Abhijeet Bhattacharya is one of the most iconic voices in Bollywood, having lent his voice to several memorable tracks for Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, and Salman Khan. His voice became synonymous with Shah Rukh Khan in many hit songs. He won the Filmfare Award and the Screen Award for Best Singer for his song "Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon" from Yes Boss.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Abhijeet discusses what's wrong with the music industry, as Auto-Tune and artificial intelligence are increasingly taking over. He also shares untold stories about legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammad Rafi. Going down memory lane, he reveals why he chose to pursue a career in singing.

Abhijeet also speaks about Sanatana Dharma, A.R. Rahman, and his controversial relationship with Shah Rukh Khan.

Audio Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:53 – Singing as a Career

05:45 – Stories of Lata, Kishore, & Rafi

08:10 – Childhood Stories

15:40 – How Directors Choose Heroines

22:45 – How the Music Industry Evolved

26:45 – Accent Influence in Singing

33:02 – Singing with Jatin–Lalit

35:18 – Udit Narayan Kiss Controversy

39:15 – Ranveer Allahbadia Controversy

41:25 – Udhayanidhi's Remarks on Sanatan Dharma

43:05 – PR Advice

46:43 – Pakistani Actors & Singers

49:58 – Gandhi–Pakistan "Father of Nation" Row

54:40 – Love for 90s Songs

56:19 – Clash with Music Directors

01:01:10 – Hit Songs

01:05:40 – Songs for Shah Rukh Khan

01:07:25 – Kishore Kumar & Mukesh Songs

01:10:41 – Meeting Old Friends After Fame

01:13:20 – AI in the Music Industry

Sonal Man Singh is a former Rajya Sabha MP, an Indian classical dancer and a Guru in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance styles. She received the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonal Man Singh shares untold stories about Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and the challenges artists faced during the 1975 Emergency. She also discusses whether art can be separated from the artist.

She also speaks about today's cancel culture, how she got into dancing, the relationship between a Guru and Shishya, and what it takes to become a great dancer. She also shares her thoughts on whether today’s younger generation is losing interest in Indian classical dance.

00:00 – Introduction

00:56 – Dancing as a Career

05:58 – Rajya Sabha Experience

17:44 – Running Away from Home

24:02 – Divorce

24:55 – Kelucharan Mohapatra as a Guru

30:29 – Guru-Shishya Parampara

33:52 – Learning Odissi from Kelucharan Mohapatra

37:56 – Support from Family Members

39:18 – Story of Second Marriage

42:34 – Experience Meeting Indira Gandhi

47:57 – TM Krishna Getting Subhalakshmi Award Row

49:43 – Limits of Artistic Expression

53:59 – Inspiration to Be Creative

57:41 – Interacting with Pupul Jayakar

01:00:32 – Industrialists Backing Artists

01:08:26 – Living a Private Life

01:09:39 – Padma Award Story

01:17:26 – Why She Was Sacked from Sangeet Natak Akademi

01:20:10 – Cancel Culture

01:31:38 – Personal Relationships

01:35:51 – How to Handle Tough Times

01:37:21 – Favourite Cities for Performance

01:43:14 – Can an Atheist Emote Divinity in Dance?

Tigmanshu Dhulia is a filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and casting director, best known for Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011). His films, often critically acclaimed and explore human relationships, social issues, and the nuances of Indian culture.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tigmanshu takes a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his childhood in Allahabad- now known as Prayagraj- and what makes the city so special to him. He reflects on his days at the National School of Drama (NSD), his friendships with those who made a mark in Bollywood, and how he got his first break as a director. He also shares how legendary filmmaker Shekhar Kapur played a crucial role in shaping his career.

Tigmanshu doesn’t hold back in criticizing corporate influence in Bollywood, calling out how films are often sold even before they are made. He also shares untold stories about Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan Khan.

From rising ticket prices to his upcoming Bollywood project, this conversation is a straight talk about the Hindi Film Industry.

