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Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anurag Basu's greatest miracle was discovering Kangana Ranaut, she rose like a phoenix, giving 'Gangster' the wings it needed to soar: Mahesh Bhatt
Nineteen years ago, gangster: a love story roared onto indian cinema screens, redefining love, betrayal, and heartbreak with a visceral force. directed by anurag basu and produced under the sharp, instinctive eye of mahesh bhatt , the film not only delivered memorable performances by kangana ranaut , emraan hashmi , and shiney ahuja , but also etched itself into the hearts of millions through its soulful music and haunting storytelling. Today, Mahesh Bhatt revisits the extraordinary journey of Gangster , a film he regards not just as a project but as a living, breathing masterpiece — one that was touched by fate and blessed by what he calls the "Film God." In this candid conversation, Bhatt reveals the inspirations, the pivotal choices, and the divine accidents that birthed Gangster . Why do you regard Gangster as your masterpiece? Some films are made, and some are born from a spark the gods themselves strike. In the secretive corners of the entertainment world — from Hollywood's golden avenues to Bollywood's chaotic studios — there is a whispered belief in a force unseen: the Film God. A capricious deity who, with a flick of divine whim, either breathes life into a film or lets it wither. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo In Bollywood, we often say, "Filmen achchhi ban jaati hai, banayi nahi jaati." A film isn't made — it happens. Gangster was one such miracle. Gangster: A Love Story simply "happened"? Exactly. Gangster happened. The film god smiled on it from the very first breath. Every frame seemed touched by destiny. Every note of music trembled with something predestined. It moved through us like a fever dream — alive, unstoppable. And when it hit the screens, it set the box office on fire, creating stars whose light still shines today. You wrote Gangster . How did the idea come to you? The idea didn't come gently — it rushed to my head like blood — violent, undeniable. It was a Sunday morning when it struck. I immediately called Anurag Basu and the entire team, unable to contain the firestorm burning inside me.A good story is like fire: touch it, and it scorches you. Gangster was that fire. It burned everyone who heard it, and they carried its passion into the film. Why did you choose Anurag Basu to direct it? Anurag Basu has an alchemical vision — a rare ability to take a raw spark and give it flesh, blood, and soul. What would you call Anurag Basu's biggest miracle in Gangster ? His greatest miracle was discovering Kangana Ranaut — a wild, untamed force of nature. In her very first role, she rose like a phoenix, giving Gangster the wings it needed to then there was South Korea — such an unexpected, beautiful choice. Cherry blossoms falling like soft rain over broken hearts; a foreign land that felt both alien and achingly familiar. It became a silent, emotional backdrop for Pritam's music. Speaking of music, what role did it play in Gangster ? Ah, the music! Pritam's soundtrack didn't just accompany the film — it possessed album became the fifth best-selling in India for 2006. Millions carried its songs in their hearts."Ya Ali," with Zubeen Garg's haunting voice, crossed oceans and carried the ache of lost love to distant shores."Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai," "Bheegi Bheegi" — each song was like a spell woven tighter around the audience, making the film unforgettable. Tell us about the performances of Kangana Ranaut, Emraan Hashmi, and Shiney Ahuja. The performances were extraordinary. Emraan Hashmi transformed from a boy into a man before our eyes, sharpening his craft to staggering Ahuja haunted the screen, speaking volumes even in his Gulshan Grover , long known for villainy, stunned everyone by revealing a bruised, fragile humanity beneath his tough exterior. Your closing thoughts on Gangster ? Gangster was not just a film. It was love, betrayal, violence, longing — a great, wounded heart beating on didn't end — it ripped its ending from the audience's soul, leaving them shattered and spellbound. Above all, it was Anurag Basu's triumph: his vision, his risk, his reckless surrender to the fire that Gangster in a lifetime, if you're lucky, you can look back and say , Yes. That was a masterpiece. And we were part of it.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
My family came to the US undocumented. People say we're criminals stealing jobs and benefits but here's what I wish they knew.
