Aamir Khan facing health problems after putting on 90+ kilos

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September 14, 2015

The shooting of Aamir Khan starrer ‘Dangal’ will begin in Ludhiana on September 20, 2015. ‘Dangal’, one of the most awaited films of 2016, is based on the real-life of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his two daughters, Geeta and Babita, who later won medals for India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

However, Aamir Khan had to put on a lot of weight for essaying the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat. Now the actor’s weight has exceeded 90 kgs, which has his family worried, as he is having difficulty in breathing and walking.

It has also been reported that Aamir will also have to lose weight during the shoot, to play the younger Mahavir Singh Phogat. TV actress Sakshi Tanwar has been cast to play his on-screen wife in Dangal.

Dangal will be Aamir’s first movie after PK (2014), which starred Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput.

Hard work, grit and determination are what we associate most with actor Aamir Khan. He always goes the extra mile to make his on-screen character look real. For Mangal Pandey the rising, he grew a handlebar moustache, for Lagaan, he lost loads of weight to look like a poor farmer, for Ghajini, he built 8 pack abs and now has put on 90 plus kg weight for Dangal. Perhaps that’s why everybody cannot be Aamir Khan.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film stars Aamir, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Saikh and Sanya Malhotra. It is scheduled for release on Christmas next year.

Kristen Stewart: Emotions dictate progress

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Afternoon Voice

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September 14, 2015

Kristen Stewart thinks wanting to feel good all the time is an intrinsic part of the human condition.

The 25-year-old actress is currently promoting her new sci-fi drama Equals, a love story set in a future which has eradicated emotions from society.

And after filming the flick, Kristen is convinced being sentimental is really beneficial.

“I think the only way to be truly progressive and truly move forward is to not ignore your heart and your feelings,” she told People magazine at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Equals, which co-stars Nicholas Hoult, centres on a pair of peers who suffer from SOS, also known as Switched on Syndrome. The malady means they have access to feelings.

Kristen thinks the concept for the film is very interesting as it shines a light on how sentiment serves as the major catalyst for any action.

“We’ve stifled every emotion, anything to do with anger, fear. We’re completely neutralised,” she said of the movie. “So it definitely begs the question, would you even get out of bed? Would you exist anymore? Probably not.”

But even though Kristen is convinced life would be mostly meaningless without feelings, she admits going through the motions can be such a huge challenge at times.

“You go through something a little too hard and the first instinct is always, ‘I hate this, I don’t want this. If I could just not feel this way’,” she noted.

Is Rihanna ‘officially dating’ Travis Scott?

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Afternoon Voice

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September 14, 2015

After all possible speculations, Rihanna and Travis Scott’s rumored romance has now been confirmed by sources close to the artists, who have titled them a couple.

An insider revealed that Rihann and her rapper boyfriend are officially dating each other and share a very serious relationship, E! Online reports.

The duo’s love for each other was pretty evident when the couple was spotted making out at fashion show after-party and a witnessed dished out the two were all over each other.

A source close to the artists informed that Rihanna likes Travis a lot and hopes it develops into something more, additionally describing that Scott is completely her type and they share same interests.

Sienna Miller said no to her ‘dream role’ due to payment disparity

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Afternoon Voice

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September 14, 2015

Actress Sienna Miller says she had to quit a dream role on Broadway after discovering that she would be earning half of her male co-star’s salary.

“It was a play with just two of us on stage and I was offered less than half of what he was going to be paid. If it was two men, it wouldn’t probably happen. Sad, but I walked away,” Miller told Vogue magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The ‘American Sniper’ actress was due to return to the New York stage early next year, but after learning the terms of her contract, decided against taking the role.

Earlier this year, Miller portrayed Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret’ in New York and had such an amazing time. She doesn’t think anything will ever top it.

Black-and-yellow taxis operators must transform themselves

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Afternoon Voice

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September 14, 2015

Right from the day cab aggregators started eating into the market share of black-and-yellow taxis there has been a widespread unrest in the city. In years to come, earnings of black-and-yellow taxi drivers will only reduce due to substandard service and fare refusals. The present fleet of taxis available on the road are outdated and out modelled compared to the user friendly taxis available on line and that too at cheaper rates with air-conditioned facility. There is a tough competition and for vying on equal terms the Black and Yellow model of Taxis should be able to upgrade their network and find an easy method to book from home online.

