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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 3 (IANS) The upcoming Global Ayyappa Meet has sparked a political storm in Kerala, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition accusing the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government of seeking political mileage in the name of Sabarimala, while the ruling CPI(M) strongly defended the initiative as an effort to unite believers against communalism.

The Kerala government is set to host the Global Ayyappa Meet on September 20, an initiative aimed at uniting devotees and highlighting Sabarimala’s spiritual and cultural significance.

Organised under the aegis of the Travancore Devaswom Board, the event has drawn national attention and sparked political debate.

Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan alleged that the government was attempting to exploit the faith of devotees for electoral gains.

He said the UDF had not decided to boycott the event but had raised pointed questions to which the government must first respond.

“Will the government withdraw the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court that paved the way for the violation of traditions at Sabarimala? Will it withdraw the cases still pending against those who took part in protests, including namajapa processions, to protect temple customs?” Satheesan asked.

The UDF, he clarified, would declare its position on participation only after the government provides answers. UDF convenor Adoor Prakash was also present at the press conference.

In sharp contrast, CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan maintained that the party has always stood with devotees and would continue to do so.

Speaking at a memorial event in Chempazhanthy on Wednesday, he said the Global Ayyappa Meet was not an attempt to encourage communal forces but rather to bring together believers in a progressive platform.

“The Ayyappa meet has our full support. This is part of resisting communalism, not promoting it,” he said.

Govindan also clarified that the decision to hold the meet was taken by the Travancore Devaswom Board. He reiterated that dragging religion and faith into political power is communalism, but stressed that the Communist Party would never side with such forces.

On the contentious issue of women’s entry into Sabarimala, he said it was a “chapter that has passed”, though not a “closed chapter”, and declined to make fresh comments.

The divergent stands highlight how Sabarimala and related faith issues continue to shape Kerala’s political discourse.

While the UDF accuses the government of double standards and seeks clarity on past actions, the CPI(M) is attempting to project itself as a party standing with believers while resisting communal polarisation.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 3 (IANS) Actor Ahan Shetty will be seen in an Indian horror feature film based on real tragedy penned by Patrick Graham, who is making his return to Hindi-language horror.

Graham, who created the Netflix horror series “Ghoul” and “Betaal,” will pen the script for the untitled film being backed by Khyati Madaan’s Not Out Entertainment alongside Prashant Gunjalkar.

Ahan Shetty has been roped into star in the film, which marks a genre shift for the actor following his debut in 2021 romantic action thriller “Tadap” and his upcoming role in the war epic “Border 2,” which also features Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Dhawan, reports variety.com.

The project is being positioned as a theatrical horror experience mixing scares with romance, built around the real-life historical event. The casting of the female lead is currently underway, with the title and director still to be announced.

Graham’s previous work includes “Ghoul” in 2018 and “Betaal” in 2020, both produced under Blumhouse Television’s Indian operations. The global horror specialist is behind franchises such as “Get Out” and “The Purge.”

Producer Madaan launched Not Out Entertainment this year after a decade-long career at Red Chillies Entertainment, Disney India and Maddock Films. The company has positioned itself to revive theatrical Hindi-language cinema through genre-defining storytelling.

The banner’s current slate includes the romantic horror-comedy “Abhootpurva” and a slice-of-life drama from Indian National Film Award-winning filmmaker Habib Faisal, known for “Do Dooni Chaar” and “Ishaqzaade.”

Talking about Ahan’s upcoming film “Border 2”, the patriotic drama has been locked for a January 22, 2026 release.

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 also stars Medha Rana, Mona Singh and Sonam Bajwa with production by Bhushan Kumar and JP Dutta.

Backed by a powerful production team including Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, in association with J.P. Dutta’s J.P. Films. “Border 2” will release on January 22, 2026.

While ‘Border’ was based on the events of Battle of Longewala, ‘Border 2’ is presumably based on the Kargil War which occurred in 1999. The conflict between the two countries was mostly limited. During early 1999, Pakistani troops infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied Indian territory mostly in the Kargil district.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 3 (IANS) Actor Ahan Shetty will be seen in an Indian horror feature film based on real tragedy penned by Patrick Graham, who is making his return to Hindi-language horror.

