Taimur Ali Khan keeps giving us reasons to find his utterly cute. The toddler is the apple of his parents' eyes, and now that the lockdown has put the three together indoors for a long time, the kiddo seems to be making the most of it!

Recently, Tim made a cameo appearance in papa Saif Ali Khan's interview once again. The little one came in asking about some photo, confusing Saif as well!

Saif Ali Khan was in conversation with Rajeev Masand when this incident occurred. Speaking about the lockdown and how he and Kareena have been keeping Taimur occupied, Saif said, "Kareena tries to have an arts and crafts class with him in the afternoon, there's some online education going on in the morning, we play some sport like cricket or football in the corridor, we read to him at night... so we've managed to form a kind of a routine."

The Tanhaji actor also spoke about how he doesn't feel inclined towards joining social media, but his mum, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, wants to join Instagram! He shared, "I told her that she would have to share pictures (on Instagram). She said she needs to get to Pataudi and her roses and she could share that. So I said if she gets on Instagram, I might get on it as well."

Well, we sure would love to have both Sharmila Tagore and Saif Ali Khan on the 'gram!

On the work front, Saif was last seen in the historical drama Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, in which he played the character of Uday Bhan Singh opposite Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji Malusare.

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Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan's mother Saeda Begum passed away on Saturday morning. She was 95. Saeda Begum, who belongs to the Nawab family of Tonk, was unwell for a long time. She died due to natural causes. Begum resided in the Beniwal Kanta Krishna Colony in Jaipur.

Further details are awaited.

On the work front, the actor was last seen in Angrezi Medium. The film, which released on March 13, will be re-released after the country announced a shut down of movie theatres due to the coronavirus outbreak. Directed by Homi Adajania, Angrezi Medium revolves around a father-daughter relationship, played by Irrfan Khan and Radhika Madan. It also features Deepak Dobriyal, Ranvir Shorey, Dimple Kapadia and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Angrezi Medium is a sequel to the 2017 hit film Hindi Medium, which starred Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar in the lead roles. The movie also features Kareena Kapoor Khan, Radhika Madaan and Deepak Dobriyal in pivotal roles. The film has been produced by Dinesh Vijan.

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Bollywood's chirpy beauty Sara Ali Khan and brother Ibrahim, are keeping up with their fitness regime during the coronavirus lockdown period by working out at home. However, on Saturday, they were joined by a new friend -- Fuffy Singh, their pet dog.

The 'Love Aaj Kal' actor took to Instagram to share a picture during their workout session. In the shared picture, the 24-year-old actor can be seen posing for the camera with her 'Pilates Girl' tee. On the other hand, Ibrahim is lying on the floor shirtless in his shorts and shoes.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

Knock knock 👊🏻👊🏻 Who’s there? Not us- we’re working out 💪🏻 🙌🏻 Yes, us includes Fuffy Singh 🐕 🐶 @fuffy07 #happyweekend #stayhome #staysafe #staypositive

A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95) onApr 25, 2020 at 11:10am PDT

Meanwhile, their adorable pet dog, Fluffy, can be seen watching the brother-sister duo. Taking it to the captions with another 'Knock Knock' reference, she wrote: "Knock knock Who's there?Not us- we're working out Yes, us includes Fuffy Singh @fuffy07#happyweekend #stayhome #staysafe #staypositive"

On Friday, the brother-sister pair tried to beat the lockdown blues and shared an adorably sweet video shot while playing 'Knock Knock joke.' Meanwhile, the 'Simmba' star keeps on sharing glimpses of her quarantine time to keep her fans updated on her social media.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

For now, we all live under a rock 🏡 All of us- the nerd 🤓the jock ⚽️ In the meantime Ibrahim and sister you can mock 👫🙊🙈 While we do our favourite Knock Knock🐣🤷‍♀️🚪👊🏻👊🏻 #knockout

A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95) onApr 24, 2020 at 6:01am PDT

Ahead of the Earth Day, Khan shared her love for mother Earth through a collage of beautiful throwback pictures with exotic natural beauty forming the backdrop.

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Representational picture

Washington D.C.: While it is no secret that there are good calories as well as bad calories, turns out, in the bad category, there are variations too. According to the University of California, Davis, sugar-sweetened beverages play a unique role in chronic health problems. Calories from any food have the potential to increase the risk of obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. The disease risk increases even when the beverages are consumed within diets that do not result in weight gain.

Twenty-two researchers explored whether all calories are equal with regards to effects on cardiometabolic disease and obesity. The study provided an extensive review of the current science on diets that can lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes.

"What's new is that this is an impressive group of scientists with vast experience in nutrition and metabolism agreeing with the conclusion that sugar-sweetened beverages increase cardiometabolic risk factors compared to equal amounts of starch," said lead author Kimber Stanhope.

Another interesting point of consensus among researchers was the role of the sugar substitute aspartame.

The authors agreed that aspartame does not promote weight gain in adults. Stanhope said this might come as a surprise to most people.

"If you go on the internet and look up aspartame, the layperson would be convinced that aspartame is going to make them fat, but it's not," said Stanhope. "The long and short of it is that no human studies on noncaloric sweeteners show weight gain."

The authors also agreed that consumption of polyunsaturated (n-6) fats, such as those found in some vegetable oils, seeds and nuts, lowers disease risk when compared with equal amounts of saturated fats.

However, that conclusion comes with a caveat. Dairy foods such as cheese and yogurts, which can be high in saturated fats, have been associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk.

The paper reviewed the significant challenges involved in conducting and interpreting nutrition research.

"We have a long way to go to get precise answers on a lot of different nutrition issues," said Stanhope. "Nevertheless, we all agree that a healthy diet pattern consisting of minimally processed whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats promotes health compared with the refined and palatable typical Western diet pattern."

The study appears in the journal Obesity Reviews.

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Representational picture

Washington D.C.: Intermittent fasting diets could increase diabetes risk, suggests a study. These findings suggest that fasting-based diets may be associated with long-term health risks and careful consideration should be made before starting such weight loss programmes.

In order to investigate whether an intermittent fasting diet could also generate damaging free radicals, Ana Bonassa and colleagues, from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, examined the effects of fasting every other day on the body weight, free radical levels and insulin function of normal, adult rats, over a 3-month period.

Although the rats' body weight and food intake decreased as expected over the study period, the amount of fat tissue in their abdomen actually increased. Furthermore, the cells of the pancreas that release insulin showed damage, with the presence of increased levels of free radicals and markers of insulin resistance were also detected.

Ana Bonassa commented, "This is the first study to show that, despite weight loss, intermittent fasting diets may actually damage the pancreas and affect insulin function in normal healthy individuals, which could lead to diabetes and serious health issues."

Ana cautioned, "We should consider that overweight or obese people who opt for intermittent fasting diets may already have insulin resistance, so although this diet may lead to early, rapid weight loss, in the long-term there could be potentially serious damaging effects to their health, such as the development of type-2 diabetes."

The findings were presented at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, ECE 2018.

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A 24-year-old man's parents hatched a plan to kill him after they were physically abused by him on more than one occasion. On Saturday, Waliv Police arrested the parents, sister and her husband of the deceased person. Upon enquiry, the accused told the police that the deceased person would physically and verbally harass them often.

As per the police investigations, the deceased, Rohit Chaudhary, who was a driver, was found lying dead in a pit in Bhoiwada, Bhyander. Initially, the identity of the man was unknown. His mother later filed a missing complaint. After probing the matter, the police found injury marks on the face and neck of the individual and later managed to identify him. The police then registered a murder case.

After checking mobile records, it was revealed to the cops that the last call to the deceased was made by his sister. Upon suspicion, cops then questioned the family and found out that Rohit would beat and abuse them.

During questioning, the family confessed to the crime. They stated that they recently visited their native place in Uttar Pradesh and hired two men to kill Rohit for an amount of Rs 2 and a half lakh. An advance amount of Rs 1 lakh was transferred in the bank of the contract killers.

The police have arrested the father Lalchand, mother Sunita, sister Shruti and her husband Anup. Police are currently on the hunt for the contract killers in Uttar Pradesh.

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Palghar: It was a catch worth lakhs of rupees! Two fishermen brothers in Maharashtra's Palghar district netted a 'ghol' fish -- known for its medicinal value and in high demand in various countries -- and sold it for a whopping Rs 5.5 lakh in a mega-auction.

Mahesh Meher and Bharat Meher, natives of Morbe village in Palghar, set out for fishing in the Arabian Sea last week and returned on Sunday late night with a huge 30 kg ghol fish. While the siblings were startled to have netted a giant-size fish, they did not realise then that they were going to make a fortune out of their prized catch. The brothers, elated over their precious possession, said after they brought the fish ashore, it got auctioned in just 20 minutes yesterday.

An export house bought it for Rs 5.5 lakh, they claimed.

The duo said they had set out for fishing last week after a long break due to the 45-day ban on venturing in the waters during the monsoon season. "This was really a good catch. We were delighted as it was like striking 'gold' in our fishing net along with other fish varieties," the siblings told reporters at the seashore in Morbe yesterday.

"We are into fishing since the last two decades and had only heard about such a huge ghol fish. But, with this fish catch, we actually had a wonderful experience and it also got sold for a good price," they said. Usually, a good quality fish sells for a few thousands of rupees in the market, but the Meher brothers are happy to have earned Rs 5.5 lakh with a single catch.

The two fishermen, who were reeling under financial crisis, said now they would be able to get their boat and net repaired. The ghol fish, a type of croaker, has a good market in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is considered among the most expensive variety of the marine fish.

Its heart is known as the 'sea gold', which is said to have medicinal properties and is an important ingredient in making a variety of medicines.

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So many of us have lost someone we know to cancer. So when 15-year-old Devika Madgavkar, who was volunteering at the Tata Memorial Centre and working with kids with cancer, asked Alfred D'Souza, the director of her choir Stop-Gaps Junior Choral Ensemble, if they could do something to cheer up the children undergoing chemotherapy, he thought, "why not?"

And Carnival in Song was born. "Madgavakar wanted to do something for the kids, who she observed were quite self-conscious and distant after they lost their hair. Also, many of them hail from a low social economic background. The event is just before Lent, which begins on March 6, and as it's the season of hope, we wanted to brighten up their li­ves. I prepared two choirs and reached out to others, who agreed immediately," says D'Souza.

The Salvation Singers

The audience will get to hear ha­ppy numbers, and renditions of peppy tracks with a samba or calypso beat, akin to what you hear at a carnival, shares D'Souza, adding that while the Stop-Gaps Choral Ensemble will be performing Brazil and Senorita, The Salvation Singers will offer a medley of Hindi songs, and Siddharth Meghani will perform some Elvis Presley tracks. The line-up will also include The Victory Chorus Line, and soloists such as Ella Atai, Kim Cardoz, Mehmood Curmally and Darren Das, accompanied by Mimosa Almeida Pinto (piano) and Ishan Jadwani (drums), besides dancers on stage.

"We've been planning this since October. We have a lot of kids aged between five and 15 years, who have their term exams at the moment, but yet th­ey have been practising," adds D'Souza. All proceeds from the evening will be given to the centre's Runners of Hope Initiative.

