Latest news with #Issar
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Auto union leaders link rising crimes to lax driver checks
1 2 Jaipur: After the arrest of two men who posed as auto drivers and robbed elderly women, auto union leaders in Jaipur have admitted that the city lacks a proper system to verify or monitor drivers, leaving the door open for such crimes. "There is no real enforcement. Drivers are supposed to wear blue aprons for identification, but most don't, and passengers hardly notice," said Kuldeep Singh Issar, president of a city auto union. He said that until 2017, khaki uniforms were mandatory, but the rule was changed after drivers complained about having to change clothes for personal events. "The govt then allowed the use of aprons, which could be worn over regular clothes. But even this rule is rarely followed, and the Rs 100 fine for non-compliance is hardly a deterrent," Issar added. Following the recent incident, union leaders have issued fresh requests to member drivers to wear aprons. However, they stressed that an apron alone cannot confirm whether a driver is genuine or not. The deeper issue, they said, is the lack of identity verification and data collection. "A large number of auto drivers in Jaipur are not part of any union," said Umrao Quershi, president of another major auto union. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Cash Roadster Undo "Most have migrated from other states. Once settled, they often bring in friends or relatives to drive autos. Many either hold licences from their home states or have no licence at all," he added. Quershi added that in many cases, the only information available to police is through auto owners who rent out vehicles. "We are not sure if these owners keep proper records of who's driving their autos," he said. Both union leaders urged the state govt to introduce a comprehensive verification and registration system. They emphasised that without official identification, even enforcement of existing rules becomes ineffective, allowing criminal elements to operate unchecked in the city's public transport system.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Behind the scenes of Salman Khan's 2002 hit-and-run case. His family had to step in, reveals 'Garv' director
Family's Crucial Role in Keeping Salman Focused Maintaining Morale on Set Garv's Success at the Box Office Hit-and-Run Case and Other Legal Challenges Actor-filmmaker Puneet Issar recently opened up about his experience directing Salman Khan in the 2004 film Garv: Pride & Honour, during what was a highly difficult period for the actor. At the time, Salman was battling serious legal charges related to the 2002 hit-and-run case. Despite the ongoing media scrutiny and emotional turmoil, the actor continued shooting for the film with a strong sense of discipline and an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Puneet revealed that Salman was mentally disturbed by the case, but his family played a significant role in helping him stay on track. Issar recalled a conversation with Salman's father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan , who urged him to encourage Salman to remain committed to his to Issar, Salim Khan believed that keeping busy was the best way for Salman to deal with the situation. The family collectively decided that work would help stabilize him, and Issar supported this approach on the intense pressure from the media and the legal system, Salman remained upbeat and cooperative during the shoot. Puneet noted that the actor was focused and carried a positive described Salman as highly professional, often coming to set after a workout session and staying fully engaged in his scenes. This attitude, Issar believes, was key to navigating the difficult phase and ensuring the successful completion of the also spoke about Salman's physical dedication and talent. He recalled that Salman was exceptionally athletic, performing complex stunts with ease. From skating to horse riding, the actor showed complete control over his physical to Issar, Salman's ability to execute challenging sequences in a single day was remarkable and contributed to the film's high-action turned out to be a commercial success. Made on a modest budget of ₹14–15 crore, the film reportedly earned around ₹89 crore. It also cemented Salman's standing as one of the top stars in the industry, alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Issar credited Salman's performance and the high-octane action scenes for the film's 2002 hit-and-run incident involved Salman allegedly driving an SUV over people sleeping on a pavement in Bandra, resulting in one fatality. Reports also suggested he was under the influence of alcohol. He was initially charged with culpable homicide. After years of legal proceedings, the Bombay High Court acquitted him in 2015, citing lack of evidence to conclusively prove he was driving the vehicle or was wasn't Salman's only legal battle. In 1998, he was accused of poaching blackbucks during the shoot of Hum Saath Saath Hain. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison, but was granted bail shortly after spending two nights in Jodhpur Central Jail.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sunny Deol's travel kit includes badminton court and gym, says co-star. He names another star who is also 'like a king'
As the Hindi film industry grapples with ballooning production expenses and an increasing number of underperforming movies, one issue at the center of the conversation is the cost associated with celebrity entourages. From personal trainers and chefs to stylists and equipment haulers, the teams that accompany A-list actors are often seen as a major financial strain on filmmakers. While some view this as a modern indulgence, actor Puneet Issar offered a fresh perspective during a recent conversation with host Siddharth Kannan, where he reminisced about his time working with Sunny Deol. A Throwback to 1997: Sunny Deol's Grand Travel Style Speaking about their experience shooting the iconic war film Border, which hit theatres in 1997, Puneet Issar recalled how Sunny Deol always maintained a larger-than-life presence, even during work trips. Issar shared that Deol would travel with an impressive convoy that included a truck filled with his belongings. This wasn't a recent phenomenon, Issar emphasized—it's been Deol's style for decades. 'Sunny raja aadmi hai. Voh jahan jaata hai raja ki tarah jata hai. Uska pura entourage chalta hai. Uske cooks bhi aayenge, badminton ka court bhi hoga, pura gym jayega. (Sunny is a king. He travels like a king. His entourage travels with him. His cooks also accompany him, his badminton court will also be there, the entire gym set up will also be with him),' he said. Issar humorously recalled that Sunny never traveled lightly. Whether it was his personal cooks, a portable badminton court, or a complete gym setup, everything accompanied the actor. 