Category Archives: Entertainment

Amit Shah Mourns Demise of Veteran Singer Suman Kalyanpur, Says Indian Music Has Lost a Timeless Voice

New Delhi, June 1 (BNP): Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid heartfelt tribute to legendary playback singer Suman Kalyanpur following her demise, describing her passing as a major loss to India’s music fraternity and remembering her as a voice that touched millions across generations.

Expressing grief, Shah said the Indian music industry had lost one of its most melodious and graceful voices, whose timeless songs continue to occupy a special place in the hearts of listeners.

In his tribute, the Home Minister acknowledged Suman Kalyanpur’s immense contribution to Indian cinema and music, noting that her soulful renditions and unmatched vocal elegance enriched the country’s cultural heritage over several decades.

He also conveyed condolences to her family, admirers and members of the artistic community, saying her legacy would continue to inspire generations of singers and music lovers.

Suman Kalyanpur earned recognition as one of India’s most admired playback singers, lending her voice to numerous memorable songs in Hindi and regional cinema. Her distinct singing style and emotional depth won her enduring admiration among audiences and musicians alike.

Tributes from political leaders, film personalities and fans have continued to pour in following news of her passing, reflecting the profound influence she had on Indian music and popular culture.

Her demise marks the end of an era in Indian playback music, with admirers remembering her not only for her unforgettable melodies but also for the lasting emotional connection her voice created with audiences across the country.

Anushka Sharma Celebrates RCB’s IPL Triumph With Heartwarming Gesture for Virat Kohli

Ahmedabad, June 1 (BNP): Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL 2026 title victory was marked by an emotional celebration off the field as actor Anushka Sharma shared a heartfelt moment with star batter Virat Kohli following the team’s triumph.

Soon after RCB sealed their second consecutive Indian Premier League title with a victory over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Anushka was seen celebrating alongside Kohli and the team members at the Narendra Modi Stadium. In a touching moment that quickly captured public attention, she congratulated Kohli with a sweet kiss on his forehead, reflecting pride and joy over the memorable achievement.

The candid celebration soon gained traction across social media platforms, with fans praising the couple’s emotional bond and expressing admiration for the heartfelt gesture following one of the biggest moments in Kohli’s cricketing career.

Kohli, who played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 75 in the final, emerged as one of the key architects of Bengaluru’s successful title defence. His composed innings helped RCB comfortably chase the target and secure another IPL crown.

The emotional exchange between Anushka and Kohli added a personal touch to RCB’s championship celebrations, with supporters widely sharing visuals of the moment and calling it one of the standout images from the IPL 2026 final.

RCB’s title-winning campaign, coupled with Kohli’s strong performance and the post-match celebration, ensured the night remained memorable both on and off the field.

Toral Rasputra on her preparation for Sony SAB’s Hastinapur Ke Veer

Mumbai, May 28 : Sony SAB’s Hastinapur Ke Veer promises to bring audiences a fresh and emotional telling of the early years of the Mahabharat, exploring the relationships, values and experiences that shaped some of mythology’s most iconic characters. One such character is Kunti (Toral Rasputra), a woman remembered not just as the mother of the Pandavas, but also as a symbol of strength, sacrifice, and resilience through every challenge life threw at her.

Known for portraying powerful women on screen, Toral approached Kunti not just as a mythological figure, but as a mother navigating impossible circumstances with dignity and strength. To prepare for the role, the actress immersed herself in literature and references around the character. She read books like Teachings of Queen Kunti, The Kaunteyas – Queen Kunti’s Mahabharata and Kunti by Koral Dasgupta to explore different perspectives on the character. Through these readings, Toral discovered the many layers of Kunti, not just as a mother to the Pandavas, but also as a woman constantly balancing duty, sacrifice, guilt, courage and unconditional love. The actress shares that every author portrayed Kunti differently, which inspired her to create her own interpretation of the character for the screen, one that feels emotionally authentic and strong.