Graham, who created the Netflix horror series “Ghoul” and “Betaal,” will pen the script for the untitled film being backed by Khyati Madaan’s Not Out Entertainment alongside Prashant Gunjalkar.

Ahan Shetty has been roped into star in the film, which marks a genre shift for the actor following his debut in 2021 romantic action thriller “Tadap” and his upcoming role in the war epic “Border 2,” which also features Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Dhawan, reports variety.com.

The project is being positioned as a theatrical horror experience mixing scares with romance, built around the real-life historical event. The casting of the female lead is currently underway, with the title and director still to be announced.

Graham’s previous work includes “Ghoul” in 2018 and “Betaal” in 2020, both produced under Blumhouse Television’s Indian operations. The global horror specialist is behind franchises such as “Get Out” and “The Purge.”

Producer Madaan launched Not Out Entertainment this year after a decade-long career at Red Chillies Entertainment, Disney India and Maddock Films. The company has positioned itself to revive theatrical Hindi-language cinema through genre-defining storytelling.

The banner’s current slate includes the romantic horror-comedy “Abhootpurva” and a slice-of-life drama from Indian National Film Award-winning filmmaker Habib Faisal, known for “Do Dooni Chaar” and “Ishaqzaade.”

Talking about Ahan’s upcoming film “Border 2”, the patriotic drama has been locked for a January 22, 2026 release.

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 also stars Medha Rana, Mona Singh and Sonam Bajwa with production by Bhushan Kumar and JP Dutta.

Backed by a powerful production team including Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, in association with J.P. Dutta’s J.P. Films. “Border 2” will release on January 22, 2026.

While ‘Border’ was based on the events of Battle of Longewala, ‘Border 2’ is presumably based on the Kargil War which occurred in 1999. The conflict between the two countries was mostly limited. During early 1999, Pakistani troops infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied Indian territory mostly in the Kargil district.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) India’s automobile industry showed 2.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in retail sales in August, with robust performance in the two-wheeler segment, a report said on Wednesday.

Two-wheeler manufacturers increased sales by 2.1 per cent primarily through exports and festive-season inventory buildup on the part of dealers, a report from Choice Institutional Equities said.

Passenger vehicle sales improved marginally by 0.8 per cent, led by a healthy demand for the SUV segment. The three-wheeler sales declined by 2.3 per cent YoY as consumers moved towards electric vehicles.

Eicher Motors reported a 54.8 per cent increase in two-wheeler sales year-on-year, while TVS Motor saw a 30.1 per cent rise, driven by strong demand for premium motorcycles.

Hero MotoCorp increased by 8.1 per cent due to rural recovery, while Bajaj Auto saw a 5.0 per cent rise, supported by a 28.6 per cent surge.

The PV segment sales in the domestic market slowed as dealers kept lean inventories in anticipation of GST rate changes. The segment also saw increased CNG penetration, the report said.

Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 9 per cent year-over-year decline in domestic dispatches. Maruti Suzuki saw a 0.6 per cent drop but was supported by strong exports.

Commercial vehicle sales increased by 8.0 per cent, while tractor sales rose by 29.7 per cent due to rural demand. CV inventory, led by Ashok Leyland, showed a decline, easing dealer pressure after a subdued year, the report noted.

The Centre is also expected to lower the tax on entry-level passenger vehicles and two-wheelers to 18 per cent, making them more affordable ahead of Diwali.

Currently, all passenger vehicles based on combustion engines are subject to a GST of 28 per cent plus a compensation cess of 1 per cent to 22 per cent based on engine capacity, length, and body type.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) India’s automobile industry showed 2.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in retail sales in August, with robust performance in the two-wheeler segment, a report said on Wednesday.

Two-wheeler manufacturers increased sales by 2.1 per cent primarily through exports and festive-season inventory buildup on the part of dealers, a report from Choice Institutional Equities said.

Passenger vehicle sales improved marginally by 0.8 per cent, led by a healthy demand for the SUV segment. The three-wheeler sales declined by 2.3 per cent YoY as consumers moved towards electric vehicles.