'Sunny is like king, like an emperor. That's the way Sunny Deol is..." Issar said, describing Sunny's approach as regal, likening him to a monarch who never leaves comfort behind, no matter where the shoot location is. Generosity Behind The Grandeur While the scale of Deol's travel arrangements might suggest extravagance, Issar pointed out a lesser-known fact: Sunny Deol never made the production crew bear the financial burden. He managed these luxuries himself. In fact, he was so considerate that he would often offer fellow cast members the option to load their items onto his truck, ensuring others could benefit from the logistics he had already arranged. Issar lauded this gesture, describing it as characteristic of Deol's generous nature. 'He's always been king-like—not just in how he travels, but in how he treats others,' he explained. Not a New Trend: Stars Have Always Had Their Teams When asked about the ongoing debate regarding the budgetary impact of celebrities' entourages, Issar remarked that the presence of support teams isn't a new trend. He pointed to veteran actors such as Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, and Dilip Kumar—who, according to him, always had their preferred crew around them. However, what made a difference back then was the way expenses were managed. Stars like Deol and Salman Khan often paid for their own needs instead of passing the costs onto film producers. Director Anurag Kashyap Raises Concerns Over Modern Practices Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap echoed similar concerns in a previous discussion with Humans of Cinema. He criticized the growing culture of excessive spending—not on the creative process but on peripheral comforts. Kashyap highlighted instances where elaborate demands overshadowed filmmaking. He shared how during remote shoots, special vehicles were sent to urban centers just to fetch gourmet meals for stars. According to him, this shift in focus from craft to comfort is undermining the essence of filmmaking. Sunny Deol's Recent And Upcoming Work On the professional front, Sunny Deol was recently seen in the action thriller Jaat, which earned a moderate box office success, collecting Rs 119 crore against a production cost of Rs 100 crore. Looking ahead, Deol is set to appear in Lahore 1947, and a sequel to Border, tentatively titled Border 2, is also in the pipeline. As discussions around budgets and stardom continue, Deol's legacy as a larger-than-life figure, both on and off-screen, continues to make headlines.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Puneet Issar reveals he received threatening calls after Amitabh Bachchan's 'Coolie' accident: ‘People said I was paid to kill him'
Actor Puneet Issar recently opened up about the turbulent phase he experienced after a tragic accident involving megastar Amitabh Bachchan on the set of Coolie in 1982. Issar became an unexpected target of public outrage as people panicked and began praying for Amitabh's recovery. Puneet Issar opens up about public backlash for Amitabh Bachchan 's accident on Coolie set In an interview with Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, Puneet Issar revealed the extent of the backlash he faced. Though the incident was an unfortunate accident during a stunt sequence, the actor recalled that many media narratives and public speculation theories claimed he had been paid to kill Big B on set. 'Someone said that I have been paid to kill Bachchan. They said that some star who is in the opposition… people were printing lies then. Someone wrote that Puneet Issar claims that he can run faster than a train, so people were saying whatever they wanted,' Issar shared. Puneet Issar on social isolation and fighting the battle against Covid-19 Puneet Issar used to get threatening calls He also recalled receiving threatening phone calls that made his life difficult. 'People would call me at the house and say, 'We will not leave you, we will kill you,'' he said. Puneet emphasised that he had not done anything intentionally and that it was purely an accident on set. Puneet Issar about losing out on roles Issar's career took a major hit during this period. Producers distanced themselves, and offers dried up. 'People wanted to avoid me. They said he has hurt someone, our film's star might feel bad. News spreads like wildfire so it was blown out of proportion that he is a black belt in martial arts, he is tough, he can really hurt people, let's cast him in a friend's role, not in a villain's role. Such chatter used to happen,' he recounted. He was removed from around 7–8 films and had to find alternative means of survival. From 1982 to 1988, he focused on conducting speech classes, working in smaller films, and training others in martial arts. It wasn't until he was cast as Duryodhan in the TV epic Mahabharat that he made a notable comeback.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Jaipur launches KTS App for affordable cab and auto rides
The cab and auto rickshaw associations of Jaipur are trying to launch a local app—KTS, just like their counterparts in states like West Bengal and Maharashtra. The association members claimed that passengers can book cabs, autos, and bikes at the govt-announced fare with a minimum service charge through this app. "We don't think that the govt can put pressure on the app cab providers, like Ola or Uber, and take control of the fare of the app cab. It's better to have an indigenous app for the state where we can control the fare with the help or instructions of the state government. We would soon promote the KTS app ," stated Kuldeep Singh Issar, president of an auto rickshaw union in the city. Members of the cabs and auto associations claim that this app will have dual benefits for both the drivers and passengers. First, since the app would only charge govt-approved fare, there won't be any surcharges that the normal app cab charges during high demand. Second, a marginal service price will be charged that the drivers paid as commission to the operators of the app. This service charge will be utilised for app maintenance. "Passengers can also book two-wheeler rides through this app. In the future, we may consider adding e-rickshaws to this app. There are also provisions to book outstation rides through this app," added Issar. The associations launched this app last year. But due to lack of promotion, the app did not become popular among drivers and passengers. Now, the union wants to promote this app in a big way. Soon, they will write to the state government, airport officials, and the railways to provide stands for cabs and autos registered with this app at the city's bus stands, airport, and railway stations.
