"Today, I remember the hot day of 1998 at Pokhran: 53C. When most of the world was sleeping; India's nuclear era emerged." These are the words of India's Missile Man, and one of the biggest faces behind a landmark event - Dr. A.P. J Abdul Kalam. In a tweet sent out on May 11, 2015 (on his now de-activated official Twitter account), Dr. Kalam - who at the time of the event served as the DRDO [Defence Research and Development Organisation] chief, recalled the memories of what could be one of India's biggest superpower moment in the 90s: Pokhran-II [Operation Shakti-98].

On a sultry afternoon in 1998, the then Prime Minister - Atal Bihari Vajpayee, announced that a historic nuclear test was conducted at a test site in Pokhran, a small city in the Jaisalmer district (Rajasthan). While addressing the nation, he confirmed that around 15:45 pm, India had conducted three underground nuclear tests at Pokhran. He added, "These were contained explosions like in the experiment conducted in May 1974. I warmly congratulate the scientists and engineers who have carried out the successful tests. Thank you very much indeed." The tests and Prime Minister's subsequent announcement left the world stunned, especially since the entire mission was conducted with utmost secrecy. 

Needless to say, the news spread like wild fire and soon, the story was covered by Indian and International media outlets, with local newspapers headlining the event as a huge success for the country. The entire mission also highlighted the technological and nuclear capabilities of our country, in addition to strengthening the security. Impeccable strategy, detailed research and planning; a lot went behind the success of Pokhran-II. It is said that scientists from DRDO would go undercover, every time they visited Pokhran. They would also work at night, in order to ensure that the satellites are unable to capture any ongoing activity [and thus, successfully maintain secrecy around the mission, especially from the CIA]. It also said that only a handful of people were part of the discussions and process. Even the then Defence Minister - George Fernandes, was unaware about the meetings and conversations, that would take place between the Prime Minister and those involved in the mission.

Image Source: India Today

Apart from several key aspects, what made this event important was the fact that it changed the perception of India on a global level.  The Pokhran test made the world sit up and take notice of our nation, with some countries even raising eyebrows and questioning the 'secret' mission. However, it was marked as an event that would carve the path for India to join the 'big league of nations'. It won't be wrong to say that the combined efforts of the Government and leading scientists made it a real success. 

What's important to note is the fact that after the historic test, it was announced that India would never be the first to use nuclear weapons against other countries. Unless, nuclear weapons are used against India, in which case, the country would certainly retaliate. This theory helped establish India's military, diplomatic and political policy in the international arena. While the test led to major negative reactions from the U.S, subsequent dialogues and meetings led to the foundation of the nuclear deal in 2008, almost a decade later. In his book "How India sees the World", former Foreign Secretary Shyam Sharan had stated that over the years, India's relationship with the West and U.S has crystallised into a mutually beneficial and substantive relationship. Two decades since that day, India is now a member of leading global non-proliferation regimes and is still in the running for NSG membership. The Pokhran-II nuclear test launch was a major turning point for India, making it an event to remember, even today. 

20 years later, it was great to see actor John Abraham's production venture - Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, highlight the forgotten story behind one of modern India's most important milestone. It brought back memories of the day, that turned the tables for India on a global level. For his film, Abraham chose May 25 as the release date, which was just a few days apart from the original Pokhran-II test launch date. The film went on to gross more than 91 cr worldwide, and was declared - 'Hit'. A wonderful story of determination, Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran - starring Abraham, Diana Penty among others, is one film that you cannot miss! And, what better than re-living this historic moment on the Indian Independence day this year? 

If you missed the film in theatres [or would like to re-watch it], mark your calendars! Watch the world television premiere of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran on August 15, 2018 at 12 noon, only on Zee Cinema. Highly recommended by all of us at Team Dancebee!

Have you seen the film? 
What are your thoughts / messages for India's 20-year-old superpower moment?
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The Dancebee

The trailer of Shree Narayan Singh's much anticipated social drama - Batti Gul Meter Chalu was finally launched earlier today. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Yami Gautam and Divyendu Sharma in the lead; the film is a social drama based in Northern India. The main plot focuses on electricity woes and theft, faced by the common man in the country.

Batti Gul Meter Chalu is based in Uttarakhand, where the locals face power cut and electricity theft almost everyday. The three friends [played by Shahid, Shraddha and Divyendu] make merry and have fun, until things take a crucial turn and change their lives forever. Kapoor is seen playing a lawyer, whose life is all hunky dory [one can also see some shades of corruption in the initial stage of his character], until things go awry in his friend's life, thanks to a huge electricity bill slapped on the latter's face. Unable to make ends meet or find a solution, the friend [Sharma] commits suicide, and that is when Kapoor decides to take matters in his own hands, in order to teach the authorities a lesson. While the film largely focuses on a social issue, it has some light hearted moments and a good dose of entertainment as well.

