Los Angeles, Feb 4 (IANS) Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore has shared that she can't see herself paired up with a younger man.

During a "Drew's News" segment on the latest episode of ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’, the actress got candid about dating in a discussion with Ross Mathews and Food Network star Sunny Anderson, reports ‘People’ magazine.

"Can everybody remember that dating is supposed to be fun? You know, like, go out and just have fun”, said Mathews, 46, who married husband Wellinthon García in 2022.

Barrymore, 50, quipped, "Can you tell the men I go on dates with that? Because they have lost the memo. I love to, like, date from Psychos.com. I'm not kidding. I've had a bad run”.

As per ‘People’, Anderson, 50, asked Barrymore if she has "tried (dating), like, the 20-somethings?"

"You know what?", replied the ‘50 First Dates’ star, "no, I'm totally grossed out by that. No, I have children and it seems wrong now”.

Barrymore has two daughters, 13 and 11, with ex-husband Will Kopelman. Anderson defended her dating hot take, sharing, "Well, you might have tried a 20-something and it didn't go well. I have tried the 20-somethings and it was fabulous”.

Mathews then said, "Can I ask a followup? When you were 'trying' stuff with a 20-something, what something were you? Were you a 30-something or 40?"

Anderson said, "I was 40-something. It was before my guy moved in. He knew I was having fun”.

"And you recommend it?", asked Mathews. She responded, "Yeah, because you don't care. Yeah. But if it's, like, real dating. I need to know, honey, before we go on the date, like where do you, I wanna know where you stand politically, I wanna know if you think that I have a right to make decisions for my own body. I do wanna know what TV shows you watch and why. I wanna know all the stuff I do. I wanna weed them out early”.

Drew Barrymore often opens up about her frustrations with modern dating on her daytime talk show, which is currently in its sixth season.

--IANS

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Los Angeles, Feb 4 (IANS) Actress Halle Berry is yet to accept her partner's proposal. The 59-year-old star has been with her man Van Hunt for almost six years, and she revealed last summer that he had already popped the question.

The actress feels that she doesn’t need to be married to have a meaningful relationship, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Now, she told ‘The Cut’, "I haven’t said ‘yes’. I don’t think we need to be married to have a meaningful relationship. I don’t know if we will ever get married”.

Halle insisted "health reasons" or being about to make vital medical decisions as each other's legal spouse are the only exceptions to her rule.

As per ‘Female First UK’, the Oscar-winning actress has been married three times before, to David Justice, Eric Benet and Olivier Martinez, and she explained that each breakup happened for a reason.

She said, “After my third divorce, people started to say, ‘What’s wrong with her? She’s crazy. She can’t keep a man’. And I would always argue, ‘Who says I want to keep a man if he’s not the right man?’”.

Now, she's incredibly happy with Van, adding, "I’m in the best relationship I have ever had”.

Last summer, Van insisted his proposal to Halle, who has Nahla, 18, with former boyfriend Gabriel Aubry and Maceo, 12, with Olivier, was "still on hold".

Speaking to Today.com, Van said, "I put out the proposal, and it’s still on hold as you can see. "It’s just out there floating. You know, maybe you can encourage her”.

Halle added, “Well, I’ve been married three times. Van has been married once, and so no, we don’t feel like we have to get married to validate our love in any way. We don't”.

At the time, she admitted she does think they will walk down the aisle one day.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has criticised Pakistan’s decision to boycott its group-stage fixture against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, saying the spirit of cricket is diminished when politics influences sporting participation.

Speaking to IANS, Modi said, “Cricket was created to be decided on the field, not in boardrooms or through boycotts. When politics enters sport, the game loses — but fans always remember who stood for competition.”

Pakistan’s withdrawal from the marquee clash, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, follows directives issued at the governmental level. Despite opting out of the India match, Pakistan is still expected to take part in the rest of the tournament — a selective absence that has drawn attention given the storied cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is understood to be consulting stakeholders to evaluate the implications. Tournament regulations allow for points to be awarded in the event of a forfeiture, potentially affecting group standings. Administrators are also believed to be assessing the broader commercial and governance consequences such a move might trigger.

