58 minute read

TAYLOR SWIFT, JOE ALWYN CALL IT QUITS AFTER SIX YEARS OF DATING

British actor Joe Alwyn and singer Taylor Swift broke up a few weeks ago. According to Entertainment Tonight, the split was amicable and "it was not dramatic."

The portal was told "the relationship had just run its course. It's why (Alwyn) hasn't been spotted at any shows." Swift, 33, is currently on her The Eras tour, which heads to Tampa, Florida next week. It wasn't so long ago when Swift and Alwyn were said to have been in a great place in their relationship. They started dating in late 2016, and a source told ET back in October that they were "doing great" and that their "relationship is super strong."

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That update came just hours after Swift dropped her highly anticipated 10th studio album, Midnights, followed by seven additional songs released in her surprise 3am Edition of the album.

For his part, Alwyn, 32, told British Vogue in September 2018 that he's keenly aware fans always want to be in the know when it comes to his and Swift's relationship.

'THE CROWN' UNDERGOES REWRITE FOR SEASON 6 FOLLOWING GILLIAN ANDERSON'S EXIT

'The Crown' writers were forced to change the script for season six after it was revealed that Gillian Anderson would not be returning.

The 54-year-old actress previously portrayed former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the show but, after scheduling conflicts prevented her from reprising the role, 'The Crown' writers had to hastily rewrite some of the scripts, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"Gillian's portrayal of Thatcher was met with global critical acclaim and she was a huge asset to 'The Crown'. It had been hoped she would be able to make an appearance in scenes around the golden wedding but sadly that has not been the case due to scheduling issues," a source told The Sun newspaper.

"As ever with the series, clever scripting will mean viewers will be none the wiser. It's been another blow for producers in wh at's already been a fairly dogged production." Gillian's portrayal of Thatcher in season four won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Meanwhile, Gillian previously insisted that 'The Crown' has made the royal family "more internationally loved, celebrated and understood." She tol d Total Film magazine: "It's a drama. There's a lot of researchers involved and a lot of people checking and double-checking and triplechecking." "There's a lot that has not been written about that could be written about. And if you knew the difference in those, you'd see there is a great deal of kindness and restraint. And I think, at the end of the day, there are incredibly compassionate and wel l-rounded takes on human beings." "And what you're left with is properly, maturely drawn, complex characters. And there's a lot that's in there that one has to say; if you didn't do it, we wouldn't be writing about it. I think the whole family is more internationally loved, celebrated and understood in a way that they wouldn't be were it not for the show."

Actor Jack Black has some ideas for 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' sequel and he is suggesting Pedro Pascal get cast as Wario. Black voices Bowser in the animated movie and although he is not sure if his character would return for a potential followup film, he would want 'The Mandalorian' star to voice Mario's arch-rival, reports 'Deadline'.

"It's not a given that Bowser will return. You know, I did a few 'Kung Fu Panda' movies, and it was a different villain every movie. They may do the same thing," Black told Game Spot. "You know, what if there is a more powerful, more evil villain? Then I may need to be turned to help Mario and the rest to defend our universe against some other unseen force of evil. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Wario. Pedro Pascal is Wario." The 'Nacho Libre' star recently made a cameo on Pascal's Disney+ 'Star Wars' spinoff series alongside Lizzo.

US PRODUCTION HOUSE GOES AIRBORNE TO WISH ALLU ARJUN 'HAPPY B'DAY'

A production company in the United States went out of their way to wish actor Allu Arjun on his birthday on Saturday. People Media Factory flew a 'Happy Birthday Allu Arjun!' banner with the help of an aeroplane to greet the 'Pushpa' actor.

"A special initiative planned by our PeopleMediaFactory production team to show our love towards our very own Icon Star @alluarjun on his birthday," reads a tweet by the company, which posted a video

The star's fans were surprised with this act by the production house and appreciated the gesture in the comment section. Meanwhile, Allu Arjun has thanked all those who wished him on his birthday.

"Thank You all. Thank you for all the love & wishes from all over. I am truly blessed. Humbled. Gratitude Forever...," tweeted the actor. First look poster from 'Pushpa: The Rule' and a special video released by the makers on the eve of Allu Arjun's birthday received huge response on Friday.

The actor is seen dressed in a saree and wearing gold jewellery in the first look poster of the much-awaited sequel of Pushpa. After the huge success of 'Pushpa - The Rise', there are high expectations from the second part.

ALLU ARJUN DRESSES IN SAREE, LADEN WITH JEWELLERY IN ‘PUSHPA 2’ POSTER

MRUNAL THAKUR LOVES TAKING CHANCES AND IS 'GLAD' HER CHOICES PAID OFF

Actress Mrunal Thakur said that she always believed in taking chances and is overjoyed that her choices are being r ewarded. Her latest release is 'Gumraah', where she portrays the role of a righteous cop who goes to great lengths to uncover the truth behind a crime.

Speaking about her role in Gumraah, Mrunal said: "Playing a tough cop was a new experience for me. I had to put in a lot of effort to get into the skin of the character, but it was worth it. I am glad that the audience has appreciated my performance."

"Playing a tough cop in Gumraah was a challenging yet thrilling experience. I have always loved taking chances and doing unconventional roles, and I am glad that my choices have paid off. When I hear compliments about the film's engaging second half, and how my role contributed to it, it makes me feel great as a performer. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring impactful characters to life on screen." She will next be seen in 'Pippa' and 'Ankh Micholi'.

'AVATAR' ALMOST DIDN'T GET MADE AS PRODUCER STRUGGLED FOR FUNDS

"So Jim wrote 'Avatar' before we ever started filming 'Titanic' but we knew the technology did not exist to tell the story the way we wanted to tell the story," he told HeyUGuys.

"So we put it on the back burner until 2005 when we looked at the landscape of technology and said 'We could be the impetus to push it to the next level where we could finally make this movie.' And it wasn't about the 3-D, it was about the characters, it was about the world and putting them up there where they could be emotive and engaging." Jon went on to explain that the pair eventually secured a development deal with 20th Century Fox for the movie - which went on to become overtake 'Titanic' as the highest-grossing film of all time whilst its two sequels became the second and third highestgrossing respectively - but admitted that even being presented with a prototype, the studios were still hesitant to greenlight the project.

Allu Arjun is seen dressed in a saree and wearing gold jewellery in the first-look poster of ‘Pushpa: The Rule’, the much-awaited sequel of the hit movie.

The actor shared the poster of ‘Pushpa: The Rule’ on Twitter. The makers released the poster along with a teaser video — ‘Where is Pushpa?’ — on the eve of Allu Arjun’s birthday. Director Sukumar has raised the expectations of the audience with the three-minute special video introducing Pushpa and his world. After the huge success of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’, expectations are big from the sequel.

The video begins with the news that Pushpa has escaped from Tirupati jail with gunshot wounds. The police deploy a special unit to hunt down Pushpa in the forests. Pushpa’s supporters take to the streets and resort to violence following rumours of his death or his escape to some other country.

The chaotic situation pauses for a moment with the breaking news on a channel that Pushpa has been spotted in a jungle. The hidden camera footage from a nature reserve shows a tiger stepping away as Pushpa enters with his characteristic swagger. And he declares: “When an animal in a forest steps back, then you should know a tiger has come, but when tiger itself steps away, then it’s Pushpa who has come.” The video ends with the punchline: ‘Rule Pushpa Ka’. The much-awaited movie is likely to be released in the Summer of 2024.

ANIL KAPOOR WORKS OUT IN -110 DEGREES, SAYS IT IS TIME FOR 'SEXY AT 60'

Producer Jon Landau had a hard time trying to get studios interested in 'Avatar'. The 62-year-old producer is famous for his partnership with director James Cameron on the 1997 Oscar-winning blockbuster 'Titanic' but revealed that, when the pair were trying to get the 3D epic science fiction franchise 'Avatar' off the ground less than a decade later, it was tricky to sell the idea to Hollywood studios while the technology was not there, reports aceshowbiz.com.

He added: "And we went up to the studio at Fox at the time and we asked them to support us for a year, which they said yes to. We did a prototype test, that was very crude and we thought that was our floor, not our ceiling."

"We presented them with a whole package in 2006 but they weren't sure people would go see a movie with blue people had tails. After a series of circumstances, we were finally able to make the movie but it was not easy even after coming off of 'Titanic'."

KEANU REEVES TO MAKE BROADWAY DEBUT IN 'WAITING FOR GODOT'

play role in decades, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Various theatre insiders let it slip to Page Six that they have "heard that the 'John Wick' star will appear in the play," but added there is "no word on who is producing or directing the piece."

Keanu appeared in the 1993 Shakespeare movie 'Much Ado About Nothing' alongside Oscar-winning "Hamlet" director Sir Kenneth Branagh, 62, as well as Dame Emma Thompson, 63, Denzel Washington, 68, and Kate Beckinsale, 49.

