Mahesh Bhatt Reacts To Arijit Singh's Retirement From Playback Singing

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has reflected on Arijit Singh's decision to step away from playback singing.

What Mahesh Bhatt Said

In a conversation with The Telegraph Online, he said, "At the height of their powers, some artists step away - not from art but from noise. They choose silence, solitude, and truth over constant performance."

Recalling his first encounter with a young Arijit Singh during the making of Mohit Suri's Aashiqui 2, which Bhatt produced, the veteran filmmaker shared a vivid memory that has stayed with him over the years. 

"When I heard about Arijit's decision to stop singing for others, I was unexpectedly taken back to an afternoon at Super Sound Service in Khar - the old T-Series building - where the journey of Aashiqui 2 truly began. We were releasing the music, and Arijit was called to sing Tum Hi Ho," Bhatt said.

He went on to describe the defining moment that marked the beginning of Arijit's extraordinary rise. "A shy self-effacing young man walked up to the dais and sang a song that would quietly mesmerise the world. That moment became a springboard into a life that would never be the same again," Bhatt added.

Arijit Singh Announces Retirement

In an emotional note, Arijit reflected on his journey as a playback singer and wrote, "Hello, Happy new year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much of love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey."

Arijit first came into public attention through the reality show Fame Gurukul. 

Over the years, he has delivered some of Hindi cinema's most unforgettable songs, including Channa Mereya, Hawayein, Raabta, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Kesariya, Satranga, O Maahi and Tu Hai Toh, among many others.

ALSO READ: Why Arijit Singh Quit Playback Singing At The Peak Of His Career

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/uwIL2jm
via IFTTT

Trump Fixates On 'How He Will Be Remembered' As Health Concerns Mount

US President Donald Trump's health has been under the scanner in recent months, even though he keeps saying that his health is perfect and that he has aced several cognitive tests. According to a report by the New York Magazine, the soon-to-be octogenarian leader now thinks about "what he will be remembered for".

Even the ballroom that is being built in the White House "is about leaving a legacy here", a senior White House official said.

The White House has pitched him as "The Superhuman President" with more stamina and energy than a normal mortal. "He can work harder and he has a better memory and he has more stamina and has more energy than a normal mortal," Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said. 

The New York Magazine report said that Trump has given up dyeing his hair golden and lets it turn white naturally, but that is not what is worrisome. A senior staff member told the publication that Trump's hearing isn't what it used to be.

The Republican leader could not remember the word "Alzheimer's" when asked about his father's health. 

"At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it?" Trump asked, pointing to his forehead and looking toward White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump's son Eric said that Trump is superstitious and does not like to think about death and "likes occupying his mind with what's in the present and not as much with what's in the future". He continued, "Is it in some way on everybody's mind? Of course. But he believes, and so do I, he has a lot of years left."

Meanwhile, armchair physicians on social media have given him mere months to live following a series of recent disclosures and physical observations. 

In late 2025, Trump initially told reporters he underwent an MRI that was "perfect" but later admitted he had "no idea" what part of his body was scanned. Later on, his physician clarified the test was actually a CT scan of his chest and abdomen, not an MRI. 

The frequent bruising on the back of his hands has been attributed by the White House to "frequent handshaking" and his daily use of high-dose aspirin. He also had a condition where leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart, leading to visible swollen ankles.

He has revealed he takes 325 mg of aspirin daily, higher than the 81 mg typically recommended for heart health, despite his doctors suggesting he lower the dose.

Trump has also denied falling asleep during Cabinet meetings, claiming he is simply "resting his eyes" or that cameras catch him "blinking".

Trump will turn 80 on June 14. 
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Dw189CJ
via IFTTT

WhatsApp Unveils High-Security Mode, 3rd Major Tech Firm To Do So

Meta's WhatsApp messaging service is offering users an advanced security mode, joining a growing number of U.S. tech firms that are letting users opt into stronger protections against hackers in exchange for a more restrictive experience.

The new option, rolling out on Tuesday and called "Strict Account Settings," is a one-click button in WhatsApp's settings that activates a series of defences.

These include blocking media and attachments from unknown senders, disabling link previews - the thumbnails that appear when a URL is entered into a chat - and silencing calls from unknown contacts. All three have been identified as potential vectors for surveillance and advanced hackers.

In a blog post, WhatsApp said that while all its users' conversations were protected by end-to-end encryption, "we also know that a few of our users - like journalists or public-facing figures - may need extreme safeguards against rare and highly sophisticated cyberattacks." 

Meta Platforms is the third major tech firm to offer a security boost for high-risk users.

In 2022, Apple launched "Lockdown Mode," which it describes as "an optional, extreme protection" designed for the "very few individuals" who might be targeted by advanced digital threats. Available on iPhone and macOS, the feature disables most message attachment types and link previews and includes restrictions on FaceTime calls and web browsing.