Talking about her interpretation of Kunti, Toral Rasputra shared,

“Kunti is such a powerful and emotionally layered character that I knew I wanted to understand her beyond what’s written in the script. I read books on Kunti and each of them gave me a different insight into her personality and journey. What fascinated me most was how every version presented her strength, sacrifices and emotional conflicts in such unique ways. As an actor, it pushed me to think deeper and eventually create my own interpretation of Kunti, a woman who is strong yet sensitive, wise yet emotional. I wanted to portray her in a way that audiences can connect with not just as a queen or a mother, but as a woman whose struggles and resilience still feel relevant today.”

Shanaya accidentally walks into a deadly trap set for Rashi in Sony SAB’s Pushpa Impossible

Mumbai, May 28 : Sony SAB’s beloved family drama Pushpa Impossible continues to win hearts with its relatable storytelling, emotional moments, and strong family bonds. With Pushpa (Karuna Pandey) always standing tall through every challenge life throws her way, the show now gears up for an intense and emotional track that will leave the Patel family shaken.

In the upcoming episodes, the Bapodara chawl is busy celebrating Rashi’s (Akshaya Hindalkar) godh bharai, with the family coming together to make the occasion special. But amid the festivities, danger quietly finds its way into the celebration. Wanting to take revenge on Dilip Patel (Jayesh More), Santosh plans to hurt him through Rashi. In a shocking turn of events, the ceremonial crown meant for Rashi is poisoned. However, before Rashi can wear it, Shanaya unknowingly puts it on while trying to help, turning a happy celebration into a moment of fear and panic for the entire family.

Will Shanaya survive this shocking accident?

Muskan Bamne, who plays the role of Shanaya, shares,

“Shanaya just wanted to help and had no idea what she was walking into. This sequence was quite intense to shoot because everything changes within moments for Shanaya and the entire chawl. One moment everyone is celebrating together, and the next moment there is panic and chaos everywhere. I think life can change in a moment, when happiness suddenly turns into something completely unexpected. It made these episodes emotionally very powerful to perform.” 

‘Divya Prem: Pyaar Aur Rahasya Ki Kahani’ Unveils the Powerful Divya Force Through an Energetic Rap Anthem

May 28 : The powerful “Divya Force” team from Divya Prem is winning a lot of love from the audience. The five youngsters and their unique divine powers have become one of the biggest highlights of the show. Adding more excitement, for the first time, viewers will see a special rap song on the show that introduces and celebrates the powers of the “Divya Force” team in a fun, energetic way. As the popularity of this team keeps growing day by day, the show is all set to bring an exciting new twist that will make the story even more entertaining and enjoyable for the audience.

“Shooting the Divya Force rap song was so much fun and one of my favourite shoots ever because everything felt so exciting and different. There was music, dancing, action, and lots of energy on the set. We all enjoyed performing together and showing our powers in a cool way through the song. I really liked that this special rap was made only for the Divya Force because it made us all feel very happy and special. While shooting, we were laughing, dancing, and having fun all the time, and I enjoyed every moment a lot.”

“Tara is the captain of the Divya Force, so I felt really strong and confident while shooting the song. I loved doing the action scenes and dancing on the rap beats because it looked super fun and powerful. Everyone on set was cheering for each other and that made the shoot even more exciting for me. I think kids are going to love this song because it has magic, fun, powers, and a superhero feeling. Whenever I watch the song now, it makes me smile because we all worked hard and had an amazing time together.”

Nicolas Cage in Spider Noir on Prime Video Sneak Peek

May 27 : Prime Video’s upcoming series Spider–Noir brings the world of Spider-Man into a darker, moodier space, following a black and white noir style that feels straight out of a classic detective story with comic book blood running through it. Led by Nicolas Cage in his first television project, the series leans into the sharp shadows, heightened drama and pulpy energy of the Spider–Noir universe, making it a natural fit for an actor who has always drawn from film, art and larger than life performance.

Speaking about what drew him to Spider–Noir, Nicolas Cage shared,

 “I had been imagining a performance presentation for quite some time. It’s no secret that I’m influenced by different art forms, and I had been largely influenced by the pop art of Warhol and Lichtenstein. Just as in “Wild at Heart,” when I drew on Warhol, I thought wouldn’t it be interesting to do a Lichtenstein performance—utilizing comic book energy and fusing it with a classic black and white style of film acting. And lo and behold, along came “Spider–Noir.” My interests were predominantly cinema-based; however, when I learned “Spider–Noir” would be episodic television, I thought that format would lend itself well to my concept since comic books are inherently episodic.”