He's also a theatre fan, and was last year seen in the audience of 'American Buffalo' in which his 'The Matrix' co-star Laurence Fishburne, 61, was starring.

Keanu has said that he would "love" to star in a musical, but has been stopped from doing it as he "can't sing." He told in a Reddit 'Ask me Anything' session: "I would love to be in a musical. But I can't sing so I'm not sure anybody else would want me in a musical but I sure would try. I mean I could sing, but not really well. I can always dream."

Previous runs of Beckett's bleak existential play 'Waiting for Godot' have featured a huge range of A-listers playing its two characters Vladimir and Estragon - who pointlessly wait for Godot who never shows up - including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, John Turturro, Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Steve Martin, and Robin Williams.

'THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE' MAKES $368 MN GLOBAL DEBUT, SETS RECORD

Calling it "a box office Koopad'etat", 'Variety' reports that the 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' continues to super smash its op ening projections, drawing $55 million from 4,343 theatres in North America on Friday.

Released on Wednesday (U.S. Time), the film has already earned $137 million in domestic ticket sales. "If every dollar were a c oin, that would amount to 1.37 million 1-Up mushrooms. That's a lot of extra lives," 'Variety' noted.

The Universal and Illumination film is still on track for a $195-million opening in North America over the five-day Easter weekend frame. That's way ahead of the $150 million projections that were being reported at the start of the week. Even more impressively, 'Super Mario Bros.' now looks to leap to a $368-million global debut. That would be the biggest-ever opening for an animated film, though, t o set the record straight, the current record holder -- 2019's 'Frozen II' -- earned $358 million over a traditional three-day window.

Shakira Takes Her Kids On Hols Before Moving To Miami After Split With Pique

Waka Waka hitmaker Shakira is holidaying with her two children in the stunning Turk and Caicos islands as she prepares for her new life in Miami. The singing star's whereabouts has been a mystery since she left Barcelona last weekend with sons Milan and Sasha, re ports 'Mirror.co.uk'.

Spanish press said she had picked a "paradise and remote" place to relax after her emotion-sapping break-up with ex Gerard Piqu e, which led to her releasing diss songs targeting the retired footballer and his new girlfriend Clara Chia. Now it has emerged that she had picked the British Overseas Territory of the Turk and Caicos Islands, famed for its golden sand beaches and turquoise water. The trip comes as it was reported she is planning to settle on the 'billionaire bunker' island of Indian Creek when she starts her new life in the States.

'Mirror.co.uk' further states that her holiday destination in the Caribbean was revealed as she prepared to pack her bags again for a new flight to Miami, where her children are due to start school.

Shakira is said to have enrolled them at a well-known private school just north of the city. Their new home will be a 14 million pounds mansion in Miami's glamorous South Beach area which the artiste bought in 2001 and is said to have put up for sale in 2018 befo re removing it from the market a few months ago.

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, known to be one of the fittest actors of his generation, is often lauded by the audience for his youthful looks at the age of 66. The actor once again left the audience stunned when he worked out in subzero temperature. The 'Parinda' actor recently posted videos in which he was seen working out in minus 110 degree Celcius with the help of an oxygen mask. Anil is currently busy with his next film 'Fighter' which also stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Akshay Oberoi, and he is not leaving any stone unturned to achieve the desired fitness levels for the film since it's an action film and demands a lot physically from actors. In the video, Anil Kapoor is seen undergoing cryotherapy. He can be seen working out shirtless in an enclosed area with temperatures that are unfathomable. In the second video, the actor also showed a thumbs-up sign while jumping and jogging. He wrote in the caption: "Naughty at 40 ka time gaya...its time to be Sexy at 60...#fightermodeon."

ALI FAZAL, RICHA CHADHA TO RETURN WITH SEASON 2 OF AUDIO SERIES 'VIRUS 2062'

Actor couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, who lent their voices to the main characters in the audio thriller series 'Virus 2062', are set to return for its second season after listeners reached out to them directly on social mediawith the request.

The couple are all set to enter the studio again with a new season of the series. This is their first project together after their wedding which took place in October 2022.

Talking about the series, Ali said: "It is nice when fans, viewers or even listeners reach out to you directly to tell you what they like and even remember your work. For example, 'Virus 2062'. That audio series was so loved by people that Richa and I still get requests to come out with season 2. Now there is a growing popularity of podcasts, but this series came out in 2021 and it was a huge experiment for us even then to be part of something like this. It all pays off when you see a reaction like this.

2023: THE FIRST QUARTER IS DISMAL

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Besides the OTT platforms, one must also consider television channels. There are now hundreds of them for national viewers as well as the ones who are more comfortable with regional languages. All have been dishing out interesting content with great production values.

Entertainment that uses action and comedy and romance is fine but the generation now is curious and is open to such content as 'Scam 1992' and 'Rocket Boys'.

As for filmmakers, they, sadly, can't think beyond the formula. They now dish out the same old stuff costing crores, what the earlier generation delivered for lakhs. Only, these are much inferior when compared to earlier films.

As things stand now, a normal film with a big star would cost on average Rs 200 crore. Because these big stars charge Rs 100 crore or more. That limits the budget for the actual making of the film. Add to that the cost of special effects to make these aged stars look younger.

And then, in most cases, add the cost of acquiring the remake rights paid to a South Indian producer (almost all Hindi films are remakes of South Indian productions, when they are not inspired by Hollywood movies). With this kind of input costs, a film with a major star needs to do business of at least Rs 500 crore to show some profit. It's a highstake risk which is not worth taking because most films fail to manage to make that kind of money.

Here, one may argue that there are also satellite rights and OTT rights that contribute to a film's recovery. But these mediums no longer go by the filmmaker's word when it comes to box-office figures and have tied up the final cost of a film's rights to its box-office collections. To them, the face value of a film does not matter anymore the way it did initially when they entered the Indian market. If one observes closely, there are no big stars in OTT programming. Most feature those who played character roles in films or those who were not getting films anymore. It seems, what sells is content and performances. This year so far, 12 films were released directly on OTT and about 18 after a formal theatrical release.

So, what does the industry have to show for the first three months? Two films stood their ground to a varied extent namely 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar' and 'Pathaan'. Between them, they have collected approximately Rs 700 crore.

Out of these, 'Pathaan' claims a take of Rs 500 crore; 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar' collected Rs 120 crore. Films such as 'Kuttey', 'Gandhi Godse:

Ek Yudh', 'Shehzaada', 'Selfiee', 'Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway', 'Zwigato' and 'Bheed' contributed the rest. Other small films contributed around Rs 100 crore. 'Bhola' released at the fag end of March and its business will reflect only later. Compare this with the first quarter of 2019 when there were quite a few films that hovered around Rs 100 crore or more. These films included 'Uri', 'Manikarnika', 'Total Dhamaal', 'Gully Boy', 'Luka Chuppi', 'Badla', 'Kesari', along with 'Junglee', 'The Accidental Prime Minister', 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To' and 'Thackeray' contributing another Rs 100 crore, all adding up to Rs 1,100 crore for the first quarter.

So, were it not for 'Pathaan', this quarter would have been a total disaster.

It does not stop at the dismal first quarter, the next quarter promises nothing material in the offing. This is because in the quarter that just closed, there has been no big announcement. Filmmakers such as Sajid Nadiadwala, Karan Johar or other big-time producers have not been hasty in announcing new projects -- the circumstances being so uncertain. Also, there are no corporate houses to bankroll huge projects. It has always been the norm: you earn from this industry, but never reinvest your earnings (except in property). Movies have always been made on borrowed or outside monies. One announcement that made it to the media in the first quarter was about 'Pathaan vs Tiger' from Yash Raj Films. The announcement sounds gimmicky, aimed at keeping it in the media glare and garnering the initial audience for the first few days. After all, the two stars fell apart after doing Rakesh Roshan's 'Karan Arjun' (1995). For whatever differences they had with Rakesh Roshan, both are said to have vowed never to work with him again. Shah Rukh Khan, however, went ahead and did 'Koylaa' for the same producer. Of course, some maturity of thinking did lead to guest roles in each other's films in this duration.

If your film gets footfalls in the first few days, it adds to a film's prospects on the satellite and OTT circuits. They no longer buy films blindly on face value. Their buying is now determined by the box-office figures generated by a film. A film's satellite rights are worth 25 per cent and the OTT rights 50 per cent of the box office collections. Inflated collections are good for social media and even news channels. OTT and satellite platforms are not fooled by these figures anymore. They ask for GST payment receipts.

In such circumstances, cinema chain holders are facing tough times. Footfalls have still not returned to pre-Covid days.