Unless the non air-conditioned taxis do not buckle up, they will not be able to sustain the fierce competition offered by fleet taxi and app-based cab services. Such a drastic change and the development ought to have been thought about a decade back by the Mumbai Taxi Association and to find an amicable solution to the pressing problem to achieve an equal status like private Taxi Services. Even now it is not too late to achieve a win-win situation if suitable steps are taken on a war footing basis to make sure about the requirements of the commuters in the best way possible and cater to their needs in a planned way.

Taxis are part and parcel of the transport system in the commercial capital and even though local trains are the life line of the majority of the people, but upper middle class people still prefer comfort of taxis and it is a good news. Around a decade ago, union leaders of recognized taxi unions were taken abroad to understand the know-how of call centre-based taxi services. But once they returned, no measures or interest were taken by the taxi unions. In a competitive world everyone is vying for excellence as there is high scope for making “hay while the sun shines”.

For commuters finding a cab, especially in peak traffic hour, is very difficult. From rigged meters to unwillingness to go ‘short distances’ or any distance for that matter, black-and-yellow taxis have literally driven commuters into the arms of cab aggregrators like Ola or Uber.

Mumbai isn’t any different when it comes to the utter arrogance of cab drivers. And they should realise that making their services more palatable are their only chance at besting cab aggregrators.

The state transport department is planning to regulate app-based taxi services like Ola, Uber and Taxi For Sure. The new directive will pave way for having a level playing field of all kinds of taxi services in Maharashtra. The taxi permits issued by the state have guidelines on engine capacity, electronic fare meters, and fare chart among other things, and are regulated by the transport authorities, which isn’t the case for app-based cab services.

C.K Subramaniam

MNS Roast, SHAME!

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Afternoon Voice

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September 13, 2015

Citizens say that Sena and MNS could have protested peacefully over the meat ban issue instead of adopting an aggressive stand over it.

Mumbaikars condemned the manner in which Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena protested against the meat ban directive issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the occasion of ‘Paryushan Parva’. Sena and MNS had set up stalls to sell chicken in Dadar. According to citizens the Sena and MNS could have protested peacefully instead of adopting an aggressive stand over this issue. The MNS which had lost its foothold in the state after the assembly election is trying to rake up this issue to lure the Marathi vote bank before the 2017 BMC election. Both Sena and MNS already had gained moral victory over the meat ban issue after the BMC reduced the ban from four to two days in the metropolis. MNS has been at the forefront of leading agitations against discrimination that non-vegetarian home buyers face in certain pockets of the city.

The MNS had roasted chicken outside a hall in Thane where Jains had assembled for an event. MNS city Vice-President Ravi More, Mahesh Kadam, Raju Bagve, Ashish Doke, women party workers were present during the protest. As per reports, a mob of around 50 people, including both men and women, greeted the members of Jain community coming out of the hall with slogans. The Jains peacefully ignored the protest and walked away from the premises covering their mouths.

Sunil Shah, a Kandivali resident said, “Both Sena and MNS activists have behaved irresponsibly. They are trying to derive political mileage out of this issue.”

Sushil Deshmukh, a Borivali resident said, “It’s a political stunt of Sena and MNS as they are only trying to gain some publicity out of it. Why didn’t Sena oppose this matter during the passage of the resolution by the BMC?”

Rajesh Mehta, a Malad resident said, “This issue has been blown out of proportion by Sena and MNS. They are not concerned about the welfare of the people and instead are raking up this issue to gain an upper hand over the BJP. Sena already has a tendency to criticise every policy of the BJP.”
Tejas Dhakan @tejas_dhakan tweeted,“I don’t support any ban But #MNS just committed a political suicide (as if it had any life left… but phir bhi) Good Riddance BC!”

Chirag Shah @ChiragJ80004526 @Jainniks tweeted, “Ok Jains will remove ban its a matter of time but can it recover the sentiments hurt of Jains by MNS.”

Rekha Ramaswamy @rekharamaswamy tweeted, “This drama by MNS before a Jain temple is the most vulgar display by a cheap political party. I am not Jain but don’t see why this ban is bad.”

Earlier the MNS chief Raj Thackeray had said the Jains cannot decide the policies of the state and vowed his party’s support to those willing to sell meat in the state.

“The Jains will not decide what will happen in Maharashtra. Digamma Jains roam naked showing their body, if that is okay then why is this meat ban issued in the state,” asked Thackeray.

On the other hand, both Sena and MNS denied that the people who had displayed chicken and meat outside a Jain temple in Thane belonged their party.

Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray took to Twitter to clarify that the party had nothing to do with the protest. “I saw a couple of pictures on Twitter of protests outside a Jain derasar. The protestors are being mixed with Sena, but they aren’t Shiv Sena.”

Shiv Sena President, Uddhav Thackeray said, “Paryushan Parva has been observed every year but why has this directive about imposing ban on meat issued this year. We are not against any religion and have not opposed Paryushan Parva.”

Bizarre Bihar politics: Let’s see who wins

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 13, 2015

Bihar elections is round the corner but BJP is yet to declare their chief ministerial candidate and also with its allies mounting pressure over seat sharing issue. Jitan Ram Manjhi had differences with the BJP over the number of seats offered to him. As the seat-sharing talks continue in the NDA, Manjhi-led Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) claimed the party was offered more number of seats than what was on the platter. Intensifying the efforts to placate Manjhi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupendra Yadav also met Manjhi to bring him on board on the seat-sharing formulae after BJP resolved the issue with two other allies — Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP. With Manjhi sticking to his demand for more seats, finalisation of a seat-sharing arrangement by BJP with its allies for the assembly polls in the state had eluded even after hectic consultations. HAM was offered around 15 seats and the five outgoing MLAs owing allegiance to him have been asked to contest on BJP tickets. While BJP plans to contest on around 160 seats out of a total of 243 seats, RLSP is being offered 25 seats while Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party around 40.

While Manjhi is battling to set equation with NDA his son in a major embarrassment was arrested by the police after he was found carrying Rs. 4.65 lakh in cash in a car. During routine checking of vehicles, the police intercepted a car at Gaya-Jehanabad check post near Umta village and seized Rs. 4.65 lakh in cash from Manjhi’s son Praveen Kumar who was on his way to Patna from Gaya.

In the meantime entreating Dalit icons B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram, Rahul Gandhi will kick off his election campaign in Bihar with rally on September 19 where other top leaders of the grand alliance are likely to be present. The party believes with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressing the rally with the theme of “Samanta and Samrasata” (equity and harmony), the anti-BJP alliance will be able to drive home the message of social justice with greater force. Lalu has not been on best of terms with Rahul ever since the Congress vice president vetoed a UPA government’s ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers from disqualification in September 2013 which, according to the Opposition, was brought to help the RJD president, who was convicted in the fodder scam. Sonia Gandhi has already shared the dais with Prasad and Kumar.

The main cut throat competition will be between Janta Parivar (JDU+RJD) and BJP. Other parties will play a spindle in forming alliances. Lalu Yadav proved himself smart and decided to support JDU, knowing that if he goes alone then he will not stand anywhere. The Modi waves are slowing down to a larger extent, and after Delhi elections equations have changed for the party. Nitish had worked for Bihar; it was he who brought safety, strength, status and growth for the state. After Lalu’s era, it was not easy for Nitish Kumar to get Bihar on track. Mr. Kumar has more vote bank and faith of the commoners after Jitan Ram Manjhi’s debacle as CM. As Chief Minister, he gained popularity by initiating a series of developmental and constructive activities including building of long-delayed bridges, re-laying roads that had ceased to exist, appointing over 100,000 school teachers, ensuring that doctors worked in primary health centers, and keeping crime in check. Nitish Kumar belongs to a socialist class of politicians. He learnt the lessons of politics under the tutelage of stalwarts Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, S N Sinha, Karpuri Thakur and V. P. Singh. Nitish Kumar returned to assume office of Chief Minister of Bihar on 22 February 2015. Bihar Legislative Assembly election, 2015 is considered as the toughest election for him. He is campaigning aggressively for Bihar elections after the formation of Janata Parivar.

Nitish has long history of socialist politics. He participated in Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement along with Anand Mohan Singh between 1974 and 1977, and was close to Satyendra Narayan Sinha, a prominent leader of the time. Once up on a time, he was the face of Bihar politics when BJP and JDU were in alliance and he was appreciated by many, although in Lok Sabha elections, JDU was wiped off by BJP so it will be really interesting to see fight between Janata Parivar and BJP.

Caste is everything (amongst the masses). Approximately, 90 per cent of voting is based on Caste matters in Bihar. This time also votes will be split on caste base on large extent. Most of the educated Bihari voters don’t stay in Bihar. They are earning their livelihood somewhere else, and it is highly unlikely that they would vote. In this election, Nitish Kumar is solely dependent on caste card. Without support of RJD his survival in Bihar politics is difficult. BJP is riding on Modi wave in these polls. From 90’s Bihar politics is defined by castes. This time, its personal war between two leaders, one is CM of the state whereas other one is PM of this country. If Nitish wins, it will open gates of corruption for RJD MLAs who are out of office for a decade almost. Moreover, this time RSS is supporting BJP in Bihar and upper caste votes can swing in favour of the latter. In Bihar, cash and liquors continue to work because of poor economic status of the state. Apart from a few urban areas like Patna, people are hardly concerned about anything related to development in the state.