ON March 1, 7.45 pm onwards
AT St Andrew's Auditorium, St Andrew's College, St Dominic Road, Bandra West 
LOG ON TO bookmyshow.com
CALL 26410926
COST Rs 300 onwards

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Illustration/Uday Mohite

So, dear reader, I don't know about you, but I'm a little confused about certain big words that fly around these days. I don't mean words like say, 'farrago' or 'webaqoof' or 'rodomontade' or 'snollygoster' that his eminence Shashi Tharoor has made famous. I mean we know that 'webaqoof' means — it's someone who has no clue how social media works.  Most of you, my X-ennial readers, will identify with this malady — What's an X-ennial, you ask?! Nahin nahin, it not a prequel to the X-men series or the next instalment of 'Avengers Infinity Wars' (that's subject for another column).
Anyway, to get back to the subject at hand — big words. Do you know, for example, what 'Debdumbfoolery' or 'Biplabpolarism' mean — it's the art of talking utter nonsense, making outrageous statements with shameless ignorance and confidence on a public platform.

Like, say, I said something really foolish like, "Modern day internet existed during the times of the Mahabharata" or "Narad Muni was like Google" or, something even more preposterous, like "Darwin's theory was scientifically wrong and shouldn't be a part of college curriculum". You get it, dear reader. This is also called 'Satyapalfootinmunh'.

So it's like — "Hey, that Jigesh thinks no end of himself, always giving these biplabtripupistic fundas."

What else? Let's look at some other big words that made me reach for the thesaurus. How about 'Pappupasshogayalitis' — this tongue twister is the art of dynastic entitlement, when the entitled has no clue what he's doing or saying. So let's say two employees are b***hing about a third, "Really pissed off with my job. Can't get a promotion, that Akash is the boss's son, real pappupasshogaya dufus, but, kya karega, baap ka raj na!"
Dear reader, there's 'Rayaduplessis' — any idea what this means? Okay, it means, 'you finally do well at something in a particular position and a South African annoyingly takes your place to fulfill a quota.

Okay, here's another killer — 'Trumpjong-un' — cool, huh? So any guesses? Okay, it has multiple meanings —

1. An ancient Oriental board game
2. When two mentally unstable people meet and each one
cannot believe they've met their match
3. An American Nuclear Bomb made in North Korea
How about this one — Cosbynski. I'll give you a hint — it has to do with 'molestation' — okay, I won't give it away — email me your answers and you get a free Woody Allen movie DVD as a prize.
And finally there's 'Indranirritatausaurus' — so I'll let you decide what this word means.
Choose between —
1. A member of the pre-historic animal family
2. An issue that annoyingly goes on and on well past its interest value date
3. A story with more deceit,
betrayal and murder than all the seasons of Game of Thrones (GoT) put together
This word is also referred to as 'boradom'.
I'm off, dear reader, see you 'Banuvasarahdimanche'. Huh? What does that mean? It's so simple.
It's a word coined by Messrs Modi and Macron.

Rahul da Cunha is an adman, theatre director/playwright, photographer and traveller. Reach him at rahuldacunha62@gmail.com

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When we first lay our hands on Pashmina, we didn't know what to expect. And that perhaps, is one of the first indications of a good read. A coming-of-age graphic novel which explores the relationship between an Indian-American mother and her teenage daughter, illustrator and writer Nidhi Chanani's Pashmina (HarperCollins) is filled with magic and tied together in such a heartfelt narrative, it would be a challenge not to find bits of your own life in it.

Chanani says her affair with illustration began long ago and that the first step was to fall in love with art, which began when she started drawing as a child. The birth of Pashmina, she says, can be traced back to that phase of her life as well. "My inspiration for Pashmina came from a variety of sources: my mom, growing up in the US, my first trip to India, and the choices women make — all of these things are woven into the story. When I was younger my parents would travel to India often. When they returned, their suitcases had a pungent, almost magical smell — from a place that seemed very far away. I was probably 10 years old. Opening their suitcase made me feel close to this other world. In a way, I believe this story has been with me since then."

The relationship between Priyanka, the protagonist, and her mother hits home the hardest, in that it is an apt depiction of the dichotomy that characterises a quintessential Indian mother — egging us to be freer than they were but also being restrictive at the same time. Explaining what this depicts for her, Chanani says, "As I wrote Pashmina, it also became about the relationship between an immigrant mother and a first-generation daughter. Touching upon the layers of understandings and misunderstandings, I explored my own relationship with my mom. Priyanka, is a teenager and being one is hard enough, especially if you are glaringly different. Many of Priyanka's struggles are ones I experienced myself. She is not only racially different, she's a nerdy teacher's pet, she comes from a single-parent household, and doesn't have as much money as her Orange County counterparts. Her mother struggles to understand her and raise her with her Indian beliefs and values."

Nidhi Chanani

The story comes full circle when Priyanka finally visits Kolkata, her hometown (as well as Nidhi's) in a quest to understand more about her roots. Travelling solo to the country of her heritage forces Priyanka to break free of her sheltered life and grow up, to face herself and begin the process of seeing her mother as a whole person. "I wanted to explore a different path to India than I had experienced. My teenage understanding of India was tainted by poverty-stricken, third world imagery. How wonderful would it be if a young person learned about their culture through only positive representations? That's the root of Pashmina; opening a suitcase and travelling to a fantasy version of India where a character can learn about their heritage in a favourable light," Chanani says. While some aspects of Priyanka's life are similar to hers, the story is not autobiographical. "I love samosas and comics! However, unlike Priyanka, I grew up close to my family in India. Fortunately for me, I wasn't so alone," she shares.

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Give your mother a break from routine, pamper her with a breakfast in bed or a spa hamper for Mother's Day, which falls on May 13 this year. Mikita Laad Gupta, Senior Designer at Bonito Designs and Abraham Santhosh, Head Designer of Elegancia, have shared ways which can help you bring a smile on your mother's face:

1. A day free from the 'Mom routine': Mothers never get a day off from their daily routine and they never complain too. Every mother always has a list of things she needs to do, so why not do it for her? Let her relax at home while you do the grocery shopping, run to the post office, pick up dry-cleaning or whatever else Mom needs you to do. She will definitely appreciate the gesture!

2. Breakfast in bed: The first part of Mother's Day should be her breakfast. A meal ordered from her favourite restaurant. Let her relax and not think about breakfast for everyone at home, because you have already taken care of it.

3. Sparkle up the home for her: Cleaning the house is a huge task for every mother. On this day, help her out by cleaning it before she starts her day. Fix those things that she always wanted to be repaired and make her day.

4. Home decor makeover: Mothers always want to make a change in their house, but they never really get the time for it due to their daily chores and work. This Mother's Day, make her dream come true by doing what she has always wanted to - could be a vegetable garden, or a mini library or a music library or even revamp the sitting room.

5. Pamper her with a spa hamper: Everyone loves a massage, some of them crave for a fresh manicure and pedicure. Some of them have not had a good haircut and colour since a long time. So here's a chance to pamper your mother with a spa hamper and let her have a relaxing day and look pretty as she always should.

6. A photo family tree: Everyone loves to see their old photos. It brings back memories and family tree of photos is the best way to see everyone you love right there. Create a family tree of photos on a wall at home as a surprise for her as she has always wanted to do it but never had the time.

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Mothers seem to be almost supernaturally gifted with the ability to instantly lift spirits and make us feel loved and cared for. As International Mothers Day draws closer, let us celebrate their wonderful presence in our lives by making them feel extra special. Satish Kannan, Co-founder and CEO of DocsApp and Ankit Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Wakefit.co give away some solutions that can make your mother happy:

1. Gift her a healthy life: Let her know how much you appreciate her selfless care by gifting her on-demand medical assistance and access to quality medical consultation.

2. Gift her blissful sleep: After a hectic day at work and home, the least your mother deserves is a good night's sleep so she can be fully rejuvenated to face the next day with abundant energy. Help her sleep healthier with a high quality and comfortable mattress that makes her feel more rested in a shorter period of time.

3. Gift her career growth: It is not unlikely that your mother took a professional break to raise you and your siblings. Now that you're all grown up and independent, encourage her to kick-start her career once again.

Here are some more interesting ways to thank your mom:

4. Plant flowers for her: It is time to make the most of the summer season. Buy flowers like lilies, zinnia, marigold and plan them for your mom.

5. Cook her favourite dish: Your mom must be cooking for you on each and every day of the year. But, on Mother's Day, let her take a break from routine kitchen activities and you cook her favouriet dish. Bring all ingredients in advance, make the dish and let her relax and enjoy a delicious meal.

(Edited by mid-day online desk, with inputs from IANS)

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Kylie Jenner on vacation with her daughter Stormi. pic courtesy/ instagram.com/kylie jenner

Last month, social media star Kylie Jenner was severely mom-shamed by keyboard warriors for heading to a music festival without her infant daughter, Stormi. While Internet trolls are no experts, what exactly does it take to form a bond with your baby?

“Fundamental human nature includes adapting to changes. For a woman to transition into motherhood is common, nevertheless, it’s not a cakewalk. Many women experience post-partum blues for about two weeks after delivery. Should it extend beyond this period, it could be a sign of a post-partum disorder. Therefore, we need to build a society that accepts and understands the plethora of emotions that a new mother experiences,” says Maithili Thanawala Kanabar, counselling psychologist.

Dr. Bindu KS

Here’s our primer on how to face up to it, and move on.

1. Return to working out
“The body needs six weeks to heal — whether it’s a natural birth, caesarean or an episiotomy [which involves a vaginal cut]. The body’s physiology gets back to normal in six weeks, the uterus comes back to shape and body fluids return to normalcy. Whether a housewife or a working woman, it is advisable that she resumes her fitness regime in six weeks,” says Dr Ranjana Dhanu, consultant, gynaecology and obstetrics, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical. But if you have been regular with your fitness routine before and during your pregnancy, you can even go back to working out within a week if you have had a normal delivery. “Start with light exercises such as stretches and walks,” says Dr Bindhu KS, consultant, gynaecology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. The body, especially the spine, kidneys, heart and lungs and not just the reproductive organs, undergo changes, says Dr Bindhu.

2. Get back to the office
Kanabar explains that there is no “mother manual” that defines the best time for a new mother to dive into a competitive workspace. “Try being around the baby for the first few months. Talk to your baby about beginning work and scaffold it for him/her. If your baby is used to co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and you are finding it difficult to wean him/her off, they may take some time to get used to your absence,” says Kanabar. Unfortunately, not many companies in India have a full-time crèche facility. “Indian companies must make it mandatory to have a full-time crèche at the workplace. This will increase the overall efficiency of working women, especially when it comes to the corporate workplace,”
believes Dr Dhanu.

Dr Ranjana Dhanu

“Almost all companies have a six-month maternity leave policy. The key is to strike a balance between motherhood and work,” says Dr Bindhu. If it gets overwhelming, Kanabar suggests reaching out to your support system. However, she warns that it is imperative for mothers to remember to not board the overcompensating train, which might drive one to overdo things and become more lenient.

3. Take a break
“Any wound takes six weeks to heal and it heals well in this period for any kind of birth. Hardcore physical or adventure activities are absolutely safe after six weeks. All the medical textbooks say that the body needs to resume some kind of exercise or physical activity post six weeks of delivery. If you can afford it, take a nanny along,” suggests Dr Dhanu.

4. Slip into a chic mode
Be it exercising or getting your glam on, pursuing something that makes you look and feel good is a good way to boost your morale. “Me-time is viewed as a selfish concept while in reality, it is a safe space that every human needs to visit to rejuvenate,” says Kanabar. It is the quality of time spent with the baby that matters.
Dr Bindhu adds that people also spend only two to three hours with their child but that does not mean there is no bonding.