We felt the trailer is hard hitting, and manages to impress with every frame. It pretty much presents the main crux of the film, and creates curiosity. The characters look fresh. One could see a pattern set by colours in the trailer, ranging from myriad colours to monochrome tones towards the end. We like the cinematography, which brings the scenic locales of Uttarakhand to life. From whatever we saw during the 3 min long trailer, it was evident that Kapoor is all set to impress with yet another brilliant performance. Yet again, the actor is seen sporting a fresh look, with a different personality and new dialect. We see him showcase an impressive range of emotions in a short span, which speaks volumes about his fabulous calibre as an actor. Needless to say, we are sure the actor will deliver a memorable performance, and impress us with his act. Shraddha plays the feisty Lalita, while Yami would be seen as a lawyer in the film. Both make a mark with their respective characters. Divyendu's pivotal character is something to watch out for, and the actor stands out with his act as well!

Helmed by Singh [whose last film - Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was a smash hit of 2017], Batti Gul Meter Chalu promises to create an impact with a strong message, without being too preachy, thanks to some light heartedness in the form of dance numbers and humour. The screenplay and dialogues have been written by Sidharth - Garima, while the film is based on 'Roshni' written by Vipul Rawal [who had earlier written the Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom]. Anu Malik has been roped in to compose the music of this film, making it a comeback of sorts for the 'Shahid - Anu' combo after a long time. The film has been largely shot in Uttarakhand. BGMC also brings the 'Haider' jodi of Shahid and Shraddha together after four years.

#BattiGulMeterChaluTrailer 💡@TSeries https://t.co/28077kdBsH

— Priya Adivarekar (@priyaadivarekar) August 10, 2018

After a few initial hurdles during the early stage of production, the film got rolling as soon as Bhushan Kumar's T-Series stepped in to support and release the film. With the trailer crossing several thousand views every minute and the title trending on social media, the film has managed to create a good buzz and excitement. Batti Gul Meter Chalu is scheduled to release on September 21, 2018. Well, September looks 'power'ful already!

What are your thoughts on the BGMC trailer?

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It looks like Sonakshi Sinha is truly one 'Happy' girl. The actress, who stars in the sequel to 2016's semi-hit 'Happy Bhag Jayegi', is cooking up a fun concoction of Punjabi meets China town in a special track from the film. And guess what? She has lent her voice for the song too!


China and it's various aspects play a crucial role in the sequel - Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. With a distinctly oriental flavour attached to the adventures of it's crazy and happy characters, the film features many Chinese elements such as it's language, culture, clothing, locales and even characters based in the country. Hence, the makers decided to look back at one of the most unforgettable Bollywood dance numbers, inspired by Chinese elements. However, that's not without adding their own fun twist. Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi will feature the iconic ' Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu', originally shot on Helen and sung by Geeta Dutt for the 1958 hit - Howrah Bridge. 

A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Aug 9, 2018 at 11:50pm PDT

The recreated version includes Punjabi lyrics and a more pumped up melody, blended together with popular lyrics from the original song. The track has been recreated by Sohail Sen, with lyrics and rap by Mudassar Aziz [who has also directed the film]. Jassie Gill and Sinha, who play lead roles in the film, have sung the male and female parts respectively. The song was launched across social media platforms earlier today. It features Sinha sporting a rather cute hairdo, dancing around a club, grooving to some crazy steps, along with other cast members - including Gill, Jimmy Sheirgill, Piyush Mishra among others. All this, while trying to save her life from some local goons!

After playing 'Raja Rawal Ratan Singh' in the historical drama Padmaavat earlier this year, Shahid Kapoor is back with a bang. The actor, who is gearing up for the release of his next film Batti Gul Meter Chalu, has been busy burning the dance floor in suburban Mumbai studios for a special project. It is now confirmed that he is all set to feature in a very exciting single, that is being produced Bhushan Kumar of T-Series.

Remember the chartbuster - 'Urvashi Urvashi' featuring Prabhudheva, where the actor was seen showcasing some insane moves? An entire generation grew up listening to and dancing on this popular track. The song from Prabhudheva - Nagma's Tamil film Kadhalan [also released in 1994 as 'Humse hai Muqabala' in Hindi] is all set to be recreated with a twist. And this time, the audience will be treated to some kickass moves by Kapoor. The actor has already stepped into the shoes of dance icon Prabhudheva for the song, and was rigorously rehearsing with choreographer Sanjay Shetty's team since a few weeks. The video was shot by director Gifty in Mumbai this week.

