Latest news with #RangDeBasanti
Hans India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Soha Ali Khan enjoys a fun workout session with Fatima Sana Shaikh, says 'next time push-ups pukka'
Mumbai: Actress and fitness junkie Soha Ali Khan enjoyed a fun and fruitful workout session with Fatima Sana Shaikh. She even shared a glimpse of her time with Fatima on her Instagram handle. Taking a quick break from their workout, the two ladies were seen chatting about their next exercise. As they are done talking, Soha excitedly screams, "lunges". "Tooo much fun working out with @fatimasanashaikh - next time push-ups pukka!! @ Soha captioned the video. On Thursday, Soha talked to her InstaFam about her morning wellness routine. She asked them to guess what she eats on an empty stomach every morning during her recent post — the options were: soaked almonds or raw garlic. Taking to her Instagram stories, the 'Rang De Basanti' actress dropped a short clip of her eating a raw garlic. 'Can you guess what I am eating every morning on an empty stomach? Soaked almonds or raw garlic," she wrote on the clip. Before this, Soha disclosed that she has been consuming a white pumpkin juice detoxifying drink on an empty stomach for the last three months. Sharing a video of herself preparing the drink, she wrote in the caption, 'Self-love is hugely important ! I have been drinking white pumpkin juice (ash gourd) every morning on an empty stomach for the past three months. It's detoxifying, cooling, and great for my gut #nutrition #detox #juice #morningritual #fitnessfriday.' On the work front, Soha was last seen in "Chhorii 2", alongside, Nushrratt Bharuccha. On the other hand, Fatima has had two back-to-back releases with "Aap Jaisa Koi" and 'Metro In Dino'. While she shared screen space with R Madhavan in Vivek Soni's "Aap Jaisa Koi', Fatima was a part of an ensemble cast comprising of Aditya Roy Kapur, Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Neena Gupta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, and Ali Fazal in 'Metro In Dino' directed by Anurag Basu.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Soha Ali Khan reveals what she eats every morning on an empty stomach
Actress and fitness enthusiast Soha Ali Khan took to social media to tease her fan base about her morning wellness routine. In a recent post, she asked her followers to guess what she eats on an empty stomach every morning — giving two interesting options: soaked almonds or raw garlic. Taking to her Instagram stories, Soha posted a short video of where she is seen eating one a raw garlic. The text on her post read, 'Can you guess what I am eating every morning on an empty stomach? Soaked almonds or raw garlic.' A few days ago, the 'Rang De Basanti' actress revealed that she has been drinking white pumpkin juice detoxifying drink on an empty stomach for the past three months. Soha shared a video of herself preparing white pumpkin juice, offering a glimpse into her morning wellness routine. In the caption, she 'wrote, 'Self-love is hugely important ! I have been drinking white pumpkin juice (ash gourd) every morning on an empty stomach for the past three months. It's detoxifying, cooling, and great for my gut #nutrition #detox #juice #morningritual #fitnessfriday.' Soha Ali Khan had also offered a rare and delightful peek into her time in the kitchen. The 'Chhorii 2' actress posted two candid photos on Instagram, showing herself in the midst of preparing a meal. While she didn't disclose what she was cooking, she humorously confirmed that it was truly her—and not an AI-generated image—at the stove. 'Yes, it's me. No, it's not AI - I cooked!! #raresighting,' the 'Tum Mile' actress wrote as the caption. In a recent interview with IANS, while promoting 'Chhorii 2,' Soha openly admitted that cooking isn't exactly her forte. She revealed that it's usually her husband, actor Kunal Kemmu, who takes charge in the kitchen. Soha also added with a laugh that in many of the pictures she posts online, she's often just pretending to be busy with something. Soha shared, 'I actually don't know how to cook anything. I was just staring at it. And I was pretending to do something. Is this salt or sugar? Tell me. So, I put this in. Kunal is the cook in our family. More than me, Inaya can cook. She makes great chapatis.'
