PTI

Akshay Kumar's Diwali Gift to 103 Families of Brave Martyrs Will Win Your Heart

Oct 222017

Diwali this year became memorable for the families of 103 slain policemen and Army personnel. While many in B-town were busy enjoying the festive season in their own way, Akshay Kumar came up with a special gesture and brought a sliver of light and joy to the families who lost their beloved ones.

Akki who is often known for his generosity especially towards defence personnel, joined an initiative by a senior IPS officer and contributed Rs 25 lakh for this wonderful cause. The officials came up with a list of martyred soldiers and when Akshay learned about this, he decided to join hands and make a difference.

A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Jul 20, 2017 at 1:06am PDT

“Akshay recently sent me a photograph of a small girl weeping beside the coffin of her father. When I broached the subject of helping the slain policemen’s families, the actor promptly decided to chip in. We are happy that our initiative has made the Diwali of the martyrs’ families sweeter,” said Kolhapur range IGP Vishwas Nangre Patil to PTI.

He not only sent a cheque but also a signed letter for each family, making the gesture all the more thoughtful and personal.

A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Jul 1, 2017 at 8:32am PDT

In the heartfelt letter, he talked about the sacrifice made by the martyrs for our nation, “I am aware that you must be recalling their lovely memories during Diwali. The tragedy that has befallen your family is immense and I pray to god that you overcome this tragedy with fortitude and usher in the new year. I wish to offer sweets and a small gift for the children to buy books. I request you to accept them,” he wrote.

However, this isn’t the first time Akshay has done something like this. Even after Uri terror attacks, he went on to donate Rs 5 lakh to every family of the martyrs.

He is a true inspiration. More respect to you Akki. We need more people with golden hearts like yours.

Revealed! This is what Hina Khan wants to do post 'Bigg Boss 11'

Celebrities

Oct 012017

Popular TV actor Hina Khan, who made it to top five in “Khatron Ke Khiladi” and will be seen next in “Bigg Boss”, said she would not return to reality shows after this. “After ‘Bigg Boss’, I would like to take a break as I have done back-to-back two reality shows – ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ and ‘Bigg Boss’. The break means either I will go back to doing fiction shows or might do films, if anything interesting comes up,” Hina told PTI. The actor said she decided to go inside the “Big Boss” house because she has become mentally confident post her stint in “Khatron Ke Khiladi”. “After ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, they (channel people) asked me if I would do ‘Bigg Boss’ and I had refused it. After coming back again the offer was there. I felt if something comes your way again and again then one must consider it. For me it is about going inside the house and coming out gracefully,” she said.

Hina Khan

The actor added that she is sensitive but confident enough to handle the pressure and fights. “I have done a daily soap for seven years and I was treated like a queen. In both the reality shows I am just a contestant. So doing everything on my own is a challenge.” The “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai” actor said it is not necessary a celebrity, who enjoys a huge fan following, will emerge as the winner of “Bigg Boss”.

“The show is not about contestant being popular or having a huge fan base, it’s all about how and what you do in the house and the stand that you take. Last year a commoner won because people liked him. I don’t think celebrities have an advantage.”

View Photos: ‘Bigg Boss 11’ Confirmed Contestants List: Here’s All You Need To Know 'Bigg Boss 11' Confirmed Contestants List: Here's All You Need To Know

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Malaika Arora: I have evolved a lot in terms of fashion

Celebrities

Aug 202017

She is one of the biggest fashionistas in Bollywood but Malaika Arora Khan said things were completely different way back in the early days of her career. The 43-year-old star, who has always impressed critics with her fashion choices, said she turned experimental over a of period time.

“I have evolved quite a bit from what I was. With age you kind of understand things better. My whole approach towards fashion and clothing has changed immensely. “Initially I wouldn’t think twice if I had to wear micro shorts, but now with time and age these things have come to consideration. Now, I am little more experimental. I was rigid earlier,” Malaika told PTI on the sidelines of the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2017.

The producer-host said she doesn’t like it when people wear clothes which don’t suit their body type. “I want people to check themselves before they leave their houses,” she added. Malaika today walked the runway for young designer Ridhi Mehra Sekhri, whose collection was inspired by the beauty and intricate interiors of Islamic domes. Dressed in a red attire, the fashion diva looked elegant and sensuous. She said she has always liked walking for budding labels as they are the future.

“Every time a young designer asks me to walk for them I feel it is my duty to say yes and promote them. And If I can be a part for their success it is great for me as well. I like pushing new talents. Even in reality shows, I like supporting the budding artistes. It makes me feel happy and content. “After being in the industry for so many years, promoting the upcoming stars is our duty,” she said. In her collection Ridhi presented printed handmade fabric stripes ingeniously woven together. The delicate bugle beads were turned into jaalis, while scallop print patches, fringes and metallic and fabric tassels added oomph to the ensembles. “I love retro fashion and love the bell bottoms, the fringes, the tassels and the bling. It is my eternal go to fashion,” Malaika said.

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Despite being married, I work and have my own identity: Kareena Kapoor Khan

Celebrities

Aug 182017

Kareena Kapoor Khan says she is proud and happy that Bollywood filmmakers are now showing women in a progressive way in movies.
The actor attributes this change to the influx of young writers in films. In an interview to PTI, Kareena says, “One can definitely see a change in the way women have been portrayed on screen in the Hindi film industry.

“The roles are now written by young directors, who have been successful in highlighting the personality of women who are hardworking and successful. Films have now been portraying women in a more progressive manner.”