Last year, Alphabet's Android began offering "Advanced Protection Mode," for users with "heightened security awareness." 

Like "Lockdown Mode", Alphabet's more secure option trades some functionality for enhanced security, including restricting users from downloading potentially risky apps from outside its in-house Play Store.

A researcher who helps defend civil society figures from hacking said WhatsApp's announcement was "a very welcome development."

The feature will help protect dissidents and activists while encouraging other tech firms to up their game, said John Scott-Railton, who works at The Citizen Lab, a research group based out of the University of Toronto.

"My hope is that others follow suit," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/x3Qmo1Y
via IFTTT

US Deploys Aircraft Carrier In Middle Eastern Waters Amid Tensions With Iran

A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests.

A US-based rights group said on Monday that it had confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in the wave of protests suppressed by Iran's security forces, but emphasised the actual toll could be several times higher.

The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8.

But rights groups have accused authorities of quelling the movement with unprecedented violence, shooting into crowds of protesters under the cover of an internet shutdown that has now lasted 18 days -- the longest Iran has ever imposed.

The clerical leadership who took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution remains in place despite the protests, with many opponents of the system looking to outside intervention as the most likely driver of change.

US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to step in, saying last week that Washington was sending a "massive fleet" to the region "just in case".

The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group dramatically boosts American firepower in the region.

The United States backed and briefly joined Israel's 12-day war against Iran in June, and while Trump last week appeared to step back from his threats of new military intervention, he has never ruled the option out.

The Lincoln's strike group has arrived in the region, US Central Command said in a post on X, adding the ships were "currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability".

'Regret-inducing response'

Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression".

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was "confident in its own capabilities".

In apparent reference to the Lincoln, he added: "The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Iran's determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation."

Meanwhile, a new anti-US billboard has appeared in the central Enghelab Square in Tehran that appears to show an American aircraft carrier being destroyed.

"If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind," its English-language caption reads.

State news agency IRNA quoted the commander of the Iranian navy Shahram Irani as saying on Monday: "Iran's naval power is not merely defensive but also acts as an anchor of stability in the region."

In Lebanon, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, whose capabilities and leadership were severely degraded in a war with Israel in 2024, organised a rally in support of the Islamic republic featuring an address by its leader Naim Qassem, who warned "a war on Iran this time will ignite the region".

Iran's Gulf neighbour the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.

- Rising toll -

NGOs tracking the toll from the crackdown have said their task has been impeded by the internet shutdown, warning that confirmed figures are likely to be far lower than the actual number.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had confirmed that 5,848 people had been killed, including 209 members of the security forces. But the group added it was still investigating another 17,091 possible fatalities.

At least 41,283 people have been arrested, it said.

Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities last week said 3,117 people were killed, the majority of whom it described as members of the security forces or innocent bystanders killed by "rioters".

Confirming that the internet blackout remains in place, monitor Netblocks said the shutdown was "obscuring the extent of a deadly crackdown on civilians".

"Gaps in the filternet are being tightened to limit circumvention while whitelisted regime accounts promote the Islamic Republic's narrative," it added.

Over the weekend, Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside the country, said more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces from January 8 to 9, citing reports, documents and sources. It was not immediately possible to verify the report.

Activists have said that the Revolutionary Guards, a military force separate from the regular army with the mandate of keeping the Islamic revolution alive, took a frontline position in putting down the protests.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday urged the European Union to list the Guards as a "terrorist organisation", as Canada and the United States have done, saying the "the losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests demand a clear response".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/oijUCz2
via IFTTT

Hema Malini Reacts To Padma Vibhushan For Dharmendra: "So So Proud"

Veteran actor Dharmendra has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

The legendary star died on November 24, 2025, leaving behind an irreplaceable legacy in Hindi cinema.

Reacting to the honour, his wife and actor-politician Hema Malini expressed her pride on X. She wrote, "So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award." 

So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award🙏 pic.twitter.com/5zJnA53MT0

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) January 25, 2026

Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali village of Punjab's Ludhiana district, he was the son of Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, a school headmaster. 

Drawn by his deep love for cinema, Dharmendra moved to Mumbai and made his film debut with the 1960 romantic drama Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, directed by Arjun Hingorani. 

Although the film failed commercially, it marked the beginning of his journey in the world he had long aspired to be part of.

Dharmendra's final film, Ikkis, released on December 25, marked a poignant close to an illustrious journey.

When Were The Padma Awards 2026 Announced?

The Padma Awards for 2026 were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day. These prestigious civilian honours celebrate individuals from varied fields such as arts, literature, social service, medicine, education, and public service, acknowledging excellence and long-standing contributions to society.

Among India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Awards are presented in three categories - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The awards are traditionally conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

(With inputs from ANI)

ALSO READ: Dharmendra Honoured With Padma Vibhushan, Padma Awards For Mammootty, Madhavan And Alka Yagnik

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/zY64mIZ
via IFTTT

Trinamool, BJP Supporters Clash Near Kolkata, Makeshift Stage Set On Fire

Violent clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters over putting up flags for a political programme in Sakher Bazar in Behala, roughly 11 km from Kolkata, on Sunday.