Interestingly, the song has been recreated by popular music producer Yo Yo Honey Singh, and has been sung, written and composed by him. Actress Kiara Advani will feature alongside Kapoor in the track. "We’ve changed the lyrics, but the hook line remains the same. The song does not showcase a love story, but a new-age relationship between Shahid and Kiara. Even the choreography is contemporary. We are shooting on a club set in Film City. Earlier this week, we had also filmed some shots in a parking lot, in order to give the video an underground kind of a feel,” stated Shetty, adding that Shahid is super excited and looks like a complete rockstar.

The actress admits that although she was excited about featuring in the  super hit number, she was nervous too. “I know the pressure one goes through when a classic song is recreated. There will be comparisons. This could be my ode to Prabhu sir. Also, we all know Shahid is a great dancer, I was nervous about matching up to his skills, but he was super fun to work with. We were in sync from the word go,” stated Kiara.

Ask Kumar about the recreation, and he quips, “The original number feat Prabhu Deva was an iconic chartbuster composed by AR Rahman. Yo Yo Honey Singh has recreated this version as per the taste of today's young generation. This track will the onscreen magic with Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani, and I am sure the next generation will have a have blast dancing to this song, when it releases.”

Contrary to reports that stated how this track would feature or be a part of Kapoor's upcoming film - Batti Gul Meter Chalu, a source close to the project confirmed that this isn't the case. The 'Urvashi' recreation would be a separate single, and has nothing to do with the film.

Who else is super excited to watch this video already?

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Last night, fans of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu created a frenzy on social media with a trend to celebrate the actor's birthday. While trend continued to hold fort with more than 4M tweets, the title and teaser of his upcoming film too created strong buzz. The actor took to his social media account last night and surprised his fans by revealing the first look of his next - Maharshi. Needless to say, the tag quickly moved up to the number One spot in less than a few minutes on Twitter.

While the trends continued, and his first look went on to create maximum excitement on social media, the digital teaser has clocked more than One million views in less than a day. It is also trending on YouTube at the number 1 spot. The actor is seen sporting a casual avatar in the teaser. One look at the teaser, and it is difficult to say that Mahesh actually celebrates his 43rd birthday today. This would be his 25th film, making it his silver jubilee project. Fans have been referring to Maharshi as 'SSMB 25', which translates to Superstar Mahesh Babu's 25th film. 

Helmed by Vamshi Paidipally, Maharshi will see Mahesh Babu play Rishi, and his character looks like a boy-next-door in the teaser. His look is quite different from the one sported in his last film - Bharat Ane Nenu, where the actor played the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The film, which released in April earlier this year, was a major hit.

While the craze for Maharshi continues, it is said that the actor is ringing in his birthday in Goa with his family. However, his fans left no stone unturned to ensure that they mark this day with grand celebrations. Some of his fan clubs on social media, based across the country [from Mumbai to Jamshedpur and Jharkhand] were seen celebrating the day by cutting a cake and showing off Maharshi's first look. The actor has surely amassed a strong fan base across the globe, over the years. He is also among the few chosen popular artists from India, whose wax statue will be unveiled at the Madame Tussauds in London very soon.

Glimpses of celebrations by fans across India

The team has already shot major portions of the film in Dehradun and Uttarakhand. Maharshi will feature Pooja Hegde as the female lead opposite Mahesh Babu, and also stars Allari Naresh. Produced by the Sri Venkateswara Creations, Vyjayanthi Movies and PVP Cinema, Maharshi is scheduled to release on April 5, 2019.

Here's wishing Tollywood's favourite superstar - Mahesh Babu, a very Happy Birthday!

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Ever since the first look of the film was released on social media last year, there has been immense buzz around Ajay Devgn's period drama based on the great Maratha warrior - Tanaji Malusare. The film, titled 'Tanaji' - The Unsung Warrior, unravels the courage and bravado of the principle character, wherein the audience will witness Devgn stepping into the shoes of the celebrated 17th century Maratha warrior from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's troop. There have been several exciting updates related to the film, the latest being a confirmation, that the film will be produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series. This will the first period - costume drama under the T-series banner.



Both Kumar and Devgn have had a successful association in the past, with the March 2018 release - Raid, being their most recent hit. Kumar had recently flown to London, in order to meet Devgn and discuss details related to the film - 'Tanaji'. After producing films from various genres, ranging from romance, action, comedy to horror; it would be interesting to see T-Series make a mark with their first film in the period-drama space.