Maithili Thanawala Kanabar

Mother, baby and attachment

Some studies suggest that the first three months are the most crucial. Infants develop representations of attachments based on the bond with the primary caregiver. Pioneering British psychiatrist John Bowlby suggested that this attachment acts as a prototype for their future relationships and psychological health.

An infant communicates in rudimental ways and attending to those needs reinforces the infant’s sense of security. It is essential that the mother is attentive and spends quality time with the infant, but there is no need to spend every breathing moment with them. Comforting, breastfeeding on time (or feeding the baby yourself), and communicating with the baby leads to a secure attachment.

Usually, securely attached babies cry when the mother leaves and allow the mother to comfort them when she returns. Every baby responds differently. Remain receptive to the baby’s needs and spend quality time without distractions.

Watch for signs like how the baby responds when you return after a brief absence. Most would allow you to comfort them and look at you when they are inching towards exploring something new. And lastly, mum knows best. So look out for every sign.

Mandira Bedi with her son Veer, who is six today. pic courtesy/jitu savlani

I was fit when I was pregnant. After birth, I had to wait for 40 days before I could exercise again. On the 41st day, I stepped out for my first walk. It was pouring at the time but I had decided that come rain or storm, I will go for it. Later, I started jogging, moved to gymming and lifting weights. I had gained 22kg and was able to return to my pre-pregnancy weight in six months. I had serious post-partum depression that lasted for those 40 days. My depression disappeared after I started exercising. I had a baby pretty late in my life [at 39]. I didn’t fall in love with him at first sight. I wondered, ‘This is the end of my freedom. Will I get work after this?’. It was overwhelming. It’s important to be aware that what’s going on with you is normal and okay. But in that period of 40 days I eventually fell in love with him. Giving birth to him is the best thing I have done. But motherhood is not the only thing that defines me. I am hands-on, but I think you can be a better mother if you are not thinking about it 24/7. That little time for you is crucial. The rule in our house is either parent has to be there at home, always. Working out has less to do for me physically than what it does for me mentally.

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Polling for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls began on Monday in 71 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across nine states. Over 12.79 crore voters will decide the fate of 945 candidates today. Polling started on a peaceful note in 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra for the fourth and final phase of 2019 parliamentary elections, officials said on Monday.

Pic courtesy/Pradeep Dhiwar

As many as 3,11,92,823 voters, including 1418 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise for which the Election Commission of India has set up a total 33,314 polling stations in these constituencies, deployed 68,018 balloting units, 39,977 control units and 43,309 VVPAT-EVMs.

Pic courtesy/Suresh KK

The 17 constituencies polling are: Mumbai North, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai South, Nandurbar, Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane, Maval, Shirur and Shirdi.

Pic courtesy/Sameer Markande

Pic courtesy/Sameer Markande

Pic courtesy/Sameer Markande

Voting will be conducted from 7 am to 6 pm under stringent security measures with over 40,000 personnel on guard only in Mumbai, officials said.

Pic courtesy/Bipin Kokate

Anil Ambani was spotted casting his vote in Mumbai

Pic courtesy/Sneha Kharabe

Mumbai: BJP candidate from Amethi, Smriti Irani and her husband Zubin Irani cast their vote at a polling booth in Versova. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/rPmk33TXlT

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019

Priya Dutt and husband Owen Roncon cast their vote in Mumbai

Pic courtesy/Sneha Kharabe

Director Kunal Kohli casted his vote in Mumbai

Pic courtesy/Sneha Kharabe

Tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi cast his vote in Bandra

Pic courtesy/Ranjeet Jadav

Film maker Vishal Bhardwaj casted his vote in Andheri West

Union Min&BJP leader Piyush Goyal after casting his vote at Walsingham School, Malabar Hill in Mumbai: This election is now a Tsunami election. North South,East&West, Modi wave has overtaken the country. PM Modi is the tallest leader today in the country. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/S6fXnrhLE1

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019

Pic courtesy/Ranjeet Jadav

Sanjay Nirupam with family cast his vote in Andheri West

The Election Commission has set up 1.40 lakh polling booths/stations and has made elaborate security arrangements. 

Pic courtesy/Yogen Shah

Urmila Matondkar present at the polling booth to cast her vote.

Pic courtesy/Sneha Kharabe

Actor Amir Khan cast his vote in Bandra

Pic curtesy/Yogen Shah

Actor Anupam Kher cast his vote 

Polling will be held in 17 seats in Maharashtra, 13 each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, eight in West Bengal, six each in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand and a part of the Anantnag constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pic courtesy/Nimesh Dave

Gopal Shetty with family at the voting booth in Mumbai

Pic courtesy/Bipin Kokate

Milind Deora with family at the polling booth in Mumbai

Pic courtesy/Faizan Khan

Manoj Kotak cast his vote in Mumbai

In the first three phases, voting has been held in 302 Lok Sabha constituencies, and 168 more seats will go to polls in the last three phases. Election to 542 Lok Sabha seats is being conducted in seven phases between April 11 and May 19. Election in Vellore constituency in Tamil Nadu has been cancelled following excess use of money power. Results will be declared on May 23.

Watch Video:

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No one informed us that my brother had been killed. We heard about his death on news," said Rakesh Tiwari, the brother of Kalpavrishkgiri Chikne Maharaj who was lynched in Palghar earlier this month, from Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi taluka where the deceased priest's family lives.

On the night of April 16, a frenzied mob of close to 450 tribals lynched 70-year-old Chikne Maharaj, another priest and their driver, suspecting them to be thieves, at Gadchinchale village. While the incident made headlines across the nation, Chikne Maharaj's family learnt about his death only two days later.

Rakesh told mid-day over the phone that neither the police nor the authorities in the state informed them about his demise. We learnt through the news two days later that Kalpavrishkgiri had been brutally murdered in Palghar, he said.

Kalpavrishkgiri had left his home in Uttar Pradesh at the age of nine and was reunited with his family after 20-long years. When Kalpavrishkgiri was nine years old, he left home for Gramsabha Bhusavla school at Bhadohi one day, and never returned. We searched for him across the town but didn't find him." After reuniting with him 26 years later, the family learnt that he had gone to Nashik to become a monk, Rakesh said.

"We found his address when Kalpavrishkgiri was about 35-year-old and learnt that he had become a priest. After leaving UP, he had gone to Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple to become a monk and later moved to Mumbai. He was a priest at Vandevi temple at Jogeshwari East. We accepted him and I used to meet him whenever I visited Mumbai."

Kalpavrishkgiri wanted to attend the last rites of our mother, who died on March 22, said Rakesh, adding that he couldn't make it to Uttar Pradesh due to the lockdown in Mumbai announced by the Maharashtra government in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

"On March 22, I called to my brother to inform him about our mother's demise, but due to the restrictions he could not attend her funeral. He was our mother's favourite son," Rakesh told mid-day. Rakesh said, "Our wish was to attend my brother's final rites but we received the information very later and that too from the media."

He also accused the police of failing to save his brothers and the two others with him. The videos clearly show that the police surrendered my brother to the mob, who then brutally thrashed him to death, said Rakesh, adding that the police could have saved Kalpavrishkgiri.

"Not a single police officer informed us about his death," Rakesh told mid-day.

Tilghate was driving Chikne Maharaj and Sushil Giri to Surat where the duo were headed to attend the last rites of a head priest, Ramgiri Maharaj. However, they came across the tribals, who were enraged by the rumours that a gang of child lifters were active in the region. While the police maintain that close to 450 people were part of the mob, a local leader had said as many as 2,500 tribals had gatheredthat night.

16 April
Day the two priests and their driver were lynched

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The 73-year-old mother and wife of a police constable have tested positive for COVID-19 in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday. The constable, who is attached to the Mumbai police, had tested positive for the infection earlier, while swab reports of his elderly mother and wife came out positive on Monday, public relations officer of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Mahendra Konde said.

In another development, a 42-year-old heart patient, who died while being shifted to a hospital in Navi Mumbai, tested positive for coronavirus post death, the official said. A 57-year-old medical personnel of a civic hospital in Mumbai has contracted the infection, and at least 12 civic workers, who came in contact with her, were quarantined, a release from the Palghar district administration stated.

As per reports, the number of positive cases in Palghar stood at 146, of which 10 patients have succumbed to the infection. Meanwhile, as many as 41 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Maharashtra''s Thane district, taking the tally to 728 in the region and toll to 21, after two more died on Monday, an official from the district administration said.

With 41 patients, Mumbra town has recorded the highest number of cases in the district.

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On Thursday, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor died at a city hospital after a two-year battle with cancer. He had spent several months in the US for treatment.

A day before that, actor Irrfan Khan died after being admitted to a Mumbai hospital following a colon infection. The superlative actor too, had been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour two years ago and had sought treatment in the UK.

The death of the two Bollywood stalwarts throws all the pain and suffering of cancer into sharp relief. It hammers home the message that while the world and with it the news outlets are consumed with vaccine trials for Coronavirus and possible cures, we still have to find a cure for cancer. We have made great strides in the battle against cancer, and continue to do so. Yet, every death is a sobering reminder that for so many years, a definitive cure for cancer continues to elude us. Some experts claim that we may never find that one remedy that makes cancer go away.

Caretakers whose eyes brim with tears as they live with a loved one afflicted with cancer and the sufferers themselves long and hope that a cure may come in their lifetime.

Meanwhile, we may become even more adept at managing cancer, so much so that the big C loses its sting.

With that to ponder on, one hopes that cancer patients are getting timely care in these times, that chemotherapy patients are able to access medical centres, talk to doctors, and health facilities remain especially careful as their patients' immunity is already compromised to some degree. In these dark times, where Coronavirus statistics take centre stage, let us not forget that the combat against the other big C still goes on. The Emperor of Maladies may have met its match in terms of management but more power and wings to the search for a cure for that C too.

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A 55-year-old man who was one of the 101 people arrested in connection with the Palghar mob-lynching incident has been tested positive for COVID-19. Sources said that 43 others involved in the case would have to be tested for the virus.

It is to be noted that all the 101 people who were arrested on April 17, were produced before a court on Thursday to seek their custody in another case regarding the lynching of three men including Chikne Maharaj, Sushil Giri and their cab driver Nilesh Tilghate in Palghar.

Sources have told mid-day that the person was tested negative on April 28 but 'he developed symptoms of coronavirus and was tested again'.

"The 55-year-old man was kept in lock-up with 20 others arrested in the case at Wada police station. The samples of all accused and police officials are being collected. They will be quarantined," said a senior police officer at Palghar, adding that the officers who have interrogated the person will also be quarantined.

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Even as tipplers lined up outside liquor stores across the state on Tuesday, there were hectic parleys both in the corridors of Mantralaya and the BMC.

While for the state government, the main concern was how to raise revenue during the lockdown while ensuring that the infection rate does not explode, the civic body's sole concern was to keep the city's climbing COVID-19 count under check.

As reports flooded in about overcrowding outside liquor stores, the BMC commissioner made up his mind and issued an order late on Tuesday evening, directing all non-essential shops and establishments to shut with immediate effect.

The state agreed that this was the right decision for the hotspot of Mumbai, and decided to keep liquor stores open in the rest of the state. It is even contemplating a cess on liquor like in Delhi state, top sources in the political and bureaucratic machinery told mid-day.

Delhi imposed a Coronavirus cess on liquor sales at state-run shops from Tuesday. The cess is 70 per cent of the maximum retail price of all categories of liquor sold through standalone shops. The Maharashtra government's cess is expected to be less than that of Delhi, as the state's taxes on alcoholic beverages are already the highest in the country.

