Latest news with #Malayalee
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Prithviraj Sukumaran compares his Sarzameen co-star Kajol to Mohanlal, calls her ‘a truly gifted artist…'
Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kajol recently made the headlines as they appeared together in the Bollywood movie Sarzameen. As the movie premiered on JioHotstar, the Kaduva actor compared his co-star to Malayalee superstar Mohanlal. What made Prithviraj consider Kajol and Mohanlal to be similar? Talking with Bollywood Bubble, Prithviraj Sukumaran said, 'Kajol is wonderful, she's a truly gifted artist. And, she is an instinctive actor. The greatest thing about collaborating with such actors is that they make the pitch for your character unpredictable.' 'It's not like you have rehearsed with them a couple of times. It also happens with Mohanlal sir. He's very instinctive as an actor. If we do 5 takes with him, each take will be different from the others. Kajol is a lot like him. She truly believes in being instinctive about her performance pitch,' he added. Prithviraj's team hits back against false rumors In recent times, reports suggested that Prithviraj claimed Lucifer 3 would be the biggest action venture in Indian cinema, even including underwater action sequences. However, the actor's team, Poffactio, has hit back against these rumors, clearing the air. The team has also criticized news portals for spreading false claims and said, 'We express our disappointment in major channels for spreading false news claiming that Prithviraj Sukumaran made statements about the L3 movie. These reports are entirely untrue.' 'It appears this misinformation originated from a fake profile ID as part of a hate campaign. We request all channels to cross-check facts before reporting and to republish corrected news to clarify the truth to the public and Prithviraj's well-wishers,' the post read. Here's the official post: About Sarzameen Sarzameen is a Hindi-language movie starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, and Ibrahim Ali Khan in leading roles. The film follows the story of Vijay Menon, an Indian Army officer who seemingly loses his son only to discover him to be part of a militant group after many years. The movie, written and directed by Kayoze Irani, was directly released on OTT and received mixed reviews. Moving ahead, Prithviraj Sukumaran is next set to appear in the lead role for the Malayalam movie Vilayath Buddha. The actor is also part of the Mahesh Babu starrer SSMB29, directed by SS Rajamouli.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
UAE-based Indian doctor from Kerala found dead at her Abu Dhabi residence
Dr. Dhanalakshmi had over two decades of dental experience and was a graduate of the College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore/ Image Facebook /dr dhanalakshmi, Life Care Hospital Dr. Arayakandy Dhanalakshmi, a 54-year-old Indian expat and respected dental surgeon from Kannur, Kerala, was found dead at her residence in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, on Monday night. The news has left her colleagues, friends, and the wider Indian community in the UAE in deep shock and mourning. According to reports, concerns arose after Dr. Dhanalakshmi failed to respond to phone calls from friends for two consecutive days. She also did not report for duty at Lifecare Hospital in Mussafah on Monday, where she had been working as a general dentist. Alarmed by her unusual silence and absence, her friends visited her residence and discovered her death. She was a long-time resident of the United Arab Emirates, having lived in the country for over a decade. A highly experienced dentist with more than 20 years in the field, Dr. Dhanalakshmi had joined Lifecare Hospital in August 2024. Before relocating to the UAE, she had served at Dhanalakshmi Hospital in Kannur, Kerala. Dr. Dhanalakshmi graduated from the College of Dental Sciences under MAHE University, Mangalore, Karnataka. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hidden Cause Found: Dementia And Memory Loss Linked To This Habit Memory and Health Click Here Undo She was also a member of the Indian Dental Association. Beyond her professional achievements as a dental surgeon, Dr. Dhanalakshmi was a gifted writer and a compelling orator, admired for her versatility. She played an active and vibrant role in the Indian expatriate community in Abu Dhabi, particularly within the Malayalee circle. As a respected cultural activist and member of the Abu Dhabi Malayalee Samajam, she made significant contributions to preserving and promoting her heritage. She often volunteered her time for community awareness sessions, using her voice to promote health, well-being, and harmony. Additionally, she maintained a strong presence on social media, where she engaged with a broad network of friends and followers. Her sudden death has deeply affected the staff and management at Lifecare Hospital. In a condolence message posted on Instagram on Tuesday, the hospital expressed sorrow over her passing: 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dr. Dhanalakshmi, General Dentist at Lifecare Hospital, Mussafah. A compassionate healer, dedicated educator, and beloved member of our medical family, she touched countless lives with her warmth, kindness, and joyful spirit. Her legacy of care and community connection will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. 'She will be dearly missed.' Following confirmation of her death, Dr. Dhanalakshmi's professional profile was removed from the Lifecare Hospital website. As per reports, authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of her death. Personal Life According to reports, Dr. Dhanalakshmi hailed from Talap, a town in the Kannur district of Kerala. She was the daughter of the late Narayanan, who owned the Anandakrishna Bus Service, and Chandramathi. She is survived by her husband Sujith, who currently resides in Kerala, and her siblings Ananda Krishnan, Shivaram, and Dr. Seethalakshmi.
