Latest news with #Ajay
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pune: Poll officer says EVM inspection, verification done; Dodke claims demand not met
The Pune district election office on Friday said it has completed inspecting and verifying electronic voting machines (EVMs) of two polling stations in Khadakwasla assembly constituency. However, NCP(SP) candidate Sachin Dodke claimed that the process was stopped midway, after election officers refused to accept his demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to verify the actual voting. Dodke was defeated by BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir by 52,000 votes in Khadakwasla assembly seat in the November 2024 assembly elections. He was one of the many who raised doubts over the EVMs and alleged it was being tampered with. EVM inspections and verifications, which also involves mock polls, for Khadakwasla was done at a Bhosari godown in the district, where voting machines are stored in a strong room. 'We have carried out the process of inspection and verification of EVMs of two polling stations in the Khadakwasla assembly constituency as per the demand of the applicant. He was shown the count on EVM of the assembly election. However, he refused to have the EVMs' memory erased for the next step, which is conducting the mock poll, and has given it in writing, so the process stands completed now from our side,' said Yashwant Mane, returning officer of Khadakwasla assembly seat. Regarding the demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to match the count on EVMs, he said, 'This was not part of the SoP laid down to us for inspection and verification of EVMs. However, matching EVM data and VVPAT data of five EVMs was done during the counting process.' Dodke said that EVM count was shown during the counting process and questioned why he would spend money to do the same thing again. 'My demand was to hold a recount by verifying the EVMs' count with VVPAT slips to assure that there was no tampering of EVMs during elections. I am not satisfied and will appeal against it in the court,' he said. He claimed the verification process and selection of EVMs was stopped as the election officers were unable to justify his demands. The district election office was to inspect and verify EVMs of 27 polling booths in Hadapsar constituency as per the demand of NCP(SP) candidate Prashant Jagtap. He later informed his election petition was pending in the Bombay High Court so the process of his application was suspended on Thursday. After losing the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates had alleged irregularities. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
News18
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Sunny Deol Was A ‘Nightmare To Work With', Claims Suneel Darshan: 'Like Indulging A Child'
Last Updated: Suneel Darshan calls Sunny Deol the "darkest chapter" of his life, recalls nightmarish filming experience, emotional manipulation, and ongoing legal issues. Filmmaker Suneel Darshan, known for shaping the careers of many Bollywood stars, has often found himself at odds with the very actors he once collaborated with. In a recent tell-all with journalist Vickey Lalwani, the veteran director opened up about his tumultuous relationships with leading men like Akshay Kumar and Sunny Deol, and even revealed his estrangement from his own brother, filmmaker Dharmesh Darshan. But it was his candid remarks about Sunny Deol that drew the sharpest attention. Calling his association with Sunny 'the darkest chapter in my life and career," Suneel didn't mince words as he detailed their fractured relationship and ongoing legal disputes. 'These are powerful people, and they care a damn. But there will be divine justice some day, I am sure. It's something too bitter to even put in words," he said, referencing allegations that Sunny took money from him for a film that never materialized. Despite their bitter fallout, Suneel clarified that he still holds respect for the Deol family. He chose not to speak ill of Dharmendra, and shared that he had a positive working relationship with Bobby Deol, Sunny's younger brother. Suneel recalled the evolution of his working dynamic with Sunny across three films: Inteqaam, Lootere, and Ajay. 'I did three films with him. I did my first film, Inteqaam, with him. At that point, he was not a big star. He had a potential stardom to him. We had a relationship before that as well. We distributed a lot of his movies. We had a significant contribution in the project which was to be his launch. I believed in him. I believed that cinema needed people of his kind. During Inteqaam, I was a bit confused…" The confusion only deepened with their next project. 'It was a nightmarish experience during production. It cost me much more… It was like indulging a little child, and getting him to complete your work. Honestly, I didn't want to do a fourth film with him, but I got stuck with him. And he used emotions, and fake relationships were mentioned, and he got me into a project that he was making for himself," Suneel added, referencing Ajay as the breaking point. In a surprising turn, Suneel revealed that Sunny Deol was originally supposed to star in Jaanwar — a film that eventually went to a then-struggling Akshay Kumar after their professional relationship soured. Reflecting on his experience with Akshay, Suneel said, 'Akshay Kumar isn't a bad guy at all, actually. He has been much maligned. You cannot deny that he has his qualities." While his seven-film collaboration with Akshay also ended, the bitterness in Suneel's voice was unmistakably reserved for Sunny. 'Sunny Deol is the darkest chapter in my life and career, but there is God above. There will be divine justice," he said. Describing what it was like to work with Sunny on set, Suneel remarked, 'It was like minding a child." The emotional and logistical toll, he implied, wasn't just financial — it was deeply personal. First Published: July 25, 2025, 15:04 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Sunny Deol was the darkest chapter of my life': Suneel Darshan says it was like ‘indulging a little child', promises ‘divine justice'