A retailer from Sion said a New Delhi-like cess is not advisable. "Even with the cess or surcharge, liquor in Delhi will still be cheaper than in Maharashtra. The taxation is so heavy that spurious liquor is made here or cheaper stuff is smuggled from neighbouring states," he said.

The high that didn't last
As per official data, the state has been consuming an average of 87 crore litres of alcohol (country liquor, Indian made foreign liquor, beer and wine) every year. The government earned R15,428 crore last year through liquor production and sale. The state has lost at least R3,000 crore in revenue in the current financial year.
Figures obtained by mid-day showed that the state sold 16.10 lakh litres and earned R62.55 crore on Monday and Tuesday. The figures are from 17 districts that sold liquor on the two days (including Mumbai city and suburbs). Nine other districts had disallowed sales, and two couldn't open stores.

"The excise department earns maximum revenue from production units. Liquor sale in the state touched R11-12 crore on Monday. A cess is a matter of policy for the government," said excise commissioner Kantilal Umap.

Some officials are of the opinion that the government could earn additional revenue through Value Added Tax (VAT) and GST if restaurants and permits room that serve food and alcohol were also allowed to open in the coming days. Owners of permit rooms and restaurants have sought permission to dispose of their stock in retail to get some liquidity and add to the revenue. But at least in Mumbai, the BMC order has put paid to these hopes.

Earlier in the day...
Before the BMC commissioner's order, the State Excise Department released a new set of guidelines for all liquor shops, which includes a form that customers will have to fill in with their personal details and take a token.

This order – an attempt to streamline crowds and enforce social distancing – apply to other districts, where liquor shops will continue to operate.

The forms to be filled by people include name, mobile number, details of the brand and the number of bottles the person wishes to buy.

The excise department said not more than 50 tokens can be issued per hour. With wine shops in the state allowed to be open from 10 am to 6 pm, assuming there will be 50 customers per hour, a wine shop can service a maximum of 400 customers per day. If more customers come, they will be issued tokens for the next day.

Wine shops that do not have printers to print the forms can put their stamp on a plain paper which has the details of the customer and mention the token number.

Inputs by Vishal Singh

3k
Amount (in crores) of revenue from liquor sales lost by the state

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Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Sanjay Naik and three more members were booked by Bandra police for obstructing burial of a COVID-19 dead body in Muslim Kabaristan. The incident occurred on Tuesday when a dead body of a COVID-19 patient was taken to Naupada Kokani Kabarastan by Raza Academy members for burial. Naik claimed that he objected to the burial as members who had come with the dead body didn't have proper documents.

A few weeks ago, residents near Naupada Kokani Kabarastan objected burial of dead bodies who were COVID-19 patients. The matter went to Bombay High court which rejected the petition of the residents. The matter went to Supreme Court which redirected matter to High court and reportedly allowed burial in between.

The controversy upscaled on the night of May 5 when a 45-year-old died of Coronavirus in Jaslok Hospital. Raza Academy members who had been appointed to carry out the burial rushed to Naupada Kokani Kabaristan. "When we reached Kabaristan, we found that the BMC officials mentioned a Kabarastan of Bandra East, so the permission was changed to Bandra West in Konkani Kabarastan," said Sabir Nirban, member of Raza Academy. "But while burial was going on, Sanjay Naik came with some men opposing it", he said.

Sheikh Izaz Shamshuddin, resident of Bandra registered a complaint against Sanjay Naik, Muzaffar Zarif Khan, Yunus Muzaffar Khan, and Akbar Zarif Khan. 

"We tried to have a word with the men but they weren't listening. They told us about the court orders but we told them that orders are in favour of burial in this particular kabarastan, but they didn't listen to us. Cops came to spot and we finally decided to register a complaint at the Police station," said Shamshuddin.

Bandra police took cognizance of the matter and filed the offence under IPC section 341 (wrongful restraint), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 34 (Common intention) and relevant sections of Epidemic Act 1897. 

Talking about the incident, Sanjay Naik said, "The people who had come with the dead body didn't have any proper permission. They buried the dead body even before we objected, some ran away when we came, it was all fishy. There were many people around hence we didn't create any ruckus." When asked about the offence, he said, "I am not aware of the offence, I wonder what offence they have registered against me". 

Nirban, one of the members of the task force formed by the government has requested the Police Commissioner to take stringent action against such trouble makers and make a precedent for others who cause undue hardships to people working for the society. "Special attention must be given for their protection to overcome this task. These dedicated workers are risking their lives for the society and we must pray for their health and support them morally in this noble cause," Nirban said. 

Swapna Mhatre, local corporator said, "There was some issue with permission of burial but it was resolved later. There is a sense of fear among residents as the burial ground is in the residential zone. I would suggest authorities to choose grounds which are away from residential zones."

DCP (Zone 9) Abhishek Trimukhe confirmed the registration of offence, "The offence has been registered and the investigation is on," he said. 

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In an attempt to prevent smuggling of liquor from neighbouring states during the lockdown, Maharashtra has sealed its borders with them and deployed adequate manpower at a dozen checkposts, an official said on Friday. The move by the excise department has come in the wake of lifting of certain coronavirus-induced curbs, which included allowing reopening of liquor shops. As the demand for alcohol has increased in Maharashtra, there is a possibility of liquor smuggling by inter-state organised syndicates, the official said.

Considering the threat from such syndicates, the excise department has deployed its flying squads and vigilance teams in districts located along the borders with neighbouring states, he said. To avoid any smuggling activity during this period, we have increased our vigil on 12 checkposts and sealed borders with adjoining states," he said. This will help in curbing illegal transportation of liquor or spirit, the official said. With the help of local police, the excise department has initiated action against persons involved in smuggling and transportation of liquor, he said.

Since the lockdown came into force in late March, at least 4,829 offences have been registered for illegal liquor transportation and 438 vehicles seized, he said. Besides, at least 2,104 persons have been arrested so far in such cases, the official said, adding liquor and other material worth Rs 12.63 crore have been seized since the shutdown.

The excise department has started a control room, where people can provide information related to illegal manufacturing or sale of liquor, he said.

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Dear Diana,
I have been with this girl for over a year. Things are going fine between us, but I now feel she is not someone I would like to spend the rest of my life with. This could be because I am attracted to someone else. Three months ago, I met this girl at a party who was introduced through a common friend. I have been hanging out with her as well. I feel she is the one for me. She is of a cheerful disposition and always smiling unlike my girlfriend who always finds faults in everything I do. I have been growing fond of this new girl on my scene. The problem is I do not know how to tell my girlfriend I am not interested in her. I want to move on, but at the same time do not want to upset her. At the same time, with each passing day, I am growing more and more fond of this new girl. How do I solve this dilemma? I want to be with the new girl, but do not want to hurt my girlfriend.
— Raman

Dear Raman,
If you want to move on, you need to tell her clearly. You are not taking a stand as you do not want to offend her. You feel she will be upset. If you do not care for her, why are you so concerned about her? Also, if you care for her still, then why are you dumping her? So, first make up your mind and then act accordingly. You will have to choose between the two girls. The faster you make the decision, the better for you and for her. You feel this new girl is more your kind within such a short duration. So you also need to sit down and ponder before you take a decision.

Dear Diana,
For over two weeks, I have been nursing a broken heart. My guy had kept me in the dark about the other woman in his life. He was two-timing me and I had no clue. A friend would often see him with a girl riding pillion on his bike late nights. She would often tell me, but I paid no heed. I always felt it could be one of his female pals he was dropping home or one of his office colleagues. I did not think anything was amiss till he suddenly told me that he was moving on. I was taken aback. I did not even think for even a moment what was going on his head. We were together for two years, so it has been difficult for me. I was taken for a ride by him. He cheated on me and I believed the lies that he told me. I do not know what to do. He does not respond to my calls or messages, but I still pine for him.
— Megha

Illustration/Uday Mohite

Dear Megha,
Why are you still pining for him when he dumped you and lied to you? This man is not worthy of your love. He kept you in the dark about the other woman in his life. He was two-timing you. It is clear that he was not interested in you from the beginning. You seem to be a stop-gap agreement and the day he was bored of you, he dumped you. Move on in life and next time be wary. Your friend would keep telling you about his waywardness, but you did not pay attention to her. If you had questioned him at that time, things could have been different. Get going in your life. Do not pine for him. Remember he dumped you, so why even care for this man?

Dear Diana,
I had lied to my mother that I was going overnight with my pals to Lonavla. The fact was that I was spending time with my girlfriend at a common pal's house whose flat is vacant. The next day while unpacking my bag, my mother found my girlfriend's T-shirt in the bag. She wondered how a female pair of clothing was among my clothes. It was a girlie T-shirt and not one of those unisex T-shirts which I could pass off as one of my friends. I then cooked up a story saying that one of my pal's girlfriends had tagged along. But she still wondered how it reached my bag. The fact was that my girlfriend was carrying a lot of stuff and while packing, it slipped in with a large bath towel. I had just stuffed my towel in the bag and did not realise that her top went in with it. I told my mom to discard it, but she has washed it and kept it in my cupboard. I am embarrassed and do not know what to say. My mother has not broached the subject again. What should I do? I feel guilty. Should I tell her the truth?
— Nayan

Illustration/Uday Mohite

Dear Nayan,
First, learn to handle your own stuff — you are making your mom do things for you still! Instead of stuffing your bag with bundles of clothes, if you had neatly folded the clothes and kept it, this problem would not have arisen. Also, when you were back home, you dumped your bag and made your mother do the unpacking. It is time you learn to do your own stuff. You seem to have your mother doing all your work. If you had unpacked your bag and separated the clothes that needed to be washed, you would have found your girlfriend's top rolled in the towel. So you alone are to blame for the predicament that you find yourself in. If you are riddled with guilt, tell your mom the truth who by now already knows what you are trying to hide.

Tokyo organizers said Tuesday they have no "B Plan" in the event the Olympics need to be postponed again because of the coronavirus pandemic. Masa Takaya, the spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics, said organizers are proceeding under the assumption the Olympics will open on July 23, 2021. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24. Those dates were set last month by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese officials after the coronavirus pandemic made it clear the Olympics could not be held as scheduled this summer.

"We are working toward the new goal," Takaya said, speaking in English on a teleconference call with journalists. "We don't have a B Plan." The severity of the pandemic and the death toll has raised questions if it will even be feasible to hold the Olympics in just over 15 months. Several Japanese journalists raised the question on the call.

"All I can tell you today is that the new games' dates for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been just set up," Takaya said. "In that respect, Tokyo 2020 and all concerned parties now are doing their very best effort to deliver the games next year." IOC President Thomas Bach was asked about the possibility of a postponement in an interview published in the German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

He did not answer the question directly, but said later that Japanese organizers and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated they "could not manage a postponement beyond next summer at the lastest." The Olympics draw 11,000 athletes and 4,400 Paralympic athletes and large support staffs from 206 national Olympic committees. There are also questions about frozen travel, rebooking hotels, cramming fans into stadiums and arenas, securing venues, and the massive costs of rescheduling, which is estimated in Japan at $2 billion-$6 billion.

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto addressed the issue in a news conference on Friday. He is likely to be asked about it again on Thursday when local organizers and the IOC hold a teleconferene with media in Japan. The other major question is the cost of the delay; how much will it be, and who pays? Bach said in the Sunday interview that the IOC would incur "several hundred million dollars" in added costs. Under the so-called Host City Agreement, Japan is liable for the vast majority of the expenses.
"This is impossible to say for now," Takaya, the spokesman said.

