Latest news with #Amanat
India.com
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress, who became a star 24 years ago, one mistake ruined her career, quit Bollywood to become a monk, name is..., Aamir Khan was her...
Meet actress, who became a star 24 years ago, one mistake ruined her career, quit Bollywood to become a monk, name is..., Aamir Khan was her... Gracy Singh, best known for Lagaan , was one of the most popular names in Bollywood. She collaborated with many stars such as Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Amitabh Bachchan. She began her acting career with 1997 television serial Amanat . Later, in 2001, she ventured into films and gave a breakthrough performance in Ashutosh Gowariker's L agaan: Once Upon a Time in India. The film was written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, and bankrolled by Aamir Khan. The film was a blockbuster and became the third Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language category, after Mother India and Salaam Bombay. Gracy's sweet and innocent portrayal was widely appreciated alongside Aamir Khan. Moreover, Lagaan had 8 wins, and became the most-awarded film at the 47th Filmfare Awards. Thereafter, Gracy Singh starred in superhit films like Munna Bhai MBBS and Gangaajal. Despite receiving immense love from the audiences, she couldn't build a stardom for herself. The biggest mistake of her career was starring in KRK's Deshdrohi, which failed to impress fans and turned out to be a biggest box office disaster. After giving consecutive flops in Bollywood, Grace started acting in Tamil, Telugu Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali films. She couldn't experience success there either. In 2013, Gracy joined Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. She became quite involved in their religious rules and started participating in all the events. Once in an interview, she expressed how she felt after joining Brahmakumari and said, 'I experienced boundless safety, peace, joy, understanding, acceptance, and cooperation. I met people from all over the world who were humble, kind, and understanding here (Brahmakumari World Spiritual University).' Gracy made her last on-screen appearance in the 2020 with the TV serial 'Santoshi Maa – Sunayein Vrat Kathayein, which was a sequel to the show Santoshi Maa. Bankrolled by Rashmi Sharma and Pawan Kumar Marut under Rashmi Sharma Telefilms, the mythological series was premiered on January 28, 2020, and was also available for streaming on ZEE5.
Global News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
How Indian intelligence officer allegedly recruited businessman to kill Canadian activist
Newly released court documents have detailed how a senior Indian intelligence officer allegedly recruited a businessman to assassinate a Canadian pro-Khalistan activist. The unsealed files said Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national suspected of drugs and weapons trafficking, had admitted he was asked at a meeting in New Delhi to conduct the killing. The target was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer with Canadian and U.S. citizenship who heads Sikhs For Justice, a New York-based group that advocates for Khalistan. Pannun was a close associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C., on June 18, 2023 — a killing Canada has blamed on India. Both victims were involved in a symbolic referendum on Khalistan, the independent state they had campaigned to establish in what is now India's Sikh-majority Punjab. Story continues below advertisement India has long complained that supporters of the Khalistan movement operate in Canada. Meanwhile, Ottawa has accused India of violating Canada's sovereignty by conducting a killing on Canadian soil. Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the recent G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., but the dispute over New Delhi's alleged activities in Canada remains unresolved. View image in full screen Vikash Yadav, a.k.a Amanat, allegedly recruited Nikhil Gupta by offering to drop robbery charges he faced in India. U.S. District Court According to documents tabled in U.S. District Court, Gupta confessed his involvement in the plot to kill Pannun in a van after he was arrested at Prague airport on June 30, 2023. He said the conspiracy began when he returned home to India following a trip to Uzbekistan and was informed he was scheduled for a court appearance on robbery charges. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He was then contacted by a man known as Amanat, who said he could clear Gupta's name. Story continues below advertisement 'Gupta and Amanat met in New Delhi, India shortly thereafter,' according to the summary of Gupta's statement. 