Since President Donald Trump's first day in office, he has ramped up his mass deportation plans. Jazmin, who was brought to the US when she was 6, shares how receiving DACA allowed her to become a nurse. She reflects on the fear and uncertainty she now feels for her loved ones and herself. Since entering office on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump has pushed forward with his plans for the mass deportation of immigrants, something that could be a boon to private prison companies and a hit to Social Security tax revenue. During his first term as president in 2017, Trump announced that his administration would be terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA is a policy introduced by the Obama administration in 2012 that grants relief from deportation to undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. The program's legality continues to be debated in court; as of the time of publication, DACA recipients are still eligible to renew their protected status every two years, but new DACA applications are no longer being accepted. According to USCIS data, there were 537,730 DACA recipients, also known as "Dreamers," as of September 2024. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jazmin, a 26-year-old travel nurse and DACA recipient, about her experience as a Dreamer and how she has navigated the weeks since Trump took office. Jazmin's last name has been withheld for privacy reasons, but her identity and DACA status have been verified by Business Insider. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I was six when I came here. I remember living in Mexico and my parents telling me we were going on a trip, which became a very long trip. I think it was really hard for them to tell a 6-year-old what was actually happening. When I got older, my mom explained that we had left because they wanted to protect my siblings and me from violence and poverty. She had lived her whole life starving and she didn't want her kids to live the same life as her. My mom always told me, "Education will lead you places, so just make sure you stay educated." Receiving DACA was the best thing that ever happened to me. I worked 10 times harder because I felt like I needed to prove to this country that I was a good, educated person trying to do good. Today, I'm a travel nurse and am sent to different hospitals to help out wherever there is a shortage. My family might not have come the "right" way, but ever since we set foot in this country, we've tried to do things the right way. In the US, we settled in New Jersey and adjusted pretty well. My parents told me not to tell people where I was from and to just go to school, do everything right, and learn English, and I did. When I was a teenager, I saw other kids having opportunities to work and my mom told me I might not be able to. That's when I learned that I was undocumented. I wondered, Why am I not considered to be here legally? Why am I not welcome here? Then, President Obama launched DACA. My mom said, "This is our ticket for you." At first, I thought DACA meant I'd be able to get my residency and become a citizen. But then I found out that it was just a work permit and wouldn't lead to citizenship. I was happy regardless — I was going to be able to work while in high school and go to college. Even though I received DACA, that doesn't mean that I'm safe. Every two years, I have to pay for and submit a new application to renew my DACA status. With Trump's administration, he could do anything — he could cancel it or even give us citizenship. We're in such limbo between a potential pathway to citizenship and being completely deported. I've seen people online say we're just stealing jobs and taking benefits. But we don't receive financial aid and we pay taxes and Social Security that we will never touch unless we become citizens. And people say we're criminals, but in order to receive DACA, we have to have a clean criminal record. In my DACA applications, there's an answer that has always been the same — I always say I want to do something to give back to this country. I started by saying I wanted to become a nurse. Then, I was able to say that I was in nursing school thanks to DACA. And then I was able to write, "I'm finally a nurse, thanks to DACA." We DACA recipients have to keep advocating for ourselves. I feel that if we contribute to this country, then we should get some kind of pathway to citizenship. People say, "Just go back to your own country," but I have two homes. The US is my home, and I love it. I love Mexico too and am proud that I'm Mexican — that's my culture and it's in my blood. I've never been ashamed of where I came from. I was granted permission to travel through what's called "advance parole" and had the chance to go back last year for the first time since coming here 20 years ago. It was a beautiful experience, and I pray to God that he gives me the opportunity to visit again someday. But being there also felt so foreign because I'd been away for so long after not being able to visit. I also saw what my life would've been like if I hadn't come to America. We're from a very rural part of Mexico; the closest city and hospital is two hours away and most people don't have cars, and there isn't proper running water. It's a hard life — not knowing if you're going to have food on the table. And many people don't graduate middle school or high school because of the costs involved with getting an education. What my parents did for me and my siblings was worth it. I see so many opportunities in America that I don't see in Mexico. I know some people criticize America, but America has given me so much. My family is here in America, and I want to stay here. A lot of people say, "Just go apply for your citizenship." Or, "Why come here illegally? Why didn't you wait?" We couldn't wait because some of us might not have seen tomorrow if we hadn't crossed the border. And the process of