As one may be aware, almost all, save a few, major multiplex properties are on rent and, lately, films are not doing well enough for the cinemas to be comfortable paying these rents. In such an event, they are said to have proposed that the property owners take a share in the box-office revenue instead of the rents!

Due to the desperate situation cinemas face, the managements came up with various ways to generate extra revenue with new ideas. Usually, the ideas they come up with don't generate money. The whizkids at PVR and INOX have come up with one such idea, which can be only be described as harebrained. This cinema chain has plans for the viewers to pay Re 1 and watch release trailers of various new films in a 30-minute slot!

Somebody has to be really naive to take out time and watch 30 minutes of trailers of forthcoming films even for free, let alone Re 1. Does the Re 1 include parking? Considering there is a short supply of cinema content internationally and at home, where will the new trailers come from?

How do you check if one buys a Re 1 ticket, loiters around the lobby and sneaks into any other auditorium screening a full-length film? The number of ushers at these multi-screen cinemas is very limited. What about the risk that the trailer you screen fails to inspire or even disappoints, so much so that the viewer decides not to watch the film when released? It may lead to rating the trailers. And what purpose will your generous offer serve when every teaser or trailer is instantly available on YouTube after it is put in the public domain?

RYAN REYNOLDS BUYS A $1.8 MILLION HOME IN WELSH VILLAGE

'Deadpool' star Ryan Reynolds has snapped up a $1.8 million house in a small Welsh village following his Wrexham FC success. The Hollywood A-lister, 46, has become a local hero thanks to pumping cash into the struggling football club and has shown his commitment by owning a property in the area, reports Mirror.co.uk. The actor looks set to shift from the bright lights of New York to the village of Marford, just five miles from his football ground. It will be a stark contrast from the star's $5.3 million in the Big Apple, where he lives with actress wife Blake Lively and their four children. A source told The Sun: "Ryan is moving to Marford and it's all the locals can talk about. His house is on the poshest road." The source further mentioned, quoted by Mirror.co.uk: "The most famous perso n from Marford is Tim Vincent from Blue Peter, so a Hollywood star is a step up. It might not be the Big Apple but the red carpet will be rolled out when Ryan comes to town." Ryan and Hollywood actor Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham FC back in 2020 and have spent $10.2 million on the club as it bids for promotion to the Football League.

DAISY RIDLEY ANNOUNCES SHE'S BACK AS REY IN NEW 'STAR WARS' MOVIE

Actress Daisy Ridley played Rey in the most recent trilogy in the franchise and at 'Star Wars Celebration' in London revealed s he's "thrilled" to be stepping back into the role for a film which will be set 15 years after 2019's 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'.

The film will "tell the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down," director Sharmeen Oba id-Chinoy explained, reports aceshowbiz.com.

She went on: "I've always been attracted to the hero's journey and the fact that the world needs many more heroes."

The filmmaker added she had been immersing herself in a Jedi Academy with a "powerful Jedi master" and Daisy then walked out on stage. She said: "My heart is pounding. I'm very thrilled to be continuing this journey."

The event also revealed two other 'Star Wars' films in the pipeline, including one from James Mangold and another from 'The Man dalorian' executive producer Dave Filoni and producer Jon Favreau.

'INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY' TRAILER HINTS AT END OF INDY'S SEARCH

Indiana Jones is back for his one last adventure in the first full trailer for 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny'.

The approximately two-minute video sees Harrison Ford's titular character getting dragged out of retirement, reports aceshowbiz .com. The trailer puts Indy back into action, riding a horse through a New York street parade, getting involved in a street chase aro und dusty Moroccan streets and jumping out of a burning plane with his goddaughter Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

The video also gives more insight into what's happening in the movie as he's visited by Helena, who knows he once found "a dial that could change the course of history" on a train with the Nazi Voller (Mads Mikkelsen). Indy cautiously tells her that what she's searching for made her own father go crazy.

Despite being reluctantly dragged into the adventure, it's apparently all worth it as he gets to find what he's been looking for all this time.

"But I've been looking for this...all my life," he says at the end of the video, as the scene sees him looking mesmerised.

"They haven't seen each other for a very long time and in some ways she's the worst thing that could happen to him at this time in his life, but also the best thing," Waller-Bridge said of Indy and Helena's relationship on the Star Wars Celebration stage. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the upcoming fifth 'Indiana Jones' movie will be the last installment in the franchise. Director James Mangold said in a statement: "My legendary collaborators and I are very excited to share a brand new and final I ndiana Jones adventure with you!" Antonio Banderas also stars as one of the villains, while John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Sallah and Toby Jones joins the cast as Basil.

CONTD. FROM PAGE 17

She captioned it: "Two events this week have left me a bit shaken. 1 regarding my daughter Gia-where a woman tried to take her photo. When we politely asked her not to, she walked away, then suddenly scooped my daughter in her arms & planted a big wet kiss next to her mouth & ran off saying what a cute baby. This woman lives in an elite building & happened to be in the garden where my kids were playing. If I wasn't a celebrity I probably would have reacted badly but kept my cool as I didn't want to make a scene."

"U can see the 2nd incident here. I had a plane to catch & this handicapped man kept trying to stop me. Over the years he has harassed me for money & I have given it to him when I could. This time when he asked for money I said sorry today I have no cash, just a credit card. The lady with me gave him some money from her purse. He threw it back at her cuz it wasn't enough & started getting aggressive. As u can see, he followed us for some time & got more aggressive." "The photographers found this incident funny. Instead of helping us they filmed & laughed. NO ONE told him not to follow the car or harass us as anyone could have got hurt. Had there been an accident, I would have been blamed. Me being a celebrity would have been questioned. Bollywood would have been blamed & a lot of negativity would have spread." "I think it's high time people realise that I'm a human being first, then a mom & then a celebrity. I also don't need to apologise for my success constantly & be bullied for it cuz I've worked very hard to get where I am," she also said. She added that she has an equal right like anyone else in this country to live the way she wants and urged everyone to think before judging and stop blaming celebrities for everything. "Most importantly my children are NOT part of a package deal & are not meant to be preyed on so please leave my kids alone & don't come to them for photos or touch/grab them. They are infants & need to be treated like infants, not celebrities," added Preity.

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA TO EMBARK ON AN EIGHT-CITY US TOUR IN JULY

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana is set for his solo US tour in July where he is expected to enthrall audiences in eight American cities with his incredible musical talent.

Ayushmann will be seen touring Dallas, San Jose, Seattle, Washington DC, New Jersey, Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago in the U.S., as well as Toronto in Canada in July and August this year.

Ayushmann, who has delivered several hit songs like 'Paani Da Rang', is proud to be representing Hindi music to audiences in North America. He said: "iMusic has enabled me to connect with countless people and I constantly look forward to my live concerts because I get to experience this connection first hand. I'm grateful that the world has come out of the debilitating pandemic and we are again doing things that are community experiences." "I was missing my live concerts because as an entertainer, I only look to spread joy through my films and music. I felt that was taken away from me."

Ayushmann added: "I'm in a much happier headspace now that I can travel and sing and do these concerts and see the smiles on people's faces! I can't wait for my U.S. tour. I can't wait to be in these cities. I'm always proud to represent Hindi music to audiences globally and I hope people will enjoy what we have in store for them."

On the film front, Ayushmann will be seen in the much-awaited 'Dream Girl 2', which releases on July 7.

RINKU SINGH SAYS 'LOVE YOU' TO SRK AFTER HE POSTS EDITED 'PATHAAN' POSTER

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan had shared an edited picture of cricketer Rinku Singh on 'Pathaan' poster after his team Kolkata Knight Riders' won against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

SRK took to Twitter, where he shared the edited poster on Sunday and wrote: "JHOOME JO RINKUUUUU!!! My baby @rinkusingh235 And @NitishRana_27 and @venkateshiyer you beauties!!! And remember believe that's all. Congratulations @KKRiders and @VenkyMysore take care of your heart sir!"

On Monday, quoting his tweet, Singh thanked SRK for his love. He tweeted: "Shah Rukh sir yaaar. Love you sir and thank you for your constant support."

On the day of the match, Singh slammed five consecutive sixes off the final over to take the Knights home in dramatic fashion and concluded his innings unbeaten on 48 of 21 balls. The thrilling win took KKR to the second spot in the standings with two wins and a healthy Net Run Rate. They will next lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on April 14.

IPL 2023: STOINIS, POORAN FIFTIES LEAD LUCKNOW SUPERGIANTS TO THRILLING ONE-WICKET WIN OVER ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

Lucknow Super Giants were 37/3 at the end of power-play, with Royal Challengers Bangalore firmly on top of them in a run chase of 213 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium but Marcus Stoinis brought his side back with his impressive 30-ball 65 while Nicholas Pooran smashed a sensational 19-ball 62, including hitting fastest fifty of the season in 15 balls, to take the team to a last-ball thrilling one-wicket victory in a dramatic match, here on Monday.