'Amanat asked Gupta to have someone in New York City killed.' The U.S. has alleged that Amanat is Vikash Yadav, who works for the Research and Analysis Wing, the intelligence agency that reports to the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yadav allegedly gave Gupta Pannun's residential addresses, phone numbers, and other information, and arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to pay for the murder. After Gupta agreed to the killing, Yadav allegedly told him the charges had 'been taken care of' and 'nobody will ever bother you again,' according to the U.S. allegations. Gupta allegedly hired a hitman he thought was a Colombian cocaine supplier but who was actually a confidential source working for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the records show. Gupta is accused of offering the DEA source $100,000 to kill Pannun, and discussing additional murders in Canada. The plot was still in the planning stages when Nijjar was killed. View image in full screen Nikhil Gupta cooperated with U.S. investigators following his arrest in Prague. U.S. District Court The day after Nijjar's murder, Gupta showed an undercover agent a video of the slaying and identified the victim as the Canadian target he had previously mentioned, according to the court documents. Story continues below advertisement 'This strongly suggests that Gupta and/or persons working with Gupta were responsible for the associate's murder,' the U.S. Justice Department wrote in its summary of the investigation. On June 19, 2023, Gupta told the undercover agent that Pannun's murder 'should be carried out as soon as possible, without regard to collateral consequences such as potential harm to civilian bystanders or any resulting protests or political upheaval,' according to the records. 'Gupta told the undercover agent, in sum and substance, that after he (the undercover agent) kills the intended victim, Gupta planned to direct the undercover agent to kill additional targets, at least some of whom are in Canada.' But the plans went awry when Czech police arrested Gupta at Prague airport. A description of his arrest released in court stated that Gupta was cooperative and provided Amanat's contact information. View image in full screen Indian intelligence officer's contact information was allegedly found on Nikhil Gupta's phone, pictured. U.S. District Court 'The first thing that Gupta said was, in substance, 'I want to cooperate. Take me to America and I'll cooperate right now with you guys,'' according to a description of the arrest filed in court. Story continues below advertisement Gupta has been extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for the plot to kill Pannun. His lawyers want some of the evidence suppressed and one of the counts dropped. The U.S. also indicted Yadav, the Indian intelligence officer, for murder conspiracy. He has not been taken into custody and is on the FBI's most wanted list. The RCMP has not publicly disclosed who was behind Nijjar's murder, but has alleged that Indian government agents were involved. Four suspected hitmen were arrested in Alberta and Ontario last May. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said in its annual report last week that foreign governments were increasingly using crime groups to carry out killings of dissidents and opponents. 'This is what India is doing now,' Pannun said an in interview on Friday. Using criminal networks allows the Indian government to put 'distance' between itself and killings, he said.
India.com
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Where is Lagaan star Gracy Singh? Why did she quit Bollywood and is still single at 44?
Bollywood actress Gracy Singh, renowned for her role as Gauri in the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan, captivated audiences with her grace and expressive performances. A trained classical dancer, she seamlessly transitioned into acting, delivering memorable roles in cult-classic films like Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Gangaajal. Despite her early success in Bollywood, she chose the path less traveled and has not gotten married to date. The Journey Of Gracy Singh Gracy began her artistic journey as a classical dancer, touring with the dance group The Planets before making her acting debut in the television soap Amanat in 1997. Her breakthrough came with the Aamir Khan starrer Lagaan, where her portrayal of Gauri earned critical acclaim and contributed to the film's nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Following this success, she appeared in films such as Shart, Muskaan, Yehi Hai Zindagi, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Gangaajal, showcasing her versatility across different genres. When Gracy Left Bollywood To Explore… Despite her rising fame, Gracy gradually distanced herself from Bollywood. In interviews, she expressed that acting was not her life's sole mission and emphasised her desire to engage in projects that resonated with her personally. This perspective led her to explore roles in regional cinema, including Punjabi, Telugu, and Malayalam films, though these ventures met with limited commercial success. However, as per Hindustan Times report, after Gracy's manager passed away in 2008, she started declining offers made to her by renowned Bollywood directors. Gracy Singh's Shift Towards… In 2013, Gracy joined the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organization, seeking a deeper sense of peace and purpose. She described experiencing boundless safety, joy, and understanding within the community, which influenced her approach to life and work. This spiritual alignment became evident in her choice of roles, notably her portrayal of Goddess Santoshi in the television series Santoshi Maa and its sequel Santoshi Maa: Sunayein Vrat Kathayein. Meanwhile, the actress has still not taken wedding vows to this day. However, during an interview with ETimes in 2020, the actress said that she does not think that this is an appropriate time for her to marry now, but in the future, she may get married to someone.
