PolicyBazaar aims to collect Rs 3,500 crore premium in FY19

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January 28, 2019

Insurance portal Policybazaar which has recently raised around Rs 1,360 crore through a fresh round of investment, has said it aims to collect Rs 3,500 crore premium by the end of the current fiscal, a senior company official said.

It collected premium of about Rs 1,800 crore in FY18, Head of Communications and spokesperson of Policybazaar.com Group of Companies Aman Dhall told agencies.

“The company is on track to achieve over Rs 3,500 crore premium mark. Our focus would continue to create awareness around protection products that provide coverage against death, disease and disability,” he said.

“We believe that protection products will be the driver of future insurance growth. We are confident of reaching 10 million customers by CY20,” Dhall added.

According to him, calendar year 2018 ended with a collection of Rs 2,500 crore premium on its platform, emerging as the single largest insurance distributor in India (outside of banks).

Overall, Policybazaar.com accounts for 25 per cent of India’s life insurance sold online, he added.

On the health insurance side, Policybazaar.com provided a sum insured of Rs 2 lakh crore cover to the consumers in CY18 which accounts for nearly 10 per cent of India’s retail health business, he added.

Policybazaar.com became the first internet-based company in India to turn profitable on yearly basis from among the start-ups that have emerged in the last decade in FY17.

It has been profitable in FY17 and FY18 and has hit a new milestone of six million online insurance buyers by the end of CY18, Dhall said.

Policybazaar.com has backing from a host of high-profile investors including Softbank, InfoEdge (Naukri. com), Inventus Capital, Tiger Global Management, Steadview Capital, Premji Invest, Temasek and Ribbit Capital.

The 8,000+ headstrong company is valued at little over a USD one billion. From traffic of 180,000 visitors in 2008, PolicyBazaar.com as of now hosts nearly 100 million visitors yearly.

India beat New Zealand by 7-wickets in 3rd ODI to seal series

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January 28, 2019

India comfortably beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the third One-Day International to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, here Monday.

Ross Taylor top-scored for the hosts with a 106-ball 93, while Tom Latham hits a 64-ball 51.

For India, Rohit Sharma (62) and skipper Virat Kohli (60) hit half-centuries.

The fourth match will be played on Thursday in Hamilton.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 243 all out in 49 overs (Ross Taylor 93, T Latham 51; Mohammed Shami 3/41, Hardik Pandya 2/46).

India: 245 for 3 in 43 overs.

‘Thugs of Hindostan’ failure is my responsibility: Mr. Perfectionist

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January 28, 2019

Superstar Aamir Khan says that the audience has the full right to be harsh towards a film and feels they got a chance to take out their frustration when “Thugs of Hindostan” failed.

Released during Diwali last year, “Thugs” featured an ensemble cast which includes Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Sheikh. Touted as one of the biggest event films, the movie met with extreme criticism and crashed upon its release. However, Aamir said that he doesn’t need to forgive director Vijay Krishna Acharya as they all set out to make a good film. “Every director that I work with, they are good and their intentions are good. We all aim to make a good film but sometimes it doesn’t happen. Filmmaking is difficult. I’m a team player. If my director has gone wrong, I’ve gone wrong with him. I don’t mind failing with my director on his or her instincts. I don’t have a problem. I believe in the director and if he has gone wrong, I have too. We will learn from our mistakes,” Aamir said in a group interview.

The actor further said that he took the responsibility for the failure as the audience came in to watch the film for him. “Audience came to watch the film on my name. So it was my responsibility. To that audience I feel personally and fully responsible,” he added.

While the film was bashed from all quarters, there was a section which felt the criticism was unfair. Aamir said he’s aware there are people who liked the film but wouldn’t want to be judgemental towards those who didn’t. “I’ve met a lot of people who told me they liked the film. But I don’t judge these things. I think the audience has full right to say exactly what they want and they can be harsh in their criticism, that’s their right. If there was a certain amount of harshness, so be it. Also, I didn’t give a flop film since a long time. So people got an opportunity to take out their anger, which is good too. It’s been years since I have had a failure.”

The actor was in conversation with the media to promote his upcoming production, “Rubaru Roshni”. Directed by Svati Chakravarty Bhatkal, the film chronicles three real life stories of grief and forgiveness.

2008 Assam serial blast case: CBI court convicts NDFB chief & 14 others

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January 28, 2019

The chief of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Ranjan Daimary, and 14 others were on Monday convicted by a CBI fast track court in the 2008 case of serial bomb blasts in Assam that had left 88 people dead.