The 36-year-old actor, who was last seen in “Udta Punjab”, welcomed her first child, Taimur Ali Khan, in December last year.
Talking about balancing her work and motherhood, the actor says, “I have always maintained a personal and professional life but now it’s more difficult as Taimur is too young. I try to strike a balance. I have a great support system with (husband) Saif and my family.”

Kareena believes a modern Indian woman plays diverse roles in her life and she considers herself to be one. “She is a multifaceted woman, lives her life to the fullest and fulfils her choices with confidence and style. I am proud to be a married, independent and working woman. I carry that with great honour and pride. Despite being married, I work and have my own identity.”

Kareena is all charged up to begin work on her next project “Veere Di Wedding” alongside Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.

However, she did not comment on the reports of her signing a biopic by Omung Kumar, another movie with Salman Khan and Karan Johar’s next.

Meanwhile, the “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” star is the muse of designer Anita Dongre’s autumn winter campaign #IamAND, which celebrates the multifaceted personality of the modern Indian woman.

“AND is one brand that has changed the fashion scenario in the country. With its new campaign, the brand conveys a very strong message of celebrating the multifaceted personality of the modern Indian woman, which I truly identify with,” says Kareena.

Salman Khan Surprised Shah Rukh Khan andamp His Kids With His New Being Human E-Cycles

Celebrities

Jul 192017

Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan just can’t stop doing each other favours!

First Shah Rukh Khan made a special appearance in Salman Khan’s movie ‘Tubelight’ and then we heard about how the latter is returning the favour with a cameo in for Aanand L Rai’s forthcoming movie starring SRK.

The two were recently seen shooting a song for the yet to be titled movie, which also stars Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. When SRK was asked how difficult it was to convince Salman for this cameo, he said it was actually quite easy.

Salman Khan Surprised Shah Rukh Khan And His Kids With His New E-Cycles © Twitter

Talking about it, SRK gave a quote to PTI, “He is very kind. This (role) was written a long time back in the film, from the first narration onwards. Salman has also heard the script, I think Aanand wanted to make the film with him at one time. They didn’t have the time, things didn’t work out and VFX wasn’t ready.”

Apparently, the role was finalized when he was having a get-together at his home and Salman dropped by to give him a special gift. Salman surprised Shah Rukh and his children with his newly launched e-cycle.

Salman Khan Surprised Shah Rukh Khan And His Kids With His New E-Cycles © Twitter

“We were at home, Aanand was there when Salman just walked in to say hi to me. He got his new e-cycle for me and for Aryan and Suhana as well. Aanand said I should ask him. I said, ‘Salman, there’s one role’, he said, ‘Yeah, let me know’.”

And seems like that was it!

“Then, everything just worked out perfectly. He had two days off, we needed ten days to put up the set,” added Shah Rukh.

Essar to convert debt into dollar loans

Economy

Dec 162012

The author has posted comments on this articlePTI | Dec 16, 2012, 07.33PM IST
MUMBAI: Essar Shipping has said that it is planning to convert around Rs 800 crore of total Rs 5,500 crore debt into dollar loans to bring down the interest burden.

“We are planning to convert around Rs 800 crore of our rupee loans into dollar debt to pare our financing cost. We are talking to some domestic and foreign banks directly for this. We had Rs 5,500 crore debt as of the September quarter,” Essar Shipping managing director AR Ramakrishnan told PTI.

When asked how soon the conversion will happen, he said it may take a couple of months and explained that the objective is to convert some big-ticket loans in the range of Rs 700-800 crore into cheaper dollar loans.

Whether the company has appointed some merchant bankers for this, Ramakrishnan said the company, which is facing cash-flow issues due to the general slowdown in the shipping industry, will directly deal with the lenders and does not plan to go to i-bankers.

Many domestic companies are raising dollar loans which are much cheaper today to repay their rupee loans to pare their interest burden.

In the light of the high interest rate regime, the government recently allowed companies to raise more foreign loans through ECBs and other instruments.

The Ruias-promoted Essar Group that includes Essar Oil, Essar Steel and Essar Ports is sitting over a debt pile of over Rs 80,000 crore as of the September quarter.

When asked about margins, Ramakrishnan said the margins are still depressed and it will improve only when the economy rebounds.

“The freight rates are expected to be depressed at least till the middle of 2013 when new ship deliveries ease,” he said.

On whether the company is looking at expansion in terms of more ship orders, he said the expansion was completed last month with the delivery of the last ships.

Essar Shipping gets 60 per cent of its business from the group companies and has about 80 per cent of business coming from long-term contracts, he said.

The shipping line gets about 25 per cent of its revenue from the oilfield services business.

For the September quarter, the company narrowed loss to Rs 36 crore from Rs 85.65 crore a year ago, as sales rose 31 per cent to Rs 797.95 crore.

Revenue from shipping business rose by 24 per cent to Rs 368.66 crore, while those from oilfields services, which includes offshore rig deployment, surged almost five-fold to Rs 165.65 crore. But revenue from logistics business declined to Rs 263.66 crore from Rs 280.27 crore.

Last quarter, Essar Shipping, which operates a fleet of 23 vessels, had sold the 1983-built ships MV Govind Prasad and MV Mahavir Prasad,thus reducing the average age of the fleet to 13.5 years.

Essar Shipping gets 60 per cent of its business from the group companies and has about 80 per cent of business coming from long-term contracts, he said.

The shipping line gets about 25 per cent of its revenue from the oilfield services business.

For the September quarter, the company narrowed loss to Rs 36 crore from Rs 85.65 crore a year ago, as sales rose 31 per cent to Rs 797.95 crore.

Last quarter, Essar Shipping, which operates a fleet of 23 vessels, had sold the 1983-built ships MV Govind Prasad and MV Mahavir Prasad,thus reducing the average age of the fleet to 13.5 years.