'If you can come with some arrangement with the Pakistanis that Pakistan ceases to stop creating trouble in Kashmir in return for the Indians not arming Afghanistan, everyone wins.' William Dalrymple discusses his new book Return of a King, Afghanistan, the Mughals and, of course, India with Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
Narendra Modi can never be Vajpayee because the poet-prime minister had a heart. Modi doesn't. He only understands the language of business, of profit and loss. It is beyond his capacity to understand a complex country like India, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'I want to ask the Congress only one question: What is more important than election management in politics?'
'In the case of a road accident, prevention is the only answer.' 'There's no cure to death or disability when the accident happens, and when it's due to reckless or negligent driving, it's worse because it's avoidable.'
'Who are Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti to issue certificates?'
'The wave of terrorism is over in Kashmir. Local people do not support it.'
'Aspiring doctors have put in years of their lives to study in preparation for NEET exams as they start studies from Class 9 to get good marks.' 'And today, after the NEET paper leak, these students even after getting good marks are unable to get admission in any good medical college (because of inflated merit marks due to the paper leak).' 'They are thinking, was it worthwhile to study so hard for the examinations to become a doctor?'
Jaswant Singh's biography of M A Jinnah has cost him his place in the BJP. Syed Firdaus Ashraf looks at Jinnah and his controversial place in India's history.
'The whole Kashmiri population is seemed to be a suspect community. This status is not good.'
The luminous Waheeda Rehman will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year,
Deepika Padukone talks about her upcoming film, Karthik Calling Karthik, and Ranbir Kapoor.
'I love to meet people.' 'I love that personal connect when they express their genuine, heartfelt feelings.'
The movie has everything going for it. A total paisa vasool film!
'I like to tell stories that are real. When you say something true, it becomes controversial. It's not that I desire controversy; it's just that I want to tell the truth.' Director Rahul Dholakia talks about his new film Lamhaa and the Kashmir issue.
'And be confident that we will do a successful operation... Don't ask for a deadline. It is very difficult to say in such cases,' says Major General R K Hooda.
Zarine Khan hopes to have her own footprint in Bollywood, with her film Veer.
Journalist turned filmmaker Mahesh Nair speaks to Syed Firdaus Ashraf about his struggle to make it in Bollywood.
'There is some deep rot that has set in the Congress party. This requires an organisational surgery.'
'People have got into the habit of sitting at home (and watching films).' 'They don't want to watch movies in theatres because they do not want to waste as much as Rs 1,000 on tickets.' 'They feel there is no point in watching a film on the big screen because it will anyway come on OTT in a month's time.'
'The liberalisation of the Indian economy has triggered a growing belief in education, because they believe they can be a part of the economic bandwagon and benefit from it.'
Scenes from Azad Maidan.
'Not disclosing information to the public indicates that there is something wrong with Project Cheetah.'
The filmmaker, whose latest film, Black & White hits the marquee on Friday was in a philosophical mood as he recounted the debacle of Kisna, and why Bollywood needs writers more than ever.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf feels director Omung Kumar shares too much in the trailer of his upcoming film, Bhoomi.
'There is no peace in the Kashmir Valley.'
'Congress leaders are ready to lose the election and not form the government, but are never ready to share seats with others.'
'...or go to jail.' 'The government is getting them silenced.'
R Madhavan talks about life after his huge hit, 3 Idiots.
After giving us one of the biggest hits of 2009, Salman Khan is back to prove his mettle once again with his pet project, Veer.
Nikhil Advani gets a second chance in life with Patiala House.
Himesh Reshammiya talks about his Radio experience, and his next film Kajra Re.
'If my brother was a criminal they could have filed a case against him and put him on trial. Why kill him?' This is not justice.'
Ajab Prem lyricist Irshad Kamil tells us what inspires him.
'No Musharraf or Vajpayee can solve this problem till the people of Kashmir are involved,' JKLF leader Yasin Malik tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
Katrina Kaif talks about her upcoming movies and teenage love.
'Many people have this perception that Biharis are abnormal people,' says director Prakash Jha.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt tells us what keeps him so young at heart.
Nagpur police commissioner SPS Yadav says Marlon Samuels' conversation with an alleged bookmaker was no crime, but it certainly violated the ICC Code of Conduct.
He does not have the flamboyance of Karan Johar. Yet, Priyadarshan is Bollywood's top director, whose last five films have made a good Rs 150 crores in theatrical release only. The director is back with his new film, Mere Baap Pehle Aap.
Arshad Warsi talks about his new film, Short Kut: The Con Is On.