CBI Special Judge Aparesh Chakraborty convicted them under various sections of the IPC. The quantum of the punishment will be announced on Wednesday. Besides Daimary, others convicted in the case are George Bodo, B Tharai, Raju Sarkar, Nilim Daimary, Anchai Bodo, Indra Brahma, Loko Basumatary, Khargeswar Basumatary, Prabhat Bodo, Jayanta Bodo, Ajay Basumatary, Mridul Goyary, Mathuram Brahma and Rajen Goyary.

The serial blasts were triggered by the NDFB on October 30, 2008 in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta which killed 88 people and injured more than 500. The CBI had taken over the case from Assam Police and had filed two charge sheets, naming 22 accused; seven of them are still absconding. The first charge sheet was filed in 2009, followed by the second and the final one on December 20, 2010. However, the trial began in 2011 and the fast track court took over the case in 2017.

During the course of the trial, the statements of 650 witnesses were recorded and over 600 exhibits examined. Daimary was arrested in Bangladesh in 2010 and was shifted to Guwahati Central Jail. Later he was released on conditional bail in 2013 after the state government and the CBI stated before the Kamrup District and Sessions Judge that they had ‘no objection’ to his release, if he was given conditional bail in view of the ongoing peace talks with the NDFB.

However, the court had imposed eight conditions, including restrictions on Daimary from holding public meetings and media interviews. Barring Daimary, all others are currently in judicial custody.

RBI Governor meets PSU banks’ CEOs, conveys regulator’s expectations

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January 28, 2019

Ahead of the monetary policy review, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on January 28 met heads of public sector banks and conveyed to them the regulator’s expectation from the banking sector.

RBI is scheduled to announce its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy for 2018-19 on February 7. It would be the the first monetary review under the new RBI Governor.

“Basically the idea was convey to them the regulator’s expectation from the banking sector in general and public sector banks in particular, and also to get from them their understanding of the current banking situation, and to get an understanding about the future outlook, the sense they have,” Das said after meeting CEOs of PSU banks.

It is widely expected that RBI would cut interest rate in its upcoming review meeting.

With softer retail and wholesale price-based inflation, the Reserve Bank is likely to change its policy stance to ‘neutral’ from ‘calibrated tightening’ in the February policy.

The inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) eased to an 18-month low of 2.19 percent in December compared to 2.33 percent in November and 5.21 percent in December 2017.

BJP MLA files police complaint against Kejriwal

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January 28, 2019

BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa has lodged a complaint with police against Aam Aadmi Party convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the phone calls were being made to voters of his Rajouri Garden constituency claiming that their names had been deleted from electoral rolls by the BJP. He further alleged the AAP was “misleading” voters in his constituency through “propaganda” that their names were deleted because of the BJP but re-listed because of “sincere efforts” of Kejriwal.

In his complaint filed at Tilak Nagar police station on Sunday, the BJP MLA cited names of two voters who received such calls. “It is a conspiracy to defame me by false representation before voters of my constituency to lower my image before them that their MLA is weak and not capable to protect their fundamental right to vote,” Sirsa said in his complaint.

Last week, a delegation of the BJP’s Delhi unit led by its president Manoj Tiwari had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission seeking action against AAP over its claim of deletion of names of 30 lakh voters in Delhi, and also over phone calls being made to voters by AAP volunteers defaming the BJP. However, the AAP has asserted that it was no crime to tell the people who got their names deleted from electoral rolls and that it was restored due to the AAP and its leaders.

“Aam Aadmi Party, its MLAs and volunteers organised camps to register those voters again. This process is still going on. We believe that adding these genuine voters is not a crime or telling this to voters is not a crime,” AAP’s chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj had said earlier. However, the party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being involved in the alleged deletion of names of lakhs of voters belonging to Purvanchali, Bania and Muslim communities in the national capital after the 2015 assembly elections in Delhi.

‘Gully Boy’ cast to walk the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week

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January 28, 2019

‘Gully Boy’ cast and the rappers featured in the Zoya Akhtar-directed film will walk the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019. The team will take to the runway to showcase the clothing line titled ‘GullyGen’, inspired by their film, and created by fashion brand Love Gen.

LoveGen, the popular brand started by Bhavana Pandey, Dolly Sidhwani and Nandita Mahtani, will present its collection on the last day of the fashion extravaganza that takes place from January 30 to February 3 at Jio Garden, Bandra-Kurla Complex.