"It is not very easy to estimate the exact amount of the games' additional costs, which have been impacted by the postponement." Tokyo says it's spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics. But a Japanese government audit published last year says the costs are twice that much. Of the total spending, $5.6 billion in private money. The rest is from Japanese governments.

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Twins Thomas and Mathias Sühring grew up in Berlin, which was then part of East Germany. Summer holidays were spent at their grandparents' farm, near the Polish border, harvesting vegetables and fruits, and feeding ducks, chicken, and pigs.

"We derived immense joy from going to the forests to pick berries and mushrooms, and fishing in the lakes nearby. As kids, it was nothing short of an adventure. We feasted on our grandmother's cooking. It was special to see how she got the family together at the table," says 40-year-old Mathias in an email interview from Bangkok, where the duo runs Sühring, which has placed 13th on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list this year.

They first arrived in Bangkok in January 2008 to helm the kitchen at Mezzaluna -- the city's highest restaurant, located on the 65th floor of Tower Club in Lebua. Next week, they will be at The Taj Mahal Mumbai for a pop-up that runs from September 13 to 17. But, before that, they share the story of what brought them to Mezzaluna and how it led them to launch their own brand.

Excerpts from the interview:

Did both of you want to become chefs?
Thomas: Our parents made us realise how much we loved the time we spent on the farm, harvesting and preparing food
with our grandparents. They suggested we explore the idea of becoming chefs since Germany was finally united by the time we turned 19, and we had the freedom to travel to wherever we wanted. We trained in different hotels in Berlin and earned a diploma after three years. We took a trip across the country in our car and visited all the three-Michelin-starred restaurants to apply for a position.

But no one was interested in hiring us.

Our journey towards becoming professional chefs began when a chef named Sven Elverfeld, from Aqua at The Ritz Carlton in Wolfsburg [Germany], called us.

What led you to launch Sühring?
Thomas: Five years ago, we realised that starting our own restaurant would allow us to fully express ourselves. We knew
Gaggan [Anand, celebrated Bangkok-based Indian chef] since 2008, when we were working at the same hotel in different capacities. He had always been encouraging us to open our own place.

We launched Sühring on February 22, 2016, which also marks the birthday of Gaggan, our partner and friend.

Sühring is 13th on the Asia's 50 Best list. What is the secret behind its success?
Mathias: We never expected Sühring to rank so high on the list within a year of its launch! The atmosphere of a restaurant
goes a long way in establishing a bond with the guests. We ensure that our guests feel comfortable, as if they are visiting an old friend. Hence, we live at the restaurant, to create a warm and relaxed atmosphere. What's better than great food in a homely set-up?

What, according to you, constitutes modern German food?
Thomas: For a long time, Germany wasn't considered to be a country of culinary excellence. The cuisine is often labelled as boring, heavy, fatty, and fixated on meat. But there is so much more to it than just salted pork legs, sausages, potatoes or sauerkraut. We incorporate modern cooking techniques into traditional methods to transport diners to another culinary generation. The result is perfect -- simple execution with robust flavours.

There is a notion that twins think along similar lines. Does this happen with the two of you in the kitchen?
Mathias: There have been instances when both of us have thought on a similar line without having talked about it. We ensure that we openly share ideas and thoughts that work in our favour.

What's your brotherly bond like?
Mathias: We have a respectful and professional equation at work. We discuss all new dishes together. Often, we have a similar view and when we don't, we let the dish take shape, and give it a fair chance. What's important is that we learn every day. Currently, Thomas takes care of cooking hot food items and I focus on preparing cold
ones, including pasties.

What's in store for Mumbai?
Thomas: We are presenting our signature dishes, like Frankfurter Grüne Soße, a sauce that originated in Frankfurt and is made with seven different herbs. We will also bring our two-and-a-half-year-old sourdough to Mumbai to bake authentic German breads, which will be part of the menu. Another dish, called Brotzeit, will have butter churned from lacto-fermented cream and flavoured with wild garlic leaves. Also on the menu is a traditional noodle dish, called Spätzle, from the Black Forest
region of Germany. This one will be served with mushrooms and fresh truffles.

Has Gaggan given you advice for this trip?
Mathias: He told us to enjoy his country and its incredible people.

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has now approached the King George's Medical University (KGMU), offering to donate her plasma for treatment of other Covid-19 patients. The singer called up the head of transfusion medicine department, Prof Tulika Chandra, and volunteered to help.

"She called me up and said she really wanted to help other Covid-19 patients. Vice Chancellor Prof M.L.B. Bhatt has given a go ahead on it and we will now be carrying out the tests on her to see if she is fit to donate her plasma," said Prof Chandra.

As per experts, Kanika's sample will be tested for a number of things before she can donate her plasma. These include her haemoglobin level that should be above 12.5, weight should be more than 50 kg and the patient should not have diabetes, cardiovascular issues, malaria, syphilis and other such ailments.

Kanika's sample will probably be taken on Tuesday and if found to be eligible, she will be donating her plasma on Wednesday. Kanika Kapoor had grabbed headlines last month when she became the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for Coronavirus.

Kanika had attended two parties in Lucknow in the presence of top politicians and bureaucrats and all of them were later tested for Corona. Kanika was hospitalized for over a fortnight at the Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

She had, on April 26, come out with a statement clarifying her travel and Covid-19 history declaring that she was aware of misconceptions and wrong information floating around her but she chose to remain silent until ready to speak. Kanika in her social media post had said that all persons she came in contact with in the UK, Mumbai and Lucknow had been tested negative and that she had duly followed the process.

Meanwhile, the KGMU on Sunday night, made the first plasma transfusion in a 58-year-old patient from Orai who is a government doctor whose condition was critical. The doctors now say that the patient is responding well to the transfusion.

The university has received three plasma donations from fully recovered Covid-19 patients, two from doctors and one from a Lakhimpur man.

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Though Irrfan and I did not share screen space, we featured together in two films, Akash Deep's Ghaath (2000), and Suparn Verma's Acid Factory (2009).

In the second, we were together in only one fleeting scene. We knew each other because our roots [lay in] theatre. I knew him from the time we began our careers, and we followed each other's journey in films. I looked at him with tremendous regard. We went through the same [experiences] at the same time: We struggled together, and as outsiders, fought for the same thing: to earn our place in different types of films.

We faced both rejection and acceptance from the audience, and the industry.

It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that Irrfan is no more. His contribution to the industry and the world of acting will live on. He still had a lot more [to offer], so his passing away is difficult for a colleague and contemporary [to come to terms with].

As told to Shaheen Parkar

Priyadarshan: He wanted to do a comedy when he came back

Irrfan was a dear friend. We worked together in Billoo, and often spent the evenings together. He would talk about his struggles and [being apprehensive about] carving his place as an actor, in movies, because of his looks. He'd say he was advised to stick to theatre because he didn't have the qualities of a hero, but [would remind himself] that 'somebody needs [to see] somebody like me [as a hero]'.

He had told people that if he came back [following his treatment in London], they should keep scripts [ready] for him. But when he returned, he told me he [was easily] tired, and couldn't work for more than five hours. I spoke to him four months ago, and he said that though the treatment had made him weak, he [had been] cured. He wanted to do a comedy and told me to call him with a script.

As told to Upala KBR

Mithila Palkar: He taught me to focus on nuances

My fondest memory of Irrfan sir was him referring to me as Binaca Geetmala, because I'd always sing on the sets of Karwaan. If he liked something that I was humming, he would request [me to sing] it.

I haven't been to acting school. But merely [being in his] presence was like attending one. My lesson from observing him was to focus on the small details in a scene, and understanding nuances. We lost a gem and I don't think this void can be filled.

As told to Sonia Lulla

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Hindi and world cinema lost a shining star when Irrfan Khan passed away yesterday, April 29, 2020. The actor, who was battling Neuroendocrine cancer for two years, left his fans and the industry in shock and sorrow after he passed away.

Irrfan Khan was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri, Mumbai, for a colon infection, where he breathed his last. Irrfan was laid to rest at 3 pm yesterday.

In a recent interview with ETimes, actress Mrinal Kulkarni opened up about Irrfan Khan, who was her TV show Shrikant co-star. Kulkarni shared, "The thing is, I am working with cancer organisations for the last few years and then I got to know about Irrfan. We were connected to each other when he was a cancer survivor but his cancer was of a rare type and even after being a strong-willed person he couldn't win the battle. Sometimes, there is nothing in our hands and that is true."

Mrinal Kulkarni, who worked with Irrfan Khan in another TV show, Sparsh, added, "Actually, I knew he was not well and it was a tough fight. After losing his mother, he became more weak and emotional. I somewhere felt that there were tough times ahead for him." Irrfan Khan's mother, Saeda Begum, passed away on April 25, 2020, at age 95.

Talking about Irrfan Khan as an actor and individual, Kulkarni shared, "He used to speak very less. I didn't know that we would ever become friends. After that, we worked together a lot and we became best friends."

Irrfan Khan's last film, Angrezi Medium, released in March this year. He was known for his performances in films like Maqbool, The Namesake, A Mighty Heart, Paan Singh Tomar, Life of Pi, The Lunchbox, and Hindi Medium, among others.

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Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday morning, April 30, 2020. Sources said that he had been admitted at H.N Reliance Hospital around three weeks ago and was in a critical condition for quite some time. Kapoor, 67, was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer back in 2018 and was being treated in New York for about a year. Sources stated that Kapoor was suffering from complications of cancer treatment.

Neetu Kapoor and Rishi were in the US for the actor's treatment for almost a year. The duo returned to the bay in September 2019, and ever since then, he made frequent visits to the hospital.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2020, the actor breathed his last. Amitabh Bachchan, a dear friend of the veteran, shared the news and expressed shock on social media. Let's take a look at some tweets posted by the Bollywood celebrities.

Heartbroken ... Rest In Peace ... my dearest friend #RishiKapoor

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020

A genre of films has ended.
A school of acting gone. #RishiKapoor

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) April 30, 2020

Totally gutted. This is the unkindest April ever 😢😢 Rishi Kapoor ji à¥Â शाà¤Â‚ति 🙏🏼🙏🏼

— Renuka Shahane (@renukash) April 30, 2020

Been trying to write something n I can’t put my mind n hands in sync. More like the heart in between is just not able to comprehend this. That laugh, that sense of humour, the honesty and even the bully he was , will be missed. No one like you #RishiKapoor

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) April 30, 2020

Rest In Peace Sir ... #RishiKapoor pic.twitter.com/S4RmJzg3gn

— John Abraham (@TheJohnAbraham) April 30, 2020

Ekta Kapoor, whose father Jeetendra has been friends with the actor, posted on Instagram:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

They will never party again like this! Goodbye uncle and actor par excellence!!#riprishikapoor

A post shared by Erk❤ï¸Ârek (@ektarkapoor) onApr 29, 2020 at 10:01pm PDT

Kuch samay pehle Rishi ji ne mujhe unki aur meri ye tasveer bheji thi.wo sab din,sab baatein yaad aarahi hain. Main shabdheen hogayi hun. pic.twitter.com/IpwCKMqUBq

— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) April 30, 2020

Jeetendra and wife Shobha Kapoor shared, "The magnitude of his loss and the void he leaves behind will be felt forever. We've lost one of our closest friends, our very dear brother and one of the finest human beings. It was an honour to be a part of his life. Our deepest condolences to Neetu, Riddhima, Ranbir and the entire Kapoor family."