The Print
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
A Malayalee from Gujarat is shaking up Kerala BJP. Rajeev Chandrasekhar's un-Sangh poll campaign
In his campaign mode, the Malayalee politician from Gujarat is not just trying to familiarise himself with his roots, but also making an effort to leave his technocrat footprint on the state—where the BJP is yet to find a firm footing—for rising beyond 'underdevelopment and misgovernance'. As Kerala heads to the local body polls scheduled in December, before the all-important state elections early next year, the former Union minister is focusing on a campaign focused on 'Viksit Keralam' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schemes as its pivots while projecting a more inclusive perception of the BJP. Thiruvanthapuram: When Rajeev Chandrasekhar became the BJP's Kerala chief in March, it was a break from the usual dyed-in-the wool Sangh background leader taking over the responsibility. Three months on, the businessman-turned-politician is moving ahead with a strategy visibly different from his predecessors. Before his political career took flight in 2006, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha representing Karnataka, Chandrasekhar had worked with tech companies, including Intel and Softech. He has a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a Master's in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. In 1994, after returning to India, he founded BPL Mobile, one of the country's earliest and largest mobile cellular networks. Nearly three decades later in 2021, he was appointed Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The BJP leader, however, lost to Shashi Tharoor last year in Thiruvananthapuram. One of his first major events Chandrasekhar organised after taking over from was the launch of the 'Viksit Keralam convention' across the party's 30 organisational districts. A team of over 600 functionaries, dubbed Team Vikasita Keralam, oversaw the campaign, which targeted the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) over alleged misgovernance. At the State Office Bearers meeting of BJP's 'Team Vikasita Keralam' held today at Mararji Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. Senior party leaders and key functionaries from across the state participated in the meeting, which focused on sharpening organizational strategy and… — Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) July 18, 2025 At the same time, they highlighted the Modi government's development schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana aimed at providing easy access to credit for small business owners and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) that looks to improve rural road connectivity. This month, Chandrasekhar expanded the effort further by setting up help desks in all district headquarters, reportedly the first in BJP, to ensure that awareness on central schemes reach every citizen. 'All BJP district and constituency offices will function as public service centres. This is not politics, the aim is to deliver development,' he said inaugurating the initiative last week, adding that these help desks will soon be available as an app on BJP workers' phones, enabling citizens to learn about and access various schemes or file complaints. Political analyst and former journalist K.P. Sethunath highlighted that this was the first time that a technocrat was appointed as the Kerala party chief instead of a conventional politician. 'Earlier, the BJP state chief always had a core RSS background. Now, anti-minority rhetoric has been scaled down by them. They don't need the BJP to do it anymore; fringe elements will,' he told ThePrint. Though Chandrasekhar has been not able to inculcate a Malayalee image, he said, the campaign might convince many to go for a change in the southern state. Sethunath said the BJP campaign would target Kerala's urban middle class, particularly upper-caste and upper-class voters disillusioned with LDF and UDF. However, he added that the BJP might have to defend this campaign as its Viksit Bharat initiative is currently receiving setbacks due to its efficiency and outcomes. The eroding Modi magic in the national level could also impact the party's prospects as Chandrasekhar's campaign was solely focussed on 'Modi vision' for India, he asserted. BJP general secretary Renu Suresh said Chandrasekhar's appointment signaled the Centre's serious intent to grow in Kerala. 'He has close ties with the central government and understands their initiatives well. That helps in coordination,' she said, adding that the party's developmental focus aligns with his leadership. Also Read: RSS to Raj Bhavan via Goa BJP, now amid 'Bharat Mata' image row—tracing Kerala Governor Arlekar's journey Litmus test ahead While heading the party's campaign, the first step for the Kerala BJP chief to prove himself is the upcoming local body polls. The party's focus on the local body polls was also visible on Saturday when Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state to address ward-level functionaries. Currently, BJP controls two municipalities and 19 gram panchayats. Kerala has a total of 1,200 local bodies encompassing 6 municipal corporations, 87 municipalities, 14 district panchayats, 152 block panchayats, and 941 gram panchayats Keeping Chandrasekhar close to him on the stage, Shah said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest in 21,000 locations and ensure its presence at every booth with more than 25 percent of the vote share. The pitch was Viksit Kerala, which, he said, would be impossible without the BJP and the NDA. 