Mohammed Siraj gave Bangalore an ideal start as Kyle Mayers chopped on to his stumps. Wayne Parnell dealt double blows to Lucknow, having Deepak Hooda nick behind a cutter to Dinesh Karthik and then forcing Krunal Pandya to edge off an outswinger to the keeper. Stoinis began his onslaught by flicking off the pads for six off Harshal Patel, then slashed through point and smacked a straight drive down the ground for back-to-back fours. He welcomed Karn Sharma with a pulled six over deep mid-wicket and struck a brace of fours. A lofted driven six over long-off against Shahbaz Ahmed got Stoinis his fifty in 25 balls. He hit a six each off Karn and Shahbaz, before slicing to deep point off the former. With Rahul flicking straight to deep square leg off Siraj in the 12th over, it felt all was over for Lucknow. But Pooran had other plans, starting his blitz with a classic square cut off Siraj, with Ayush Badoni taking a four too off him. While Badoni flicked Karn off his legs for four, Pooran upped the ante with successive sixes and teared into Harshal with two pulled sixes, apart from a four cut through short third man. Parnell came under attack from Pooran, with the left-hander slicing him twice for fours apart from a six whacked over long-on which got him his fifty in just 15 balls. Badoni was lucky in an outside edge flying over short third man for four off Willey while Pooran ended the 16th over with a magnificent swing over deep square leg for six. His blitzkrieg came to an end in the 17th over when he picked out deep backward square leg off a full toss from Siraj. Jaydev Unadkat guided a yorker past keeper for four off Harshal while Badoni pulled Parnell for another boundary. Badoni moved across to scoop a six off Parnell, but his bat crashed into the stumps to be out hit-wicket. As Bangalore fielded four fielders outside the circle in final over due to over rate penalty, Harshal added more drama by castling Mark Wood and had Unadkat holing out to a juggling long-on. After Harshal’s attempt to run out Ravi Bishnoi twice didn’t happen, a fumble from Karthik behind allowed Bishnoi and Avesh Khan to go for a leg-bye, taking Lucknow to a thrilling last ball victory. Earlier, Virat Kohli was at his aggressive best in attacking pacers in power-play while making 61 off 44 balls. Faf du Plessis was at 33 off 31 balls and looked scratchy but he found his timing to be unbeaten on 79 from 46 deliveries. Glenn Maxwell smacked 59 off just 29 balls, as the crowd was treated to some scintillating strokeplay with Bangalore reaching 212/2 in 20 overs. Kohli got his first boundary with a not-so-convincing shot — getting a fat topedge on a pull off Avesh. When offered width on the very next ball, Kohli drove authoritatively through extra cover for four. Kohli further attacked Avesh in his second over through a brace of crisp drives on the up through cover, and welcomed Krunal Pandya with a delightful loft for six over long-on. Wood’s extra pace didn’t trouble Kohli as he brought out the drive over the bowler’s head for four and on the next ball, rocked back to pull over midwicket for six.

Rinku Singh's five sixes help Kolkata pull off an unimaginable heist against Gujarat

With five balls left in the final over, Kolkata Knight Riders needed 28 runs, with a victory for Gujarat Titans looking imminent, especially after stand-in captain Rashid Khan took a hat-trick.

But Rinku Singh smashed five successive sixes on the last five balls off Yash Dayal to complete an improbable heist in the history of IPL and give Kolkata a memorable three-wicket victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Fifties from B Sai Sudharsan and Vijay Shankar, including him smashing Lockie Ferguson and Shardul Thakur for five sixes and two fours in the 19th and 20 overs, yielding 45 runs overall, took Gujarat to 204/4 in 20 overs.

In reply, Venkatesh Iyer smashed 83 off 40 balls and shared a 100-run partnership off 55 balls with captain Nitish Rana to take Kolkata to victory. But 'ashid's hat-trick in the 17th overturned the game in G'jarat's favour before Rinku brought in another twist through his unbeaten 48 in a jaw-dropping display of strokeplay to seal a Kolkata win. RahmanullahGurbaz fell to a short ball from Mohammed Shami in the third over, with short leg holding on to the catch and avoiding a collision with substitute keeper KS Bharat. Josh Little sent back N Jagadeesan in the fourth over by having him pull straight to deep square leg. Iyer, coming in as an impact player for Suyash Sharma, got off the mark with an upper cut over the third man for six. Every shot coming from his bat was finely middled - like the punch off Shami, executing a deft shot off Alzarri Joseph and pulling off Dayal to hit a boundary each in the last three overs of power-play. After the field restrictions were lifted, Iyer pulled Dayal for a four and six in the seventh over. In the next over, Rana pulled and cut off Alzarri Joseph for two sixes. Rashid brought himself on in the ninth over, but Iyer slog-swept him for six, followed by Rana pulling for four more in the 11th over. In the next over, Iyer reached his fifty in 26 balls by flicking Dayal past short fine leg for four, followed by hitting a brace of sixes over square leg and long-off. Boundaries continued to flow as

MEN’S ODI PLAYER RANKINGS: SHUBMAN RISES TO FOURTH, SOUTH AFRICA’S MARKRAM MAKES BIG GAINS

India’s Shubman Gill has moved up one spot to number four in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings due to the week’s results and movements in the rankings.

Gill reached a career-best batting ranking of No 4 with 738 points, placing him behind Babar Azam (887) of Pakistan, Rassie van der Dussen (777) of South Africa and Imam-ul Haq (740) of Pakistan. South Africa batter Aiden Markram has made significant gains in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after hitting a career-best 175 against the Netherlands over the past week.

Markram gained 13 spots to reach 41st position in the batting rankings and 16 places to 32nd in the all-rounders’ list, another career-best feat in each as South Africa beat the Dutch 2-0 in their three-match series in Johannesburg. They edged closer to automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year. The Netherlands batters also made good progress, with Max O’Dowd (up to 75th from 78th), Vikramjit Singh (up to 109th from 119th) and Teja Ndiamanuru (up to 138th from 154th) the most notable mentions. Other gains were made by New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls, who climbed two spots to 69 in the batting rankings and his teammate Will Young, who leapt 60 spots to a personal best 143rd following their 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka.

SEIFERT DOES IT AGAIN AS NEW ZEALAND BEAT SRI LANKA, WIN SERIES 2-1

Opener Tim Seifert struck a blazing 88 off 48 deliveries to help New Zealand chase a modest target to beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the third T20I and win the three-match T20I series 2-1, here on Saturday. Opening the innings with Chad Bowes (17), Tim Seifert struck his second successive half-century after an unbeaten 79 in the second T20I in Dunedin won by the Black Caps. He added 53 runs for the first wicket partnership and then raised another 84 runs for the third wicket with skipper Tom Latham (31) as New Zealand chased the target of 183. Sri Lanka's innings of 182/4 in 20 overs was built around a 48-ball 73 by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who got good support from Kusal Perera (33). But in the end, that score was not enough to stop New Zealand as they lost a couple of quick wickets but eventually reached 183/6 in the final over. With Seifert breezing to his half-century off 26 balls, hitting five boundaries and three maximums, New Zealand was always on course in their chase. Seifert was eventually out at 157/3 in the 17th over but by that time the Black Caps were on course to victory. Just when it looked like Seifert would go on to get a century, he was slapped one straight to Kasun Rajitha at cover off Pramod Madushan for 88. His 48-ball knock was studded with 10 boundaries and three sixes. Daryl Mitchell (15), Mark Chapman (16) and James Neesham (0) were out quickly but that did not stop New Zealand from reaching the target after a dramatic final over in which three wickets fell at the Sir John Davies Oval. Rachin Ravindra scored a double off the fifth ball of the final over to seal victory for the Black Caps. Earlier, Kusal Mendis was dropped twice on his way to making 73 off 48 for the visitors, who were sent in to bat first by Tom Latham.

Rana brought out the sweep and reverse-sweep against Rashid. But Joseph broke the century-partnership in the 16th over as Rana chipped straight to mid-off.

Iyer continued to keep Kolkata in the hunt, hitting Little for two fours in the 15th over, before ending the over with a clean swing over longoff for six. His blistering knock came to an end in the next over when he holed out to long-on off Joseph.

The crowd suddenly found its noise back and that got louder in the 17th over when Rashid had Andre Russell caught behind off an inside edge, Sunil Narine caught at deep mid-wicket and trapped Shardul Thakur lbw with a googly to complete a sensational hat-trick.