Modi further cautioned that the fallout could extend beyond a single fixture. “Broadcast rights of bilateral matches and future of ICC revenues will further come under a lens as broadcasters will be cautious bidding high amounts as this could snowball into future participation of teams. Only gainer in this scenario will be IPL,” he said.

He added that franchise cricket is already taking centre stage globally. “IPL has now become the marquee cricket tournament of the year, which delights players and fans alike globally and is the perfect broadcasting opportunity for one and all,” Modi remarked.

The episode has reignited debate over the intersection of politics and sport. Former players and fans from both countries have voiced disappointment, noting that India–Pakistan contests remain among the most anticipated spectacles in world cricket.

If the boycott stands, India would likely be awarded the match points — a development that could shape the group table before the tournament fully gets underway.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Zimbabwe, Nepal and Oman enjoyed confidence-boosting victories in the latest round of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches.

Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands by 29 runs, Nepal chased down 146 to beat the UAE by seven wickets and Aamir Kaleem impressed with the bat as Oman defeated Sri Lanka A by five wickets.

Burl and Ngarava shine for Zimbabwe:

Ryan Burl and Richard Ngarava played key roles as Zimbabwe overcame the Netherlands by 29 runs.

Burl entered the fray at 77 for three in the ninth over, Dion Myers having got Zimbabwe off to a flyer with a 14-ball 32, and made an unbeaten 50 from 31 balls, with six boundaries, to guide his side to 178 for nine.

Logan van Beek was the pick of the Dutch attack with three for 22 but the reply got off to a nightmare start as both Max O’Dowd and Bas de Leede fell for ducks.

Captain Scott Edwards made 26 but his departure left the Netherlands on 94 for eight, with Van Beek’s 40 not out, with three sixes, proving too little too late.

Nepal power past the UAE:

An unbroken century stand between Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh led Nepal to a seven-wicket win over the UAE in Chennai.

The UAE batted first and slipped from 42 for one to 66 for five, Sandeep Lamicchane taking two for 24.

Sohaib Khan (38 not out) and Harshit Kaushik (35) added 68 for the sixth wicket to repair the damage and two run-outs early in the reply left Nepal with plenty of work to do from 45 for three.

Singh Airee and Sheikh made light work of the task at hand, however, finishing unbeaten on 50 and 61 respectively to guide Nepal home with three overs to spare. Sheikh struck eight fours and two sixes in his 37-ball knock.

Aamir leads Oman home:

Aamir Kaleem’s entertaining 80 led Oman to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka A in Colombo.

Sri Lanka A opted to bat first but lost regular wickets in the powerplay, which ended with them on 49 for four.

Sahan Kosala (21) and Wanuja Sahan (29) helped guide their side into three figures while Chamindu Wijesinghe made an unbeaten 24 from 13 balls as the hosts finished on 145 for nine, with Jay Odedra, Shah Faisal and Shakeel Ahmed taking two wickets apiece.

Only two Oman batters got into double figures in reply but they did so emphatically enough to win the game. Aamir was the standout, blasting eight fours and three sixes in his 47-ball blitz, while wicketkeeper Vinayak Shukla’s 39 not out from 24 saw his side home with two overs to spare.

Sahan bowled tidily to claim three for 16 from his four overs in a losing cause.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 4 (IANS) Despite demands from Congress members and repeated requests by the Chair of the Legislative Council, BJP MLC C.T. Ravi on Tuesday refused to express regret over his controversial “Pakistani tongue” remark made in the House.

The remark was in response to a statement by Congress MLC Naseer Ahmad, who had referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “desh drohi” (anti-national).

As the issue could not be resolved despite prolonged discussions, the Council proceedings were adjourned to Wednesday.

On Monday, Congress MLC Naseer Ahmad had referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “desh drohi” in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address to the joint session.

Responding to the remark, BJP MLC C.T. Ravi said on Tuesday, “No Indian tongue will speak about the Prime Minister in this manner. Such a tongue must belong to Pakistan. If it were an Indian tongue, it would not have spoken like this. Only a Pakistani tongue can speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Chairman, there is a need to find out whose tongue this is.”