Calling it a pandemic of sadness, producer Anand Pandit said, "Two days and two big shocks. It's a pandemic of sadness. Rishi ji was an extraordinary actor and an unforgettable human being. Larger than life and evergreen. I grew up watching his films and learnt more about life from the films during his second stint. Mulk,102 Not Out, Kapoor & Sons to name a few showed me and his fans how an actor can transform. We will miss you Rishi ji. We have lost a gem today."

Deepshikha Deshmukh shared, "News of Rishi Uncle's passing away is devastating. It seems unreal, untrue. It feels like somebody hit your heart with a cold rod. I will remember him for his beautiful movies, his larger than life persona and sharp wit. Farewell Rishi Uncle. You lived life king-size. My prayers with Ranbir, Neetu Aunty and Riddhima." 

She also tweeted about Rishi Kapoor's demise. This is what she wrote:

💔 cant even get myself to write a tweet #RIP Rishi uncle

— Deepshikha DDeshmukh (@honeybhagnani) April 30, 2020

Rishi Kapoor had 51 films as the solo lead hero from 1973 to 2000, but many aren't aware that 40 of them were box office flops and only 11 managed to be successful at the showbiz and make it through the audience's heart. They were Bobby, Laila Majnu, Rafoo Chakkar, Sargam, Karz, Prem Rog, Nagina, Honeymoon, Chandni, Heena and Bol Radha Bol, Yeh Vaada Raha. He had the lead hero roles in two-hero films only 13 times, in Khel Khel Mein, Kabhi Kabhi, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Badalte Rishtey, Aap Ke Deewane, and Saagar, and then from 1989 with Ajooba, Chandni, Deewana, Damini - Lightning, Gurudev, Daraar and Karobaar.

In 1999 he directed the film Aa Ab Laut Chalen, starring Rajesh Khanna, Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna in pivotal roles. In 2019, the actor appeared in The Body, also starring Emraan Hashmi which was released on 13 December 2019. Incidentally, it was his last released film before his death on April 30, 2020. Sharmaji Namkeen directed by Hitesh Bhatia, with Juhi Chawla, was under production at the time of his death. Rishi Kapoor was also going to be a part of the popular Hollywood remake "The Intern," also starring Deepika Padukone.

You'll be truly missed, Rishi Kapoor!

Veteran Actor Rishi Kapoor last rites to be performed at Chandanwadi Crematorium in Kalbadevi, Mumbai.

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Actress Rakul Preet Singh has relived her childhood days in a new post she shared on social media. Rakul took to Instagram and shared a video where she plays games like "dog and the bone", "Kabbadi" and "chidiya ud" with her brother Aman Preet.

"When time takes you back to your childhood #quarantinediaries," the actress captioned the video. 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

#quarantinediaries with @amanpreetoffl ❤ï¸Â

A post shared by Rakul Singh (@rakulpreet) onMay 2, 2020 at 12:28am PDT

On the acting front, Rakul will soon be seen in a cross-border romantic-comedy with actor Arjun Kapoor. The film is directed by debutant Kaashvie Nair and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Nikkhil Advani and John Abraham.

Rakul will also be seen in Kamal Haasan's ambitious upcoming film "Indian 2", which also stars Kajal Aggarwal and Vidyut Jammwal.

Her brother Aman Preet Singh is all set to make his Bollywood debut with the film "Ram Rajya". It also stars Shobita Rana, Salman Sheikh, Shashwat Pratik, Rajesh Sharma, Govind Namdev, Manoj Bakshi, Sandeep Bhojak, Mukhtar Dekhani and Mushtaq Khan.

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This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

On May 3, 1981, Sanjay Dutt's mother and legendary actress Nargis Dutt passed away after suffering from Cancer. All of Sanjay Dutt's fans know he shared a very emotional bond with his mother and how much he was eager to show her his debut film, Rocky, which was slated to release at that time.

Today, on her 39th death anniversary, the actor took to his Instagram account to share an unseen picture with Nargis and penned an emotional note. He wrote- "It's been 39 years since you left us but I know you're always by my side. I wish you were here with me, today and everyday. Love you and miss you everyday Mom." (sic)

Have a look right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

It’s been 39 years since you left us but I know you’re always by my side. I wish you were here with me, today & everyday. Love you and miss you everyday Mom.

A post shared by Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) onMay 3, 2020 at 2:04am PDT

Abhishek Bachchan, Suniel Shetty, Athiya Shetty commented on the post with a heart whereas the actor's daughter Trishala Dutt wrote-"I love you dad." His wife Maanayata also commented with two hearts. This is indeed a gutting moment for the actor as he remembers his mother today.

On the work front, Dutt will be seen in Shamshera, Prithviraj, KGF: Chapter 2, Torbaaz, and Bhuj: The Pride of India.

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Amazon's latest announcement of their upcoming show Paatal Lok has created quite a buzz and has gripped the attention of the audiences. After back to back releases of character posters, the latest addition to the list is Sanjeev Mehra.

Sanjeev Mehra is played by actor Neeraj Kabi in a new and unique avatar. Sanjeev is a renowned journalist and virtually takes you behind the scenes of the fourth estate of democracy. What better day than World Press Freedom Day to introduce the journalist.

The makers first released a teaser followed by motion posters of Hathiram Chaudhary played by Jaideep Ahlawat, followed by Vishal Tyagi aka Hathoda Tyagi. Produced by Clean Slate Films, the trailer of the Amazon Original series is set to release on May 5, 2020.

Have a look at his character right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

sanjeev mehra - journalism ki duniya ka ek aisa naam jiska har shabd logon ke liye sach bann jaata hai. #PaatalLok trailer: may 5, 11:34 am

A post shared by amazon prime video IN (@primevideoin) onMay 2, 2020 at 11:15pm PDT

The highly anticipated Amazon Original Series, by creator Sudip Sharma (writer for Udta Punjab, NH10), Paatal Lok is all set to walk viewers through the virtual gates of purgatory on May 15, 2020.

The official trailer for the highly anticipated series drops this Tuesday - May 5, 2020, at 11:34 am.

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Just a few hours ahead of the much-anticipated event, Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, and Bhumi Pednekar invited people to join for the telecast of 'India's biggest' virtual concert- 'I For India.' The 'Khiladi' star Akshay, took to Twitter and shared a montage of the pictures featuring all the stars coming together from their homes for the virtual concert. He wrote, "We bring you India's biggest at-home concert - #IforIndia. Click the donate button and make a difference. Sunday, 3rd May, 7:30 pm IST. 100% of proceeds go to the India COVID Response Fund by@GiveIndia."

We bring you India’s biggest at-home concert - #IforIndia. Click the donate button and make a difference.
Sunday, 3rd May, 7:30pm IST.
Watch it LIVE- https://t.co/DGhmShw3aI
Donate now- https://t.co/cEgmMhAdHa
100% of proceeds go to the India COVID Response Fund by @GiveIndia pic.twitter.com/aBqlPZN1Zp

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 3, 2020

Kareena Kapoor Khan took to Instagram and shared a picture along with Saif where she urged people to join in the concert and donate to the India COVID-19 Response Fund set up. She wrote, "From my home to yours.

Watch me on India's biggest fundraising concert - #IForIndia, a concert for our times., 3rd May, 7:30 pm IST. Watch it LIVE worldwide on Facebook. Tune in. Donate now. Do your bit. Link in bio. #SocialForGood.100% of proceeds go to the India COVID Response Fund set up by @give_india"

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

From my home to yours. Watch me on India’s biggest fundraising concert - #IForIndia, a concert for our times. Sunday, 3rd May, 7:30pm IST. Watch it LIVE worldwide on Facebook. Tune in. Donate now. Do your bit. Link in bio. #SocialForGood 100% of proceeds go to the India COVID Response Fund set up by @give_india

A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) onMay 2, 2020 at 11:18pm PDT

Bhumi Pednekar took to Instagram and shared a picture featuring herself holding the 'I for India' placard. Along with the post, she wrote, From my home to yours. Watch me on India's biggest fundraising concert - #IForIndia, a concert for our times.Sunday, 3rd May, 7:30 pm IST. Watch it LIVE worldwide on Facebook."

Abhishek Bachchan also shared his picture holding the 'I For India' placard' and inviting people to join in the virtual concert. He wrote, "From my home to yours. Watch me on India's biggest fundraising concert - #IForIndia, a concert for our times. Sunday, 3rd May, 7:30 pm IST. Watch it LIVE worldwide on Facebook. Tune in. Donate now. Do your bit."

Other celebrities including Vicky Kaushal, Parineeti Chopra and Alia Bhatt also urged people to join in the concert.

Earlier in the day, many stars participating in the event took to social media to show their support and to invite their followers to tune in to the concert.

The event dubbed as the 'India's biggest concert' by ace filmmaker Karan Johar, is an attempt to spice the lockdown with a dose of entertainment while raising funds for COVID-19 relief.

The director and Zoya Akhtar have joined hands to organise a virtual concert 'I For India' which will feature over 85 celebrities.

Other celebrities joining SRK for the event will include, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, AR Rehman, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arijit Singh, Anushka Sharma, Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and band, Javed Akhtar, Madhuri Dixit, Vicky Kaushal and more.

The event will also have some global celebrities like musicians Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Bryan Adams, Nick Jonas, actor Sophie Turner, and comedians Mindy Kaling and Lilly Singh.The virtual concert will stream live on Facebook on May 3 at 7.30 PM IST.

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Zoya Akhtar is a pioneer when it comes to thinking outside the box and delivering the best of content. The director has done it once again with the "I for India initative" to help reduce the impacts of Covid-19.

The initiative has been making headlines ever since it was announced with everyone waiting for the event to go live. Spanning over four hours, the Facebook live event saw 85+ celebrities from Bollywood take part in it including international celebrities like Will Smith and Mick Jagger joining in as well along others.

The event saw artists do various performances in the safety of their homes to raise money for GiveIndia.org to support frontline workers fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and also to help people like daily wage workers who have been affect due to the ongoing crisis.

The vision for the concert was three-pronged: to entertain those locked down in their homes. To pay tribute to those who are working on the frontlines. And to raise funds for those who have no work and no home and do not know where their next meal is coming from.

Needless to say, the concert was a huge success and managed to raise substantial amounts of funds that will indeed benefit those in need. The 'I for India' initiative was organised by Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar.

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Actors like Richa Chadha, Kalki Koechlin, Amyra Dastur, Pulkit Samrat and Adil Hussain are spreading the message of peace and gender parity during the ongoing lockdown.

In a video put together by Women in Films and Television India, the campaign, supported by these celebrities, takes stock of the issues borne out of vulnerable mental health caused by the lockdown.

As videos of celebrities washing dishes, cooking have gone viral in the last few months, here the artistes speak about how they have divided the chores of the house between themselves and their partner. For instance, in her video, Kalki can be seen talking about how she made breakfast while her partner took their dog for a walk. Adil, speaking in his native language Assamese, discusses how he enjoys cooking.

"The agenda of the video was to highlight the emotional stress people are going through and how that often leads to several things including domestic violence. This is a problem across the world and a campaign like this effectively speaks to a wide audience," said Richa.

"Women could possibly be trapped and locked down at home unable to muster the courage to report crimes against them. The elderly could be feeling particularly hopeless in such situation. We urge anyone going through trauma to take to counselling on the helpline numbers available," she added.

Richa feels that since India is a diverse society, if a message has to reach everyone, it has to be done in multiple languages.

"Involving artistes of different states was consciously done to create a larger impact and reach everyone across different cultural and socio-economic strata. People should be able to understand the language to absorb the message," she said.

