Just a day before Shabana Azmi met with a road accident on January 18, she was celebrating husband Javed Akhtar's 75th birthday bash with the rest of Bollywood. And it was a full house, as *everyone* came forward to pay their salaams to one of Bollywood's leading writers and poets.
Rohit Sharma has been included in Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai's 15-member squad for the warm-up game against the visiting New Zealand side at New Delhi from September 16-18.
Mumbai's bid to clinch their 41st Ranji Trophy crown, and the first after two seasons, got a significant boost with the availability of fit-again pacer Dhawal Kulkarni for the final against Saurashtra in Pune. Kulkarni missed the semi-final against Madhya Pradesh at Cuttack, after picking up an injury during their quarter-final victory over Jharkhand at Mysuru. Other than his inclusion, the Mumbai selectors have retained the squad that secured their place for their 45th title clash in Cuttack. Significantly, when Mumbai clinched their 40th crown, Saurashtra were their opponents in the 2012-13 season. The five-day final will begin on February 24.
Leg spinner Pravin Tambe was on Monday surprisingly included in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team to take on Jharkhand in the four-day Group A match starting at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 6.
Meanwhile, Siddharth Shukla and Asim Riaz are no longer friends.
A top Naxal commander and aide of dreaded Maoist leader Kundan Pahan was on Wednesday killed by security forces in a pre-dawn encounter in the forests of Khunti district of Jharkhand.
If Netflix and the film's producers thought they would bring younger audiences to the master's works, many who might have aversion to decades-old black and white films, they have failed with the experiment, says Aseem Chhabra.
Check out the pictures.
Vivek Sharma's Bhootnath sees a cool and hip Amitabh, shaking it with Shah Rukh.
The hits and misses of the week.
A young but mighty Mumbai have history and form firmly on their side when they chase their 41st Ranji Trophy title by locking horns with Saurashtra, who are taking a rare shot at domestic cricket's biggest prize, in the summit showdown beginning in Pune from Wednesday. While Mumbai will be appearing in their 45th final of the top domestic tournament, it is only the second time that Saurashtra are in the title clash. Incidentally, it was Mumbai who put paid to Saurashtra's hopes of a maiden triumph by wrapping the final in three days in 2012-13. That was the only time Saurashtra came close to the title. Mumbai won that match by an innings and 125 runs for their 40th trophy. Three seasons later, the scene remains more or less the same and it will take a huge effort from Saurashtra to upset a side which has almost won more titles than the rest of India combined. For the record, since 1990-91, Mumbai haven't lost any of the 10 finals they have played. Mumbai have at least five of those who played in the earlier final in the squad -- Aditya Tare, Abhishek Nayar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shardul Thakur and Vishal Dabholkar.
Central Bureau of Investigation officers who probed cases like 2G, CWG scam and horse trading in Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections are among the 28 from the agency awarded with prestigious the president's police medal for distinguished service and police medal for meritorious service on Republic Day.
A round-up of the fourth and final day's play in the Ranji Trophy matches across the country.
The hits and misses of the week.
The hits and misses of the week.
Veteran batsman Wasim Jaffer will lead Mumbai in their four-day Ranji Trophy Group A match against Orissa, at the Wankhede stadium, from December 14, as Abhishek Nayar is injured.
Masumi Makhija on her upcoming films, including Chupke Se which releases September 12.
The right-arm medium pacer caused Maharashtra's batsmen a lot of problems with his extra bounce on a green Wankhede wicket, taking four wickets for 62 runs as Maharashtra struggled to 219 for 7 in 57 overs in their first innings, at stumps on the second day, in reply to Mumbai's 402 all out.
Twenty-five children -- 12 girls and 13 boys -- have been selected for the prestigious award, which they will receive from the prime minister on January 23 and thereafter participate in the Republic Day parade, officials said.
Kejriwal was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
'I have never had a foul experience in the industry.' 'There are rotten apples everywhere, in your family, relatives, friends circle, colleagues...' 'It's very vulnerable because of the glamour, but it's very heartbreaking to hear bad things about the industry.' 'It's not such a bad place.'
Asim's brother Umar sets the record straight.
The dissident group in the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday announced its future course of action, including a National Convenor of the "movement" and taking out a country-wide Swaraj Yatra.
The verdict for the week.
The film is based on the Arushi Talwar murder case.
Have a party at home? Aelina Kapoor recommends the Loveshhuda soundtrack.
Putting up an all-round show, Karnataka defeated Mumbai by 5 wickets in their Elite Group B Ranji Trophy game in Mumbai on Sunday, inside two-and-half days. This was Mumbai's second consecutive loss at home, following their defeat against Railways.
Vinod Mirani gives us his weekly verdict.
Glamour, style and talent, all under one roof!
A round-up of Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Saturday
India's total medal count stood at 252 (132 gold, 79 silver, 41 bronze), leaving behind hosts Nepal and Sri Lanka behind. Nepal has won 165 medals (45 gold, 44 silver, 76 bronze) while Sri Lanka have collected 197 medals (36 gold, 68 silver, 93 bronze).
The top posts on social media from your favourite Bollywood celebrities.
His margin was just a shade lower than the 6.96 lakh record set by Pritam Munde in October 2014 when she won the by-election to Beed seat in Maharashtra after the untimely death of her father and former Union minister Gopinath Munde.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of its two MLAs, saying this is a "proof" of his frustration.