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Bollywood rolls out the red carpet for Vijay Deverakonda

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2 years ago

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Shah Rukh Khan was the start of it all. When Vijay Deverakonda was a small child living in a humble neighbourhood in Hyderabad, he stumbled upon an SRK interview and overheard the actor refer to himself as “the last superstar.” The aspirant had optimism since Khan, who came from a middle-class Delhi family, had been able to enter the exclusive Hindi film industry, which is infamous for its nepotistic culture. You have no idea how motivated I was by Shah Rukh Khan’s achievement. It made it very clear to me that I could do it too if he could. There is only one successful individual you need to use as an example.

Whether it’s his gruff charisma or his film preferences, the actor seems to pop up everywhere all of a sudden. Bollywood seems to have rolled out the red carpet for the actor’s entrance, from Ranveer Singh launching the trailer of Deverakonda’s newest movie Liger (for which he arrived in chappals, a stark contrast to Ranveer Singh who came dressed as, well, Ranveer Singh) to Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, and Sara Ali Khan swooning over him. How come?

Deverakonda is struggling with the assessment of his own hype. While one can explain the machinery backing him, Deverakonda’s popularity among his legion of fans, a significant number of whom are women, is quite real-as far as my anecdotal research goes. “It doesn’t make sense right?” he says, genuinely amused. “I pretty much come from nothing. At times, I feel half of this is not even my doing. That there’s a higher power at play. Otherwise, how can this happen to a boy from Saroj Nagar? Until I was 20 or so, which wasn’t many years ago, my parents and I lived in a rented apartment one-third the size of this suite. That’s all we had.”

Like most industries, the Telugu film industry, too, has nepotistic tendencies. The major actors working in the industry-Allu Arjun, Prabhas, Mahesh Babu, N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, and Rana Daggubati-have all emerged from the three families that control a large chunk of the film business: the Allu-Konidela family, the Daggubati-Akkineni family, and the Nandamuri family. There’s no denying these actors have built their own formidable body of work and cultivated a sizeable audience, but the debate was never about that. It was always about getting a foot in the door. While the actors mentioned above are a generation senior to Deverakonda, even his immediate peers: Akhil Akkineni, Naga Chaitanya, Allu Sirish, and Varun Tej all come from the same branches of film families. Not him. “It was incredibly hard to get in. The number of auditions, the number of rejections. I had a friend, Naveen Polishetty, whom I’d call and we’d discuss where the auditions were happening, or if someone had called back. For two to three years after college, nothing other than small roles in a couple of movies materialized.”
A few months before he turned 25, Deverakonda vowed that he wouldn’t be a struggling actor in his 30s. He wouldn’t be able to live with that. So he gave himself a deadline. “I’ll struggle till 25. And if things don’t materialise until then, I will explore something else.” Plan B was to write scripts or direct. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t getting roles; they were just not exciting enough. “Even when I was a nobody, I refused to do so many films. I always felt that I was meant for bigger things. People said, ‘You will never get an opportunity like this’, but I had higher expectations from myself.” In true cinematic fashion, where the quintessential underdog conspires to turn his extravagant dreams into reality, Deverakonda bagged Yevade Subramanyam days before his 25th birthday.

Within a year, he did another film as the lead, Pelli Choopulu, directed by Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam. Made on a budget of 60 lakh, Pelli Choopulu went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2016, turning Deverakonda into a bankable name in the Telugu film industry and laying the stage for what would be the biggest turning point of his career: Arjun Reddy, the film that put him on the map and, in all likelihood, enabled his crossover to Bollywood. While plenty has been written and said about the film’s toxic hero who gets an empathetic narrative arc, Deverakonda says he still doesn’t understand the debate, given how clear he’s made known that he does not endorse Reddy’s actions or his mistreatment of women. “But does that mean I won’t play a character like that or whose actions I personally don’t agree with? No.”

He is particularly excited about his crossover debut. Puri Jagannadh’s Liger, a film where his character is described as a “crossbreed” and he is credited as “The Vijay Deverakonda”. According to Deverakonda, he moved another film ahead to accommodate Liger as he was entirely taken by the film’s script and the character. Doing Liger meant arriving in Bollywood with the backing of its most sought-after producer, Karan Johar. The actor is still settling in, overwhelmed by the collective wattage of star power surrounding him and the sudden spotlight.

While enjoying the steady influx of female attention, the actor is also deeply aware of its transient nature, and hence, doesn’t take it too seriously. “While it fills me with affection, I don’t know how to reciprocate. I feel it’s temporary.” Like stardom? “Perhaps.” Speaking about his life’s highlight reel has put him in a state of deep introspection. “I should try to enjoy this, right?”