Deaths due to fall from overcrowded local trains go up: RTI

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Afternoon Voice

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September 13, 2015

Even as railway officials claim to be operating maximum suburban trains to ease the hardships of daily commuters in Mumbai, the number of deaths and those injured after falling from trains has gone up in the last one decade, as per an RTI query.

A whopping 25,722 passengers fell from suburban trains (travelling on Western, Central and Harbour suburban services in Mumbai Commissionerate) in last 10 years, of whom 6,989 commuters died while 18,733 survived, said RTI activist Anis Khan quoting a reply received from Government Railway Police (GRP), Mumbai.

In 2005, total 494 commuters lost their lives after falling from running trains. This figure went up subsequently in the coming years and reached upto 901 in 2013, up 82 per cent as compared to the death toll in 2005, he said.

However, 2014 saw a marginal decline with 797 deaths reported after falling from suburban trains, he said.

Khan said the railway administration has “completely failed” to provide safe and comfortable journey to the people.

“The basic reason why people are dying like animals is that railway officers have entirely failed to comprehend the hardships of the commuters…And the basic reason behind this (inability to comprehend the problems) is that officers never travel in local trains,” he said.

Most of the passengers fall or slip from the running trains when they struggle to get into a coach and fail to enter it or get dashed against a pole near railway track, he said.

“Until and unless officers do not feel the pinch of travelling in overcrowded local trains, such deaths are not going to stop,” Khan said.

As per the statistics provided under the RTI query, apart from 6,989 passengers who died after falling from trains, 22,289 passengers succumbed while crossing the tracks (trespassing).

A railway officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “This is true that number of cases of falling of passengers has gone up, but it also includes those cases when many people lost their lives while performing stunts.”

“But sensing the gravity of the cases, constant announcements are made not to board or alight from running trains,” he added.

NCP stir seeks to divert attention from irrigation scam: BJP

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Afternoon Voice

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September 13, 2015

BJP spokesman for Maharashtra, Madhav Bhandari said on Sunday that the NCP’s agitation seeks to divert attention of citizens from the irrigation scam probe which involves its senior leaders he said.

Addressing a press conference here he said that NCP Chief Sharad Pawar was not serious about the present drought situation faced by the state.

He said that the government has also urged temple trusts to adopt fodder camps in the state and suggested that NCP leaders should help in such efforts.

Water storage in the state’s reervoirs is merely 43 per cent, he said, adding that in the next couple of weeks, the Konkan region too would face a severe crisis.

The present situation has arisen due to misdeeds of NCP leaders who were in charge of irrigation projects, he said.

Indrani was abusive, dominating, says Peter Mukerjea

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 13, 2015

Indrani Mukerjea, who is accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, was abusive towards her current husband, Peter.

Peter Mukerjea has talked of Indrani’s aggressive and dominating character to the Mumbai police, who are investigating the sensational Sheena murder case.

A police sources claimed that the former Star CEO Peter had said that he had been at the receiving end of Indrani’s anger.

He reportedly said that the issues were many but mainly related to property matters.

It is said that she had joint ownership of most of Peter’s assets.

The report said that the police would attach Peter’s statement to the chargesheet in order to make the case against her strong.

Indrani is accused of killing Sheena with the help of her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai on April 24, 2012.

Indrani was apparently hiding from Peter that Sheena and Mikhail were her children and called them her siblings in front of the world.

Peter and Indrani married in 2002.

On the other hand, as per a report on September 09, the Mumbai police has asked Enforcement Directorate (ED) to look into and probe the financial transactions of the accused in this case and into the business ventures floated by the Mukerjeas – Indrani and Peter.

Sources said the agency has received a communication in this regard from police investigators and ED has deputed a team of officials to study the documents sent by them, as per PTI.

ED enforces two laws – Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) – and sources said the agency will study the case from these angles and decide if a parallel investigation by them is required.

Indrani, Sanjiv and Rai have been arrested on the charges of murdering Sheena and disposing of the body at Pen forest in Maharashtra’s Raigad district in April 2012.