributions to Indian cuisine and culture. His flagship restaurant Junoon earned a Michelin star for several years, and he has authored over 25 books. His humanitarian efforts during the pandemic, distributing millions of meals through his 'Feed India' initiative, earned widespread praise. Reflecting on a more recent high point, Khanna recalled a conversation with Nita Ambani during her visit to his Bungalow restaurant. 'She said, 'This place represents us—our traditions—and honors our ancestors,'' he shared. 'That reminded me of my grandmother's words and made me realize how far that young boy at the tandoor had come.' From being mocked for his dreams to becoming a culinary icon, Vikas Khanna's journey is a masterclass in choosing purpose, pride, and passion over everything else.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 22 May 2025
What: 17th Habitat Film Festival | Shyam Benegal Retrospective – Junoon ft Shashi Kapoor, Nafisa Ali, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah & Kulbhushan Kharbanda Where: The Theatre, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road When: May 22 Timing: 7pm Entry: Free (Register here) Nearest Metro Station: JLN Stadium (Violet Line) What: IIC Double Bill | Dance Recitals – Niharika Kushwah (Kathak) & Shruthipriya Vignesh (Bharatanatyam) Where: CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, Lodhi Road When: May 22 Timing: 6pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh (Yellow Line) What: (E)SCAPES – Works of artists Sapna Gupta & Nidhi Bhatia Where: Triveni Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, 205 Tansen Marg When: May 17 to 24 Timing: 11am to 8pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines) What: Festival of Ideas – We Are The Ocean | Les Gardiennes de la planète by Jean-Albert Lievre Where: Alliance Française, 72, KK Birla Lane, Lodhi Estate When: May 22 Timing: 6.30pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh (Yellow Line) What: Priyansh Kaushik Live – A Standup Comedy Solo Show Where: The Mic Room, LGF-21, Krishna Apra Plaza, P Block, Pocket A, Sector 18, Noida When: May 22 Timing: 8pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Noida Sector 18 (Blue Line)
India.com
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Sridevi's hero, one dialogue ruined his career, lost chance working with Sunny Deol and Salman Khan, left the country after changing his name to…
If a novice actor gets the lead role opposite Sridevi in his debut film, it is like a dream come true. Yash Chopra gave such an opportunity to a new actor in his memorable film 'Lamhe', who was a famous model of the 80s era. The big break made it seem that he would soon achieve stardom, but the exact opposite happened with him. We are talking about Deepak Malhotra, who played the role of Sridevi's husband Siddharth Kumar in the film 'Lamhe', who was considered to be a rival of stars like Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan, but one of her dialogues in the film was ridiculed so much that she lost out on Sunny Deol's 'Darr', Salman Khan's 'Sooryavanshi', Rahul Roy's 'Junoon'. Apart from Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Waheeda Rehman also played important roles in the film 'Lamhe'. Sridevi's performance was highly praised, due to which the film won National Award and Filmfare Award, but neither the film nor Deepak Malhotra's acting did well at the box office. Then why did Yash Chopra give Deepak Malhotra an important role in the film 'Lamhe'? Actually, he had emerged as a famous model in the late 80s. According to a Hindustan Times report, he was the face of the 'Vimal' brand and was also the most expensive model. He was charging Rs 1.5 lakh in 1987. It was during this period that Yash Chopra approached him. Sridevi played a double role in the film 'Lamhe'. She was seen in the role of mother-daughter Pallavi and Pooja. Deepak Malhotra was shown as Pallavi's lover in the film, who later becomes her husband. The acting of the other stars in the film 'Lamhe' was praised, but Deepak Malhotra had to face criticism due to his poor screen presence. He proved to be a failure in acting. Deepak Malhotra got so much bad press because of one of his scenes in which he is trying to wake up Sridevi, who is lying unconscious in bed, by calling her 'Pallo-Pallo'. Deepak's saying 'Pallo-Pallo' became a part of many memes and jokes among people. Today, many memes are made of that scene. Deepak got offers for films like 'Darr', 'Junoon' and 'Sooryavanshi', 'Bekhudi', but his acting in 'Lamhe' ruined everything. By 1993, he did not have a single film left. Deepak Malhotra left the cinema that year and settled in America, where he got many modeling offers. Apart from 'Lamhe', he appeared in another film named 'Tejaswini'. Deepak went to New York and changed his name to 'Dino Martelli'. He has also studied engineering and modeling, and is currently running a business, and later got married to Lubna Adam.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tune in, Take off: Inside Spotify and IndiGo's 6E Shuffle Partnership
From the road trip mixtapes of the 90s to digital playlists today, music has always been an inseparable companion for travellers. Travel and music are both transformative experiences, one physically and the other mentally. When they come together, they create an emotional impact that stays long after the journey ends. Recognising this powerful intersection, Spotify India and IndiGo have launched a year-long partnership centered around the ' 6E Shuffle ' – a dedicated microsite that gives travellers personalised playlists tailored to their specific journey and travel recommendations for those planning their journey. 'Travel and music both have the ability to evoke strong emotions and create core memories in our lives,' said Arjun Kolady, Head of Ad Sales - Spotify India. 