Latest news with #OCD
News18
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mistry Review: Ram Kapoor Impresses As Ex-Cop Battling OCD, Mona Singh Holds Her Own
Last Updated: Mistry Web Series Review: Ram Kapoor stars in the JioHotstar series, a Hindi remake of Monk. He plays Armaan Mistry, an ex-Mumbai Police officer with OCD, solving crimes. Ram Kapoor always finds a reason to make a place for himself in the spotlight. On some days, he hits the news for his jaw-dropping transformation, and during others, his purportedly sexually inappropriate and offensive remarks during events. However, setting his personal life aside, we must admit that Ram Kapoor is a phenomenal actor, and he proves it once again with his latest JioHotstar web series, Mistry. Ram Kapoor lets his work do the talking as Armaan Mistry, an ex-Mumbai Police officer, who solves special cases led by Mona Singh's (ACP Sehmat Siddiqui) team. He can 'smell' the culprits (quite literally) at the crime scene, often leaving his team amazed at his predictability. However, where he falls short (or not) is his battle with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), a disease that we mostly take lightly or make fun of. Torn between daily crime cases and the death of his wife due to targetted bombing, Mistry's life revolves around solving crime, backed by his secretary, Shikha Talsania. How he deals with crime, while battling his OCD, spans across the eight episodes. Touted to be a crime-comedy, Mistry is the official Hindi remake of the American superhit series, Monk. Ram Kapoor takes on the titular character and does a fantastic job at it. OCD is a psychological problem. How do you convey it on screen so effectively that it leaves the audience with that itch? The credit must go partly to the writers and of course, Ram himself. Every time Ram Kapoor appears on the screen, he is exposed (and disgusted) by the imperfection of the world outside. He is easily distracted by the window blinds while discussing his health, and worries about a possible gas leak at his house as a murder victim lies lifeless in a pool of blood. There's an uneasiness to the character that Ram Kapoor brings out with perfect finesse. While the outside world is a chaotic mess for Mistry, his home, with neatly folded ties and shirts hanging at perfectly equal distances, speaks volumes about his character. In fact, by the end of the series, it is almost hard to imagine Mistry played by anyone else but him. Then there is Mona Singh, who takes on the role of a cop. Female actors playing cops on screen isn't new, but then again, that is the challenge – how do you ensure people remember you? The key is not to let your uniform overpower your character. And who better than Mona to know the tricks of the trade! Oh, and there is a subtle Laal Singh Chadha jibe too. Shikha Talsania is one of the first characters to appear on the screen in Mistry. All she does at the beginning is help Mistry calm down when OCD grapples him from all corners. And you are left wondering why would she opt for a role that just nods with her boss in agreement? Scene by scene, her character unfurls on the screen and before you know it, she becomes one of the most prominent characters of the show. Mistry is also very cleverly made, and we have to give director Rishab Seth the credit where it's due. It's considerably easier to make a point in an action-thriller – there's visible action, something tangible for the audience to see and gauge. But conveying emotional intelligence on screen is a true challenge. For instance, one of the first cases Mistry solves is that of a double murder with links to politics. During a roundtable meeting about the murder, Mistry notices a whiteboard scattered with pins of various colours, marking important business locations. OCD takes over and Ram Kapoor aka Armaan Mistry starts arranging the pins on the whiteboard by their colour and size. The room stops to take notice of the absurdity. A tug of war over the whiteboard causes all the pins to fall off. Furious, someone yells at him asking him to simply do his job, which is, to solve a murder. But Mistry promises them that the pins will be marked exactly where they were and starts doing the job. With each second, everyone in the room gapes in wonderment for Mistry takes the pins back to their original location within seconds of noticing the board in the first place. A prodigy sure, but the makers or Mistry? We'll leave the decision upto you. Mistry has minimal setbacks. At times, the protagonist's OCD tends to overshadow the crime scenes, which might be of greater interest to the audience. As the saying goes, too much of anything isn't good. After establishing the psychological aspect, the makers could have avoided letting it dominate the key crime moments, which were likely more engaging. In the later episodes, it feels as though the creators were intent on highlighting the OCD first, and only then shifting focus to the scene itself – a choice that occasionally comes across as tiresome and unnecessary. But what's life without overlooking the negatives and focusing on the good? Trust us, Mistry will give you such opportunities in bounty. All in all, if you have been rooting for a show that will make you laugh, think and bite your nails at the same time, Mistry is worth every ounce of your valuable weekend time. First Published: June 27, 2025, 12:37 IST
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
'I had no desire to play": Colts' Braden Smith confronts OCD with psychedelics after faith-driven spiral nearly ends NFL career