But Rinku had other ideas - hitting Little straight down the ground for six and pulling him through square leg for four in the 19th over. With 29 needed off the final over, Rinku feasted on poor balls from Dayal by smashing a hat-trick of sixes over wide long-off, backward square leg and long-off. He then hit successive sixes over long-on fence to give Kolkata an unimaginable victory.

IPL 2023: TRIPATHI, MARKANDE HELP SUNRISERS BEAT PUNJAB KINGS DESPITE DHAWAN'S 99 NOT OUT

Rahul Tripathi smashed a vital unbeaten half-century after spinner Mayank

Markande claimed a four-fer on debut as Sunrisers Hyderabad thrashed

Punjab Kings, for whom Shikhar Dhawan blasted 99 not out, by eight wickets in Match 14 of IPL 2023 here on Sunday. , Tripathi smacked 74 off 48 deliveries while skipper Aiden Markram smashed 37 off 21 deliveries as they raised 100 runs for the unfinished third wicket partnership off 51 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 145/ 2 in 17.1 overs chasing a modest score of 143/9 in 20 overs built on an unbeaten 99 by PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan.

The PBKS innings was destroyed by rookie leg spinner Markahde who claimed his first four-fer with a 4-15, making use of the conditions.

Markande, making his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad, was the pick of the SRH bowlers as he claimed the wickets of Sam Curran (22), Shahrukh Khan (5), Rahul Chahar (0) and Nathan Ellis (0), bowling to a superb line and length and mixing up his googlies and leg-spinners superbly to keep the batter guessing.

This was Sunrisers Hyderabad's first win this season after defeats in their first two matches. PBKS suffered their first defeat after two wins. Sunrisers Hyderabad got off to a modest start as they managed 34/1 in the Power-play. At the same time, Punjab Kings were 41/3.

The fact that they did not lose too many wickets early in their innings, thus making their chase of the modest target of 144 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here, look early.

There was an early stutter when they lost Harry Brook for 13 after he had struck three fours during his 14-ball stay. Mayank Agarwal and Rahul Tripathi took the score to 47 before Agarwal, who has moved PBKS to SRH this season, was out after a 20-ball 21, hitting three fours.

However, Rahul Tripathi and skipper Aiden Markram batted sensibly on a pitch that was offering swing and seam and was also helping the spinners.

Tripathi was the star for the team as he slogged Rahul Chahar flat over wide midwicket just over Sam Curran for a six and then struck the spinner for fours off successive balls in the 9th over. Harpreet Brar was smacked for three fours in the 10th over as Tripathi hammered fours off successive deliveries, the second one a beauty to execute which he came down the track and lofted inside out over extra cover.

He smashed two sixes off Mohit Rathee and followed up the second one with a reverse-sweep four over point and another four in the next ball, driving square behind point and beating the sweeper to the rope. He got good support from his skipper Aiden Markram as they added 100 runs for the unfinished third-wicket partnership off 51 deliveries.

Initially, the South African batter played second fiddle to Tripathi before slicing Nathan Ellist behind point for a four. He hammered Ellis for four successive fours in the 17th over as Sunrisers romped to victory. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan played a lone hand for Punjab Kings, smashing an unbeaten 99 as he batted through the innings, helping his team recover from 88/9 to reach a modest total of 143/9 in 20 overs. At one time, it looked like Punjab may not even reach 100, but Dhawan had other ideas as he went after the bowling, shielding last-man Mohit Rathee (1 not out) to add 55 runs for the last-wicket partnership. Dhawan blasted 12 boundaries and five sixes during his sensational innings and ended up scoring 69.2% of his team's runs. This is the second-highest per cent after Brendon McCullum blazed to 158 out of KKR's total of 222 (71.2%) in the first match in IPL history in 2008. SRH ended the Power-play at 41/3 before Sam Curran and Dhawan repaired the innings a bit and took them past 50. Curran swatted Jansen for a six over wide long-on and then followed it up with a drive over extra-cover for a one-bounce four. The English batter punched W Sundar for four and struck Mayank Markande for a boundary in the 9th over. But Markande had the last laugh as he claimed Curran with a superb googly spinning away as the batter miscued an easy catch to short third man. He scored 22 off 15 balls, hitting three fours and one six as PBKS were down to 63/4. Sikandar Raza (5), M Shahrukh Khan (4), Harpreet Brar (1), Rahul Chahar (0) and Nathan Ellis (0) were out in quick succession as PBKS 88/9 and in danger of failing to cross the 100-run mark. However, skipper Shikhar Dhawan launched a brilliant onslaught and found a willing par tner in Mohit Rathee as they added 55 runs from 31 balls for the last wicket partnership to take PBKS to a decent score. Rathee scored only one run in that partnership.

'RECORD NUMBER OF ADVERTISERS, SPONSORS JOIN JIOCINEMA IN FIRST WEEK OF IPL 2023'

JioCinema, the digital streaming partner of the IPL 2023, had a stellar opening week with 23 sponsors signing up for advertising on the platform, read a statement.

The number of advertisers and sponsors signed up by JioCinema for IPL 2023 is significantly higher than any event on digital streaming in India. "The sponsors on JioCinema for their digital streaming of TATA IPL 2023, included (Co-Presenting Sponsor) Dream11, (Co-Powered) JioMart, PhonePe, Tiago EV, (Associate Sponsor) Appy Fizz, ET Money, Castrol, TVS, Oreo, Bingo, Sting, AJIO, Haier, RuPay, Louis Philippe Jeans, Amazon, Rapido, Ultra Tech Cement, Puma, Kamla Pasand, Kingfisher Power Soda, Jindal Panther TMT Rebar and Indeed.

"The number of advertisers on JioCinema who have signed up is also a new record as is the revenue booked, both significantly higher than last year on digital. W ith viewers enjoying the unique language feeds including Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Marathi, and Gujarati and digital only features like Multi-cam, 4K, Hype Mode, the list of brands joining the digital bandwagon is expected to grow further. Viewers were glued to JioCinema's fan-centric presentation as the average time spent per viewer per match touched 57 minutes during the weekend, which was up by over 60% compared to last season's first weekend and has sustained in the first week," the statement added.

CHARLESTON OPEN: ONS JABEUR STUNS BENCIC TO CLINCH FIRST

Title Of The Season

Last year's runner-up, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia exacted revenge on reigning champion Belinda Bencic to capture the 2023 Charleston Open with a tight straight-sets victory over the Swiss player. The Tunisian world No. 5 battled from a break down in the first set and then held her nerve in set two ? to move to 154 in her Charleston career, beating the Swiss star 7-6(6) 6-4. This was her fourth career title and first of the season. Interestingly, Jabeur and Bencic were the first duo to face off in back-to-back finals in tournament history.

"I've been wanting to win this tournament for a long time. People have been amazing to me. So it's nice to have a great memory here in Charleston and this is a pretty good start to the clay season," Jabeur said.

"I'm very excited to go to Paris and celebrate with my family and with my little nephew, who was just born three weeks ago. This is his gift. He doesn't know it, but it's his gift."

Jabeur was just 4-4 coming into Charleston having undergone minor knee surgery in February. The No. 2 seed didn't drop a set all week, including a win over 2017 champion Daria Kasatkina in the rain on Saturday afternoon.

With a win, Jabeur moved back up to world No. 4 as Charleston kicked off the clay swing on the WTA Tour, in which Jabeur is the defending champion in Madrid.

Since the start of the 2020 season, the Tunisian has now won 37 matches on clay, the most of any player on tour, one more than IgaSwiatek during that span. On the other hand, allAmerican pair Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk saved two match points to defeat top seeds Giuliana Olmos and Ena Shibahara 0-6, 6-4 [14-12] to win the women's doubles title.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK-PEEK INTO JANHVI KAPOOR'S WORK-FITNESS BALANCE

HYUNDAI TO INVEST $18.2 BN IN EV PRODUCTION BY 2030

WE'VE ALL HEARD THE TERM 'WORK-LIFE BALANCE', BUT HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE TERM 'WORK-FITNESS BALANCE'? WHETHER A WOMAN IS A HOMEMAKER OR WORKING, IT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO MAINTAIN A GOOD LIFESTYLE WHEN WORK ALMOST ALWAYS TAKES PRIORITY OVER EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR LIVES. LET'S LEARN ABOUT JANHVI KAPOOR'S WORK-FITNESS HARMONY! THE GORGEOUS B-TOWN DIVA IS KNOWN FOR HER OUTSTANDING ROLES IN BLOCKBUSTER FILMS LIKE ROOHI, DHADAK, AND GUNJAN SAXENA: THE KARGIL GIRL.

GEN Z HOMEBUYERS CONSIDER SMART FEATURES, NEW BUILDS AND PRIORITIZE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, NEW SURVEY SHOWS

With 2022 having seen a notable increase in mortgage rates compared to historical lows in 2020-21, and with many economic factors to watch based on the first quarter of 2023, many U.S. homebuyers and sellers are rethinking their approach to achieving their real estate goals, according to a study commissioned by RE/MAX, the #1 name in real estate*.

