HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 11 June 2025
Where: Sammukh Auditorium, National School of Drama, 1, Bhagwandas Road
When: June 11
Timing: 7pm
Entry: www.bookmyshow.com
Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines)
What: Baithak | Hindustani Classical Vocal recital ft Vaibhav Sakshi & Sitar recital ft Soumendra Goswami
Where: The Theatre, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
When: June 11
Timing: 7pm
Entry: Free
Nearest Metro Station: JLN Stadium (Violet Line)
What: Summer Edition – An Exhibition of Contemporary Art
Where: Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, 205 Tansen Marg, Mandi House
When: June 3 to 15
Timing: 11am to 8pm
Entry: Free
Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines)
What: Sukoon 2.0 ft Farhan Sabir
Where: Ministry of Sound, Gardens Galleria, C2 B, Sector 38A, Noida
When: June 11
Timing: 9pm
Entry: www.bookmyshow.com
Nearest Metro Station: Noida Sector 18 (Blue Line)
What: Lock The Box Book Fair
Where: Pacific Mall, Sector 21, Dwarka
When: June 6 to 15
Timing: 11am to 10pm
Entry: Free
Nearest Metro Station: Dwarka Sector 21 (Blue Line)
What: Summer Sonata – A Festival of Opera, Ballet & Concert Films | Films of the Spirit – Windfall of Grace (India)
Where: CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Road
When: June 11
Timing: 6.30pm
Entry: Free
Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh (Yellow Line)
What: Inder Sahani – Live India Tour
Where: Nojoto Creator Hub, PVR Anupam Complex, Saket
When: June 11
Timing: 7.30pm
Entry: www.bookmyshow.com
Nearest Metro Station: Malviya Nagar (Yellow Line)
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Hindustan Times
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Some mentors don't just direct, they transform you: Sparsh Shrivastava
On the occasion of Guru Purnima, actor Sparsh Shrivastava says that the idea of a 'Guru' goes far beyond a formal mentor— it's about energy, influence, and the ability to guide without always giving direct advice. Sparsh Shrivastava 'Life has been my biggest guru. It teaches you things that no one can,' says Sparsh adding, how there are a handful of people in the industry who he calls his guru as they have made a huge difference in his life. 'I had no theatre background, didn't attend any acting school. While shooting for Balika Vadhu, (director) Sidharth Sengupta sir really focused on how we performed. He scolded me a lot, but it was full of love. That discipline helped me grow,' says Sparsh. The actor adds how working in Jamtara, and meeting director Soumyendra Padhi, has left a mark on his journey and still influences him in many ways. 'Som sir has worked with actors from all backgrounds—NSD, serials, newcomers. But he treated us with so much care and patience,' Sparsh reflects. 'We'd sit at 7 in the morning for workshops, where we talked about life, not just performance. He taught us how important it is to be a good human being first,' adds the actor. It was in these moments that Sparsh's understanding of his craft deepened. 'He really shaped all of us. I started looking at my character in Jamtara in a different light—not just playing a role but living it truthfully. Som Sir's way of working is gentle but transformative. He doesn't push you, but you evolve around him,' says the 26-year-old actor. Describing Soumendra as almost monk-like, Sparsh says: 'He's one of those people who, even in a regular conversation, ends up teaching you something about life. That calmness, that wisdom—it just stays with you.' More than just direction, it was Soumendra's belief in working with new actors that left a mark on him. 'He always supports new talent, gives them space to grow, and makes sure they're seen. That's rare,' says the actor, adding, 'Even now, I turn to him when I'm unsure about something. He doesn't just tell you what to do—he reminds you to keep living life fully. That's where your memory bank, your craft, really comes from.' The influence of Soumendra and Siddharth on his life has been rock strong as he till date turns to them when facing dilemmas. 'When I was offered Dupahiya, I was worried about being stereotyped in rural roles. I called them for their opinion. Siddharth sir told me, 'Your pocket will tell you what work you need to do. If you can afford to say no, wait for something better. If not, take the call.' That stayed with me.' Further adding, 'I called Soumendra sir and asked him what he thought. He simply said, 'It's a beautiful script. Don't overthink the backdrop or the setting—look at the story and the character. Don't be afraid to explore. You should definitely do it.' That gave me a lot of confidence.' Reflecting on what defines a guru for him personally, Sparsh shared, 'A Guru is someone you can make a difference in your life and still keep you grounded and focused on your craft.' Sparsh acknowledges the changing landscape of mentorship today. 'Earlier, without the internet, we depended on people to guide us. Now, you're exposed to so many different gurus—through talks, shows, even YouTube. It's harder to find one stronghold guru, but the universe makes sure you meet the right ones at the right time and for me it happened when I met Som sir and Siddharth sir.' For today's youth, who often carry an attitude of knowing it all, Sparsh believes the desire for a guru must come from humility. 'You don't always need advice if you're observant enough. Just by watching how someone lives or creates, you can learn a lot and I have done that by working both the directors.'