Following Naseer Ahmad expressing regret over his remarks, Congress members demanded an apology from Ravi.

However, Ravi stated, “I have clarified many times that I have not used any unparliamentary words or harmed the dignity of the House. I have not taken the name of any member while making the statement. If a member addresses the Prime Minister—who has been elected by the people three times with a clear majority—as ‘desh drohi’, it is an insult to the people of the entire country.”

“Prime Minister is not confined to a single party. He belongs to all parties. My clear position is that those who use such language against the Prime Minister do not belong here. If the Prime Minister is called anti-national, then who is a patriot? To which country is he a traitor? If at all, he could only be considered a traitor by an enemy nation, not by this country,” he said.

Ravi further stated, “Regret has meaning only when it comes from the heart. What did the Congress members say? That if I withdraw my statement, they will withdraw their remark against the Prime Minister. Is there any commitment in that? Are they defending their statement against the Prime Minister?”

“I have only stated that whether it was a Pakistani tongue or an Indian tongue needs to be examined. I did not link any opposition member to Pakistan. I do not practice politics by betraying my conscience. When I first hoisted the BJP flag at my house in 1988, my father asked me which party it was. He suggested I join former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s party, but I chose the BJP because of ideology,” Ravi said.

“Our ideology is patriotism. The Sangh taught us about patriots like Ashfaqulla Khan and Hamid Khan. I am not targeting any community. Those who raised ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are Indian citizens, but they are not patriots. Patriotism is not just about being born here; it requires emotional commitment to the nation,” he opined.

“If that emotion had existed, Pakistan would not have been formed as a separate country. I reiterate that I have not targeted any community. I stand by my statement that an Indian tongue would not utter that the Prime Minister is anti-national,” he claimed.

Congress MLC Naseer Ahmad stood up and questioned whether BJP leader Sambit Patra had not called Rahul Gandhi anti-national and asked whether he could present records to that effect.

Ravi responded that the matter was confined to the House and that statements made outside the country could not be discussed. “I have not disrespected any individual. With due respect to the Chair, expressing regret for something I have not done would amount to betraying my conscience. I am not prepared to express regret,” he said.

Labour Minister Santosh Lad stated that there were instances in the past when the current Prime Minister, during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, had made harsh remarks against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. “Let us not go into that. Ravi is my friend, but we do not agree with his statement, and the Chairman should intervene,” he said.

Law Minister H.K. Patil stated, “MLC Ravi had agreed to abide by the decision of the Chair. Since there is no specific provision to take action, the Chair has repeatedly requested you. That itself indicates that a mistake has been committed. The Chair has made the request not once but five times.”

Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy stated, “We are ready to cooperate and have tolerated everything. This is turning into a tit-for-tat situation.”

Minister N. Bose Raju, who is also the floor leader, said Ravi should respond and tender an apology. Considering the deadlock, the House was adjourned to Wednesday.

--IANS

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Indore, Feb 4 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday said that the Navagraha Shaktipeeth temple in Dabra has been completed and a consecration ceremony will be held from February 10 to 20 in the presence of Hindu spiritual and religious figures from across the country.​

Mishra, who represented Dabra assembly constituency (in Gwalior district) multiple times before it was reserved for the Schedule Caste (SC), and is one of the trustees of the newly constructed temple, said that this unique temple will give Dabra a new and distinct identity on the global religious map.​

He shared that a 10-day-long religious ceremony will start with a grand procession with sacred water pots (Kalash Yatra) on Feb 10. More than 20,000 women will be participating. The Kalash Yara will be taken out from the stadium grounds to the Navagraha Shaktipeeth temple.​

Spiritual storytellers Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, Pradeep Mishra, and renowned poet Kumar Vishwas, Danti Maharaj, Gurusharan Sharma of Pandokhar Dham, and many other saints and spiritual leaders from Dhoomeswar Dham, Dandraua Dham, Rawatpura Sarkar will be participating in the grand religious event.​

Mishra informed that Saint Badrish Ji Maharaj and his 70 disciples will conduct the rituals, while Danti Maharaj will perform special rituals for all ten days. Apart from religious and spiritual personalities, he has also invited several political leaders from across party lines.​