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Soha Ali Khan reveals her unusual morning routine: From raw garlic to white pumpkin juice and kitchen fun
Actress and fitness enthusiast Soha Ali Khan took to social media to tease her fan base about her morning wellness routine. In a recent post, she asked her followers to guess what she eats on an empty stomach every morning - giving two interesting options: soaked almonds or raw garlic. Taking to her Instagram stories, Soha posted a short video of where she is seen eating one a raw garlic. The text on her post read, "Can you guess what I am eating every morning on an empty stomach? Soaked almonds or raw garlic." A few days ago, the 'Rang De Basanti' actress revealed that she has been drinking white pumpkin juice detoxifying drink on an empty stomach for the past three months. Soha shared a video of herself preparing white pumpkin juice, offering a glimpse into her morning wellness routine. In the caption, she "wrote, "Self-love is hugely important ! I have been drinking white pumpkin juice (ash gourd) every morning on an empty stomach for the past three months. It's detoxifying, cooling, and great for my gut #nutrition #detox #juice #morningritual #fitnessfriday." Soha Ali Khan had also offered a rare and delightful peek into her time in the kitchen. The 'Chhorii 2' actress posted two candid photos on Instagram, showing herself in the midst of preparing a meal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo While she didn't disclose what she was cooking, she humorously confirmed that it was truly her-and not an AI-generated image-at the stove. "Yes, it's me. No, it's not AI - I cooked!! #raresighting," the 'Tum Mile' actress wrote as the caption. In a recent interview with IANS, while promoting Chhorii 2, Soha openly admitted that cooking isn't exactly her forte. She revealed that it's usually her husband, actor Kunal Kemmu, who takes charge in the kitchen. Soha also added with a laugh that in many of the pictures she posts online, she's often just pretending to be busy with something. Soha shared, "I actually don't know how to cook anything. I was just staring at it. And I was pretending to do something. Is this salt or sugar? Tell me. So, I put this in. Kunal is the cook in our family. More than me, Inaya can cook. She makes great chapatis."
Time of India
23-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
MiG-21's final flight may put private defence firms on frontline amid HAL's drag
Remember Rang De Basanti? The 2006 film that shook a generation awake with its raw, patriotic fury. A group of Delhi college students, playing freedom fighters in a documentary, are jolted into action after their friend, a MiG-21 pilot, dies in a crash. That fictional pilot, Flight Lt. Ajay Rathod, became a symbol for a very real crisis playing out in India's skies. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Leadership Design Thinking Cybersecurity Others Technology PGDM CXO Data Science Finance Digital Marketing MBA Product Management Management Degree healthcare Public Policy Healthcare others Data Science Operations Management MCA Data Analytics Project Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details That crisis didn't end with the credits. In May 2023, seventeen years after the film's release, a MiG-21 crashed in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. The pilot ejected in time, but the jet ploughed into a house, killing three civilians on the ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing Older Women should Avoid Learn More It was yet another grim reminder that what was seen as a cinematic tragedy had long become a recurring headline. Now, the 'flying coffin,' as the MiG-21 came to be known, is finally nearing the end of its long, turbulent service. The Indian Air Force 's No. 23 Squadron is set to phase out its remaining Bisons by September 19. Live Events After six decades in the air, and far too many avoidable losses, the last of these Cold War-era fighters will make their final flight in a farewell ceremony at Chandigarh, according to Economic Times. This isn't just the retirement of an aircraft. It marks the end of a chapter defined by aging platforms, stalled defence modernisation, and a persistent gap between ambition and action. A legacy writ large, and largely troubled Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 was India's first supersonic fighter jet, and it changed everything. It brought the Indian Air Force into the jet age and went on to serve in every major conflict: the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the Kargil conflict in 1999, and even the Balakot airstrikes in 2019. As per ET, the MiG-21 has been a part of every major Indian military engagement. Over 850 were acquired, India's largest-ever fighter fleet, with nearly 600 assembled domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Aviation expert Angad Singh summed it up as: 'No other fighter has been associated with the IAF for as long as the MiG-21, an incredible two-thirds of the IAF's 93-year history is inextricably linked to this jet.' For many in uniform and beyond, it's an emotional farewell to a legend of Indian skies. But behind that combat record is a darker legacy. Nicknamed the 'Flying Coffin,' the MiG-21 became notorious for its crash record. Dozens of pilots lost their lives. The jet stayed in service long after it should've been retired, largely because no replacements were available. The original plan was to phase out the MiG-21s and replace them with the indigenous Tejas Mk-1A. But delays, both in manufacturing and engine supply, repeatedly pushed that schedule back. Tejas is here… If it ever arrives In February 2021, the Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 48,000 crore contract with HAL for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets. The first delivery was promised by March 2024. That date came and went with not a single jet delivered. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, at the Confederation of Indian Industry's Annual Business Summit in 2025, didn't mince words: 'Timeline is a big issue.' It was his second public warning, earlier this year, he urged the defence industry 'not to make promises it cannot deliver on time.' HAL pointed to engine delays from GE Aerospace as the main bottleneck. There's merit to that. According to India Today, the first F404-IN20 engine under a $716 million contract for 99 engines was delivered only in March 2025, nearly two years late. Shawn Warren, GE Aerospace's GM for Combat & Trainer Engines, called it a 'milestone' and said it would 'ensure a strong future for India's military.' But for HAL, that was just the start of a frantic race to meet deadlines. As of mid-2025, HAL had received only one engine. Twelve more are expected by March 2026. HAL Chairman Dr. D.K. Sunil confirmed to PTI Videos that six jets are ready, but can't fly without engines. 'They were to deliver the engines in 2023. Till date, we have got only one engine,' he said, adding that deliveries can begin 'by this fiscal,' if the remaining engines arrive. HAL has since restructured its Bengaluru facility, added a parallel assembly line, and says it can deliver 16 jets a year, if the supply chain holds steady. The target is to complete all 83 by 2028, followed by a pending Rs 67,000 crore order for 97 more Mk-1As, taking the total to 180 aircraft by 2031. But all of this still hinges on fixing a fragile supply chain and overcoming HAL's delivery record. The private push Recognising the urgency, the Ministry of Defence set up a five-member Defence Empowerment Committee led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The panel proposed short-, medium- and long-term fixes, including roping in private players to accelerate the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas production chain. That's now underway. As per government reports, Alpha Tocol Engineering delivered the first rear fuselage of the Tejas Mk-1A to HAL in March. VEM Technologies followed with the centre fuselage in May, and L&T supplied wing assemblies in July. Other firms are contributing too: Tata Advanced Systems is supplying composite parts, Dynamatic Technologies makes the front fuselage, Lakshmi Machine Works handles air intakes, and Amphenol provides loom assemblies. HAL has opened three production lines, including one in Nashik, and aims to ramp up to 30 aircraft annually by 2026–27. This shortfall is compounded by the fact that the IAF retired its MiG-27s in 2019 and is now phasing out Jaguars, with full withdrawal expected by 2035–2040. Every delay in delivering the indigenously developed Tejas Mk-1A, meant to replace those ageing fleets, only widens the gap. The AMCA project: In March 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared full-scale engineering development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India's first fifth-generation stealth fighter. But this time, HAL won't have a monopoly on execution. As Economic Times reported, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under DRDO, will float an expression of interest (EoI) inviting bids for the programme. HAL can go solo or team up with private or foreign players. Private firms, for the first time, can also bid independently, form consortiums, or partner with foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as long as they comply with Indian rules. The government wants speed, scale, and accountability, and is making it clear HAL no longer holds exclusive rights to marquee fighter jet programmes. The Rs 15,000 crore allocation will fund five flying prototypes, a structural test specimen, and extensive flight-testing. The IAF is aiming for seven squadrons, or around 126 jets, by the early 2040s. The first two squadrons will be powered by GE-F414 engines. HAL and General Electric are in talks to co-produce these in India under a $1.5 billion deal, with 80% technology transfer on the table. Still, the first AMCA squadron won't be ready before 2035. And until then, the IAF is retiring jets faster than it can replace them. Private defence is growing, and drones are leading Over the last few years, India's private defence players have moved from the sidelines to the centre of the ecosystem. Companies like Tata Advanced Systems, L&T, Paras Defence, Alpha Design, and Bharat Forge aren't just suppliers anymore, they're partners. Tata is building the C-295 military transport aircraft in Gujarat in collaboration with Airbus Spain. Alpha Design co-developed the SkyStriker loitering munition and supplies parts for tanks and satellites. L&T builds warships, radars and weapon platforms, and booked Rs 13,000 crore in orders in FY25. Bharat Forge is expanding in artillery and missiles. Government initiatives like iDEX and SRIJAN have fuelled this shift. Defence exports hit Rs 24,000 crore in FY25, and the government wants to double that by 2029. Adani Defence, Paras Defence, ideaForge, and IG Drones are ramping up too. Adani has opened new ammunition and missile plants in Uttar Pradesh. ideaForge's SWITCH and NETRA V2 are already in active use. Solar Industries is building the Nagastra-1 tactical drone. NewSpace Research is developing swarming drone tech. In July 2025, the IAF's Unmanned Force Plan outlined the need for 30–50 combat UAVs. The private sector is delivering faster than anyone expected. A turning point in the sky The MiG-21's retirement isn't just the end of an aircraft, it's a wake-up call. Tejas is meant to fill the gap, but delays, especially on the engine front, have slowed induction. HAL says it's ready to deliver. Private firms are stepping in. But squadron strength continues to fall. Meanwhile, the AMCA program is the first real test of whether private participation can speed up a complex fighter program. The signs are promising, but timelines are tight. India now has the tech, the talent, and the policy. The only question is whether the system can move fast enough, before the skies are left too wide open to defend.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