Time of India
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Neena Gupta's surprising academic past: She topped NSD, earned a master's in Sanskrit, and almost got a PhD
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Mint
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Panchayat web series: Who is the veteran actor who played Neena Gupta's father in Season 4? You may be surprised to know
Ram Gopal Bajaj who acted in Panchayat 4. He was the father of Panchayat Pradhan Manju Devi, played by Neena Gupta. Bajaj, a Padma Shri awardee, has been part of Indian cinema for over 30 years. He was first an assistant director, then an actor in films like Masoom, Mirch Masala, Chandni, Parzania and Jolly LLB 2. In the 2017 courtroom drama starring Akshay Kumar, he played Rizvi Sahab. In May 2024, Ram Gopal Bajaj's award-winning movie Mango Dreams, also starring Pankaj Tripathi and Sameer Kochhar had its OTT release. Directed by American filmmaker John Upchurch, it was released on Amazon Prime Video. The cast also includes Naseeruddin Shah, Rohini Hattangadi, SM Zaheer and Farah Ahsan. Mango Dreams tells the story of Salim, an auto-rickshaw driver (played by Tripathi). Bajaj played Dr Amit Singh, a man with dementia. They go on a heartfelt road trip across India as Dr Singh searches for his childhood home. Born in 1940 in Darbhanga, Bihar, he was studying Hindi literature at Patna University when he got selected for the National School of Drama (NSD) and moved to Delhi. He completed his diploma in acting in 1965, alongside batchmate Mohan Maharishi. He briefly taught drama at Modern School in Delhi, staging 50 children's plays between 1969 and 1973. Bajaj also acted in many iconic plays like Suno Janmejaya, Hayavadana, Tughlaq, Ghasiram Kotwal and King Lear. His early roles included a Brahmin in Madhyam Vyaayog (1967), directed by Shanta Gandhi. He was also a part of Shwetang in Lehron Ka Rajhans, directed by Om Shivpuri. Ram Gopal Bajaj later joined its faculty and served as Director from November 1995 to September 2001. As per media reports, during his tenure as the NSD director, notable Bollywood actors graduated from the institute. Such actors include Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Yashpal Sharma. Aditya Shrivastava, who played Senior Inspector Abhijeet in CID, also graduated during this time. He is known for films like Black Friday, Super 30 and Bhakshak. A number of actors in Panchayat web series on Amazon Prime Video are also from NSD. Neena Gupta, along with Raghubir Yadav (who plays Pradhan-ji Brij Bhushan Dubey) are also NSD graduates. Sunita Rajwar, who plays Kranti Devi in Panchayat, is also an NSD graduate. Durgesh Kumar, who plays Bhushan, aka Banrakas, is also an NSD pass-out. Other key cast members of the OTT show, Jitendra Kumar, Chandan Roy and Faisal Malik, didn't study at NSD. Jitendra was reportedly rejected by NSD and FTII before joining TVF while Chandan has a Mass Communication degree from IIMC. Soon after the OTT release of Season 4, Amazon Prime Video announced Panchayat Season 5. The next season will be released in 2026.