'The foundation of this vision rests on three key principles of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji: first, governance without corruption; second, no discrimination in the implementation of government schemes; and third, a commitment to Kerala's development, rising above vote bank politics,' Shah said. Many party leaders said Chandrasekhar's arrival has energised grassroots workers. 'It was his idea to focus on grassroots cadre-building. Now, responsibilities have been clearly assigned to both new and old members,' said Renu. She also acknowledged that the party was previously seen as inactive between elections but is now increasing its public outreach ahead of the local polls. In each booth, a three-member committee has been set up to ensure coordination and leadership roles for local cadres, a party functionary from Ernakulam said. BJP general secretary Anoop Antony told ThePrint the party is aiming to capture power in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur municipal corporations, along with several municipalities and dozens of gram panchayats. This confidence stems from BJP's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Chandrasekhar improved the party's vote share in Thiruvananthapuram from 31.30 percent in 2019 to 35.52 percent, while actor-politician Suresh Gopi secured BJP's first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Thrissur. Imprint on Kerala unit On 12 July, the party appointed 10 vice-presidents, including former IPS officer R. Sreelekha, K.S. Radhakrishnan, C. Sadanandan Master, Advocate B. Gopalakrishnan, Shone George, M. Abdul Salam, K. Soman, K.K. Aneesh Kumar, C. Krishnakumar, and P. Sudheer. Four general secretaries were named: M.T. Ramesh, Sobha Surendran, Adv. S. Suresh, and Anoop Antony Joseph. Three Christians—George, Joseph and secretary Jiji Joseph—were included in the BJP state committee members, signalling the party's long-term efforts to woo the community. Sobha Surendran, who had publicly criticised K. Surendran and was previously excluded from his core committee, has now been inducted as a vice-president and a core committee member. Meanwhile, a former state committee member who was recently embroiled in a 'half-price' scam, has been dropped. BJP leaders told ThePrint that despite the reshuffle, internal tussles have been minimal. However, they acknowledged that a more 'inclusive' leadership profile is essential for electoral success. 'To come to power in Kerala, we need Christian and Muslim votes. While the Muslims remain reluctant, we are seeing a strong Christian participation, which should be reflected in leadership, too,' a senior party leader told ThePrint. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Legs hacked by Left supporters, how RS entrant Sadanandan's case played out in the courts
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Priya Nair: Pulling all the right levers
That Dalal Street has given a five-notch salute to the news of a small-town girl Priya Nair moving to the corner room of the country's largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) maker is less about she being the first-ever woman to lead the 92-year-old Hindustan Unilever, but more about her accomplishments during her three decades in the company. Priya's journey began in 1995 as a management trainee in the company that is also known as the 'CEO Factory' for grooming dozens of trainees into chief executives of large multinational corporations. Born in a middle class Malayalee family in the Maharashtra's sugar town of Kolhapur, Priya does not boast of a degree from the top B-schools – she graduated from Sydenham College in Bombay and then a master's in marketing from Symbiosis Management Institute in Pune (not from top tier IIMs), Nair's rise to the top itself breaks many a myth. The immediate reference points that the market is lapping up are how Priya has turned around the struggling beauty and skin care business of the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant in London as its president since 2023 and has made it a 13-billion-poundprofit company. Back home as the executive director of the home care division (2014-20), she helped boost the segmental profit margins from a low 13.1% to 18.8%, which also lifted HUL's overall margins from 15% to 22.3%. The market is also benchmarking her against the stellar show that Sanjiv Mehta (the CEO before the outgoing incumbent Rohit Jawa), who was instrumental in more than doubling annual sales to Rs 58,000 crore from Rs 25,000 crore, and market-cap soaring four times to over Rs 5.5 lakh crore during his five-year term ending in June 2023. Priya doing an encore is what the expectation is. Analysts and markets have already factored in her ability to do the not-so-easily-doable that too at a stellar scale. London-based Priya assumes a 5-year tenure from August 1 at a time when the company is facing slowing growth and intense competition from fast moving D2C brands and new-age players. Under the watch of the outgoing leadership, sales barely climbed 2% while the stock plunged 10%.