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Smita Bansal bids farewell to ‘Bhagya Lakshmi,' calls the journey fulfilling and rewarding
Mumbai: Television actress Smita Bansal has officially wrapped up her journey on the popular show 'Bhagya Lakshmi.' Bansal, who played the role of Neelam Oberoi in the show, described her time on 'Bhagya Lakshmi' as both fulfilling and rewarding. She shared that the role gave her immense creative satisfaction and allowed her to grow further as an artist. Speaking about bidding goodbye to Bhagya Lakshmi, Smita Bansal said the experience left a lasting impact on her as an actor. She shared, 'Bhagya Lakshmi will always hold a very special place in my heart. Over these four years, I've not only had the privilege of playing a wonderfully written character but also built lifelong bonds with my cast and crew. This set became my second home, and everyone here became my extended family. The production house and the creatives of the show made my journey so comfortable.' 'Playing Neelam has been nothing short of an amazing journey; it challenged me, inspired me, helped me learn so much from the people around me, and gave me immense satisfaction as an actor. Working with Zee TV after almost 18 years was a wonderful experience.' Smita Bansal joined the cast of 'Bhagya Lakshmi' in 2021, bringing to life the character of Neelam Oberoi—a strong-willed matriarch caught between tradition, authority, and heartfelt emotions. Her impressive body of work features prominent roles in popular TV shows such as Zee TV's 'Amanat,' 'Aashirwad, Sarhadein,' and Sony SAB's 'Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga.' Additionally, she has appeared in the 2008 Bollywood film 'Karzzzz,' showcasing her versatility across both television and cinema. Smita rose to prominence with her acclaimed performance in the popular TV series 'Balika Vadhu.'
India.com
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who once worked with Sanjay Dutt and Aamir Khan, left acting industry.., is now getting viral for...
Meet actress who once worked with Sanjay Dutt and Aamir Khan, left acting industry.., is now getting viral for... During the golden era of Bollywood, in the early 2000s, the industry was all about melodramatic storylines and glamour. Mostly Bollywood actresses caught the eyeballs through their glitz and glamour. However, there was one such actress who was contrary to this description, but still hogged the limelight for her simplicity and innocence. With a very warm smile and expressive eyes, this actress created a lasting impact on the audience's mind. However, what seemed like a successful start turned out to be a path full of ups and downs The actress we are talking about is none other than Gracy Singh. Born in Delhi, Gracy started her career in the entertainment industry with television. Her first major TV role came in 1997 with the series Amanat. Being in the industry for some time, a breakthrough moment for Gracy came in 2001 when she was paired opposite Aamir Khan in Ashutosh Gowariker's historical film Lagaan. Not only did the film become a huge success, but it also got an Academy Award nomination, and Gracy found herself in the limelight. Her performance as Gauri in Lagaan established her as the naive village girl with unshakeable faith and emotional depth—something that immediately clicked with the masses. Just as it appeared a long, illustrious career in Bollywood was her destiny, Gracy hit the jackpot once again with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. alongside Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. She acted the part of Dr. Suman with restraint and warmth, further cementing her position in the hearts of the fans. But like they say luck of celebrities changes every Friday, after the initial success of Gracy, she couldn't last long. There followed a series of disappointing films, and one of the biggest reverses was when she appeared in Deshdrohi, the Bollywood film debut of Kamaal R. Khan (KRK). The movie was a commercial and critical failure, and most people feel it derailed her movie career altogether. Failing to secure roles equal to her earlier success, Gracy gradually disappeared from the movie scene. In 2013, Gracy made a life-changing choice. Gracy immersed herself in spirituality and enrolled in the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. Gracy has been candid in interviews about the peace and inner harmony she discovered through spirituality. She walked away from the madness of fame and opted for a life of mindfulness and service. Although she made a short comeback to acting in the 2020 television serial Santoshi Maa – Sunayein Vrat Kathayein, the show did not fetch her as much popularity as she had before. Gracy is in touch with her fans today on social networking sites, posting occasionally serene moments from her present life. Recently, Gracy has again grabbed a lot of eyeballs as one of her old videos from the movie Muskaan, where she featured alongside Aftab Shivdasani, resurfaced and got viral. She was showered with nostalgic comments. One wrote, 'My husband spotted her in London months ago—he said she's still so gorgeous.' Another said affectionately, 'Are mamuu, yeh to apni Chinky Bhabhi hai.' Although her stay in the limelight was short-lived, Gracy Singh's soft presence and ageless roles are still remembered with affection by those who saw her shine