Along with Academy Award winning actor Nicolas Cage, the series stars Lamorne Morris , Li Jun Li, Abraham Popoola, Karen Rodriguez, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson. Guest star cast includes Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, Cary Christopher, Michael Kostroff, Scott MacArthur, Joe Massingill, Whitney Rice, Amanda Schull, Andrew Caldwell, Amy Aquino, Andrew Robinson, and Kai Caster.

Spider–Noir is produced by Sony Pictures Television exclusively for MGM+ and Prime Video. Emmy Award winning director Harry Bradbeer directed and executive produced the first two episodes. Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. The series premieres on May 27, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video across India and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide. It will be available to stream in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam in both, authentic black & white and true-hue full color.

Made in India: A Titan Story Crosses 2 Million Views in Under 24 Hours

Mumbai, May 27 : Some stories create brands, while others shape the way a nation dreams. Amazon MX Player’s upcoming period drama Made in India: A Titan Story, inspired by the extraordinary journey behind one of India’s most iconic watch brands, continues to strike a strong chord with audiences following the launch of its trailer. Within less than 24 hours of release, the trailer has garnered 2 million+ views and secured the #25 spot on YouTube’s Movies Trending chart, marking an impressive milestone and reflecting the growing excitement and curiosity surrounding the title. The remarkable early response reflects growing audience anticipation for a story rooted in ambition, belief and legacy, already creating a notable milestone for the series ahead of its premiere.Following the trailer launch, social media platforms have also witnessed a wave of positive reactions from viewers, with many praising the nostalgia, scale and authenticity woven into the world of Made in India: A Titan Story. Audiences have particularly appreciated how the trailer seamlessly transports them back to an era defined by ambition, aspiration and change, while applauding its cinematic treatment, emotional depth and richly layered storytelling. Comments such as “Outstanding Trailer,” “Big fan of Titan,” “We are SUPER excited for this,” and “Was waiting since it was announced, finally something meaningful has come to stream,” further reflects the growing excitement and strong emotional connect audiences are building with the series.

Chronicling the extraordinary rise of Titan and the visionaries who dared to build something India could proudly call its own, the series brings to life a defining chapter in the country’s entrepreneurial journey. Adapted from Vinay Kamath’s acclaimed book Titan – India’s Most Successful Consumer Brand, the ensemble is led by Naseeruddin Shah as JRD Tata and Jim Sarbh as Xerxes Desai, alongside Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Namita Dubey, Lakshvir Saran and Kaveri Seth in pivotal roles. Written by Karan Vyas, directed by Robbie Grewal and produced by Almighty Motion Pictures, Made in India: A Titan Story premieres on 3rd June. The series will stream for free exclusively on Amazon MX Player, available across mobile devices, Connected TVs, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, JioTV, and Airtel Xstream.

Nielsen Study Finds Football as India’s Second-Most Popular Sport Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

India, May 27: FIFA 2026 World Cup, Nielsen has compiled research on a wide range of diverse audiences for the world’s most popular sport. Nielsen also took an extensive look at the popularity of soccer/football in seven countries in Asia. The data reveals that soccer/football ranked first with adults in South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia, while placing second behind cricket in India and second behind baseball in Japan.

In particular, Nielsen delved into the fandom details for a major growth engine of soccer in the United States, the growing Hispanic audience.

World Cup Soccer Fandom

• 1 out of 2 U.S. Hispanics (first and second generation) identify as World Cup fans

• 47% of the total U.S. Hispanic population reports an expected increase in their interest in the World Cup over the next 18 months
• Hispanic fans are 87% more likely to say they have watched a World Cup qualifier match in the past 12 months.
• 39% of Hispanic soccer fans are more likely to be avid MLS fans

Social Media Usage

• 94% of first- and second-generation Hispanic fans look to social media for soccer content, making them the primary drivers of the digital conversation.
• Hispanic sports fans are 38% more likely to use TikTok for sports news and highlights than the general population
• 81% of 1st/2nd generation Hispanic fans plan to engage via social media, making mobile/social strategies critical for this demographic.