gaining citizenship can take many years. People say that illegal immigrants are bringing in criminals. My family brought in their dreams, they brought in their kids. Sure, there might be some bad apples out there, but I believe that with any population, there are always more good people than bad. My mom's a restaurant manager, and for as long as I can remember, she's worked day and night. Recently, after 20 years, she was finally able to get a work permit. We know there's a process to doing things the right way, and we're always working with our immigration lawyer to figure out how to do so. The last couple of weeks since Trump took office have been overwhelming. I check in with my family and they're OK. They're still going to work and praying to God that everything works out. What hurts is thinking about what would happen if they were deported. My sister, for example, doesn't have documentation because she didn't get to apply for DACA; she was too young to be eligible before USCIS stopped accepting new DACA applications. If she does get deported, what would happen to us? We're so close. We wouldn't be able to see each other for 20 years? I asked my mom and aunt how they dealt with the fear of knowing that this kind of thing could happen. They said, "The fear that we have here doesn't compare to the fear that we had in Mexico — the fear of cartels taking my kids, raping my children, killing my family in front of me. That's real fear. God has given us the privilege to live here for this long. We just have to keep going day by day, working hard, and caring for our families." I tell myself that it's OK to be sad and feel the emotions we're feeling, but we just have to keep showing up and getting up every day. We can't let them win. If you have been impacted by President Trump's deportation orders or any other executive orders and would like to share your story, contact Jane Zhang at janezhang@ or on Signal at janezhang.01 using a non-work device. Read the original article on Business Insider
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Unfashionable Burnley 'nothing short of remarkable'
Monday's top-of-the-table clash between Burnley and Leeds United was billed as a Championship blockbuster but turned out to be a damp rain lashed down on Turf Moor but Scott Parker's men maintained their watertight defensive record in the goalless draw against their promotion be honest here, this was a drab affair which won't live long in the memory, featuring only one shot on target which came in the 89th maintain their position at the top but, with a wry smile, manager Daniel Farke acknowledged it was not much of a spectacle for those who were watching."I can't say it was an unbelievable advertisement today," said the German. "I wouldn't say it was the nicest piece of football."When two of the best sides in the league play against each other, no-one wants to make a mistake and looks like a chess game. It wasn't the most entertaining one."It was a really good point but I wouldn't say it was the most sexiest piece of football."Opposition manager Parker said: "It was always going to pan out that way, no denying we are playing against a very, very good side."It was a boxing match against a side with a real attacking threat that have scored at will this year and a side the reverse of that which has been nothing short of remarkable defensively."It always smelt of a 0-0 and that is what it proved to be." Burnley 'rock solid' again The weather in Lancashire was wretched on this January evening and the action on the pitch did not fare much was the fourth 0-0 witnessed by the Clarets supporters in the last five home games, which is testing their resolve more than their backline on the contest will leave those clipping up the highlights with slim pickings - Dan James' rising strike late on which was pushed over the crossbar by James Trafford was the only save made by either the shutout highlights Burnley's defensive solidity, with their number one now keeping 20 clean sheets from 29 league games and conceding a miserly nine goals all was also their seventh straight clean sheet and the record books weigh heavily on Burnley's side when taking into account defensive records in the push for the second tier of English football was rebranded to the Championship, 15 of the 20 teams to have conceded the fewest goals per season finished in the top entertainment factor may be lacking, but Burnley are on course to blitz the Championship record of 30 goals conceded in 46 games by Preston North End in 2006 and Watford four years ago."Defensively we were rock solid again and I get that isn't fashionable and people don't want to talk about that, they want to highlight we have not scored many goals, but what this team have done so far defensively has been nothing short of remarkable," Parker added."It has given us a platform at this moment in time to be in and around where we are."The question is though, will it be enough to climb back into the Premier League come May? Farke pleased with 'good point' The stalemate keeps Leeds top, three points clear of Burnley in third the West Yorkshire side are the division's top scorers with 53 goals, they were unable to breach the Burnley Leeds are well set to return to the Premier League, knowing 14 of the 20 top scoring teams in the Championship have gone on to finish in the two automatic promotion spots at the end of the said: "A good result for us, good point on the road. A clean sheet and we had a really difficult game here."Two of the best sides in the league against each other and difficult circumstances with the weather."They are on a massive unbeaten run and if you come away with a point and a clean sheet on the road it is always a good result. Both teams were without mistakes but struggled to create enough chances."They have a special approach and you have to be ready for this and control this. You have to make sure you are rock solid and that is what we were."
