Latest news with #Venkatesh
Hans India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Venkatesh returns as the ‘Man of Chaos' in ‘Rana Naidu Season 2,' premiering June 13
Tollywood icon Venkatesh is gearing up for his much-anticipated return to the OTT space with Rana Naidu Season 2, set to premiere on Netflix on June 13, 2025. Sharing screen space once again with his nephew Rana Daggubati, the gritty crime drama is back with more intense drama, family friction, and emotional turmoil. Venkatesh reprises his role as Naga Naidu, a character he describes as a 'man of chaos.' Speaking about the contrasting nature between himself and his on-screen persona, Venky explained, 'I'm predictable, Naga isn't. I like structure and stability. Naga? He lives for drama. I don't play mind games, but Naga, he's full of surprises. There's always something simmering with Naga. You can't look away.' Venky added that while both he and Naga deeply care about family, the way they express it couldn't be more different. He considers himself a man who values clarity and order, whereas Naga thrives on tension, unpredictability, and layered emotions. The second season of Rana Naidu promises an even more riveting ride with a stellar cast that includes Arjun Rampal, Surveen Chawla, and Kriti Kharbanda in key roles. Directed by Karan Anshuman and Suparn Verma, the show continues to be the Indian adaptation of the popular American series Ray Donovan. With high-octane drama and complex relationships at its core, Rana Naidu Season 2 is shaping up to be one of the most awaited OTT releases of 2025.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Event manager duped of Rs 15 lakh in fake job offer for Rajamouli's new movie
Hyderabad: A businessman running an even management company was duped of Rs 15.9 lakh with the lure of a job in the upcoming big-budget movie 'SSMB 29' starring Mahesh Babu and directed by SS Rajamouli. The 35-year-old victim, who has his company in Warangal, was promised the job of manager in the movie's art department. He realised it was a fraud after continuous demands for money and no actual job. He finally filed a complaint with the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau's Warangal police station on Thursday. The man was first contacted by the fraudster, who called himself Venkatesh, in Nov last year. He claimed to be a manager with the film crew and offered him the job as art department manager. Venkatesh initially requested a modest registration fee of Rs 15,000, followed by increasingly larger amounts for various purported requirements, the victim said. "I paid Rs 4 lakh for a Golden ID card, purportedly required to work as art department director. He took amounts ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000 for obtaining permissions from four top Tollywood film production houses to secure me work. Venkatesh created an elaborate facade, sending fake letters and documents via WhatsApp to gain my trust," the victim said in his complaint. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ukraine: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (View Current Prices) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo The fraudster used multiple phone numbers and email addresses to conduct the scam, including communications through emails with Rajamouli's name. The payments, ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 90,000 in 88 transactions, were made through UPI to different mobile numbers from multiple bank accounts between Nov 21, 2024, and March 10, 2025, he said. Following his complaint, a case was registered under sections 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 319(2) (cheating by impersonation) of the BNS and sections 66-C, 66-D of the IT Act by the TGCSB in Warangal. Cops said they were analysing bank transactions of the victim to track the offenders.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Venkatesh calls Naga Naidu a man of chaos ahead of 'Rana Naidu' season 2 release
Veteran Telugu actor is all set to reprise his role as Naga Naidu in the upcoming second season of the web series 'Rana Naidu'. Known for his intense and layered performances, Venkatesh recently opened up about his character, sharing insights into what makes Naga Naidu both fascinating and challenging to portray. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A character full of contradictions As per an IANS report, Venkatesh described Naga Naidu as a man full of contradictions—unpredictable and rule-breaking, yet deeply devoted to his family. He related to this aspect of the character, that both he and Naga share a strong love for their families. Venky and Naga opposites in nature While Venkatesh considers himself a person who values structure, stability, and predictability, Naga thrives on chaos and drama, often keeping those around him guessing with his unpredictable behaviour. "That's the one thing Venky and Naga share. But otherwise? I'm predictable, Naga isn't. I like structure and stability. Naga? He lives for drama. I don't play mind games, but Naga, he's full of surprises. You never really know what he's thinking," he said. The actor also added that unlike himself, who prefers straightforwardness, Naga is a master of mind games and surprises. This constant tension between charm and chaos makes the character compelling and keeps viewers hooked. Venkatesh said, "There's always something simmering with Naga. You can't look away." Season 2 release details 'Rana Naidu' Season 2 is highly anticipated and scheduled to release on June 13, 2025, on Netflix. The series is an action-packed crime drama directed by Karan Anshuman and . It is an official adaptation of the 2013 American TV series 'Ray Donovan' and features a stellar cast including Venkatesh Daggubati, Rana Daggubati in the titular role, Pillai, Gaurav Chopra, and .
