Kathmandu: Actor and film producer John Abraham has sent an urgent letter to Badri Prasad Pandey, Nepal’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, urging him to end the abuse of animals at the Chitwan Elephant Festival, where elephants are beaten into submission and forced to race, give rides, and “play” polo and football.

PETA Asia has exposed late-December festival repeatedly hitting and jabbing elephants with bullhooks (weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end), sticks, and makeshift wooden knives. One elephant was beaten for nearly a minute, and many suffered from deep, bloody wounds around their heads and ears. When not being forced to perform during the festival, the elephants are used for rides by tourists visiting Chitwan.

“These intelligent, sensitive animals endure immense physical and emotional strain during these games,” writes Abraham. “As someone who has witnessed the beauty of elephants in their natural habitat, I can tell you that they symbolise strength, grace, and wisdom. They are a national treasure in so many ways, and Nepal has the opportunity to lead the way in showing the world how to respect and protect these magnificent animals.”

Elephants are highly social animals who thrive in the company of their extended families. Births are joyous celebrations, and the deaths of loved ones are mourned. But elephants in captivity are deprived of everything natural and important to them and often exhibit obsessive, repetitive behaviours indicative of severe psychological distress.

Abraham concludes his letter with a request to Pandey to cancel the elephant games and steer Nepal “towards a future where traditions can evolve to reflect our shared values of kindness and respect for all living, feeling beings.”

“Nepal holds a special place in my heart, and I am confident that its bright future will be shaped by decisions that honour its people, wildlife, and unparalleled natural beauty,” Abraham writes.

Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh is all set to perform in Mumbai on Thursday (December 19) as a part of his Dil-Luminati India Tour. However, ahead of his concert, he has received a notice from Maharashtra government which restricts him from performing on songs which promote drugs, violence and alcohol. Diljit has not reacted to the notice yet.

So far, Diljit has performed in Chandigarh, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Indore, and Jaipur. After Mumbai, he will perform in Guwahati.

According to a report, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued a notice to Diljit and his management, instructing them to refrain from using children on stage during performances. Reportedly, they also mentioned in the notice that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, and violence should not be performed during his Mumbai concert.

The report further stated that the notice follows a complaint filed by Panditrao Dharenwar, who expressed concerns about the involvement of children in stage performances and the impact of certain lyrics in Diljit’s songs on young audiences.

A day earlier, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) in Mumbai issued another notice to Diljit’s management, cautioning them against promoting substances like alcohol and gutka during his LIVE performances.

It may be mentioned that similar concerns were voiced by Chandigarh and Telangana governments earlier. However, during his Hyderabad concert, the singer changed the word ‘daaru’ to ‘coke’ and ‘theka’ to ‘hotel’ to bypass the restrictions.

Diljit has been constantly making headlines due to his controversial statements during his performances.

During his Chandigarh concert (December 14), the singer shocked fans by claiming that he will not be performing in India due to the poor infrastructure for LIVE shows and urged authorities to arrange better facilities. However, he later clarified that he never said he wouldn’t perform in India, explaining that his remarks were solely about issues with the venue in Chandigarh.

Mumbai, Dec 18: The producers of “Laapataa Ladies,” Aamir Khan Productions, Jio Studios, and Kindling Productions, have expressed their reactions following the film’s exit from the Oscars 2025 race.

As India’s official entry in the Best Foreign Feature Film category, Laapataa Ladies held high hopes but unfortunately did not make it to the top 15 shortlist. While the producers admitted to being disappointed by the outcome, they remain proud of the film’s journey and the recognition it garnered along the way.

In a statement, Aamir Khan Productions said, “Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) did not make it to the Academy Awards shortlist this year, and we are of course disappointed, but equally we are immensely grateful for the incredible support and belief we’ve received throughout this journey. We at Aamir Khan Productions, Jio Studios, and Kindling Productions extend our gratitude to the Academy members and the FFI jury for considering our film.”

“To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honor in itself. Our heartfelt thanks to all the audiences around the world who have expressed their love and support for our film. We congratulate the teams of all the top 15 shortlisted films and wish them the very best in the next stages of the awards. For us, this is not the end but a step forward. We remain committed to bringing more powerful stories to life and sharing them with the world. Thank you for being part of this journey,” the statement further read.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled the shortlist of 15 films competing for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. Unfortunately, India’s official submission, Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), did not make the cut.

Directed by Kiran Rao, the film had been unanimously chosen by the Film Federation of India (FFI) as the country’s entry, but its selection stirred debate. Many critics argued that Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light” would have been a more competitive choice for the prestigious category.