Filmmaker Suneel Darshan has had fallings out with several stars, including Akshay Kumar and Sunny Deol. He has even severed ties with his brother, director Dharmesh Darshan. In an interview, he described his association with Sunny as 'the darkest chapter' of his life, and said that their legal differences are yet to be resolved. Suneel has claimed that Sunny Deol took money from him to star in a project that never materialised. He went on to work with Sunny's brother, Bobby Deol, whom he had a pleasant equation with. He also declined to speak ill of their father, the legendary actor Dharmendra. But he told journalist Vickey Lalwani that working with Sunny was like minding a child. Sunny was supposed to star in the film Jaanwar, which eventually went to a then-struggling Akshay Kumar because of their fall-out. Suneel and Akshay went their separate ways as well, after working on seven films together. Asked about the Sunny Deol episode, Suneel said, 'Akshay Kumar isn't a bad guy at all, actually. He has been much maligned. You cannot deny that he has his qualities. Sunny Deol is the darkest chapter in my life and career, but there is God above. There will be divine justice,' he said. Also read – 'It was an ugly turn in her life': Karisma Kapoor became a 'trophy wife' after marriage with late husband Sunjay Kapur, says Suneel Darshan Explaining what happened, he continued, 'These are powerful people, and they care a damn. But there will be divine justice some day, I am sure. It's something too bitter to even put in words. I did three films with him. I did my first film, Inteqaam, with him. At that point, he was not a big star. He had a potential stardom to him. We had a relationship before that as well. We distributed a lot of his movies. We had a significant contribution in the project which was to be his launch. I believed in him. I believed that cinema needed people of his kind. During Inteqaam, I was a bit confused…' Suneel said that his 'confusion' about Sunny's behaviour continued during their second film, Lootere. But he was sure something was wrong when they collaborated on their third project, Ajay. 'It was a nightmarish experience during production. It cost me much more… It was like indulging a little child, and getting him to complete your work. Honestly, I didn't want to do a fourth film with him, but I got stuck with him. And he used emotions, and fake relationships were mentioned, and he got me into a project that he was making for himself.'
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow chef behind Swadish to open new city centre restaurant
Ajay Kumar, who owns Swadish on Ingram Street, will open Grilled by Ajay Kumar on Wednesday, July30. The new eatery will open on West Regent Street, with Ajay describing the venture as his "soul on a plate" and "something special". Grilled is "inspired by the grills of India" and "celebrates meat in its most glorious form". READ NEXT: The story behind the award-winning Indian restaurant in Glasgow Announcing the news on Instagram, Ajay wrote: "This isn't just another restaurant. This is my soul on a plate. "Every smoky glaze, every charred edge, every spice blend tells a story I've been waiting to share. "Swadish will always be my first love. A place where so many of you became family. "Now, it's time to welcome a bold new addition to that family. "Grilled is an extension of everything I believe in - deep flavours, honest fire, and unforgettable feasts. "It is raw, rustic, and rooted in flame." Swadish opened in 2019 and has won several awards, including being crowned Best Restaurant in Scotland at the British Curry Awards in 2022.
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Amid Ahaan Panday-Aneet Padda's Saiyaara Success, Ajay Devgn Says, "You Can't Be A Star On Day One"
New Delhi: Amid the success of Mohit Suri's directorial Saiyaara, a film led by debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Ajay Devgn recently shared his thoughts on newcomers in the film industry. What's Happening While promoting his upcoming comedy Son of Sardaar 2 alongside co-star Mrunal Thakur on Archana Puran Singh's YouTube channel, Ajay reflected on his early lessons in cinema and spoke about why he believes many outsiders are "misguided" about the industry. Archana was joined by her husband, actor Parmeet Sethi, and their sons Ayushmann and Aaryamann in the interaction with the lead pair. When asked whether he had learnt from his father, Veeru Devgan, a renowned stunt choreographer, Ajay said, "Whatever I've learnt technically and about the industry is all because of him. The kind of dedication he had and what he taught honesty towards work, all of it comes from him." Archana then commented on the presence of film families in the industry, saying, "You know, this is one of the reasons that the film industry prefers people to come in from film families because they already learn professional ethics from their parents." Agreeing with her, Ajay added, "You get to learn a lot." Ajay Devgn's Perspective On Newcomers Ajay Devgn went on to share his perspective on newcomers, particularly those without a film background. "I am not talking about everybody because there are sensible people, but a lot of times, they come in not knowing if they want to be an actor or a star. You cannot be a star on day one; first, you need to be an actor. So, I think there's a misunderstanding somewhere for people; they are misguided about the from outside film families. I think ultimately, it's your hard work." Son of Sardaar 2 is directed by Vijay Kumar Arora and jointly produced by Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, N R Pachisia and Pravin Talreja. A spiritual sequel to the 2012 film Son of Sardaar, the film is set to release in theatres on August 1.