The Print
4 days ago
- The Print
9-yr-old boy's secret burial exposes Andhra bonded labour horror, and a tribe ensnared for decades
Police have arrested Muthu, his wife, and his son in connection with the case. Venkatesh, a tribal boy from Chavatapalem village in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district, was forced into bonded labour and made to rear ducks by a man named Muthu in the district's Satyavedu village, after his mother, Anakamma, requested more time to repay a Rs 25,000 loan. New Delhi: 'There was no sign of remorse on their faces. They were laughing and chit-chatting while I was sobbing, looking at my son's body, imagining how much he must have cried and screamed. But no one showed him mercy,' said Anakamma, whose 9-year-old son's body was found buried near the Palar River on 22 May in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram district. An FIR was lodged on 15 May—several days before the body was found—under multiple laws, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It also invoked Sections 16 and 75 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. Additionally, sections of The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; and Sections 146 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which criminalise unlawful compulsory labour and wrongful confinement for 10 days or more. ThePrint has accessed the FIR. Muthu claimed that Venkatesh had fallen ill with jaundice and was taken to a private hospital in Tamil Nadu on 11 April. This was corroborated by CCTV footage reviewed by the Satyavedu police. The boy allegedly died the next day, on 12 April, despite receiving treatment. Venkatesh had been sent to work for Muthu's son, who lives in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. The boy's mother alleges that doctors who conducted the post-mortem told her he had been brutally assaulted. 'On 24 May, when I went to the hospital with Raniji (a local social worker helping the family), the doctor called us in and explained that my son had severe injuries—on his head, cheekbones and shoulders,' she told ThePrint over the phone. 'The doctor said they had stuffed a cloth in his mouth and pulled his head back, probably to stop him from screaming. These and other injuries pointed to a violent, targeted assault,' she added. ThePrint reached Chengalpattu Government Hospital, where the post-mortem took place via email. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. The post-mortem report—a copy of which ThePrint has seen—revealed that boy had sustained a blunt force injury to the head inflicted by a 'heavy weapon', and ante-mortem skull fractures. 'The boy was a little mischievous. So, at one point, to reprimand him, he was struck on the head,' a source said, adding that this blow led to internal hemorrhaging and ultimately resulted in the child's death. This has been confirmed in the post mortem report, also accessed by ThePrint. The police have filed murder charges in a supplementary memo, citing findings from the post-mortem report. Anakamma and her family belong to the Yanadi tribe—one of the largest Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh, with a significant presence in the Nellore, Chittoor, and Prakasam districts. Traditionally hunter-gatherers, some subgroups like the Adavi Yanadi are known for their deep knowledge of forests, flora, and fauna. Over time, however, many Yanadis have become landless and now work as agricultural labourers, domestic helpers, or watchmen. Their marginalised status has left them especially vulnerable to exploitation, including bonded labour. Also read: From Sitamarhi to Sadar Bazar, a mother's fight to rescue 11-yr-old son from bonded labour Debt and disappearance In April 2024, Annakamma, her second husband, and their children began working for Muthu in Satyavedu. They were promised Rs 25,000 for their labour but received only Rs 15,000 as an advance. After three months, Annakamma had returned to her native village, Chavatapalem, to perform the last rites of her deceased ex-husband. It was then that she learned her former husband had left behind a debt of Rs 25,000 owed to a man named Satish. 'Muthu came forward and paid the loan on his own, without my permission, and said that I owed him now. Until I repaid him, he would take my son. I had no choice. He even insisted on taking all my children but after I resisted, he only took my boy,' she said. In the following months, Annakamma said she had only limited contact with Venkatesh. 'He would sometimes call and tell me that the owner beat him with a stick,' she said. When she asked Muthu to send her son back, he told her over the phone that she would have to pay Rs 42,000 for his release, Rs 17,000 more than the debt he had paid off. After a few brief calls with Venkatesh, lasting just 3-4 minutes each, the last of which was on 9 April, the communication stopped. When she tried to ask Muthu about her son, he gave vague excuses, saying the boy had gone out for work, was in another place, or was unwell. Worried, she eventually filed a complaint at the Tirupati police station. The case was later transferred to Satyavedu in the state's Chittoor district. With the help of local activists, she visited Muthu's home. 