A MiG-21 Crash Made Rang De Basanti A Cult In 2006. 19 Years Later, The Fighter Jet Is Retiring
Almost two decades ago, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Rang De Basanti broke new ground. The 2006 film was both a box office and critical hit with the youth at the centre of the story revolving around current affairs. It had a star-studded ensemble cast of Aamir Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, R Madhavan, Anupam Kher, and Waheeda Rehman. AR Rahman's music and Prasoon Joshi (now CBFC chairperson)'s lyrics made it a memorable soundtrack. More than that, Rang De Basanti was the first film to put the MiG-21 fighter jet under the scanner as by the time the ageing plane had a long history of fatal crashes, lending it the nickname "flying coffin". On Tuesday, the Indian Air Force announced that the MiG-21 will be phased out of active service by September, to be replaced by the newer and nimbler Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. Here's what revisiting the controversy around MiG-21 that erupted when Rang De Basanti was up for release on the Republic Day of 2006. Rang De Basanti And MIG-21 Rang De Basanti follows a group of young college students who are devastated when Indian Air Force Officer Flight Lieutenant Ajay Singh Rathod (Madhavan), one of their friend's Sonia's fiance, is killed when his MiG-21 jet malfunctions and crashes. The government pins the blame of the incident on Ajay, calling it pilot error and shuts the case close. Sonia (Soha) and her friends refuse to accept it as reality. They soon find out that Defence Minister VK Shastri (Mohan Agashe) signed a deal for importing cheap parts for the MiG-21 aircraft for a personal favor. It also comes as a massive shock for Karan (Siddharth) when he discovers that his father Rajnath Singhania (Kher) played a key role in the deal. Hurt and angry by the revelation, the friends assassinate the Defence Minister and Karan kills his own father. Later, the group takes control of an All India Radio station, letting its employees go. Karan goes on air and reveals the defence ministry's corruption to the public. The group of friends are killed by the police later. The Rang De Basanti Controversy Around The MIG-21 The film showed the Defence Minister as corrupt. Not only that the Defence Minister is also "brought to justice" by the youth of today who avenge the unfortunate death of their friend, an IAF officer, by assassinating him. It would be surprising had Rang De Basanti got a clearance for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as well as the government of the day -- Pranab Mukherjee was the Defence Minister at the time under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. According to producer Ronnie Screwvala, who backed the film via UTV Motion Pictures, the then CBFC chairperson Sharmila Tagore told him that the Censor Board was "not ready to issue the censor certificate" to Rang De Basanti. "Not that we found anything offensive about your film, just that we want you to get approval from the air force and the defence ministry before we sign off... Look, we're trying to get a special screening organised tomorrow on an emergency basis with the head of the air force. We just want them to see the movie," Ronnie Screwvala wrote in a 2015 opinion piece. The producer further wrote that Aamir Khan was of the opinion that they should protest if things didn't work out for them after the screening. "I think we've made the movie with a very clean heart. We're as patriotic as the next guy. I'm telling you, Ronnie, if they want us to cut a single frame of that film, I'm not going to allow it. In that case, let's not release it," the Bollywood star said as quoted by Ronnie Screwvala. The producer said the team of Rang De Basanti went to Delhi for the screening, which was a "preview, not a review" as Air Marshal Padamjit Singh Ahluwalia put it. "Not only was the head of the air force in attendance, but the heads of the Army and the Navy, as well as the then defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee. Two-and-a-half hours later when the lights came up, Rakeysh, Aamir and I went in front of the group to answer questions. The heads of the Army and the Navy both liked the film and had little to say." Pranab Mukherjee asked, "I really enjoyed the movie, too. What's the problem?" The defence minister's words must have come as a relief to the makers. But it was not over yet. Ronnie Screwvala said Air Marshal Padamjit Singh Ahluwalia, the head of the Indian Air Force, was still left to offer his opinion. "I think it's a fine movie... And we would never censor a movie except under extreme circumstances... All I can tell you is that I get about 10 calls a month from the mothers of my boys who fly the MiGs. Of course, they're concerned about their sons' safety. We all are. Who wouldn't be? But after this movie, I'm going to get 100 calls a month. Best of luck," the chief of the IAF said. Real-Life Flight Lieutenant Ajay Singh Rathod Madhavan's character of Flight Lieutenant Ajay Singh Rathod in Rang De Basanti was based on Flight Lieutenant Abhijit Gadgil who died in a MiG-21 crash in 2001. After his death, his parents Kavita Gadgil and Captain Anil Gadgil fought with the government seeking improvements in aircraft safety. Rang De Basanti got a clean chit from the government and other authorities, was cleared by the CBFC, went on to do great business at the box office (around Rs 100 crore at the time which was massive), earned critical acclaim and won multiple National Awards, brought an important hotbutton topic to the fore, and continues to live in public memory as a radical piece of art. The film did something that is almost impossible today.