00:00 - Introduction

00:22 - Childhood Memories of Allahabad

05:13 - Recalling NSD Days

10:44 - Working as an Assistant Director

12:22 - Getting Credit as a Casting Director

17:12 - Collaborating with Shekhar Kapur

23:17 - Experience in the TV Industry

24:49 - Working on Dil Se

30:24 - Impact of Irrfan Khan’s Demise

36:34 - Working with Favorite Actors

45:17 - Experience in Gangs of Wasseypur

50:02 - Corporate Interference in Filmmaking

58:48 - The Cult of Sanjay Leela Bhansali

01:04:57 - Lack of Focus in Today’s Actors

01:09:06 - Working in the OTT Space

Raza Murad comes from a family of actors and is known for his astounding voice. He started his career with the film 'Ek Nazar' in 1972 and became famous for his versatility, especially in villain roles. He has worked in over 200 films and has been featured in several popular Bollywood films, including Prem Rog, Henna, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, and Ram Lakhan. He continues to leave his mark with roles in films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Padmaavat, Jodhaa Akbar, and Bajirao Mastani.

In this Mumbai edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Veteran Actor talks about his journey into Bollywood. He shares insights into how the Hindi Film Industry has changed over the last 50 years.

He also shares stories about legends like Raaj Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Rajesh Khanna, and Raj Kapoor. He discusses his experiences working with directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ashutosh Gowariker and how they tell their stories on the silver screen.

More on why Bollywood movies aren’t clicking as much today and what stardom truly means.

Audio Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:35 - Working with Amitabh & Rajesh Khanna

11:55 - Experience with Hrishikesh Mukherjee

22:21 - Raj Kapoor as a Director

25:26 - Regret of not interacting with Raj Kapoor

30:08 - Raza Murad’s voice: Asset or drawback?

33:31 - Media favoritism towards actors

36:20 - Did Raaj Kumar commit a crime?

40:44 - Funny stories about Raaj Kumar

48:41 - Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

55:56 - Upcoming projects with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

57:18 - Collaboration with Ashutosh Gowariker

59:21 - Why was Mughal-e-Azam never remade?

01:01:21 - Why aren’t films succeeding today?

01:03:49 - Controversy during Padmaavat release

01:05:51 - Old actors vs. today's stars

01:08:01 - Teaching at FTII

01:09:14 - Ranveer Allahabadia controversy

01:12:41 - Raza Murad’s childhood love story

01:14:47 - Raza Murad’s wedding

01:18:16 - Maintaining relationships in cinema

01:20:19 - Zeenat Aman’s second marriage

01:21:45 - Battling Depression in Bollywood

Yogi Adityanath's government has completed eight years in Uttar Pradesh, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister in the state's history and the only one to serve two consecutive terms.

In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Yogi Adityanath discusses his government's achievements over the past 8 years and shares his vision for making Uttar Pradesh a one-trillion-dollar economy. He also defends his bulldozer action, stating that strict measures are necessary to eliminate 'Mafia Raj' in the state.

He addresses concerns about Muslim safety in Uttar Pradesh and explains why the Mandir-Masjid debate resurfaces from time to time. Additionally, he reflects on what went wrong for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The conversation also covers Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, the Kumbh tragedy, Aurangzeb, freedom of speech, and the Constitution controversy.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

00:24 – 8 Years of Yogi Sarkar

04:55 – Transformation of Ayodhya

08:32 – Aurangzeb Controversy

13:09 – Muslims' Safety in U.P

19:59 – Sambhal Excavation Controversy

24:17 – Kumbh Tragedy

32:11 – Muslim Vote Bank Politics

37:53 – Constitution Row

42:19 – Kunal Kamra Joke Controversy

43:28 – ‘Batenge to Katenge’ Slogan

51:17 – Pride in ‘UP Identity’

53:42 – Waqf (Amendment) Bill Controversy

56:08 – Delimitation Debate & Language War

1:01:40 – Foreign Funding in 2024 LS Polls

1:07:44 – Rahul Gandhi

1:10:35 – $1 Trillion Economy Aim for UP

The recent train hijacking and the Noshki convoy attack have raised serious questions about Pakistan losing control of Balochistan. Is the Baloch insurgency entering a new phase? Can Pakistan’s army crush the rebellion? Is China pressuring Pakistan to act harshly to protect CPEC? Is India secretly involved, as Pakistan claims? What exactly do the Balochs want?