The film would be set in the 17th century, where the unsung story of Tanaji Malusare - one of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's most popular and brave generals, will be explored. While most history aficionados and students might be well versed with Malusare's important role in the 'Battle of Sinhagad' of 1670, there are several other aspects from the brave leader's life that may have gone unnoticed. The film aims to bring to life the story of a warrior, who fought for his people and soil, with immense courage.

Fantastic! Great to see @ajaydevgn in & as the fearless Maratha warrior - Tanaji Malusare. Congrats @omraut This looks fab! #Taanaji pic.twitter.com/Crb8y9jozR

— Priya Adivarekar (@priyaadivarekar) July 19, 2017

Tanaji - The Unsung Warrior will be helmed by film maker Om Raut, who had earlier directed the Subodh Bhave starrer 'Lokmanya - Ek Yugpurush' (2015). This would Raut's second biopic, after his debut directorial venture, based on the life of great leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak. There have been reports that suggest how Kajol might star opposite Devgn as Malusare's wife, or that Saif Ali Khan might be seen as the antagonist. However, there has been no official confirmation on this front.

Currently, Devgn is filming for Akiv Ali's next and Inder Kumar's Total Dhamaal. The cast and crew are scheduled to start shooting for 'Tanaji' in September 2018. The film is expected to hit the screens in 2019.

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Akshay Kumar's upcoming sports drama - Gold, is creating some serious buzz and that too, for all the right reasons. The film has been in the news for it's intriguing trailer, interesting trivia related to real incidents from 1948 event, music (with Naino ne Baandhi leading the list) among others. However, let us start with the most talked about aspect related to the film. Akshay's character - Tapan Das, has been creating maximum buzz across quarters. He is the main protagonist of this sports drama, which focuses on Independent India's first Gold win. The actor will be seen essaying a Bengali character for the first time.

Contrary to reports and assumptions around Akshay's character being a coach, it is now revealed that the character - Tapan Das, is actually a manager of the Indian Hockey team in this film. He plays an important role in forming the team and leading them towards victory. The trailer and promos have given us enough glimpses of the determined manager, wanting to win the 'Gold' for Independent India at the 1948 Olympics. Actor Kunal Kapoor will be seen playing the coach, while actors Amit Sadh, Vineet Singh and Sunny Kaushal play prominent players. Television actress Mouni Roy (making her Bollywood debut) will be seen essaying Kumar's better half in the film. 

Gold has been shot across India and United Kingdom, capturing some timeless aspects of the pre-independent era. Keeping in mind the fact that this is a period drama set in the mid 20th century, the team has worked on each department with great detail. Right from the casting to props, locations and even getting together close to 2000+ actors for vital scenes, Kagti & Co have left no stone unturned, in order to recreate the 1940s with perfection.

With Gold being just a fortnight away from release, the makers are keen on keeping up with the buzz, with special announcements and events. The cast came together for a special trailer launch in Suburban Mumbai last evening, where it was confirmed that Gold would also be released in IMAX format. The film will be digitally re-mastered for release across India (at IMAX theatres) and select international markets. "It is very exciting that Gold will be releasing in the IMAX format. It offers a majestic experience. The film has been shot at such great scale and in IMAX, the experience will only be further enhanced," stated director Reema Kagti. This makes 'Gold' the sixth Indian film to have an IMAX release.

Kagti's sports drama aims to take the audience back in time, where they will witness the struggle of a team, that was determined to make the nation proud. Produced by Excel Entertainment, Gold releases on Independence Day (August 15) this year. Well, the makers couldn't have asked for a better release date for a film based on one of the most glorious moments in the history of Indian sports. It was on August 12, seventy years ago, when India beat Great Britain 4-0 to bring home the Gold. Hence, it is a great opportunity for the makers to mark 70 years of Free India’s first Gold medal with their sports drama, and pay the perfect tribute to the unsung heroes of Indian Sports.

Are you excited to watch 'Gold'? What are your thoughts on the trailer? 
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The Dancebee

With her eyes firmly set on Global domination, this 'Desi Girl' continues to make India proud across the seven seas. She is steadily taking over the world, one successful project at a time. From turning recording artist to singing alonside Pitbull, becoming the deliciously evil 'Victoria Leeds' in Baywatch and sweeping awards for her performance as Alex Parrish in Quantico; this girl surely marked her arrival in Hollywood with a bang. And now, she is also turning author with her memoir 'Unfinished' (to be published by Penguin) which will hit the book stores in 2019. We are talking about birthday girl Priyanka Chopra, who clearly believes in the mantra - Can't stop, won't stop! 