Eicher Motors reported a 54.8 per cent increase in two-wheeler sales year-on-year, while TVS Motor saw a 30.1 per cent rise, driven by strong demand for premium motorcycles.

Hero MotoCorp increased by 8.1 per cent due to rural recovery, while Bajaj Auto saw a 5.0 per cent rise, supported by a 28.6 per cent surge.

The PV segment sales in the domestic market slowed as dealers kept lean inventories in anticipation of GST rate changes. The segment also saw increased CNG penetration, the report said.

Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 9 per cent year-over-year decline in domestic dispatches. Maruti Suzuki saw a 0.6 per cent drop but was supported by strong exports.

Commercial vehicle sales increased by 8.0 per cent, while tractor sales rose by 29.7 per cent due to rural demand. CV inventory, led by Ashok Leyland, showed a decline, easing dealer pressure after a subdued year, the report noted.

The Centre is also expected to lower the tax on entry-level passenger vehicles and two-wheelers to 18 per cent, making them more affordable ahead of Diwali.

Currently, all passenger vehicles based on combustion engines are subject to a GST of 28 per cent plus a compensation cess of 1 per cent to 22 per cent based on engine capacity, length, and body type.

--IANS

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Chennai, Sep 3 (IANS) Director Varsha Bharath, whose coming-of-age drama, 'Bad Girl', is to hit screens across India on September 5 this year, says that she doesn't think stereotyping boys as failures is harmful.

During a pre-release event of the film, which was held recently, the makers of the film showcased a teaser which has a scene in which a lady teacher is seen chiding a girl student saying, "You walk like a boy, you talk like a boy and you fail like a boy."

When IANS caught up with the director for an interview and pointed out that this scene was stereotyping boys as failures, the director replied, "No, that is stereotyping girls actually..."

Point out to her that the scene and the dialogue were actually doing the contrary to what she claimed as the statement "You fail like a boy" was stereotyping boys as failures and she replies, "In my class, this is my experience. I have always failed in class and I have always been told I'm like a boy."

So there is a stereotype that boys are associated with failures?

She replies, "Girls, out of fear, will study."

The point is that a stereotype exists? "I don't think that that is a stereotype that is harmful," she opines and goes on to give an explanation about the stereotypes that she thinks are harmful.

"So, what kind of stereotype is harmful? There is a power dynamic in society. If you were to say women are bad drivers. That is a stereotype that is harmful. We live in a patriarchal world. And this is being spoken by the teacher. The teacher is stereotyping the student. It is very important when we are reading a film to understand who is saying it. Whether the filmmaker is saying it or a character is speaking it. A character is speaking it from her prejudice. The character is prejudiced. This teacher has her prejudice and she is stereotyping boys as failures. I am not stereotyping boys as failures," says the director of 'Bad Girl'.

"I have always been a really bad student. I have gotten thrown out of school for being a really bad student. Every time when failed students were made to stand out, I would be the only girl standing with them. Even those not so smart girl students, who would study only as much as I would, will be hardworking and somehow manage to pass. They will not fail. They will have fear and devotion. That is why it was always very lonely for me to be a bad student. So, it comes from that place. Boys at least have company when they are failing in school," she further explains.

It may be recalled that a teaser of the film, which was released in January this year, sparked a major debate on Brahmin bashing in cinema with one section claiming the film to be a bold and refreshing film and another claiming that it was indulging in Brahmin bashing.

The censor board has cleared the film for release with a U/A certificate.

Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Vetri Maaran, the film is being presented by Anurag Kashyap under the banner of Grass Root Film Company.

The film has won accolades on the international film festival circuit. It won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam (IFFR)and the Young Jury Award for Best Feature Film at the 40th Cinema Jove - Valencia International Film Festival in Spain.

It also won the Student Choice Award at the Indian Film Festival of Toulouse in France.

Additionally, the film has been officially selected and screened at prestigious festivals including the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.

Bad Girl features an ensemble cast including Anjali Sivaraman, Shanthi Priya, Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam, Sashank Bommireddipalli, and Saranya Ravichandran.