To answer all these questions, the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash is joined by Tilak Devasher, an author, expert on Pakistan, and a member of India’s National Security Advisory Board.

He also discusses Pakistan's unstable political landscape. Imran Khan remains in jail, and tensions between Punjab and Sindh are rising. With growing insurgencies and internal conflicts, is Pakistan heading toward another breakup like 1971?

00:00 - Introduction

01:52 - Baloch Train Hijack

08:29 - Noshki Bus Attack

10:11 - Should India Help Balochistan?

14:12 - Women's Involvement in the Baloch Armed Movement

19:55 - Half-Widow Concept in Balochistan

24:59 - The West Ignoring Balochistan

29:05 - India Involved in Baloch Insurgency?

36:59 - Baloch Rebels Targeting Only the Pakistan Army?

37:54 - Can India Step Into the Baloch Issue?

39:20 - Sardars vs. Young Baloch Movement

43:27 - Who Are the Leaders of the Balochistan Movement?

46:52 - Is Balochistan’s Situation Similar to 1971?

49:43 - Impact of the Baloch Crisis on the CPEC Deal

52:48 - What Is the Pakistan Army’s Next Move?

55:33 - Can Balochistan Win Without Sindhis & Pashtun Support?

01:01:25 - Who Calls the Shots in Pakistan?

01:05:36 - How Are Pakistanis Reacting to the Train Hijack?

01:07:39 - Will Trump Step In?

01:11:44 - Why No Western Sanctions on Pakistan’s Death Squads?

01:21:00 - Mufti Shah Mir Killed—Who's Behind It?

Rakesh Roshan began his career as an assistant director on the film Anjaana (1969) and later went on to direct the action drama Khudgarz (1987).

With films like ‘Karan Arjun,’ ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai,’ ‘Koi... Mil Gaya,’ and the Krrish franchise, Rakesh Roshan has earned his place as a seasoned filmmaker across multiple genres in the Hindi film industry.

In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rakesh reveals the magic behind filmmaking and his unique style of directing Bollywood films. He explains the 'K' connection in his movie titles.

Rakesh also talks about how his father’s legacy was lost and how the ‘The Roshan’ docu-series on Netflix contributed to its revival.

Rakesh also shares his experiences of working with veteran actresses like Rekha, Hema Malini, and Jaya Prada. He also opens up about his bond with Rishi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Shatrughan Sinha, and Jeetendra.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – Making of ‘The Roshans’

05:03 – Working with leading actresses

11:00 – Vision as filmmaker

17:47 – Friendship with Rishi Kapoor

22:13 – Funds for Bollywood Movies

25:38 – ‘K’ Letter Obsession

32:46 – Story behind the bald look

37:36 – Backstory of ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai’

42:25 – Mentoring Hrithik Roshan

51:41 – Fitness secret

57:15 – Family values in South Indian movies

Get ready for the much-awaited episode of the 'Real' Samosa Caucus!

Edition 5.0 is here and it's all about raw, uncensored, no-holds-barred discussions.

Joining the chat are: Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

This episode dives into some topics, including the Ranveer Allahbadia-Samay Raina controversy, the Shama Mohamed tweet row, and Arvind Kejriwal's future in politics.

The group also discusses the Trump-Zelensky spat at the Oval Office and the ceasefire plan proposed by the USA President Donald Trump to stop the Russia-Ukraine war.

The group also digs into why Aurangzeb remains relevant in Indian politics and discusses the Hindi vs Tamil language war.

00:00 – Introduction

01:40 – Samosa Caucus Returns

18:50 – Ranveer Allahbadia Controversy

27:23 – Aurangzeb and Hindutva Debate

36:32 – Trump’s Policies on Campus Activism

49:15 – Shama Mohamed Tweet Row

1:00:46 – Rahul's Remark on Gujarat Congress

1:10:16 – Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Spat

1:24:05 – What Europeans Think of Russia

1:42:58 – Obesity and Diabetes

1:54:08 – Arvind Kejriwal's Future

2:10:16 – Debt of States in India

2:19:04 – Hindi vs Tamil Language War