Recently, Mishra visited Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and invited him to participate in the consecration ceremony. IANS has learnt that Mishra has also invited the Union Cabinet and the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet for the programme.​

“It is a matter of great joy that the entire city of Dabra is not only working together like a family to make this event a success but is also providing all kinds of support. The Navagraha Shaktipeeth will make Dabra an international centre for spiritual tourism. This event will establish Sanatan culture and the tradition of astrology on a global platform,” he said during a visit to Dabra on Tuesday.​

Five-time former minister Mishra (63), who contested the last election from the Datia seat in 2023, lost to the Congress’s Rajendra Bharti in a close contest.

--​IANS​

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Jaipur, Feb 4 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday directed authorities to take the strictest possible legal action against gangs involved in drug trafficking, gangster networks, and hardcore criminals.

He also ordered the launch of special campaigns to make the state drug-free.

Chairing a high-level meeting of the Home Department at the Chief Minister’s Residence, Sharma said that effective control must be ensured over gangsters and habitual offenders.

He instructed police and administrative officials to intensify action against organized crime networks operating in the state.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need to identify and closely monitor supply routes linked to drug trafficking, particularly in border areas, and ensure heightened vigilance to prevent smuggling.

Sharma directed officials to dismantle both small and large drug trafficking networks under a special action plan. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among the police, Drugs Controller, Health Department, and other agencies.

He also instructed authorities to ensure strong legal prosecution against those arrested in narcotics-related cases.

The Chief Minister said that cyber crime must be tackled on priority. In areas witnessing a rise in such crimes, special drives should be conducted against cyber crime syndicates, and these campaigns must continue until such crimes are completely eradicated from the region.

Highlighting that the state has seen a significant reduction in crime over the past two years, Sharma directed officials to monitor progress every 10 days. He warned that accountability will be fixed in cases of negligence or laxity.

Stressing the need for modern policing, the Chief Minister said that as crimes become more technology-driven, police must also adopt advanced technologies and modern methods to deal with criminals effectively.

Sharma said that drug abuse is the root cause of crime and has long-term adverse effects on families and society. He directed officials to promote awareness programs in schools and colleges on the harmful effects of drugs.

He also asked police to collaborate with social organisations to raise public awareness about the POCSO Act and other laws.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma, and senior police officials. Inspector Generals and Superintendents of Police from various districts joined the meeting via video conferencing.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 4 (IANS) The Karnataka units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) launched a day-and-night protest at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday night, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over the alleged excise scam.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, state BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, and JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu addressed a joint press conference in Bengaluru and announced the commencement of the protest.

BJP and JD(S) legislators held placards inside the Assembly, demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister. Some posters questioned when the minister’s resignation would be taken.

Addressing the media, Ashoka claimed that, for the first time in Karnataka’s history, liquor associations themselves had alleged a Rs 6,000 crore scam in the Excise Department. He further alleged that the Excise Minister was collecting between Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore every month. According to him, Rs 2 crore was allegedly collected for each Deputy Commissioner’s post and Rs 10 lakh even for constable-level postings.

He also referred to an audio recording in which a Deputy Commissioner allegedly stated that a “cut” had to be paid to ministers, and pointed out that a complaint had been filed against the minister with the Lokayukta.

“Despite all this, the minister is asking for proof, and the entire government, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, is backing him. This indicates that a huge amount of money is reaching the Congress high command. For elections, this massive Rs 6,000 crore collection has taken place. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that Rs 700 crore from Karnataka was sent for the Maharashtra elections,” Ashoka alleged.

He further accused the government of permitting liquor outlets on every street and turning Karnataka into a “haven of drunkards.” Ashoka alleged that the Chief Minister was complicit in the excise scam and said the opposition was determined to ensure punishment for those responsible.

“We are staging an overnight dharna and will continue the protest until Excise Minister Thimmapur resigns. If he does not resign, we will directly allege that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has a share in the scam,” he said.

JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu alleged that scams involving thousands of crores of rupees had taken place and accused the government of turning a blind eye. He criticised the government for providing Rs 2,000 to women while allegedly encouraging liquor consumption, stating that the BJP and JD(S) were jointly protesting what they termed the large-scale loot through the overnight dharna.

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that there was no doubt that the Congress high command also had a share in the Rs 5,000– Rs 6,000 crore corruption scandal in the Excise Department, citing the Chief Minister’s firm defence of the Excise Minister despite direct allegations.

Vijayendra said the Siddaramaiah-led government was indulging in blatant misconduct and reiterated his demand that the “corrupt” Excise Minister be made to resign. He confirmed that the BJP and JD(S) would continue their day-and-night protest until the resignation was secured.

Earlier in the day, the Assembly witnessed an intense discussion on the issue, leading to heated arguments and counterarguments between the ruling Congress and opposition members.

Raising the issue on the floor of the House, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that the government was complicit in the scam and demanded a thorough investigation. He asserted that the Excise Minister must tender his resignation immediately and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should sack him, stating that this was the official stand of the BJP.

JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu said the Chief Minister should take the developments seriously, adding that Siddaramaiah did not appear to be functioning in the same manner as during his first term. He urged the CM to order a probe and initiate action.

Senior BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar alleged that the Excise scam had surfaced under the direction of the Congress high command, similar to the Valmiki Tribal Welfare Corporation scam that emerged during the Lok Sabha elections. He claimed the funds were being generated for elections in five states and demanded immediate action.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit recreated the dance step of her iconic song ‘Dhak Dhak Karne Laga’ at a special event in the city on Tuesday.

The actress attended the announcement for her upcoming streaming title ‘Maa Behen’. In the film, she essays the role of Triptii Dimri’s mother.

The team of Maa Behen shared, “This is a film that lives in a genre of its own, familiar yet completely unpredictable. A big part of the fun was discovering its tone during the shoot and trusting the incredible performances of Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Ravi Kishan, and Dharna Durga to lead the way”.

“Netflix has been the perfect partner in embracing this bold, genre-bending vision and giving us the freedom to tell a story that’s unapologetically irreverent and designed to surprise audiences at every turn, and we’re genuinely excited for audiences globally to experience it”, they added.

A few days ago, Madhuri Dixit had taken to her social media account to remind her fans about pausing and embracing life’s quieter moments.

Taking to her social media account, the actress shared a set of photographs of herself from a classy photoshoot, and penned a simple caption that read, “Some days call for slowing down and settling into the moment”.

In the pictures, Madhuri Dixit is seen posing against a soft blue backdrop, and dressed in a stylish denim ensemble, the Hum Aapke Hain Kaun actress looks graceful. Accessorising with gold hoop earrings, bangles and rings, and makeup kept minimal, Madhuri looks stunning. One picture shows her standing with folded arms, exuding poise, while another captures her walking forward flaunting her million dollar smile, and hands in her pockets.

The actress who has been a part of the entertainment industry for almost 4 decades, has delivered umpteen number of superhits. The actress has been a part of the industry from the days when vanity vans and luxury on sets did not exist. The actress had recently opened up about her early days in the film industry.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming streaming title ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, has said that he loves portraying characters from Delhi.

On Tuesday, the actor attended a special event for Netflix in Mumbai, and spoke about his affinity to portray characters based in the national capital.

He said, “No, this character is not intense but on the wrong side of the law. In the teaser, as I was watching, you get to hear the fundamentals of the character. From the time he joined the service, he is still at the same rank. He is a scorer, an womanizer, he is a married man, but he still loves a girl”.

He further mentioned, “This is a story of such a place, where I have spent many years of my life. Where I did theatre, I did graduation in Delhi. So in my life, any film which is set in Delhi, I enjoy it a lot. Because I have seen Delhi first as an outsider when I was 18 years old. And when I left it, I left it for ‘Bandit Queen’. I really enjoy playing the characters of the people of Delhi. Especially this character of a police officer. So I enjoyed it. I really thank Ritesh, who is the director here, who really deserved all the praise and all the applause for writing such a magnificent, very interesting, very colorful character for me”.