On the technical front, it has cinematography by Preetha Jayaraman Jagadeesh Ravi and Prince Anderson. Editing for the film is by Radha Sridhar and music is by Amit Trivedi.

Costume Design for the film is by Shruthi Manjari while sound design is by Vinoth Thanigasalam and Sound mixing is by Prathap. VFX for the film has been handled by R Hariharasuthan (Lorven).

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 3 (IANS) The television super-hit show "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi" went on to become one of the most iconic shows in the history of Indian television.

The show that first aired 22 years ago still seems to dwell in the minds of people. On account of the show’s 22 years, actor Gaurav Gera, who played a very important role in "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi", shared a bunch of photos and videos straight from the BTS of the show.

He captioned it as, “More pics from #JJKN Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi there were no frontal cameras.. and no concept of selfies .. so some selfies are taken phone ghuma ke jassi Jaisi koi Nahi 22 years .. released 1st sep 2003 created by @djsacreativeunit @deeyasingh1 aired on @sonytvofficial.”

"Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi" starred actress Mona Singh, who instantly became a household name as Jassi. Actor Gaurav Gera essayed the role of Mona, aka Jassi's best friend in the show.

Recently, Mona Singh had also treated her fans with some unseen photos from the show and its making. Taking to her social media account, Mona captioned it as, "Hello Sept... 22 years of “Jassi jaisi koi nahi” cherishing the memories n forever grateful for all the love."

"Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi" premiered on the 1st of September 2003 and introduced Mona Singh as Jasmeet Walia. Mona was seen donning heavy spectacles and wearing big braces as her character look for Jassi. Back then, fans thought that this was how she looked in real life as well. Mona had once stated that the entire production house and makers were extremely careful to make sure that Mona's real-life appearance was not out anywhere in public or in the media glare. They wanted to maintain the curiosity of people wanting to know how Jassi, aka Mona looked in real life.

--IANS

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New Delhi/Pune, Sep 3 (IANS) Apple on Wednesday previewed its Koregaon Park retail store in Pune -- and its fourth in India -- as the iPhone maker doubles down on the domestic market where it is creating new records on both the domestic production and export fronts.

Located in the heart of a major centre of culture and learning, the new Pune store, which opens on Thursday for the public, invites customers to discover and shop Apple’s full lineup of products, access personalised service and expert support, and learn how to get even more out of their devices with Today at Apple sessions.

“There’s nothing we love more in Apple Retail than connecting with customers, and just days after opening a new store in Bengaluru, we couldn’t be more excited to unveil Apple Koregaon Park in Pune,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail.

“In a city celebrated for its history and creativity, Apple Koregaon Park introduces an incredible new destination for customers to connect with all things Apple — whether they’re shopping for a new product, looking for support for one they already own and love, or seeking inspiration to bring their next big idea to life,” Deirdre noted.

Apple Koregaon Park brings together 68 team members from 11 Indian states, who are ready to help customers shop for a new device, including the iPhone 16 lineup, iPad Air with Apple Pencil Pro, the M4-powered MacBook Air, and more.

The store team also offers personalised setup and support, step-by-step guidance on how to easily switch to iOS, and Retail services like Apple Trade In and financing programmes.

“Apple is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the lives of students as they pursue their education. At Apple Koregaon Park, this commitment extends to the entire community through Today at Apple, which offers free, daily in-store sessions designed to inspire learning and creativity for all Apple users,” said the company.

Apple Koregaon Park joins store locations in Mumbai, Delhi, and the recently launched Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru, which opened its doors to customers earlier this week.

The company is stepping up its manufacturing push in India, with all models of the upcoming iPhone 17 series, including the high-end Pro versions, being assembled in the country from the start. This is the first time the company will produce every new iPhone variant in India, a move seen as part of its strategy to reduce reliance on China and safeguard against US tariff risks.

Apple’s bet on India has already started to pay off. Between April and July this year, iPhones worth $7.5 billion were exported from India, compared to $17 billion in the entire previous fiscal year. In the financial year ending March, Apple assembled iPhones worth about $22 billion in India -- marking a 60 per cent jump from the year before.