'When we reached there with a police constable, Muthu's son said my boy had run away with a mobile phone and some money,' she said. But the family claims Muthu and his relatives kept changing their statements. 'First, they said he ran away. Then they said he was unwell. Then they didn't know where he was,' she recounted. Frustrated with the lack of progress, the family sought the help from local officials. With support from Advocate Parvataiah, a member of the District Vigilance Committee for the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, they met Gudur MLA Pasam Sunil Kumar, who intervened and spoke to the Tirupati police. The police eventually located and detained Muthu. He was first brought to the Kodur police station in Tirupati district and later transferred to Satyavedu. It was during questioning, the family claims, that Muthu finally admitted that Venkatesh had fallen ill with jaundice, died and had been buried. When Venkatesh's body was exhumed, a devastated Annakamma looked upon her son's battered body, while Muthu and his family stood nearby, showing no sign of emotion, she claimed. Now, left with just the memory of her son, Anakamma said, 'My boy used to be very active. He could never sit quietly, always running around, playing.' She recalled how fond he was of bicycles. 'He would keep asking, 'When will you get me a cycle? I want to ride it and show you',' she said, adding that he would even play with discarded cycle tyres if he found any lying around. Bonded labour & vulnerable Yanadi tribal community Bonded labour was outlawed in India in 1976 and the government has pledged to identify, release, and rehabilitate approximately 1.84 crore bonded labourers by 2030. According to data presented by the Union government in the Lok Sabha, a total of 3,15,302 people were released from bonded labour between 1978 and January 2023. Of these, 94 percent have been rehabilitated. Meanwhile, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that 1,155 cases were registered under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, in 2019—96 percent of them involving crimes against SCs and STs. In 2020, 1,231 such cases were registered (94 percent against SC/ST), and in 2021, the number dropped to 592, with 96 percent still involving SC/ST victims. Shaik Basheer, Executive Secretary of the Association for Rural Development, an NGO based in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore that has been supporting people affected by issues like bonded labour for over a decade, described the Yanadi as 'the most vulnerable' and among the most marginalised communities in the region. Speaking to ThePrint, Basheer said the death of a child due to forced labour reflects the broader structural vulnerabilities faced by such communities. 'Most of them don't even have basic documents like Aadhaar cards. They don't have proper homes or access to drinking water. Their minimum entitlements are denied,' he said. According to the 2011 Census, the Yanadi tribe has a population of 5,33,746 individuals. Basheer, also a member of the District Vigilance Committee on Bonded Labour, established by the state government, said that when families face emergencies such as health issues or sudden financial crises, they often accept small advances from employers as a stopgap. 'In return for the advance, their children or family members go and work. But the advance is never really repaid. It becomes a trap,' he said. Describing the pattern of bonded labour, he added, 'these families are given just enough to eat, while being forced to work. That's how the cycle continues.' He claimed that since 2012, 428 people from the Yanadi community have been rescued from bonded labour. Basheer also pointed out that while rescue operations do take place, 'the biggest challenge over the past six years has been rehabilitation and prosecution'. 'Cases are filed, but follow-up is poor and often forgotten,' he said, calling it a systemic failure. He stressed the urgent need for a detailed socio-economic and demographic survey of the community. 'There should be family-level mapping at the village level,' he suggested, noting that most of them are engaged in distress migration and subsistence activities like begging, manual scavenging and rag-picking. 