The actor has had a great 2025. He recently headlined ‘Inspector Zende’, a Hindi-language action-comedy thriller released on Netflix in September 2025, where he played the quirky yet sharp Inspector Madhukar Zende opposite Jim Sarbh in a cat-and-mouse chase narrative.

Another major 2025 release is ‘Jugnuma: The Fable’, an ambitious drama directed by Raam Reddy. Praised on the international festival circuit, including at Berlinale and Leeds, and presented by Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap, the film showcases Bajpayee in a layered role set against mystical Himalayan landscapes, further confirming his range and choice of unconventional cinema. His popularity on digital platforms also surged with ‘The Family Man’ season 3, in which he again essays spy-hero Srikant Tiwari in the hit Amazon Prime Video series.

He’s attached to several exciting projects including a Hindi adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s ‘Last Man in Tower’ produced by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. Manoj Bajpayee continues to be one of Indian cinema’s most compelling actors, seamlessly shifting between mainstream and independent projects in 2025.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming streaming project ‘Family Business’, has spoken up on the increasing competition in the industry.

On Tuesday, the actor attended a special event for the announcement of the Netflix slate for 2026. During the event, he spoke with all his heart, and shared his experience of working with Vijay Varma in the project.

He said, “All the people here, Hansal sir, obviously the youngest is Hansal sir, Vikram sir, the producer, and Akash, we have been friends for so many years. And of course, all of you are aware, I have enjoyed working with you. All these young people, they are giving me a run for the money. You know, as I said, the competition is increasing. And competing with them, that keeps me young”.

He further mentioned, “Competing with all of you, all you youngsters. And thank you, the media, for coming and all of you all. It's a great occasion. It's 10 years of Netflix. It's been 10 years of Netflix. It's going to be 50 years soon”.

‘Family Business’ follows a visionary billionaire grooms a rising tycoon to take over the reins of India’s largest conglomerate as his successor. Months into the top job, he is unceremoniously fired where the mentor takes back the throne. Refusing to accept his downfall, the ousted successor strikes back, turning a corporate succession battle into a no-holds-barred war. Old secrets surface, alliances fracture, and the fight for control threatens to rip apart one of India’s most respected business empires, showing how quickly questions of legacy and blood can turn power into a personal vendetta.

The team of Family Business shared, “Family Business explores the deeply complicated and messy personal relationships that define every boardroom battle of a family of tycoons. What happens when inheritance becomes expectation, and legacies collide? It's a ride unlike any other in a world never seen before. We’re excited for audiences to get their first glimpse of this world through Next on Netflix, and we look forward to revealing more of the story in the months ahead”.

‘Family Business’ is set to stream on Netflix.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Pratik Gandhi will be sharing the screen in the upcoming streaming title ‘Hum Hindustani’. The film is set in newly independent India, where a team of officials battle chaos, resistance, and impossible odds to deliver the nation’s very first democratic election, inspired by true events.

The team of Hum Hindustani shared, "At the heart of Hum Hindustani lies one of the most defining promises of a newly independent India, the right to vote. Telling the story of the country’s first democratic election through the eyes of those on the ground has been both a responsibility and a privilege”.

“It is a story of belief, courage and collective effort that shaped the nation we know today. We are immensely proud to bring Rahul Dholakia’s vision to Netflix and to present this landmark chapter of Indian history with the scale and ambition it deserves, for audiences in India and far beyond”, they added.

This marks the first time when Saif and Pratik will share the screen. While Pratik has built a steady OTT portfolio over the years, Saif made his OTT debut back in 2018 with ‘Sacred Games’ when the streaming medium was still making inroads in India.

Saif had his homecoming to Netflix last year with the streaming film ‘Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins’. Pratik was earlier seen in the role of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in the film ‘Phule’, which made a huge noise over censorship.

Meanwhile, Saif has ‘Haiwaan’ in the pipeline in which he will be reuniting with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar after 17 years. Saif and Akshay last worked together in ‘Tashan’, which was a commercial and critical disaster. ‘Haiwaan’ is produced by KVN Productions in association with Thespian Films, and jointly produced by Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn.

--IANS

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