SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF, DIVYA NAIR

Stories by SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF, DIVYA NAIR

'You Can't Run Parliament With 800 MPs'

'You Can't Run Parliament With 800 MPs'

Rediff.com   19 hours ago

'You cannot run Parliament with 800 MPs as nobody will get time (to speak in Parliament). And Parliament sits for barely 60 days in a year.' 'Look at the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. They have 650 MPs and they sit for 150 days on an average in a year.'

'Delimitation Can't Be Challenged Once It Is Approved'

'Delimitation Can't Be Challenged Once It Is Approved'

Rediff.com   1 days ago

'The Supreme Court stated that once the delimitation plan is approved by Parliament and receives assent of the President, it cannot be undone. Nor can it be modified.'

Asha Bhosle: 'I've Sung Many Songs, But Some Songs Have Been A Challenge'

Asha Bhosle: 'I've Sung Many Songs, But Some Songs Have Been A Challenge'

Rediff.com   1 days ago

'Today's girls are freer than the earlier generation. They perform more freely.'

Asha Bhosle: 'Dum Maro Dum Was Banned By The Government'

Asha Bhosle: 'Dum Maro Dum Was Banned By The Government'

Rediff.com   2 days ago

'Today, if 50 songs are composed, one or two work. In the 1970s, all 50 would work.'

Asha Bhosle: 'I Am Unable To Trust Anyone'

Asha Bhosle: 'I Am Unable To Trust Anyone'

Rediff.com   3 days ago

'When you reach a good point in your life, you should never forget the struggle that got you there. I haven't. That is why I have not become swollen-headed.'

Modern Marriage: 'I Married My Best Friend. We Sleep In Separate Bedrooms'

Modern Marriage: 'I Married My Best Friend. We Sleep In Separate Bedrooms'

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2026

In this new series on modern marriages, Payal* tells Divya Nair how she coped with the unexpected challenges that followed her impulsive marriage to her best friend.

'Raghav Chadha Will Join BJP Before 2027 Punjab Elections'

'Raghav Chadha Will Join BJP Before 2027 Punjab Elections'

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2026

'Who among Opposition party MPs has so much power that they raise some issue and the government implements it? The answer is no one except Raghav Chadha.'

'Kasab Drank Urine, Didn't Eat Biryani'

'Kasab Drank Urine, Didn't Eat Biryani'

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2026

'The jail staff told me Kasab was served only jail food and not biryani.' 'They told me that Kasab was beaten regularly after court proceedings.' 'And they filled Kasab's bottle with urine so that whenever he felt thirsty he used to drink urine.'

'What? There are Jews in Iran?!'

'What? There are Jews in Iran?!'

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2026

'Jews are very much safe in Iran. They are our brothers. There is a difference between a Jew and a Zionist.' A conversation around a tea table in Mumbai serves as an eye-opener for Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

'Indian Weddings Have Deep Meaning Behind Every Ritual'

'Indian Weddings Have Deep Meaning Behind Every Ritual'

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2026

'Wedding photography is not just about cameras and equipment. It is about sensitivity and responsibility,' says Himanshu Patel, celebrated wedding photographer and founder of Epic Stories.

'Transgender Persons Will Have To Show Their Genitals As Proof'

'Transgender Persons Will Have To Show Their Genitals As Proof'

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2026

'Lakhs of transgender people's identities will get erased. Many of them will go into hiding and lead depressing lives.'

Gas Cylinder For Rs 10,000. Are You Joking?

Gas Cylinder For Rs 10,000. Are You Joking?

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2026

A disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders caused by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz is impacting Indian kitchens, leading to restaurant closures, price hikes and a surge in demand for electric cooktops.

Himanshu Patel: The Engineer Who Shot Arjun Tendulkar's Wedding

Himanshu Patel: The Engineer Who Shot Arjun Tendulkar's Wedding

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2026

'The best photographs usually happen in between the big moments -- a quiet smile, a nervous laugh, a parent watching from the corner of the room. Those are the moments you can't script,' says Himanshu Patel, celebrated wedding photographer and founder of Epic Stories.

Why Kashmiris Are Donating Gold, Money For Iran

Why Kashmiris Are Donating Gold, Money For Iran

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2026

'Many have contributed in terms of gold and silver. Ladies in big numbers have contributed their home belongings and gold.' 'Some have donated their cars too.'

Dhurandhar The Revenge Review: Gory, Yet Electrifying

Dhurandhar The Revenge Review: Gory, Yet Electrifying

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2026

If you are willing to spare four hours of your day on a spy action thriller, Dhurandhar The Revenge will surprise, shock and overwhelm you with its nervous energy, notes Divya Nair.

Iran's Consul-General: 'We Hold The Upper Hand'

Iran's Consul-General: 'We Hold The Upper Hand'

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2026

'Despite the large number of missiles and drones we have already launched, we still possess reserves and missile cities whose doors have not yet been opened,' says Iran's Consul-General Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh.

Chiraiya Review: Thought-Provoking Yet Inconsistent

Chiraiya Review: Thought-Provoking Yet Inconsistent

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2026

Chiraiya could have been a powerful, hard-hitting series but it ends up feeling scattered and emotionally uneven, observes Divya Nair.

How Devanshi Patel Designed Allu Sirish's Wedding

How Devanshi Patel Designed Allu Sirish's Wedding

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2026

Devanshi Patel turned her passion for storytelling and celebrations into Shreem Events, one of India's sought-after wedding planning companies.

Wedding Planner Devanshi Patel Reveals Crazy Wedding Requests

Wedding Planner Devanshi Patel Reveals Crazy Wedding Requests

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2026

From 20 hours of non-stop celebrations to a 12-day wedding event in Ahmedabad featuring over 300 artistes, Devanshi Patel of Shreem Events tells us how she has handled challenging wedding demands.

'There Could Be More Violence In Pakistan'

'There Could Be More Violence In Pakistan'

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2026

'TTP has vowed to take revenge for the attacks that Pakistan is carrying out against Afghanistan.' 'To diminish this threat, Pakistan is hitting Afghanistan hard.'