Book lovers unite over emotional reads
Bookworms united in Lucknow at a cafe for the second chapter of Read a Kitaab's Lucknow meetup titled Books That Made You Cry. The theme sparked a deeply emotional literary gathering, where readers opened about books, authors and stories that moved them to tears and changed the way they looked at life.
(L) Tanishka (R) Vishesh Vijayvergiya (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)
(L) Samar (R) Shubhi Pandey
Founded by Ekta Bhandari and Anurag Kothari, Read A Kitaab is an online community of readers, book lovers, writers and artists, which provides a rich ecosystem for literary engagement through book-of-the-month discussions, author meet-ups and regular sessions across India.
(L) Lubna Hashmi (R) Paritosh Gupta
(L) Frank (R) Kanak Rekha Chauhan
The Lucknow session saw over 20 passionate bookworms from various walks of life connect over books, emotions and shared memories. The participants read excerpts from their most treasured books, brought along books close to their hearts and shared stories of how literature changed their lives.
Shubhangi Raizada, an associate professor, who travelled from Kanpur to attend, recalled her earliest encounter with books.
She shared, 'My first experience of holding a book was when I saw one in my grandfather's bag. That curiosity about something beyond textbooks opened the joy of reading for me.'
(L) Fehmeed Abbas (R) Aditi
Kanak Rekha Chauhan, a literary enthusiast, spoke of growing up with Eidgah, Bambi and Urdu-Hindi classics. 'Books let us live in someone else's shoes and carry their experiences with us,' she said.
— Amina Ashraf
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
From Heads Of State To Kaalidhar Laapata: 5 OTT Titles To Stream This Week
Last Updated: Discover 5 new Hindi and English OTT releases to stream from June 30–July 4. Includes Companion, Heads of State, Kaalidhar Laapata, and more must-watch titles. The first week of July is stacked with must-watch OTT releases across genres—from sci-fi and political thrillers to action-packed sequels and gripping Hindi dramas. Whether you're in the mood for high-stakes international comedy or intense real-life investigations, this list has something for everyone. Here are five Hindi and English titles dropping between June 30 and July 4 that deserve a spot on your watchlist: 1. Companion (English) This taut sci-fi thriller stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid in a chilling tale of artificial intimacy turned rogue. When a rented humanoid girlfriend gains sentience, she sets off on a chilling quest for revenge. With early critical acclaim and a Rotten Tomatoes rating hovering around 94%, Companion blends dystopian drama with emotional tension, making it a must-watch for genre lovers. 2. Heads of State (English) Streaming from July 2 on Amazon Prime Video What happens when two world leaders—played by Idris Elba and John Cena—are thrown into a high-octane international crisis? Heads of State delivers a riotous blend of action and comedy with political satire, explosive sequences, and witty banter. Perfect for fans of The Hitman's Bodyguard or Red Notice. 3. The Old Guard 2 (English) Streaming from July 2 on Netflix Charlize Theron returns in the much-anticipated sequel to The Old Guard, continuing the saga of immortal warriors caught between modern warfare and ancient loyalty. Expect stylized action, emotional depth, and more mythological revelations as the story expands its universe. 4. Kaalidhar Laapata (Hindi) Streaming from July 4 on Zee5 Abhishek Bachchan headlines this Hindi drama that explores identity, invisibility, and emotional survival. A remake of the Tamil film KD, Kaalidhar Laapata promises a deeply human story woven with wit, melancholy, and moments of unexpected warmth. 5. The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case (Hindi) Streaming from July 4 on SonyLIV Delving into one of the most pivotal and tragic events in Indian history, this true-crime docu-drama chronicles the covert operation to capture the perpetrators of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Combining archival footage with dramatic reconstruction, The Hunt offers a gripping account of justice pursued at any cost. First Published:
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Aamir Khan's FIRST look as 'Dahaa' in Rajnikanth's Coolie unveiled
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who made a successful comeback with 'Sitaare Zameen Par', is all set to surprise his fans with a special cameo in Rajinikanth's much-anticipated film 'Coolie'. The makers of the film unveiled Aamir's first look as 'Dahaa' on Thursday. At first glance, Aamir Khan looks stylish and rugged. The latest monochrome poster was released on X, Aamir Khan could be seen in a sharp side profile, dressed in a black vest, wearing glasses, and confidently smoking a pipe. His bold and gritty look marks a striking departure from his recent roles. The caption reads, "Introducing #AamirKhan as Dahaa, from the world of #Coolie. #Coolie is all set to dominate IMAX screens worldwide from August 14th.' Earlier, Aamir Khan confirmed his cameo and shared the reason he instantly said yes to it. He said, as quoted by Zoom, "I really enjoyed doing it. I am a big fan of Rajini sir huge fan. I have a lot of love and respect for Rajini sir. So, I did not even hear the script. When Lokesh told me that it is a Rajini sir's movie and that he wanted me to do a cameo, I said, 'Done. I am doing it. Whatever it is, I am doing it.'' As expected, he refrained from revealing further details about his role in the film. Coolie is an upcoming movie of superstar Rajinikanth and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. It is a pan-India action drama, which features a power-packed ensemble cast including superstar Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Upendra, and Shruti Haasan. Originally shot in Tamil, the film will also release in Hindi and Telugu. The movie is scheduled to get released on 14 August and slated to clash at the box office with the highly awaited War 2.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Priyanka Chopra On Missing Bollywood And SS Rajamouli's SSMB29: "I Miss Hindi Movies So Much, I Am Working In India This Year"
New Delhi: Global icon Priyanka Chopra recently opened up about her deep affection for Bollywood and Hindi films. The actress, who is currently busy promoting her latest release Heads of State, confessed that she misses being a part of the vibrant Indian film industry. In an interview with India Today, Priyanka said, "I miss Hindi movies and I miss India so much." The actress further shared her excitement for her upcoming Indian project, SSMB29. She added, "I'm working in India this year, and I'm really excited about that. I have always got so much love from the fans of Indian films and I hope that continues.' Back in March, Priyanka Chopra celebrated the festival of Holi on the sets of SSMB29 with the renowned filmmaker SS Rajamouli. The actress shared a few pictures from her Holi celebrations with the crew on Instagram. In the caption, she wrote, "It's a working Holi for us! Here's wishing everyone celebrating a very Happy Holi full of laughter and togetherness with your loved ones." Have a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra) Earlier, SS Rajamouli shared an update about SSMB29 at the RRR screening in Japan. The filmmaker had said, 'We started my next film. We completed the writing. We are in the pre-production process. We are doing all the pre-visualisation for the film. But we haven't finished the casting yet. Only the main hero, the protagonist of the film, is locked. His name is Mahesh Babu. He is a Telugu actor.' He added, 'Looks like many of you already know him. He is very handsome and hopefully, we get to finish the film a little bit fast. During the release, I will bring him here. And I will introduce him to you and sure you will love him as well.' As for the remaining cast, Prithviraj Sukumaran is also a part of SSMB29. He will be playing the role of the antagonist in the movie. An official announcement with full details about the project is still awaited.