'The government must identify how many children are in these households, their age, their entitlements, and whether schemes are reaching them or not,' Basheer said. He also proposed the formation of a high-level monitoring committee and the appointment of deputy directors at the district level to oversee tribal welfare exclusively. He recommended the provision of basic documents like Aadhaar cards, ration cards, job cards, health cards, voter IDs, and bank accounts, and the inclusion of Yanadi women in self-help groups to strengthen livelihoods. What the govt has done The Andhra Pradesh government initiated a significant development scheme for the Yanadi tribal community in 2002. This initiative led to the establishment of a dedicated Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) for the Yanadis, headquartered in Nellore. The ITDA was created to address the unique challenges faced by the Yanadi community, particularly those residing in the districts of Nellore, Chittoor, Prakasam and YSR Kadapa. While acknowledging that the government has introduced some positive measures, such as residential schools under the ITDA in the Nellore basin, Basheer noted that the ITDA currently covers six districts and needs better decentralisation. 'There should be dedicated district-level officers and funds earmarked specifically for the Yanadi community,' added Basheer, who also served as a board member of the Central Advisory Board for Child Labour and Adolescent Labour in 2016-18. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also read: Trapped, raped repeatedly & forced into bonded labour, 18-yr-old MP girl's Delhi dream turns nightmare
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Chhetri's return bad news for Indian football: Venkatesh
Venkatesh Shanmugam CHENNAI: Back in 2005, as the India captain, Venkatesh Shanmugam had urged a fading senior to step aside so that an eager 20-year-old Sunil Chhetri could get his chance. It was a bold call then. And now, with Chhetri stepping back onto the international stage after 'retirement', Venkatesh voices a deep-seated disappointment. The man who once cleared the path for Chhetri is left wondering why Indian football isn't doing the same for those waiting in the wings. 'Two decades ago, I told a senior player to hang up his boots so a young Sunil Chhetri could rise,' Venkatesh, who is currently the technical director at FC Madras, told TOI. 'But now, Chhetri breaking his retirement to come back is bad news for Indian football. It's demotivating for all the young players. I'm not blaming Chhetri. He will play only one or two matches. But if you bring a youngster and back him now, he will give 10 years. 'Indirectly, we are sending a message to everyone that we don't have players. We are seeing that a lot of grassroots programme have come and there are a lot of tournaments. Still, we are depending on the 40-year-old striker?' Venkatesh, a former assistant coach of the India senior team, didn't mince words on the chaos surrounding head coach Manolo Marquez, who had a dual role while coaching FC Goa and the national team. 'We are going 20 years back,' the star midfield of his time bluntly said. 'We have done this before. We failed when Armando Colaco was coach for both Dempo and the national team (in 2011). We have to bring a permanent coach. I respect all the coaches, including Manolo. But which coach will think about Indian football and take risks for it? That's a big question.' Venkatesh, who holds an AFC Pro Licence, explained the differences between coaching a club and steering a national team and how each demands a separate mindset and level of commitment. 'Thanks to the ISL (Indian Super League), they brought a lot of attention to football in India. But when you play in the ISL, the Indian players will play only against four foreigners. When we go for international games, you have to face eleven foreigners. The temperament is completely different. You can't compare ISL and international football. Tomorrow, if you play against a team like Korea, you need solid preparation. It's true Manolo has done well as an ISL coach and that's why AIFF thought he knew Indian football well. But international football is something different,' said Venkatesh. So, what's the way forward? For Venkatesh, it starts with looking beyond the obvious. 'I feel this is high time that Indian football bosses think seriously about building a second layer. There has to be a Team 'A' and a Team 'B'. Fill Team B with young players, give them time and space to grow. The only thing that separates a star from the rest is opportunity. And when there's pressure for places in the first team, it naturally brings out the best in players,' the 46-year-old said. Venkatesh is optimistic about the current bunch of Indian players. 'I can see that the current Indian players, in terms of technique and physicality, are very strong. If you see all the players, all the positions, you can see aggression. Indian football is more aggressive now,' said Venkatesh. Venkatesh also pointed out that there is a lack of a proper bridge between youth and senior levels. 'I feel we should concentrate more on the under-21 category, then only you will get a strong core for the future. There's a big gap post the under-19 level. Players are jumping straight into the senior team without proper progression. The under-21 level is the backbone of Indian football,' he said. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