The global real estate franchisor released a comprehensive, current analysis of consumer tendencies and professional strategies around buying, selling, or owning a home. The U.S. Future of Real Estate 2023 Report was developed in partnership with the advertising agency Camp + King and conducted by leading consumer insights agency Canvas8. The research, which included a survey of more than 2,900 American homebuyers or sellers, along with expert interviews with real estate researchers and economists, identified six key themes exploring how people's attitudes and values toward buying, owning, and selling homes are shifting.

As a real estate franchisor dedicated to helping real estate professionals deliver a better customer experience, RE/MAX commissioned the report to uncover valuable insights for agents. The six key themes identified in the report as main trends and mindsets impacting homebuying and selling in 2023 are:

1. Information Overload - People want help making better sense of the homebuying and selling process.

2. Real Talk - People want real estate agents to offer more humancentered support.

3. Modern Adaptability - People are making compromises in search of stability.

4. Future-Proofed Properties - People are looking for self-sustaining, resilient homes.

5. New Hubs - People are looking for areas that offer them the opportunity to connect with a community.

6. Curated Control - People want spaces they can optimize for work and play.

"The events of the past few years have made homebuyers more deliberate about what a home should offer them," said Nick Bailey, RE/MAX President and CEO. "A home purchase is one of the largest transactions a person will make in their lifetime, so it's important for them to have a clear understanding about what they're seeking in a home. Research like this can help a real estate professional guide them in their search."

Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday it will invest 24 trillion won ($18.2 billion) in its domestic electric vehicle (EV) production facilities and other EV projects by 2030. Hyundai Motor, its smaller affiliate Kia and auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis will collectively make the investment to become the world's No. 3 EV maker in terms of sales by 2030, the group said in a statement. The move is in line with global carmakers' plans to fill their lineups with zero-emission vehicles to help slow the pace of global warming. The companies will spend most of the planned investments in expanding their existing EV production lines, developing future mobility parts and technologies, establishing the EV infrastructure and exploring new EV business opportunities, reports Yonhap news agency. The latest investment figure has been revised up from 21 trillion won announced by the Korean automotive group in May last year. Hyundai Motor and Kia are aiming to sell a combined 3.64 million all-electric vehicles in global markets in 2030. In this year's CEO Investor Day last week, Kia said it aims to sell 1.6 million EVs in 2030.

EATING HANDFUL OF NUTS & SEEDS

DAILY CAN LOWER HEART RISK BY 25%

LONDON: Want to boost your heart health? Eating a handful of nuts and seeds can help you reduce the risk of heart disease by 25 per cent, according to a new study. The study showed nuts lower cholesterol levels and are linked to a lower risk of cardio-vascular disease. By eating nuts, you reduce your risk of suffering or dying from a heart attack.

One of the reasons is the composition of fatty acids in nuts, the researchers said. "Even though nuts cannot be used to treat high cholesterol, we believe that the effect is significant enough to be used as a preventive measure amongst the general population," Erik Arnesen, research fellow at the University of Oslo said. Researchers from the University of Oslo in Norway and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 60 previous studies. "If you eat a handful of nuts every day, that is around 30 grams, you will have a 20 to 25 per cent lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease. Many people do not eat nuts or seeds at all," Arnesen said, in the paper published in the journal Food & Nutrition Research.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK-PEEK INTO JANHVI KAPOOR'S WORK-FITNESS BALANCE

She is not only an endearing actress, but also a great inspiration for her dedication and commitment to fitness. Read on to know her fitness secrets and how with consistency half the fitness battle is won! "It has been a long journey and a constant conscious effort to prioritise what's important! Waking up and getting on our feet to work long hours is something that we all relate to, but through all this, staying fit makes you feel much better. Consume meals that are protein-packed and consume them more often. Take your breaks well and indulge in nutritious snacking habits -this way you will achieve half of it and the other half is with a good and functional exercise routine and a good sleep schedule," said Janhvi, who firmly believes in - You Feel Better When You Are Fitter!

5 Reasons Why You Should Incorporate Peptides In Your Skincare

Over the past few years, skincare and the patterns related to it have changed significantly. Every two months, we notice a particular ingredient or product trending strongly in the market, but it's important to know what would be best for your complexion and avoid following trends without doing your research. Among these popular ingredients is peptide.

Peptides are amino acids that can pass through the skin's protective layer and assist your body in produc ing collagen on its own, internally. Malini Adapureddy lists five ways that peptides can improve your complexion in order to help you learn m ore about this miraculous ingredient.

Anti-aging properties

When peptides are applied directly to the skin, they can pass through the outer layer and penetrate deeper, where collagen is formed, and further stimulate the formation of collagen. Peptides are thus a promising ingredient in skincare products for their ability to stimulate collagen production, improve skin elasticity, and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of peptides in skincare products may vary depending on the specific peptide used and the product formulation. Deconstruct's Retinol & Peptide Serum may be the best choice as this power combination of Retinol and Peptides (Proteasyl) works effectively on minimising the signs of ageing and also nourishes and moisturises skin to fight fine lines and wrinkles.

Improved skin barrier

The body's first line of defence against bacteria, UV radiation, pollution, and other particles, is the skin barrier. Over-exfoliation, exposure to cigarette smoke and other pollutants, and even poor sleep, can harm the skin barrier. Pep tides can help improve this barrier function by stimulating the production of new skin cells, increasing the production of collagen and elastin, and promoting the retention of moisture in the skin.

Reduced inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can lead to tissue damage and accelerate the ageing process. Peptides can help reduce inflammation in the skin by modulating the activity of certain molecules involved in inflammatory response, leading to a healthier, more youthful appearance.

Helps achieve even skin tone

Uneven skin tone, also known as hyperpigmentation, can be caused by various factors, such as sun exposure, hormonal changes, and ageing. Peptides can help achieve even skin tone by regulating the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to the skin. By preventing the skin from various harmful external factors, peptides can also reduce the formation of dark spots and other signs of skin damage.

Improves skin hydration

Peptides can help with skin hydration by promoting the production of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that plays a crucial role in maintaining the skin's moisture levels. Peptides have enzymes that can help to maintain the levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin, leading to increased hydration and improved skin texture, keeping the skin hydrated and plump. Peptides have the potential to increase collagen synthesis, increase skin elasticity, and lessen the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles in skincare products.

LOOKING FOR RADIANT SKIN? HERE ARE 6 NATURAL INGREDIENTS TO INCORPORATE IN YOUR BATHING RITUAL

Taking care of your skin is an essential part of self-care, and one of the best ways to do this is by incorporating natural ingredients into your bathing ritual. Natural ingredients are not only gentle on the skin but also have several beneficial properties that can help you achieve radiant, healthy-looking skin. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, there are numerous natural ingredients you can use in your bathing routine to keep your skin looking its best. Here is a list of some of the best natural ingredients that will give you a royal bathing experience and glowing skin:

Nargis flowers

The Nargis flower, also known as daffodils, produces an essential oil that is both rare and highly prized. This fragrant oil has been traditionally used for its calming effects and delicate scent. Notably, it can tone and hydrate the skin simultaneously, making it an exceptional ingredient for improving skin health and addressing various skin issues.

Kumkumadi tailam

Kumkumadi Tailam, an Ayurvedic oil blend containing saffron, sandalwood, turmeric, and other ingredients, promotes youthful and healthy-looking skin. It brightens and evens out the complexion, improves elasticity, and hydrates the skin. Additionally, it has anti-aging properties and helps resolve uneven skin tone for a radiant appearance.

Nagarmotha

Nagarmotha is a powerful ingredient known for its astringent and antimicrobial properties. It helps prevent excessive oil production, balances skin tone, unclogs pores, and prevents signs of aging. Its natural exfoliating properties improve skin texture and firmness while acting as an antioxidant to protect against free radical damage.

Chandan

Chandan, also known as sandalwood, is a sacred ingredient with a musty fragrance that has been used in many rituals for centuries. This herb has powerful healing properties that help eliminate scars, blemishes, and dark spots. It also removes impurities from the skin, leaving it with a healthy glow. Moreover, Chandan's anti-inflammatory properties make it an ideal remedy for sunburns and rashes.

Badam oil

Badam oil, also known as almond oil, has been used since ancient times as a remedy for dry skin, hypertrophic scars, and skin regeneration. It has been a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries due to its ability to soothe, tone, and heal minor skin abrasions and scrapes. The high nutritional value of almonds makes almond oil highly beneficial for the skin, reducing inflammation, protecting against UV damage, and rehydrating the skin.