'We are delighted to partner with IndiGo to bring together these two experiences in a uniquely personalised way. With 6E Shuffle, we are enhancing the way Indians travel by creating the perfect soundtrack that matches each traveler's unique mood and music tastes.' The 6E Shuffle Experience Travellers answer four quick questions about their destination, mood, preferred music genres, and the travel purpose. Based on their responses, Spotify's Streaming Intelligence generates a personalised playlist that matches the mood and vibe of their journey. Travellers who're already en route to a destination can choose their mood and music vibe to get a personalised playlist. For example, someone who chooses 'Shillong' as their destination, 'Relaxed" as their mood, 'Desi Pop" as their genre preference, and 'Escape holiday" as their travel type might receive a carefully curated collection of tracks featuring Junoon, Raftaar, Vishal-Shekhar, or Colonial Cousins. A business traveler selecting 'Bengaluru' as their destination, 'Productive' as their mood, 'EDM' as their genre and 'Work' as their travel type will get a focus-enhancing playlist that helps them concentrate as they prepare for meetings. In addition to personalised playlists, 6E Shuffle also recommends travel destinations for those seeking inspiration, based on their preferred vibe and type of holiday. Tickets to these destinations can be booked directly via IndiGo. The 6E Shuffle partnership was announced with a groovy music video featuring Armaan Malik, India's biggest pop star. The video, which has already crossed 19 million views on YouTube, creatively depicts the joys of having a personalised musical backdrop for your journey. Relief in a Digitally Saturated World At a time when everyone online today experiences some form of digital fatigue, the 6E Shuffle offers welcome relief from scrolling and swiping. Unlike many digital platforms that demand constant attention and interaction, the 6E Shuffle is a refreshingly simple experience: answer four questions, receive a customised playlist, sit back and enjoy. It eliminates decision fatigue and offers a meaningful, distraction-free digital experience that adds genuine value to the travel experience . For Spotify, with 91 million monthly active users (Comscore 2025) in India spending an average of two hours daily on the platform (GWI Time Spent Survey, June 2024), the partnership reinforces its position as an essential part of listeners' lives. In a 2024 global study by Hub Entertainment Research, when asked which media services are 'must-haves," the top answer was Spotify, with many users considering it 'uncancellable" among their various media subscriptions. The partnership is a strategic match for IndiGo, India's preferred airline, which is amongst the fastest growing carriers in the world. IndiGo has a simple philosophy: offer fares that are affordable, flights that are on time, and provide a courteous and hassle-free travel experience across its unparalleled network. With its fleet of 400+ aircraft, the airline is operating around 2200+ daily flights, connecting 90+ domestic and 40 international destinations, and welcomed over 118 million customers in FY25. The airline has built its standing by reaching audiences through targeted and energetic marketing campaigns. The 6E Shuffle partnership brings out the perfect vibe. Neetan Chopra, Chief Digital and Information Officer, IndiGo said 'At IndiGo, we are constantly exploring innovative ways to enhance the travel experience for our customers. Music is a soundtrack to journeys, and through our partnership with Spotify, we are curating a travel experience that is unique to our customers." Tangible Benefits for Travellers Beyond the personalised musical experience, the partnership comes with actual benefits. Anyone booking tickets on web or app receives a complimentary four-month Spotify Premium membership , giving them access to ad-free listening, the ability to download music for offline playback, listening with friends, and more premium features. The campaign will find a spot on both brands' platforms such as their respective apps, social media channels, and IndiGo's in-flight magazine 'Hello 6E', ensuring maximum visibility for what the brands believe will become a staple ritual for Indian travellers. Want to find your perfect travel soundtrack? Visit before your next trip.
News18
04-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
The Real Reason Behind Pak Army Chief Munir's Anti-India Speech: Exclusive From Imran Aide & Junoon Member
Last Updated: 'Asim Munir wants to take control of Pakistan before November 2025 to save himself from a US bill,' says Dr Salman Ahmad, a member of Junoon and an aide of former PM Imran Khan Dr Salman Ahmad, a member of Junoon band and a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader and former PM Imran Khan, in an exclusive interview with News18, explained the motive behind their Army chief Asim Munir's actions. 'Munir wants to eliminate Imran Khan. His speech before the diaspora was unwarranted. He spoke about sectarian division, like the British army wanted to divide and rule," said Ahmad. Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad last month, just before the Pahalgam attack, Munir said, 'Our forefathers thought we are different from Hindus in every aspect…Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different, that's where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation." He also repeatedly termed Kashmir Pakistan's 'jugular vein". He added that Pakistan will not forget this and expressed solidarity with the 'struggle" of the region. He urged Pakistanis to teach their children a narrative of religious and cultural superiority. Munir also vowed to crack down on terrorists in Balochistan and termed it the 'destiny of Pakistan", stating that 'even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan". 'ASIM MUNIR TRYING TO PROTECT HIMSELF' The Pakistan Democracy Act introduced in US Parliament has recommended sanctions against Asim Munir for visa restrictions and asset freeze, said Ahmad. 'Munir wants to take control of Pakistan before November 2025 to save himself from this bill," Ahmad said, adding, 'Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif is a puppet in the hands of Munir and his employees." WHAT NEXT FOR IMRAN KHAN? The Khan camp feels a campaign of terror will be launched against Khan soon. 'This campaign will also target Khan's supporters…In the coming days, incidents of violence, murder, physical torture and kidnapping will increase…These attacks will happen to silence those who bravely raise their voices against the injustices of Munir. Maryam Nawaz Sharif and their family have spoken in favour of the real Prime Minister Imran Khan," he said. Ahmad said that during the three-and-a-half years in power, Khan wanted military to be in barracks, just like India. 'But in 78 years, Pakistan has been taken over by a military cartel, from Yahya Khan to Pervez Musharraf to Munir. They controlled everything — economy, foreign policy and media and even control. But the Army doesn't understand civil matters." WHAT INTEL SOURCES SAY According to intelligence sources, Munir is desperate after a misadventure on India. 'Munir wants internal crises to handle backlash after Pahalgam. He also wants to control Khan. He is worried about his future because America is adamant to clear the bill on Pakistan democracy. He wants to capture Pakistan before that," they said. First Published: May 04, 2025, 14:34 IST