Given the breakneck speed that his career is seemingly moving at, it’s perhaps not conducive for a steady romantic relationship. “I’m someone who loves being in love. I believe in love stories. They’re my happy place. But I’m also scared of heartbreak. So far, it hasn’t happened.” And that’s not because he has been the heartbreaker. Nope. It’s because, in what sounds like an act of self-preservation, he hasn’t allowed anyone to come close enough to hurt him. “Growing up, my dad taught me that love is bullshit and that money is the centre of this world. If you have money, you have everything. If you have money, people will love you, respect you, and do everything for you. This was ingrained in me so deeply that when I grew into an adult, I didn’t believe in relationships.” The child who was told that love is fake grew into a man incapable of loving or showing love. “I began believing that whoever came to me, came with a want. When someone said they love me, I never said I love you too. Till today, it doesn’t come as naturally as it should.”

That changed. While he doesn’t reveal who, he says a woman came into his life who transformed him and his idea of love. Maybe Imtiaz Ali was really onto something when he made those movies, I joke. “After becoming an actor, I got into a long relationship that taught me a lot about love. I realised that it’s not a transaction and that people can love you selflessly for who you are. It took me a long time to learn that my dad was wrong. To unlearn what he taught me. But I’ll say this: His lesson got me to where I am. I achieved everything that I desired but it came at a price.”

Before I leave, I ask him a question that has been playing on my mind. When he gets to meet Shah Rukh Khan, and he certainly will, what’s he going to say? After all, it all began with the interview where Shah Rukh said he was the last of the superstars.”I don’t know,” he says. “But when I saw his interview, I remember wanting to say, ‘Shah Rukh, you’re wrong. You’re not the last. I’m coming.'”

(Excerpts from GQ India September 2022)

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Rana’s interrogation will expose ISI-Lashkar links in Mumbai attack, says Ujjwal Nikam

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4 weeks ago

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January 25, 2025

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Mumbai, Jan 25: Renowned Special Public Prosecutor of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Ujjwal Nikam, has hailed the US Supreme Court’s decision to extradite Tahawwur Rana, an alleged conspirator in the 26/11 terror attacks, to India.

“This is a major victory for the Indian government,” Nikam stated while addressing the media on Saturday.

He explained that Rana’s appeal to the US Supreme Court, which argued against extradition citing his conviction in a Chicago court, was firmly rejected.

“The U.S. government opposed his petition, emphasising the need for him to face trial in India. The US Supreme Court’s decision paves the way for his extradition,” Nikam elaborated.

Talking about the potential impact of Rana’s interrogation, Nikam said, “This is an essential step forward. His questioning might unveil new dimensions of the Pakistan Army’s involvement in the 26/11 terror attack.”

Recalling his earlier interrogation of David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the Mumbai attack case, Nikam added, “Headley revealed the deep-seated collusion between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Similarly, Rana’s testimony could provide critical insights into the ISI-Lashkar nexus.”

Prominent political figures also commented on the development. Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam credited Prime Minister Modi’s effective foreign diplomacy for the extradition.

He said, “The path has been cleared to bring Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India. This is a major triumph for the country. His interrogation will once again expose Pakistan’s infamous role in global terrorism.”

Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), however, asked when other culprits would be brought to justice.

“This is a routine judicial process. While it’s commendable, we must also question the broader issue. When will other culprits like Nirav Modi, Dawood Ibrahim, and Tiger Memon be brought to justice? These matters cannot be overlooked.”

NCP (SP) leader Fahad Ahmad said, “While it is better late than never, we must focus on extracting as much information as possible from the accused. However, this should be a non-partisan effort, free from attempts to seek political credit or portray oneself as a hero. An investigation into the delays in handling this case is necessary to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.”

Earlier, the US Supreme Court cleared Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India, dismissing his review petition against the move, that is being seen as an outcome of President Trump assuming charge of the country.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is wanted in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks case. This was Rana’s last legal chance not to be extradited to India.

Rana on November 13 filed a “petition for a writ of certiorari” before the US Supreme Court which was denied by the top court, a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the American President.

Rana, 64, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles.

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CAG Report On Delhi Liquor Policy Scam Case: ‘₹ 2,026 Crore Loss’, ‘Violation In Issuance of Licences’ – DETAILS

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1 month ago

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January 11, 2025

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New Delhi: A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the now-scrapped excise policy by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi pointed out several “lapses” in the policy. The CAG report claimed that Rs 2,026 crore loss was incurred to the exchequer. The report was released days ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. The report alleged that AAP leaders got “kickbacks”. Notably, it is a draft CAG report as it is yet to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly.