Bahumanjari oil

Bahumanjari oil, also known as Tulsi oil, is a highly regarded oil for its ability to promote healthy and glowing skin. Its deep-cleansing properties effectively remove excess oil, dirt, and other impurities, leaving the skin refreshed and rejuvenated. Regular use of Bahumanjari oil helps improve skin elasticity and firmness while reducing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes.

These natural ingredients offer a safe and effective way to achieve radiant skin without the harsh chemicals found in many cosmetic products. By incorporating them into your skincare regime, you can enjoy the benefits of healthy, glowing skin that radiates from the inside out.

IMPACT OF SCREEN TIME ON YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

With the increasing prevalence of digital devices, screen time has become a part of most children's lives. From smartphones to tablets to laptops, kids are spending more time than ever before in front of screens. While screen time can have benefits, such as educ ational apps and social media platforms, excessive use can have a negative impact on a child's development. Research has shown that excessive screen time can lead to obesity, sleep disturbances, and behavioral problems in children. Mor eover, the blue light emitted by screens can disrupt a child's circadian rhythm, leading to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.

Excessive screen time can also affect a child's social and emotional development. Too much screen time can limit a child's ability to communicate with others and form social relationships. It can also lead to attention problems and reduce a child's ability to focus on tasks. As a parent, it's important to manage your child's screen time and limit their exposure to screens. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 18 months avoid screen time altogether, while children aged 2-5 should have no more t han one hour of screen time per day.

To manage your child's screen time, set clear limits on when and how long they can use screens. Encourage other activities, such as reading, outdoor play, and board games. Make screen-free zones in your home, such as the dining table or bedroom, and limit scr een time before bed to help your child get a good sleep.

Another way to manage your child's screen time is to use parental controls. Most devices and apps have built-in parental controls that allow you to set limits on screen time and restrict access to certain apps or content.

Screen time can have a significant impact on a child's development, both positively and negatively. As a parent, it's essential to manage your child's screen time and promote a healthy balance of screen time and other activities. By setting clear limits and using p arental controls, you can help your child develop into a well-rounded individual in the digital age.

"For me, before starting my workday, I make sure I have a proteinpacked breakfast, like brown bread, oats, and my favourite Saffola FITTIFY Peanut Butter. I love that it comes in variants ranging from Omega 3, whey protein, unsweetened, and dark chocolate to vegan options both in extra crunchy as well as super creamy forms. For lunch, I eat only home-cooked meals or consume fruits and vegetable juice if I am outdoors for shoots. I keep my dinner very light, consuming lots of boiled vegetables and soup." "I never miss out on my nutritional supplem ents on the go and during my breaks. I personally love the Saffola FITTIFY - The Perfekt Gummies that make supplements a tasty option. These super ingredients, which are high in Biotin as well as vitamins A, C, E and Zinc, are ideal supplements to get your daily dose of nutrients. It has helped me refuel my energy during hectic work schedules."

Janhvi likes to - Master One Task at One Time! She said: "When I work out, shoot, or go on vacation with my family, I ensure I'm all in, in that very moment. I feel it's important to be 100 per cent present in whatever you're d oing, and to be content and happy with yourself and your life. Don't compromise on your present for your past or future worries, just breathe and soak in whatever that moment has for you."

MICRONEEDLING: SAY GOODBYE TO SCARS AND UNEVEN SKIN TONE

Scarring is a common problem that affects many people, particularly those who have suffered from acne, injury, or surgery. Scars can be unsightly and can affect a person's self-esteem and confidence. While there are several treatments available for scarring, microneedling has emerged as a popular and effective treatment option. A minimally invasive procedure called microneedling, also referred to as collagen induction therapy, utilises a device equipped with tiny needles to generate microscopic punctures on the skin. These tiny punctures stimulate the body's natural healing process, triggering the production of new collagen and elastin, which are essential for healthy, youthful-looking skin.

When used to treat scars, microneedling can help to reduce the appearance of scars by stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin. This helps to improve the texture and tone of the skin, resulting in a smoother, more even complexion. Microneedling can be used to treat a range of scars, including acne scars, surgical scars, and stretch marks.

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in a dermatologist's office or clinic. The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and there is little to no downtime required. Patients may experience some redness and mild swelling after the procedure, but this usually subsides within a day or two. The procedure is generally well-tolerated, and the risk of complications is low. However, it is important to consult with a dermatologist before undergoing microneedling to ensure that it is the right treatment option for your specific needs.

ROSE IS A VERY NUTRIENT-RICH FLOWER; KNOW FIVE INTERESTING WAYS TO CONSUME IT

Roses are extraordinary flowers that are beyond perfection; hence, they are known as the "Queen of Flowers." It is revered as a sign of beauty and love. With their vibrantly hued blossoms, velvety petals, and enticing aroma, they are enriched with crucial benefits. Rose flowers offer abundant antioxidants and essential vitamins to reduce ageing, increase immunity, unclog blocked pores, lighten and tone the skin, and give it a radiant, glowing appearance. Valued for its alluring scent and ability to enhance beauty, the rose is appreciated for treating holistic ailments like depression, cough, cold, stomach problems, headaches, and dizziness.

Here are some interesting ways to consume roses

Rose syrup

A delicious syrup that is sweet, floral, and can be used in a variety of beverages and pastries can be made by capturing the exquisite aroma and flavour of the rose!

Jams and jellies

Rose hips and petals, whether they are fresh or dried, are perfect for preparing jam with a sweet, flowery flavour. Rose can also be consumed as a jelly on top of bread, croissants, baklava, or ice cream.

Garnish

Fresh rose petals provide a beautiful and aromatic garnish for baked goods, soups, and alcoholic beverages such as mocktails. Rose petals can also be frozen into ice cubes of different shapes for an extra hint of exquisite sweetness and style.

Herbal tea

Rose petals and buds are used to make numerous fragrant herbal beverages, some sweet and others bitter. Also, drinking hot water with steeped dried rose petals offers various benefits. Polyphenols in rose tea protect our body against cellular deterioration, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cognitive disorders.

Baked goods

In Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine, edible roses and rose water are frequently used as the main flavouring in pastries and desserts.

Indian Cities Famous For Their Festival

Role Of Vitamins And Minerals In Fighting Against Viral Infections And Boosting Immunity

One of the most difficult eras in human history, Covid-19, arose. Globally, the pandemic caused unprecedented health crises, economic turbulence, and societal unrest.

Communities c onfronted isolation, and healthcare systems were stretched to their breaking point. The quick worldwide effort to create vaccines demonstrated humanity's adaptability, but Covid19's long-term effects will serve as a stark warning of the importance of being ready.

A sharp increase in H3N2 influenza cases has been reported in India as the globe begins to recover from the devastation caused by Covid19. H3N2 is a strain of influenza, claims the WHO. a virus that primarily effects people. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that this virus was first discovered in swine there in 2010. Twelve human infections were found later in 2012, and several H3N2 epidemics followed in the same year. The virus causes a variety of lung symptoms, including a chronic cough. Infections of Covid-19 are also on the rise once more in the nation.

In addition to social isolation, face covering, and decreased contact, people all over the world have been using vitamins and minerals to strengthen their immune systems and increase their chances of fending off the Covid-19 virus. Given the present circumstances, it is imperative that this practice continue in order to strengthen the body's immunity and increase its capacity to fight off viruses.

The expanding market for dietary supplements around the globe is evidence that demand has increased ever since Covid-19 first appeared. For instance, the Indian market for dietary supplements has experienced a recent exponential growth to hit INR 436.5 billion in 2022, according to IMARC. As the market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 13.5 per cent, it will exceed INR 958.1 billion by 2028, making India one of the world's leaders in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. By 2025, it is expected to have reached over Rs 148 crores.

Options for immunity boosters

There are several ways to maintain a high degree of immunity. There is undoubtedly an option for everyone, including medicines, nutraceuticals, and other contemporary lines. For instance, nutraceuticals have greatly increased in acceptance and appeal in India, particularly when it comes to boosting the immune system. Nutraceuticals are a feasible line of defence against viral assaults due to the bioactive derivatives they contain from sources like phytochemicals, antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, and probiotics, among others.

It has been discovered that supplements with selenium, vitamins C,

D, and zinc, as well as other nutrients, are effective against COVID19. Vitamin D can improve the physical defences our bodies erect against such pathogens while also enhancing antimicrobial peptides.

The herbs, processed foods, beverages, diets, and nutrients that makeup nutraceuticals aid in enhancing immune functions and avoiding viral infections when coupled with Vitamin C's antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and selenium's impact on the cytotoxic effector cells. Additionally, zinc supports the management of COVID19 by enhancing the immune system and possibly reducing the severity and duration of the disease.