Marketing to Hispanic Soccer Fans

• 32% of Hispanic sports fans consider a company’s brand, product(s) or service(s) for the first time when that company sponsors an event or sport they follow
• Hispanic fans are 11% more likely to buy a brand after seeing a sponsorship than the general population.

Nielsen’s research also reveals insight into the immense popularity of soccer with Black Caribbean and Middle Eastern fans. The data shows that Black Caribbean consumers are 52% more likely to be interested in soccer than adults overall while 40% of Middle Eastern and Black audiences are more likely to be interested in soccer than adults overall.

The American soccer fanbase has been built over decades through a series of cultural moments, each one raising the floor of viewership and passion. Hispanic fans are the cultural engine of U.S. soccer fandom, with depth of connection, digital fluency, and brand loyalty that compound throughout the tournament. On a global level, soccer/football has emerged as the sport of choice in many of the largest Asian countries and remains exceedingly popular with Black Caribbean and Middle Eastern consumers.

DJ Kiara Elevates IPL Entertainment as Gujarat Titans’ Official DJ

India, May 27 : Globally recognized DJ and music composer and artist DJ Kiara continues her landmark journey with the Gujarat Titans as the Official DJ for the team during IPL 2026, further establishing herself as one of India’s leading names in live sports entertainment.

Known for her high-energy performances and instinctive understanding of stadium culture, Kiara has become a defining part of the matchday experience at the Narendra Modi Stadium- the world’s largest cricket stadium. Since first joining the Gujarat Titans during IPL 2024, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the in-stadium sound and atmosphere for thousands of fans across one of the world’s biggest sporting leagues.

During IPL 2026, Kiara performed across all seven home matches of the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, delivering live stadium experiences at one of the most high-pressure and widely viewed sporting environments in the world.

At just 28, Kiara holds one of the most demanding roles in live sports entertainment, curating and executing the music experience in real time during live matches. Her sharp instinct for timing and crowd energy has made her one of the few artists capable of seamlessly blending music with the intensity and emotion of international-level cricket.

Her continued journey with the Gujarat Titans marks another major milestone in a career that has consistently broken barriers for women in live entertainment and electronic music. In 2024, she became the first female DJ to perform at the Narendra Modi Stadium and has since performed at some of the world’s most iconic cricket venues, including Eden Gardens, Wankhede Stadium, Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

“It is an honorary feeling to represent a team like Gujarat Titans and perform across all their home matches at a stage as massive as the IPL,” says Kiara. “Cricket has always been deeply emotional for me. I grew up loving the game, celebrating it and feeling every moment of it with full heart and today, to combine that love with music feels surreal. There’s something incredibly powerful about watching thousands of people feel the same emotion together through both cricket and music at the same time. Those two worlds coming together creates an energy that is almost impossible to describe. Every match reminds me why I fell in love with both.”

Kiara has also achieved major milestones on the global cricket stage, including performing as an official DJ at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after previously performing at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai and Sharjah, becoming the only Indian female artist to perform as an official DJ across both ICC tournaments.

Indian Designers and Jewellery Labels Showcased at the 79th Festival de Cannes at the Los Angeles Fashion Closet (LAFC Showcase) – Mode De Cannes on 21st May, 2026

May 27 : At the Los Angeles Fashion Closet by Shagun Gupta – Mode De Cannes, held at the Carlton Hotel, Cannes from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM  , celebrated Indian designers Samant Chauhan, Nitika Gujral, Richa Bhatia, Rishi Vibhuti and Le Marquise Jewellery by Sambhav Jain and Jasmine Gulati Jain showcased their collections through a curated international presentation. The showcase brought together diverse Indian design sensibilities and contemporary craftsmanship on a global platform.

Speaking about the initiative, Liza Varma said,

 “Cannes continues to serve as an important international platform to showcase the diversity and strength of Indian fashion and design talent. Through these showcases, our aim is to create meaningful global visibility and opportunities for both emerging and established Indian designers and jewellery labels.”

The showcases formed part of a broader initiative led by Liza Varma to create sustained international exposure for Indian fashion talent during the Cannes period through curated runway presentations, fashion collaborations, and global industry participation