As the stunning diva celebrates her birthday today (she will be ringing in her 36th year with loved ones by her side), and gets ready to set another list of goals for the year ahead, we look back at some of her inspiring statements, curated from our exclusive interviews with the actress. Here's how the Chopra diva continues to motivate us:

Image Credit: Jean Claude Dhien for Getty Images Portrait

Love,
The Dancebee

The 'Delhi ka Munda' from Band Baaja Baarat has come a long way. With impressive performances, accolades and awards in his kitty, Ranveer Singh is easily Bollywood's best find this decade. The Bandra boy, who made his debut in 2010, has got some of the best film makers lining up to sign him. With the likes of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Zoya Akhtar and Rohit Shetty already rooting for him, there is no stopping this crazy bundle of talent, whose enthusiasm can put even the best of entertainers to shame. In his eight-year long journey in Bollywood, we have seen the actor take up myriad roles, ranging from swearing on 'Bread Pakodas' as Bittoo Sharma to turning spine chillingly evil as Alauddin Khilji. Never the one to shy away from experiments, Singh has successfully carved a niche of his own and cemented his status in the Indian Film Industry as a Superstar of the current generation.

We love how the actor has never shied away from being his real self! 'Baba' - as he is often called, has always been very genuine and relatable in his conversations. As Ranveer turns 33 today, we take a look at some of the most inspiring quotes about his journey in the industry, picked from our exclusive interactions with the actor.

Happy Birthday, Ranveer Singh!! Here's to many more fabulous films and remarkable performances in the year ahead.

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If there is anyone from the Indian film industry who has promoted Yoga like no other, it is Shilpa Shetty Kundra. The actress and entrepreneur, who often takes to social media and discusses the importance of overall wellbeing, has always spoken about the benefits of this ancient exercise and healing form. With a perfectly toned body that inspires several fans everyday, Shilpa has always advocated the art of eating well and balancing it out with a dedicated exercise routine everyday. Her 'Sunday Binge' videos have always been a 'treat' to watch on social media. However, the actress confesses that it is 'Yoga' that helps her maintain this fine balance.

On International Yoga Day, here's Shilpa talking about her workout routine, diet and why she has always focused on the benefits of Yoga.

What is daily workout routine like?

If I can't do my entire workout regime, I make sure that I concentrate on my breathing for at least 15 minutes a day. I follow my fitness schedule thrice a week. It includes Yoga and weight training. There are also rope workouts, which I really enjoy learning. I am also doing advance yoga right now, so that requires a lot of core strength building. You need to understand that once you are over 35 years of age, you lose a lot of muscle mass and bone density. You need to work on strength and agility. There are different kinds of workouts that help you target different problems and different body parts. 

You mentioned that you focus on Yoga and Weight Training. So, do you devote some time for cardio as well?

I just walk take the stairs wherever I can. There is no separate cardio session that I focus on.

Diet plays a crucial role in overall well being. What are some of the rules you have set, when it comes to food? Is there any specific diet that you follow?

I have made a few modifications. I eat a heavy breakfast, heavy lunch and a lighter dinner. You only need energy in the day that is why we need to keep the carbs low at night. I take a high-protein fibre diet. It is important to choose the right carbs. I eat lots of raw vegetables and fruits, that have fibre and minerals.

You feel peaceful after doing yoga and peace equals tohappiness. I feel yoga is the road to happiness

You have always stressed on the importance of Yoga. When was the first time you leaned towards this ancient form of exercise?

I was suffering from cervical spondylosis and my physiotherapist advised me to do yoga. That is how I got into this and realised that it not only healed my neck, but had strengthened it as well. The most important thing about any injury is that you need to strengthen it back again from the core. And yoga helps you do that. Yoga is quite brilliant. You feel peaceful after doing yoga and peace equals to happiness. I feel yoga is the road to happiness.

What is that one special element about Yoga, that stands out for you?

Yoga is all about body balance and building core strength. It not only strengthens your body, but also your mind and bones and the alignment of these three aspects of your life make you far more centred, energetic and stronger.

What according to you would be the best time to perform Yoga?

Early morning or evening before sunset is great, as long as you haven’t eaten at least 2-3 hrs before.

Another thing that you have stressed on is 'Savasana'. What makes this simple, yet crucial asana so special?

Savasana relaxes the body and stomach breathing improves circulation, concentration and relaxes the muscles. It is greatly beneficial for mental health as it calms the nerves.

Is 'Yoga' a part of your everyday workout routine? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on Yoga or Join the conversation on

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