Mumbai : Filmmaker Subhash Ghai recalled music maestro A R Rahman’s contribution to the Indian music industry and shared how he transformed Mumbai’s music culture with films such as ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Rang De Basanti.’ Taking to Instagram, the ‘Taal’ hit-maker shared a heartfelt note about the composer, describing him as a “blessed talent.” He also recalled how he first approached him for his 1999 film ‘Taal’. Recounting his initial hesitation, Ghai said he was nervous about offering Rahman the project because the composer was not very familiar with Hindi lyrics or Hindi films at the time. However, his concerns eased when Rahman told him that he used to play the hero flute. Sharing how he eventually embraced Rahman’s distinctive musical style, he recalled their association with ‘Taal’ and praised the composer’s ability to adapt to different musical influences.

Posting their picture, Subhash wrote “A blessed talent from our universe. A R RAHMAN. . WHY ? I was really nervous when I offered him my film TAAL to him as he cud hardly knew Hindi lyrics n not too close to Hindi films till he told me that he used to play Hero flute. I was relaxed. N entered into his style of music. N u know TAAL till now.” (sic) “He changed the music culture in mumbai with lagaan n rang de Basanti or rockstar He won oscar for Hindi song Jai Ho He can learn n turn into any sound of any land n culture in to music He responds to every kind of film n director anywhere. So ARR is a blessed n will go on giving surprises to music lovers n will live for a long. My all blessings to his talent n happiness always,” he added. ,Subhash Ghai and A R Rahman have collaborated on three feature films: ‘Taal’ (1999), ‘Kisna: The Warrior Poet’ (2005) and ‘Yuvvraaj’ (2008). Their association began with ‘Taal’, starring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshaye Khanna, which became widely remembered for its music.

Mumbai : Actress Ankita Lokhande celebrated Diwali with her husband, Vicky Jain, and family in Bhilaspur. He shared glimpses of their festive celebrations on social media. Alongside a series of pictures with Vicky, Ankita penned a heartfelt note about the importance of spending festivals with loved ones, saying that the joy of Diwali lies in togetherness rather than grand celebrations. Sharing photos, the ‘Pavitra Rishta’ actress wrote, “Bhilaspur wali Diwali Apno ke sang kaafi hai. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how grand the celebrations are, but about the people who make every moment special. Family is our first home, our biggest blessing and the one place we can always return to.” She further expressed gratitude for the little moments, shared laughter, traditions and time spent together, adding, “Some bonds are blessings, some moments become memories, and family will always be home.” The actress also extended Diwali and New Year wishes to her followers through the post.

The photographs show Ankita and Vicky performing aarti together, seeking blessings during the festivities. The couple also posed with their family members. Ankita and Vicky twinned in coordinated festive outfits. Ankita looked elegant in a traditional saree, which she accessorized with green bangles. She completed her festive look with traditional jewellery and a graceful hairstyle. Vicky, meanwhile, complemented her look in ethnic attire. In another glimpse, the family was seen enjoying the celebrations and bursting firecrackers. Ankita also shared a video featuring herself and Vicky bursting firecrackers together. Alongside the clip, she penned a romantic note for her husband, writing, “Years from now, I might forget the fireworks. I’ll remember how you looked at me. Happy Diwali from us to all of you.” The video offered another glimpse into the couple’s Diwali celebrations. Ankita Lokhande tied the knot with businessman Vicky Jain on December 14, 2021. The couple got married in a grand ceremony in Mumbai, attended by their family members and several friends from the entertainment industry.

Mumbai : Actress Divyanka Tripathi has penned a heartfelt tribute to her building guard, Dhanpat Uncle, who lost his life in a fire that broke out at their residential complex on the eve of Diwali. While Divyanka, her husband Vivek Dahiya, and their family members managed to escape safely along with their babies, the tragedy left them grieving the loss of a person who had been an integral part of their daily lives. In her emotional social media post, Divyanka remembered how Dhanpat Uncle was one of the first people to greet and bless their babies when they brought them home. Sharing her video, the ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhann’ actress wrote, “Some losses leave behind a silence that never quite goes away. When we brought our babies home for the first time, one of the first people to welcome and bless them was our beloved Dhanpat Uncle, the guard of our building. We had imagined the years ahead… him watching our boys grow, the children playing with their Dhanpat Uncle, and countless little moments we unknowingly took for granted. We never imagined those moments would remain only dreams.”

“On the night before Diwali and Viv’s birthday, a devastating fire broke out in our building. We had plans to step out that evening, but somehow, our plans kept getting delayed. We were home when the mishap occurred, which allowed us to spot the danger in time and evacuate with our babies, family and staff. For a while, we thought we had escaped with only a frightening memory and material damage,” she added. Divyanka went on to state, “Until we heard about Dhanpat Uncle. Vivek and I struggled to accept the news. Even as we took refuge at a friend’s home, we kept hoping, praying that somehow it wasn’t true. As Diwali arrived, electricity was gradually restored. The gas supply and lifts were reinstated the day after Diwali, following diligent safety checks. But normalcy didn’t return with them.”

“Our entire wing had come to a standstill, and not merely because of the infrastructural damage. The fire dimmed the lights of our home that Diwali, but the loss of a precious life left a darkness in our hearts that no amount of light can undo. It’s taken us time to even find the words to speak about that night. Dhanpat Uncle, you were never just the guard of our building. You were part of our everyday lives, someone we trusted, someone we had imagined in our children’s tomorrow.” “We will miss you deeply. And when our boys are old enough, we will tell them about the kind man who welcomed them home with his blessings, who was indispensable in our everyday life and that – we should never take anyone’s presence for granted. May your soul rest in peace.” For the unversed, Divyanka revealed that she and Vivek had planned to go out that evening, but their departure kept getting postponed for some reason. Since they were still at home when the fire erupted, they were able to notice the danger in time and safely evacuate with their babies, family members and staff.