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In a devastating piece of news, Rishi Kapoor left us for heavenly adobe on Thursday, 30 April at 8:45 am after a two-year battle with leukaemia. His last rites were performed at the Chandanwadi Crematorium in Kalbadevi, Mumbai, near the H.N Reliance hospital where he was admitted. The late actor is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, son Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Riddhima Kapoor.

Riddhima, who lives in Delhi, could not make it to the funeral in Mumbai. She has been pouring her heart out by regularly sharing pictures of the late actor and mourning his loss. Recently, Riddhima shared a heartbreaking picture of Rishi with his late mother Krishna Raj. In the picture, Rishi is seen holding his mother's hand as if asking her for a dance. Sharing the picture, she wrote, "Reunited with his most favourite person (sic)".

Along with it, she also shared a throwback picture of Rishi with Neetu Kapoor during their wedding celebrations. In the black-and-white picture, Rishi is seen in a suit, while Neetu has donned a heavy sari with bridal jewellery.

Riddhima had to attend her father's final rites via video call as she was denied permission to fly due to lockdown. She had to travel by road in a car after securing a movement pass. Riddhima took to her Instagram and poured her heart out through multiple Instagram stories.

Riddhima shared a couple of photos on her Instagram story, which will bring tears to your eyes. In the pictures, we can see Rishi, Neetu and Riddhima in their happier times. "I miss you already. Come back na papa". "Wish I could be there to say goodbye to you papa," she wrote.

On Monday, Ranbir Kapoor and Neetu attended his prayer meet. Riddhima also arrived with her daughter Samara Sahni to be with her family. Later, Ranbir, Neetu, accompanied by Alia Bhatt and Ayan Mukerji, visited the Banganga Tank to immerse the late actor's ashes.

Rishi Kapoor had been battling cancer since 2018 and had spent a year in New York seeking treatment for the same. He breathed his last at age 67. The actor left behind millions of memories for all his fans and Cinema lovers that can never be forgotten. With a career of over five decades and tons of blockbusters and classics, we shall make sure he's always alive and among us!

You will be missed Chintuji!!

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Rishi Kapoor's daughter Riddhima Kapoor has been missing her papa a lot. Riddhima can't stop but share all her love and affection on social media. Riddhima, who lives in Delhi, has been sending loads of love and strength to her mother Neetu Kapoor. Riddhima couldn't attend father's final rites due to coronavirus lockdown. She had to drive from Delhi to Mumbai after securing a movement pass.

After sharing a series of throwback photos, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni has uploaded a sweet post as her Instagram story.

Riddhima Kapoor with Rishi Kapoor and daughter Samara Sahni

Riddhima Kapoor with Ranbir Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor

For the uninitiated, Rishi Kapoor made his debut in 1970 with his father Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker and rose to fame with Bobby in 1973, also directed by Raj Kapoor. For 25 years, he was the epitome of romance and charm. And as years passed by, he began displaying his unseen side that had a versatile performer. With films like Agneepath, Kapoor & Sons, Aurangzeb, Do Dooni Chaar, and Luck By Chance, he began what was one of the finest phases of his career.

Speaking of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, the duo has worked together in movies like Kabhi Kabhie, Khel Khel Mein, Amar Akbar Anthony and Zehreela Insaan, among others. Their sizzling on-screen chemistry transformed into off-screen romance, and the couple tied the knot on January 22, 1980.

Rishi Kapoor died in a Mumbai hospital on April 30. He was 67 and had been battling leukemia. In September 2019, the actor had returned to Mumbai after staying in New York for almost a year for cancer treatment.

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Sona Mohapatra continues to perform music for the soul and enthral audiences despite the lockdown. The songstress is set to perform an acoustic version of the song, O ri chiraiya, which was composed by husband Ram Sampath, for Aamir Khan's television show Satyamev Jayate with lyrics penned by Swananad Kirkire.

On Sunday, Mohapatra will join musicians Sanjoy Das on guitar, Tapas Roy on the folk instrument, Do-Tara — the five-stringed musical instrument — along with other singers who will join her from varied locations. Mohapatra feels it is the perfect time to revisit the song and share its essence of hope and healing with a world that has been ravaged by the virus. She says, "I dedicate the Chiraiya song to India, mother Earth and all the mothers. All three nurture us and [in return] we can all be more considerate. The song was originally composed with the intention of creating an equitable society for girls. The song was one of hope back then and now we need a different kind of hope to come out of the darkness of this pandemic."

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Remember the time when mothers on screen were the ultimate 'tyaag ki Devi'! From Nirupa Roy's docile and ever sacrificing Maa in the 70s to Sridevi's vengeful MOM in pursuit of her daughter's kidnappers in the 21st century, we have come a long way in the portrayal of mothers. Today our onscreen mothers are more relatable, similar yet different from each other.

They are filled with unconditional love and are yet extremely individualistic. As we prepare ourselves to bring in the Mother's Day this Sunday, we bring you the many faces of motherhood captured by ALTBalaji across its popular series.

The Caring and Loving mom:

She knows parenting is all about the right balance. She is every mom who is overtired, stressed out, worried, and extra caring. The mom, who helps her kids do all the homework, takes care of their smallest of needs including sacrificing her sleep. Though these qualities are somewhat present in almost all the moms, she goes the extra mile all the time. Just like our Meira Sharma of Mentalhood whose life revolves around her kids and wants the best of everything for them. Isn't she simply adorable?

The traditional yet modern mom:

The mom who will go out of her way for the happiness of her family. The one who still thinks 'log kya kahenge' but when it comes to her kids, she is the first one to support their decisions. Perfectly portrayed by Supriya Pilgaonkar in ALTBalaji's HOME, she is the mother everyone would want to have. In a society where love marriage outside the community and divorces are still considered taboo, she stands with her daughter and supports all her decisions.

The Strict mom:

A pushover mom generally ends up being a strict parent to get some discipline amongst her kids. She is the type of mother who will go to any extent to make sure her kids get all the bashing they deserve to bring some discipline in their lives. We have a similar kind of mom in Preity Khosla from Mentalhood. Mother of two kids, who are no less than goons. A strict slap for the kids results in maintaining peace at home. Hilarious yet relatable, she knows the tricks of the trade well.

The Micromanaging moms:

There come those moms who are not only control freaks but also want to manage each second of their child's life by hook or by crook. It is understood that the micromanaging mom is worried about her kid's safety, whereabouts but has no sense of personal boundaries. Nandita Hariprasad of Mission Over Mars is a perfect example of this mom. She is a scientist mom who is brilliant at her job but somewhere disappoints her son by hacking into his phone, to constantly track his location.

The Vibrant and colorful mom:

This mom is full of life and colours. Whenever she is around her kids, their whole world turns colorful just like a painting. She is lively yet grounded. Our very own Shiva from the show Hum Tum and Them fits well in this category. She plays a single yet modern mom who supports her kid in everything and always tries to make them happy.

This Mother's Day sit with your mom, cook her an exotic dish, and catch up on all these amazing shows at the ALTBalaji app!

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The lockdown has been creating a lot of problems for the Bollywood celebrities over the last few weeks. It was reported how Sana Saeed couldn't fly back to India from Los Angeles due to being locked down when her father passed away. And now, Gold actress Mouni Roy's mother slipped in the bathroom and hurt herself, and she couldn't fly back to India either since she was locked down in Dubai. This was reported by SpotboyE.

A source stated, "It happened after the lockdown was announced." Mouni and her sister, both are quarantining in Dubai and are constantly in touch with their mom. But they have all the right and reasons to be worried and tensed since the lockdown has been extended till May 3.

And as far as Roy is concerned, she has been trying out different things during this lockdown. From watering plants to reading books to even trying her hands in singing, she has done it all and can be doing a lot of other stuff in the future too. On the work front, she was last seen in Made In China and will now be seen as the antagonist in Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra, which has a stellar cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, Nagarjuna, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt. The first part of the film will release on December 4 this year.

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Not too many actors from Bollywood or even Television have gone through as many personal ups and downs as Chahatt Khanna. She was unfortunately separated from her husband Farhan Mirza in 2018 and was earlier married to Bharat Narsinghani. And now, there were reports that she was in a relationship with singer Mika Singh. However, she revealed she was staying with him only for their single, Quarantine Love.

And now, speaking about her future and present, she spoke to Zoom and talked about her desire to settle down again and why she feels that the term 'Single Mother' is insulting. Speaking about her wish to settle down again, she said, "Of course, I want to settle down again. I would say that family is my priority and I have done my bit of my work. I have achieved success a few times that I wanted. I am doing well in my life, touchwood."

She added, "Right now, by God's grace, I have everything. After a while, I would like to settle down with a good life partner and not think about anyone or anybody." And as stated above, she also shed light on being a single mother and said, "It is a very insulting term, and I realised this much later. There is a term called Milf which these guys, doggers use for women who are elder to them, married, single parent, single mom, divorced and they think people like them are good to have fun with. This is a hard-hitting fact of our society which I just discovered a few days back and I was shattered when I came to know this. This is what happens when she steps out of her marriage."

Chahatt keeps sharing her pictures and videos on her social media account and the actress is truly beautiful. We wish her all the best for her future and we hope we all can learn from what she said!

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We've all heard of Bollywood celebrities using the unlimited free time during the coronavirus lockdown to work out and stay fit. But it's not just celebrities who have been keeping fit! In a post shared by Karan Wahi on Instagram, he shared how proud he is of his mum, Veena, who, at the age of 62, lost 18 kg in four months. Amazing, isn't it?

Wahi shared a before and after picture of his mother and wrote, "So proud of my MOM @wahi.veena
Thank you for listening to me and taking care of yourself before u took care of the world. My Mom is 62 and a hypothyroid. But I am glad I inspired her to do this for her. 18 kgs in 4 months..."

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

So proud of my MOM @wahi.veena Thank you for listening to me and taking care of yourself before u took care of the world. My Mom is 62 and a hypothyroid But Iam glad I inspired her to do this for her 18 kgs in 4 months Lockdown ke bawajoood my MUMMA is the strongest... Thank you @tahirakochar for making this happen .. Age is just a number ,hence proved... INSPIRE People NOt Influence... #iloveyou Mom

A post shared by Karan Wahi ðŸÂÂ’ÂÂœ (@karanwahi) onMay 5, 2020 at 6:31am PDT

Along with the photos, Karan Wahi also shared a video of himself talking about his mother's fitness journey. The actor also gave a shout-out to his mum's lifestyle coach who helped her achieve her goal.

Well, we sure are inspired by Karan's mother's weight loss and fitness journey!

On the work front, Karan Wahi can be seen in the role of a DJ, who also doubles up as a police informer, in the web series, Hundred.

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The year 2020 keeps getting worse. In another heartbreaking piece of news, Shehnaaz Gill's grandmother has been hospitalised due to liver ailment and this news was broken by her father Santokh Singh Sukh on his Instagram account.

Taking to his account, he shared a shattering image of his mother and wrote- "My mother hospital mein hai liver mein problem ho gayi hai God jaldi thik kar do." (sic)

Have a look right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

My mother hospital mein hai liver mein problem ho gayi hai God jaldi thik kar do

A post shared by SANTOKH SINGH SUKH (@santokhsukh1) onMay 6, 2020 at 4:43am PDT

If you all go through the comments, everyone, especially Shehnaaz's fans, are praying for her recovery and we also hope she gets well soon and comes back home! If you all followed Bigg Boss 13, the actress, on multiple occasions, used to share anecdotes of spending some special moments with her grandmother and how she is really funny.