“‘Gully Boy’ is the voice of the streets. It’s the swag and the survival that comes with self-expression. This clothing line will appeal to anyone who shares the same ethos. Freedom, choice, rebellion, individuality, poetry and above all hip hop,” Zoya said in a statement.

The limited edition GullyGen collection includes jackets, hoodies and t-shirts. Each garment is inspired from the film and is an expression of how hip-hop has been one of the biggest influences on street culture.

Bhavana said, “Streetwear has become a global trend and the popularity of hip-hop is well documented. We, as a youthful high street fashion brand, want to introduce the trend in India and make it available to the masses.”

“The GullyGen collection embodies the spirit of pushing limits and breaking boundaries, hence a menswear line to resonate with the youth,” Dolly added.

The collection is crafted in light fabrics which resonate with what the hip shopper wants. Inspired by the underground rap scene in Mumbai, “Gully Boy” features Ranveer Singh in the lead alongside Alia Bhatt. The film also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Kalki Koechlin in pivotal roles.

“Gully Boy” is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Zoya and Farhan Akhtar is all set to hit the screens on 14th February 2018.

‘Black Panther’ wins for best performance by cast in motion picture at SAG Award 2019

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January 28, 2019

Ryan Coogler’s ‘Black Panther’ won the SAG Award for best performance by a cast in motion picture on Sunday night.

The cast of the film, including Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, and Michael B. Jordan took the stage to accept the honour. Andy Serkis and others joined them as well, wrote an online portal.

While on stage, Boseman said that the cast was plagued with two questions throughout their publicity tours — “One is, did we know that this movie that was going to receive this kind of response – meaning, was it gonna make billions of dollars, was it gonna make a billion dollars, was it still gonna be around this awards season? And the second question is, has it changed the industry? Has it actually changed the way the industry works; how it sees us. And my answer to that is, ‘to be young, gifted, and black.’ ”

Boseman said that they knew they had something special that they wanted to give to the world and that they could be full human beings in the roles they were playing.

He added, “We knew that we had something that we wanted to give. And to come to work every day and to solve problems with this group of people, this director, that is something that I wish all actors would get the opportunity to experience. If you get to experience that, you will be a fulfilled artist.”

Boseman wrapped up his speech by addressing the second question he mentioned. “One thing that I do know – did it change the industry? – is that you can’t have a Black Panther now without a ‘two’ on it.”

The film was nominated along with ‘A Star Is Born’, ‘BlacKkKlansman’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ in the category.

It’s very exciting: Naomi Watts on ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel

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January 28, 2019

Actor Naomi Watts says it is “exciting” to headline the prequel of HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones”.

In an interview with Variety on the sidelines of Sundance Film Festival, Watts, 50, could not contain her enthusiasm at becoming a part of the epic fantasy world of the “Game of Thrones”.

“It’s a fantastic world, isn’t it? I think there’s so many brilliant elements to that series that make it very exciting, very appealing. I don’t want to dig myself into a big hole here. All I want to say is it’s very exciting… I’ll say that again and again and again and nothing else,” she said.

When asked if she was prepared for the hysteria that comes along with the new series, the actor said, “I don’t know. We’ll see. I know it’s pretty huge and that might take some adjusting, but there’s a reason for that fandom. I think it’s just so well done.”

According to the network, the new show will be set thousands of years before the events of “Game of Thrones”

The yet-untitled project hails from creator Jane Goldman and author George RR Martin. The show’s pilot is based on a story from Goldman and Martin, with teleplay credited to Goldman.

It will chronicle the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’s history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, the official logline of the show read

The new show’s cast also includes Josh Whitehouse, Naomi Ackie, Denise Gough, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sheila Atim, Ivanno Jeremiah, Georgie Henley, Alex Sharp and Toby Regbo.

I love having all eyes on me, says Vanessa Hudgens

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January 28, 2019

Actor Vanessa Hudgens has said like her “Rent: Live” character Maureen Johnson she ”loves being the centre of attention”.

The actor said she could relate to her character’s approach to life in the upcoming TV production of the Broadway musical.

”It’s been so much fun finding Maureen within myself because she is loud and she loves being the centre of attention, and I am a performer.

”I love having all eyes on me. She expresses herself in a way that is unique to her own, and she’s an artist, and I feel like that’s what I aspire to be like as well,” Hudgens told the Hollywood Reporter.

The actor said she also enjoyed working with Jordan Fisher on “Rent: Live”.

”I feel like we both have such a love for musical theatre and a love for ‘Rent’ even before we came to it, (and) it really just translates,” she said.