The CAG report also claimed that licence norms were flouted. Notably, the then deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was heading the excise department when the policy liquor excise policy was introduced in Delhi. The report highlighted that Sisodia ignored recommendations by the expert panel over the policy.

It also pointed out that arbitrary decisions were taken without any approval from the Lieutenant Governor.

– The 2021 liquor policy caused a whooping loss of Rs over 2,000 crore.

– The entities bidding for the license were not financially strong, yet they were allowed to bid.

– The approval from the then Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and the cabinet was not taken.

– Deviation from the objectives of the policy.

– There is a lack of transparency.

– Violation in the issuance of licences.

Breakdown of the total losses:

As per the CAG report, some of the retailers did not surrender their licences before the expiry of the policy and they were not rendered by the AAP government causing the loss of Rs 890 crore. Zonal licensees were granted exemptions, which reported caused an additional loss of Rs 941 crore. Meanwhile, another license fee waiver of Rs 144 crores was also granted to zonal licensees on the pretext of the COVID restrictions.

The AAP questioned the existence of the CAG report on the Delhi liquor policy scam case.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress lhit at the AAP over the repoprt.

“… CAG has revealed the whole story of the corruption of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who has played the role of a broker by destroying the happiness of Delhi… This is the same CAG report which Arvind Kejriwal used to wave in 2013 to fight against Sheila Dikshit and today the same CAG report has declared Arvind Kejriwal corrupt…” BJP leadre Manoj Tiwari told ANi.

“CAG has said that there has been a scam of Rs 2000 crores in the liquor policy… Now it is clear that he (Arvind Kejriwal) has done wrong… He has emptied the government treasury. If Rs 2000 crores have been spent in 6 months due to the liquor policy. If that scheme was still running, we would have suffered a loss of Rs 10,000-12,000 crores,” Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit stated as reported by the news agency.

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Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena bats for Kejriwal, accuses Delhi L-G of BJP bias, nudges Cong

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1 month ago

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January 9, 2025

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Mumbai, Jan 9: The Shiv Sena(UBT) on Thursday raised questions about the neutrality of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) during the election season, alleging that he was favouring the BJP. It has also attacked the Congress party for attacking AAP instead of BJP.

Uddhav Thackerary’s party though its mouthpiece Saamana has alleged that the L-G’s actions favour a particular political narrative.

The hard-hitting editorial titled ‘Haryana, Maharashtra and now Delhi’, said: “Delhi is a union territory where L-G is supreme. But he is now working as the Union Home Ministry’s agent. After the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming Delhi Assembly election came into force, the L-G withdrew the powers of the chief minister and all ministers. He is working for the BJP which is quite dangerous. Even though the Election Commission is singing a tune of transparency in conducting the election, behind the curtains, a lot of things in favour of the BJP are happening. The BJP will stoop to any low to win the Delhi Assembly election. People should remain alert and careful.”

The Saamana editorial attacks the Prime Minister, Home Minister and BJP’s central ministers, saying that they have swung into action for the party’s victory. It says that the BJP has set the goal of defeating Arvind Kejriwal and capturing the Delhi Assembly and can go to any extent to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi which is not appropriate.

It added, “On moral grounds, PM and HM should keep themselves away from the Delhi Assembly election which is in the larger interest of the democracy.”

“We will win everywhere and assume power is BJP’s policy. A new democracy has dawned in the country, wherein, not a single political opponent should exist. The country has witnessed it in Maharashtra and Haryana and now the time for Delhi. There have been irregularities in Delhi’s voters list as a lot of names have been excluded terming them Rohingyas and Bangladeshi residents. AAP had complained against it but the Chief Election Commissioner is not ready to accept the former’s argument. The CEC has claimed that EVMs cannot be hacked, it is not possible in India,” says the editorial.

The editorial has targeted its INDIA bloc ally, the Congress party for stepping up attacks against AAP instead of BJP.

“The contest in the Delhi Assembly election is between BJP and Aam Aadmi Party only. Congress party is in the fray and it is attacking Arvind Kejriwal and AAP instead of Bharatiya Janata Party. The people of Delhi must be surprised at this…,” claims the editorial. The editorial alleges that the BJP can go to any extent to hijack the Delhi Assembly election while appealing to the people to be careful and alert.

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