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First Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Hindustan Unilever gets its first woman boss. Who is Priya Nair?
For the first time in its 92-year history, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has appointed a woman, Priya Nair, as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. She currently heads Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division, a business worth 13 billion euros that includes brands like Dove, Sunsilk, Clear, and Vaseline. She will take on her new role from August 1, 2025 read more Nair was born in Kolhapur to Malayalee parents and raised in Mumbai. Image: News18 For the first time in its 92-year history, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has named a woman as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Priya Nair will take charge after Rohit Jawa steps down on July 31, 2025. Her new role will begin on August 1, 2025. She will also become a member of the HUL Board, subject to the required approvals, and will continue to be part of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But who is Priya Nair? Let's take a look: Who is Priya Nair? She has been named the next Managing Director and CEO of Hindustan Unilever, replacing Rohit Jawa. Nair currently leads a business worth 13 billion euros as President of Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division, managing hair and skin care brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Clear and Vaseline. HUL Chairman Nitin Paranjpe said in a statement, 'Priya has had an outstanding career in HUL and Unilever. I am certain that with her deep understanding of the Indian market and excellent track record, Priya will take HUL to the next level of performance.' So, who is she? Nair was born in Kolhapur to Malayalee parents and raised in Mumbai, where she also completed her education. Her new role will begin on August 1, 2025. Image: HUL She earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounts and Statistics from Sydenham College, Mumbai. She later pursued an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, followed by a management course at Harvard Business School. She joined HUL in 1995 as a Consumer Insights Manager. In 1998, she became Brand Manager for key products such as Dove, Rin and Comfort. By 2004, she was promoted to Marketing Manager. In 2007, she became General Manager. In 2009, she began overseeing HUL's western region, according to her LinkedIn profile. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She went on to serve as Executive Director and CCVP (Customer Development, Consumer and Market Insight, Vice President) for Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care in South Asia. In 2022, she was named Global Chief Marketing Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing. A year later, she became President of the division, handling a global portfolio worth 13 billion euros (Rs 1.08 lakh crore), which includes hair care, skin care, Prestige Beauty and health & wellbeing. Nair is currently based in London. She is married and has a daughter. Notably, HUL is a major Indian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company, offering products across categories such as personal care, food, beverages and cleaning supplies. This leadership shift comes as Unilever increases its focus on India. Global CEO Fernando Fernandez recently described India as one of the company's two anchor markets, reflecting the 'double down on India' strategy shared in November 2024. Growth concerns at HUL? Nair is set to take charge from Rohit Jawa, who is stepping down before completing his five-year term. Since his appointment in June 2023, Jawa has steered HUL through a challenging economic period. Over the last two years, HUL's performance has been subdued. Its volume, revenue and earnings have grown by just 2 to 3 per cent annually. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Mint, HUL's volume growth has stayed below 5 per cent over the past six years. The company is also facing rising competition from agile startups, especially in the beauty and personal care space. In FY2025, HUL reported a turnover of Rs 61,469 crore and a net profit of Rs 10,644 crore. Its market capitalisation currently stands at Rs 5.66 lakh crore. Following the announcement of Priya Nair's appointment as HUL's first woman CEO, the company's shares jumped nearly 5 per cent to Rs 2,518.65 on the BSE. Priya Nair will take charge after Rohit Jawa steps down. Image: News18 Between 2014 and 2020, as Executive Director of Home Care, Nair led a turnaround that improved the segment's EBIT margins by 570 basis points, from 13.1 per cent in FY14 to 18.8 per cent in FY20. This improvement also helped raise HUL's overall EBIT margin from 15 per cent to 22.3 per cent. With her five-year term beginning on August 1, 2025, all eyes will be on whether Nair can revive growth across HUL's wide portfolio and bring back momentum. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