The tech giant is expected to scale up production to 60 million iPhones this year, compared with around 35–40 million in 2024–25.

—IANS

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New Delhi/Pune, Sep 3 (IANS) Apple on Wednesday previewed its Koregaon Park retail store in Pune -- and its fourth in India -- as the iPhone maker doubles down on the domestic market where it is creating new records on both the domestic production and export fronts.

Located in the heart of a major centre of culture and learning, the new Pune store, which opens on Thursday for the public, invites customers to discover and shop Apple’s full lineup of products, access personalised service and expert support, and learn how to get even more out of their devices with Today at Apple sessions.

“There’s nothing we love more in Apple Retail than connecting with customers, and just days after opening a new store in Bengaluru, we couldn’t be more excited to unveil Apple Koregaon Park in Pune,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail.

“In a city celebrated for its history and creativity, Apple Koregaon Park introduces an incredible new destination for customers to connect with all things Apple — whether they’re shopping for a new product, looking for support for one they already own and love, or seeking inspiration to bring their next big idea to life,” Deirdre noted.

Apple Koregaon Park brings together 68 team members from 11 Indian states, who are ready to help customers shop for a new device, including the iPhone 16 lineup, iPad Air with Apple Pencil Pro, the M4-powered MacBook Air, and more.

The store team also offers personalised setup and support, step-by-step guidance on how to easily switch to iOS, and Retail services like Apple Trade In and financing programmes.

“Apple is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the lives of students as they pursue their education. At Apple Koregaon Park, this commitment extends to the entire community through Today at Apple, which offers free, daily in-store sessions designed to inspire learning and creativity for all Apple users,” said the company.

Apple Koregaon Park joins store locations in Mumbai, Delhi, and the recently launched Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru, which opened its doors to customers earlier this week.

The company is stepping up its manufacturing push in India, with all models of the upcoming iPhone 17 series, including the high-end Pro versions, being assembled in the country from the start. This is the first time the company will produce every new iPhone variant in India, a move seen as part of its strategy to reduce reliance on China and safeguard against US tariff risks.

Apple’s bet on India has already started to pay off. Between April and July this year, iPhones worth $7.5 billion were exported from India, compared to $17 billion in the entire previous fiscal year. In the financial year ending March, Apple assembled iPhones worth about $22 billion in India -- marking a 60 per cent jump from the year before.

The tech giant is expected to scale up production to 60 million iPhones this year, compared with around 35–40 million in 2024–25.

—IANS

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Mumbai Sep 3 (IANS) Actress Karishma Tanna is proving once again that fitness and discipline never take a backseat. The actress, who is currently vacationing in Switzerland with her husband Varun, has been giving fans glimpses of a dreamy getaway through pictures and videos shared on social media.

While Karishma has been actively sharing snapshots of their travels, what caught everyone's attention this time was her commitment to fitness. The actress recently posted a story from inside the gym dressed in a white tee and track pants, capturing a moment straight from her workout session.

She also shared a glimpse of the dumbbell rack, highlighting how fitness remains a non-negotiable part of the daily routine, whether she is busy with professional commitments or unwinding on a vacation.

Karishma Tanna's dedication towards her fitness sends out an inspiring message to her fans: that consistency is the key! For the actress, staying active is not just about maintaining her physique but also about embracing a lifestyle that keeps her energized and balanced.

The actress, along with her husband, who is on a travelling spree just a few days ago, shared pictures from her luxurious vacation in Croatia. It was here where Karishma celebrated her husband Varun Bangera's birthday. Karishma had posted a series of photos on her social media account while wishing her husband on his birthday.

After Croatia, the couple has headed on to Switzerland, where their luxurious vacation continues to unwind amidst scenic views and the Swiss Alps.

For the uninitiated, Karishma Tanna tied the knot with businessman Varun Bangera in a lavish setup in 2022 in Mumbai. The wedding was a mix of Gujarati and South Indian traditions. Karishma and Varun met each other during the New Year's party in 2021 through a common friend. The couple instantly got along like a house on fire.

–IANS

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