The workers and supporters of the BJP vandalised the local Trinamool councillor's office. A makeshift stage, where former Tripura chief minister and BJP election co-incharge Biplab Kumar Deb addressed a public meeting in the afternoon, was also allegedly set on fire during the clash. The BJP workers accused the Trinamool (TMC) supporters of setting the stage on fire.

Deb addressed a crowd during the 'Parivartan Sankalp Sabha' this afternoon. Soon after, TMC workers stormed the venue, vandalised the site and set the stage on fire after Deb left the venue. It is also being alleged that the BJP supporters were putting up flags in the area during the meeting. The BJP workers then allegedly vandalised the office of Trinamool councillor Sudip Polley.

Putting up a video of the clash, BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X handle, "Fearing an impending defeat, TMC goons have once again unleashed political terror on the streets of Kolkata. Moments after BJP election co-incharge and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb addressed voters at the Parivartan Sankalp Sabha in Behala Paschim, TMC workers stormed the venue, vandalised the site, and after his departure set the sabha stage on fire in the middle of a bustling market."

"TMC has reduced Bengal to a theatre of terror. Mamata Banerjee's goons are rampaging across the state, torching democracy in a desperate bid to cling to power," Malviya added.

Anupam Bhattacharya, BJP's South Kolkata District President, said, "Today we had a political meeting of Biplab Deb in Behala Paschim. Permission for which had already been taken two to three days before the programme. We wanted a peaceful meeting today. But since TMC prevented us from putting up party flags from the beginning. They intentionally provoked the violence today to disturb Biplab Deb's speech".

Upon receiving news of the clash between the workers of the two parties, Trinamool Congress MLAs Debasish Kumar and Ratna Chatterjee reached the spot and spoke with the Trinamool workers. Police have been deployed in the area.

TMC's Behala Purba MLA Ratna Chatterjee said, "I had come to attend a badminton tournament by our boys, and came to know that BJP supporters tried to disturb the game. The BJP does not know we have our leader, Mamata Banerjee,e with us. The more they attack us, the more we become stronger".

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/A8ezfKZ
via IFTTT

Rescue Team Left My Son To His Fate: Father Of Noida Techie Who Drowned

At 27, Yuvraj Mehta had a whole life ahead of him. This realisation is what added to the pain that his father, Rajkumar Mehta, has to live with, along with the knowledge that he will never see his son again.

Even the last glimpse of his bright son, a software engineer, gave him nothing less than true horror - a father saw his son trying to get out of a water-filled pit at a construction site in Uttar Pradesh's 'smart city' Noida, only to die with no help despite a long rescue window of two hours.

No parent should go through anything like this, the devastated father told NDTV.

Closure is uncertain for Rajkumar Mehta. He said his family will never get justice because his son is not coming back.

But if there is anything that he wants done in memory of his son, it is this: "We want the responsible people to face the harshest possible action and ensure that no other Yuvraj suffers such a tragedy in future."

Rajkumar Mehta said the negligent departments should not be spared.

"All those who were responsible for this tragedy should get appropriate punishment. My son was very brave. Even after falling into the water-filled pit, he struggled to get out and gave the rescue personnel a chance for two hours," Rajkumar Mehta said.

"But the rescue team showed only negligence and left my son to god's mercy," the father told NDTV.

He gave his regards to Moninder, a delivery rider who made the brave choice of tying a rope around his waist and going into the water in the pitch black night to look for Yuvraj. The delivery rider, who said he searched for at least half-an-hour, had also alleged that timely rescue would have definitely saved Yuvraj.

"I want to thank Moninder bhai for trying to save my son's life without caring about anything else," Rajkumar Mehta said.

He appealed to the UP government to ensure that all those who were responsible for his immense loss get punishment, and acknowledged the Yogi Adityanath government's decision to form a special investigation team.

The software engineer died in the early hours of January 17 after his car skidded in dense fog and plunged into the unbarricaded, water-filled pit in Noida Sector 150. The road, going over a large drain, turned a sharp 90-degree on his way home not far from the accident site.

Rajkumar Mehta had come there on getting a call from his son. Standing beside the police and fire department personnel, he could hear Yuvraj shout for help. He watched it all, helpless. Rajkumar Mehta said his son climbed to the roof of the partially submerged car and used his mobile phone's flashlight to signal his location in the thick fog.

Among the actions that followed after the software engineer's tragic end included the UP government removing the Noida Authority chief executive on January 19 and sacking a junior engineer.

So far three builders have been arrested and an investigation has begun against real estate developers MZ Wiztown and Lotus Greens. The case filed into the accident includes charges for murder and violation of environmental laws.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/LxtpeQw
via IFTTT