The wide variety of D3 formulations that are offered throughout the nation and the rest of the globe is another distinctive choice. D3 is also regarded as a potent immune booster in addition to supporting healthy bones and muscular function. For the purpose of boosting the immune system, supplements and nutraceuticals made from fatty fish flesh or fish liver oils are a good choice. The good news is that they are available in a variety of formats, including powders, gummies, soft gel pills, and dissolvable tablets.

Every Indian state celebrates a variety of festivals, but you should travel to these cities if you want to participate in some of the festivals in their most genuine form. IANSlife has put together a list of renowned Indian festival locations that you shouldn't miss.

Independence Day in Wagah Border, Punjab

There is no area on earth that can foster a stronger sense of patriotism than the Wagah border in Punjab, which has produced numerous independence fighters for India. Since 1959, a ritual known as the Wagah Attari has been held every day at the border between India and Pakistan. This festival features numerous activities where attendees can listen to dancing music and patriotic music. Standing at the Wagah border and singing the national anthem is a memorable experience.

Dusshera In Mysore

The festival of Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is observed for one day across the rest of India, but it is observed for ten days in Mysore. Mysore celebrates Dussehra with such a great event that on the final day of the celebration, the grand throne of the court is put in Durbar Hall for public sight. Mysore Palace is also illuminated with one million light bulbs. The goddess Chamundeshwari's idol is worshipped by the Mysore royal family, and afterward, she is paraded through the streets atop an elephant. A torchlight parade, laser shows, a rally of vintage cars, and a shopping festival are also held in Mysore to commemorate this occasion.

Holi in Uttar Pradesh

Everyone loves this celebration of hues very much. In cities, this festival is observed with dance, DJs, and Bhaang in addition to people dousing each other with colour and having water guns and water balloon fights. But if you want to take part in 'Braj Ki Holi' and enjoy this holiday in a special way, go to Barsana in Uttar Pradesh. Holi is performed with flowers in Vrindavan, and you absolutely must experience this once-ina-lifetime event.

Diwali in Varanasi

Modern-day

Nutraceutical manufacturers have become more creative than ever before, owing to so many reasons. The emergence of gummies came about as a result of the need to make drug consumption easier and more convenient. The issue of medical non-conformity arising from the non-palatability of tablets and other dosage forms is now being addressed with the production of vitamins and mineral gummies. What this indicates is that anyone can take immune boosters on the move without the need for water or a break just to take a drug.

Other options like powders, liquids, and chewable have also been introduced. The point to take is that dosage must be adhered to strictly to meet up one's daily needs.

Tightening your defences against viral attacks

Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are not the only way to fight off viruses. Tweaking one's diet to include more vitamins and minerals is also extremely important. However, it is often hard to keep up with one's daily dietary recommendations, especially in our fast-paced "rush-hour" society. Thus, supplementation is the most convenient way to achieve a balance in our diet.

Emphasising the importance of safety, always consult a doctor before taking supplements, as this can help prevent potential side effects and ensure compatibility with one's specific health conditions.

(Sanjeev Jain, is Jt. Managing Director, of Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals)

Discover The Hidden Gems Of India

Want to make your long weekend activities more interesting?

Why not explore off-the-beaten-path locations that are guaranteed to thrill you and find India's hidden gems? Many of us are reviewing our trip checklists, dusting off our bags, and exploring the uncharted regions as people are starting to warm up to travelling once more.

India is a diverse country with a fascinating past and culture that has long captivated visitors. There are numerous wellknown tourist destinations in the nation, but there are also undiscovered treasures that are just ready to be discovered. These locations, which range from Assam's breathtaking Majuli island to Himachal Pradesh's 'Mini Switzerland of India', are sure to send your pulse racing.

MAUJLI, ASSAM

Majuli is a lovely island that can be found in Assam's Brahmaputra River. It is known for its culture and natural beauty and is the largest river island in the globe. There are numerous indigenous communities on the island, and visitors can learn about their traditional way of living. Majuli is renowned for its distinctive design, with many of its homes being constructed on stilts and featuring elaborate carvings. On foot or by bicycle, visitors can tour the island and take in the breathtaking views of the river and the surrounding landsca pe. Travelers today encounter the inconvenience of checking into a motel for a few hours but being charged for an entire day's stay while taking in the sights and sounds of a new location. Fortunately, Yatra saves the day with Flexi accommodations. Therefore, you o nly pay for the time spent at the hotel, regardless of whether you remain there for 4 hours or 3 days. Now, visitors can take advantage of their stays without having to spend extra time.

HAMPI, KARNATAKA

In the Indian state of Karnataka, there is an ancient settlement called Hampi. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and served as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of South India's most potent empires. Hampi is well-known for its impressive ruins, whi ch include 14th-century churches, palaces, and other buildings. The buildings' elaborate carvings and sculptures can be admired as visitors tour the ruins on foot or by bicycle. Hampi is a fantastic location to sample regional cuisine and South Indian custom.

KHAJJIAR, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Khajjiar is a small town located in the district of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. It is often referred to as the 'Mini Switzerland of India' because of its scenic beauty and tranquil surroundings. The town is situated at an altitude of 6,500 feet and is surrounded by lush green meadows and dense forests. Visitors can enjoy trekking, horse riding, and other outdoor activities, or simply relax and soak up the natural beauty of the area. Khajjiar is also home to many ancient temples and historical monuments that offer a glimpse into the town's rich cultural heritage.

GOKARNA, KARNATAKA

Gokarna is a small town located on the coast of Karnataka. It is well-known for its immaculate beaches and laid-back atmosphere making it a favourite spot for backpackers and tourists trying to get away from the hustle and commotion of city life. Many his toric shrines, including the Lord Shiva-dedicated Mahabaleshwar Temple, can be found in Gokarna. Visitors can unwind on one of the to wn's stunning beaches and enjoy sunbathing, yoga on the sand, and other activities.

DZUKOU VALLEY, NAGALAND

In the province of Nagaland, there is a hidden gem called Dzukou Valley. With its gently rolling hills, verdant woods, and clea r streams, it is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. The valley is a well-liked vacation spot for those who enjoy the outdoors and wildlife because it is home to numerous unique and endangered species of plants and animals. The Naga people, who have lived in the valley for generations, have a distinctive culture that visitors can experience while trekking and camping there.

While Diwali is grandly observed throughout India, Uttar Pradesh's Dev Deepawali stands out from the rest. After 15 days of Diwali, Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, a time when tens of thousands of worshippers bathe in the Ganga to worship the goddess Ganga. Because it commemorates Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasor, this celebration is also referred to as Tripotsav. Every devotee who visits Varanasi ghat during these festivals performs the "Deepdaan" rite to pray to the goddess while the stairs are decked with Diyas. You will feel as though stars have fallen from the sky as you gaze at the mesmerising view of the Ganga Aarti ritual that takes place in the evening.

Onam In Kerala

Onam is Kerala's own festival if Kerala is God's own nation. Kerala is the only place to experience Onam in its purest form. During this event, which welcomes the great Mahabali, homes are decked with flowers, and each Keralite prepares an extravagant 13-course banquet. With customary activities like the Kathakali dance, snake boat race, clap dance, and puli kali parade, where performers dress as tigers and hunters, this celebration gets more exciting.

Christmas In Goa

Goa is the finest spot to celebrate Christmas because of its laid-back and festive atmosphere and 400 or so churches there. There is no other destination like Goa to see well-lit alleys around Christmas, whether you attend midnight liturgies, see a stunning fireworks display, enjoy handcrafted chocolate, or attend a Christmas Eve dance party.

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN TO ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS

Seek guidance:

Reach out to mentors and sponsors who can provide guidance, advice, and support. A mentor is someone who can offer career advice and help navigate the challenges profession. A sponsor is someone who can advocate for women in the workplace and help them advance to higherlevel positions. Building a strong network of mentors and sponsors can provide women with the resources and support they need to overcome obstacles and advance in their careers.

Develop strong communication skills:

Effective communication is critical for success in any career, but it is especially important for women who are breaking through the glass ceiling. Women who can communicate clearly and assertively can command respect and influence decision-making. They can also demonstrate their expertise and leadership potential, which can help them move up the ladder.

Take risks:

It is also an important strategy for breaking the glass ceiling. Women who are willing to take on new challenges and push themselves outside of their comfort zone are more likely to be recognized for their skills and accomplishments. This can lead to new opportunities and career advancement.

Be proactive:

It is important for women to be proactive and take charge of their own career development. This means setting clear goals and creating a plan to achieve them. Women should seek out training and development opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge. They should also advocate for themselves and make their career aspirations known to their managers and colleagues.

Breaking the glass ceiling is not easy, but with the right strategies and mindset, women can achieve their career goals and reach their full potential. By seeking out mentors and sponsors, developing strong communication skills, taking risks, and being proactive, women can overcome barriers and advance in their careers.

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