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Chahatt Khanna separated from her husband Farhan Mirza in 2018 and was earlier married to Bharat Narsinghani. There were also reports that she was in a relationship with singer Mika Singh. She has been spending her lockdown with her kids and has also been sharing glimpses of her personal life on social media. Recently, she was trolled by netizens for being a single mother to her daughters Zohar and Amaira.

Now, the actress has lashed out at the trolls posting an open letter to them before deactivating her Instagram account. Bashing the trollers, she wrote, "Witches and b***hes who can never get love, bf or family in life, forget about kids, they will never understand that kids are a blessing and not a liability, or target to put a woman down. Khuda unko hi bachchon se nawajta hai jinki haisiyat aur kismat hoti hai. Main toh phir bhi theek ho jaungi, tumhari beemari ka kya hoga (God only blesses them with children, who have good luck. I will still be okay, how will you be cured of your illness)?".

In another of her Instagram stories, Chahatt explained the reason of quitting the photo-sharing app. She wrote, "No, I am not running away, just that I'll be busy with work, for a few days. Yes, my team will keep posting pics, not me. Par story par kuch logon ko muh tod jawaab dena bohot zaroori tha (But it was necessary to give it back to some people),” she wrote.

Earlier, the television actress had called the term 'Single Mother' as insulting. Speaking about her wish to settle down again, she said, "Of course, I want to settle down again. I would say that family is my priority and I have done my bit of my work. I have achieved success a few times that I wanted. I am doing well in my life, touchwood."

She added, "Right now, by God's grace, I have everything. After a while, I would like to settle down with a good life partner and not think about anyone or anybody." And as stated above, she also shed light on being a single mother and said, "It is a very insulting term, and I realised this much later. There is a term called Milf which these guys, doggers use for women who are elder to them, married, single parent, single mom, divorced and they think people like them are good to have fun with. This is a hard-hitting fact of our society which I just discovered a few days back and I was shattered when I came to know this. This is what happens when she steps out of her marriage."

She was recently in news when she and Mika Singh shocked and surprised a lot of people when they took to their respective social media accounts to announce to the world they are quarantined together. You all must have seen that post where the actress even used the hashtag #QuarantineLove to express her feelings for the singer. However, she issued a clarification later.

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No strings attached, here's the money!
Gigolos, who cater exclusively to women and used to be considered a sort of urban legend, has now become mainstream as more women are willing to pay for sex in no-strings-attached situations.

No cuddling only sex!
Researchers have found that acts of affection like hugs and kisses were more important to men than women.

Men who reported frequent kissing and cuddling were three times as happy, on average, as those who had less snuggling with their wives or girlfriends.

Women, meanwhile, said that such shows of affection had very little impact on their happiness.

But men were more likely to say they were happy with their relationship while women were more likely to report being satisfied with the sex.

Love watching two guys!
It may not at all surprise you to learn that some men watch lesbian porn. However, what may come as a shock is the news that some women are into erotica featuring men having sex with men.

An online porn study, led by an Indian-origin neuroscientist, has unveiled a shocking new vision of human desires that overturn conventional thinking: plenty of straight women are into male-male porn and erotica.

Long kisses
Women tend to use kissing to create a bond with their partners, and to assess them as potential mates. Meanwhile, men use kissing as a means to an end," say relationship experts.

While women usually consider a bad kiss to be a deal-breaker, men reported that they would more than likely still have sex with a woman even if she were a bad kisser.

Psychologists hypothesize that males "perceive a greater wetness or salivary exchange during kissing as an index of the female's sexual arousal/receptivity, similar to the act of sexual intercourse," they said.

Is he hitched? I want him!
A scientific study has found evidence that women like to target men who are already in relationships.

Researchers at an eminent university in the US use the term 'mate poaching' to describe this phenomenon.

During the study, they showed a picture of a moderately attractive man or woman to participants.

Half of the participants were told that the prospective mate was single, while the rest were told that they were not.

Researchers observed that 90 per cent of the women participants were interested in a man when told that he was in a relationship, compared to 59 per cent when told the same man was single.

The results showed that only single women were more interested in pursuing an attached target rather than a single target.

According to some women, they like paying for what they called the "perfect boyfriend experience", because at the end of the night, they pay the guy to go away.

Cheesy chat up lines
The next time you approach a girl, do not hesitate to try out a cheesy chat-up line because girls absolutely love it, for they give a glimpse of a man's sense of humour.

According to a study, six out of 10 ladies are more likely to fall for a man if he breaks the ice with a light-hearted one-liner.

Conducted by a poll website, the survey, which questioned 4,000 adults, revealed that four out of 10 women were still dating or were married to a man who first approached them with a funny quip.

However, not every line can do the trick for you-it was found that there are do's and don'ts in the dating game as well.

Lines such as "Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?", and "Apart from being beautiful, what do you do for a living?" worked "most of the time".

But "Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes" and "Is there a rainbow, because you''re the treasure I''ve been searching for," were likely to end up in red-faced failure for being "too over the top".

A truly clean shaven man
Researchers have found that a majority of women really do prefer a man with a smooth chest. They team from Slovakia, who compared the attractiveness of men before and after shaving their chest, and found only 20 percent of women preferred the more hirsute version. They admitted to being baffled as to why so many women chose the hair free men.

One of the most prominent theories has been that, by choosing a hairless mate, women are actually trying to avoid the lice and other bugs that can live in a furry male.

However, in one of the biggest ever studies into women’s body hair preferences, the team found this so-called “ectoparasite avoidance hypothesis” was not the answer.

The taller the better!
The research team at a prominent American university in Utah opine that women find tall men more attractive. Greater height is also associated with health, social dominance, symmetrical faces and intelligence in men and women.

These correlations have led some scientists to suggest that women prefer tall men because height indicates "good genes" that can be passed on to offspring.

The alternative explanation is that tall males among our ancestors were better able to defend their resources, partners and offspring. If males can hit down harder than they can hit up, a tall male has the advantage in a fight because he can punch down to hit his opponent''s most vulnerable targets.

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New Delhi: If you've ever felt disgusted when your partner paid more attention to his/her phone on a date then you are not the only one. Most adults in India paid more attention to their smartphone than their partner when they were together, a new study has revealed.

Sixty per cent of adults surveyed said their partner paid more attention to their own smart device when they were together on a date.

The study, titled "Three's Company: Lovers, Friends and Devices" and released on Wednesday by Intel Security, aims to understand the online behaviour of people and how it affects their relationship with friends and significant others.

Money, gifts and a dinner in a glamorous restaurant mean nothing in a relationship when the partners pay no attention to each other. The study found that 57 per cent of those studied had to compete with their partner's smartphone for attention on a first date.

An intrusion into a relationship leads to a quarrel which is corroborated by the fact that 75 per cent of the adults reported getting into an argument with a friend, significant other, or family member over being on a device while together.

The study involved 1,400 Indian adults who use an internet-connected device on a daily basis.

Amid this lack of attention in relationships, it was revealed that 46 per cent of couples share passwords to social media accounts, 38 per cent share passwords to personal email accounts and, interestingly, nearly 35 per cent of adults share their work-specific devices and accounts with their significant other.

Intel Security suggested using long passwords including numbers, and lowercase and uppercase letters, as well as symbols.

This Valentine's Day, if you are planning to make your partner smile, make sure to pay more attention to his/her words than the text on your smartphone.

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Children born to single women without a partner appeared to enjoy a similar parent-child relationship as those in heterosexual two-parent families, researchers say.

Fertility treatment for single women -- who wish to become pregnant without a partner (i.e., single mothers by choice) -- is an increasingly popular procedure in most European countries.

The study showed that there were no significant differences in emotional involvement or parental stress between family types.

Single-mothers-by-choice, however, showed significantly higher scores on the social support -- such as parents, other family, friends, neighbours -- they received, but also on wanting more social support.

There were no significant differences in the children's internal and external problem behaviour (well-being) between both family types, the researchers said.

"Single-mothers-by-choice and their children benefit from a good social support network, and this should be emphasised in the counselling of women who want to have and raise a child without a partner," said Mathilde Brewaeys from the VU University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands.

The results were presented at the annual meeting of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Geneva.

Experts had raised concerns about the well-being and development of children born to single-mothers-by-choice.

However, it seems likely that any negative influence on child development depends more on a troubled parent-child relationship and not on the absence of a father, the researchers said.

"The assumption that growing up in a family without a father is not good for the child is based mainly on research into children whose parents are divorced and who thus have experienced parental conflict," Brewaeys explained.

For the study, the team compared 69 single-mothers-by-choice (who had knowingly chosen to raise their child alone) and 59 mothers from heterosexual two-parent families with a child between 1.5 and 6 years.

In a shocking incident, a 16-year-old girl committed suicide after she was given a country made pistol and asked to shoot her mother and two siblings by her father and uncle. The girl left behind a four-page suicide note.

Her body was found hanging in her room on April 16 when the incident took place in Shanti Nagar, Devri Road of Sadar police limits in Agra but the matter came to light only after a video made by the girl went viral on the social media.

The video, apparently made prior to the incident, shows the girl saying that she wanted to become a police officer and provide justice to her mother and elder brother and younger sister.

In the video clip, the girl, a student of Class 10, claimed that her uncle gave her a country made pistol and asked her to shoot her 38-year-old mother and two siblings, but instead, she had decided to take her own life.

She alleged that her father, two uncles and a cousin assaulted and mentally harassed her mother, two siblings and herself.

In her suicide note, the girl wrote, "I wanted to live, to see myself become a police officer and to provide justice to my mother and siblings. But I am ending my life, as I am tired now. We, all four, are mentally tortured and harassed on a daily basis by my father, two uncles and cousin over property."

The police have arrested her father on charges of abetment to suicide, while the rest of the accused are on the run.

The autopsy report stated 'asphyxia due to hanging' as the cause of the death.

The girl in her suicide note also stated that, "prior to marrying my mother, my father had murdered his first wife and her four children, including a foetus. My uncle, too, has served jail term. They molested me and did wrong things. They all must be given stringent punishment after my death."

According to the FIR lodged by the girl's mother, on the morning of April 16, the family was assaulted by the four men.

Later, in the afternoon, the girl was found dead. "The four men murdered my daughter, while I was out for work," alleged the mother.

Sadar SHO Kamlesh Kumar Singh said, "After the autopsy, a case of IPC section 302 (murder) was changed to 306 (abetment to suicide). We have arrested the father, but the others are still on the run."

"We are investigating all the allegations made by the girl prior to her suicide. We will add more sections as the case progresses," he said.

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Tasked to ensure the enforcement of lockdown in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the district's Sahibabad Police were on Wednesday surprised when a mother came to the police station complaining that she had sent her son to buy groceries but he returned with his wife.

"I had sent my son to do the grocery shopping today, but when he returned, he came back with his wife. I am not ready to accept this marriage," said the teary-eyed mother. Speaking about the marriage, Guddu, 26-year-old groom, said: "I got married to Savita two months ago at an Arya Samaj Mandir in Haridwar."

"However, we could not get the marriage certificate at that time due to lack of witnesses. I had decided to visit Haridwar again for my marriage certificate but could not do so as the lockdown was imposed," he added. "After returning from Haridwar, Savita stayed at a rented accommodation in Delhi. However, today I decided to bring her to my mother's house as she was told to leave the rented accommodation due to lockdown," said Guddu.

Giving a solution to the family feud, the Sahibabad Police have asked Savita's house owner in Delhi to let the couple stay there during the lockdown period.

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