Braden Smith bravely battled severe OCD (Image via USA Today Network) Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith has always been known for his strength in the trenches. But behind the helmet and pads, he's been quietly battling a much more personal and invisible opponent—Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, specifically a form known as religious scrupulosity. It's a condition that nearly pushed him out of football altogether. Braden Smith turns to psychedelics after crippling OCD What began as a deepening exploration of faith in 2024 spiraled into a mental health crisis for Braden Smith. 'I was having a court case in my mind all the time – pleading myself to the jury,' he said, describing the inner turmoil that followed his efforts to align his thoughts with scripture. The NFL veteran became consumed by guilt, fearing that even a stray thought might constitute a sin. By the middle of last season, the effects were debilitating. Smith said he experienced mental breakdowns before games and became so disoriented that he considered retirement. 'I had no desire to play,' he confessed, haunted by obsessive thoughts like, 'Would God want you doing this?' Even mid-game, he wasn't spared—his OCD would whisper during high-stakes moments, urging him to sell his soul to win. With support from his wife, Courtney, and a teammate who shared a similar struggle, Smith checked into a mental health facility for 48 days. The diagnosis of OCD offered clarity but limited relief. Surgery was suggested, but the couple instead chose a more unconventional path: psychedelic therapy in Mexico using ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. 'It opened doors into my mind,' Smith said of the experience. 'These fears, they're not real... The ibogaine gave me that blank slate.' The therapy helped him reframe the intrusive thoughts and separate faith from compulsive guilt. Though he can't legally continue the treatment in the U.S., the impact has been lasting. His journey has since resonated with others battling similar conditions. Smith doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but he urges people to talk to someone they trust. 'If you don't talk about it, you don't get anything out of it,' he emphasized. 'My wife was the one that was getting me the help. I was ashamed to get help.' Also Read: Josh Allen's touchdown dominance overshadows Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts ahead of 2025 season Now back with the Colts and training for the new season, Smith knows the road ahead still holds mental challenges. But for the first time in a long while, he's not fighting alone—and he's not fighting silently. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
OTT releases this week: New movies, web series to watch this weekend; Panchayat, Squid Game 3, Raid 2 and more
OTT releases this week: A number of new movies and web series will be available on OTT this weekend on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Z5. Let's have a look at the ones that are available to watch online. Plot: Honest income-tax officer Amay Patnaik, known for his daring raids, is transferred to Bhoj, Madhya Pradesh, for his 75th raid on corrupt politician Dada Manohar Bhai. Suspended during the raid, Amay returns later with his team's support. Cast: Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Supriya Pathak Plot: As elections approach in Phulera, rival camps led by Pradhan and Bhushan engage in mind games, smear tactics and power struggles. Tensions rise from sabotage and emotional manipulation to family insults and power cuts. Both sides try hard to appear strong before the final vote. Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta OTT release: Amazon Prime Video Plot: The viral South Korean web series returns for one last time. In this season, Seong Gi-hun and other players struggle to survive dangerous games with deadly results. In-ho welcomes the rich VIPs watching the games. His brother Jun-ho secretly searches for the hidden island. But, Jun-ho doesn't know that someone close to him might be a traitor. Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon Plot: The web series follows Armaan Mistry, a smart but unusual detective with OCD. Suspended from Mumbai Police for unknown reasons, he still solves cases secretly. The web series slowly reveals the real reason behind his sudden suspension from duty. Cast: Ram Kapoor, Mona Singh, Shikha Talsania Plot: Set in the 1980s, the village of Viraatapalem suffers from a strange curse. Every bride dies on her wedding day. Because of this, no one has been married for years. When brave police constable Meena is posted there, she starts digging into the mystery. Cast: Abhignya Vuthaluru, Charan Lakkaraju, Lavanya Sahukara Genre: Supernatural/Thriller (Telugu) Plot: Sub-Inspector Bidhan Sen investigates strange cases in Birbhum: a theft, a missing person and a headless body. As he digs deeper, he finds the killer is someone he trusted. Cast: Soham Majumdar, Debchandrima Singha Roy, Amit Saha Genre: Crime/Thriller (Bengali)
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
5 best crime shows to watch on OTT if you liked Ram Kapoor's Mistry
Mistry, starring Ram Kapoor and Mona Singh, is a detective crime series that landed on JioHotstar on June 27. Directed by Rishab Seth, Mistry is a remake of the popular American show Monk. Ram Kapoor stars as Detective Armaan Mistry, a detective who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but uses his unique techniques to solve crimes. On the other hand, Mona Singh plays the role of his partner, ACP Sehmat Siddiqui. This series explores the complexities of a man struggling with OCD while solving crimes with a mix of mystery, wit, and emotional depth. Ram Kapoor in Mistry If you enjoyed watching Mistry, stream more crime shows on OTT! From Bade Achhe Lagte Hain to Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat, stream Ram Kapoor's top shows only on OTTplay Premium! 5 crime shows like Mistry to watch on OTT Duranga Duranga is a Hindi adaptation of the popular K-drama Flower of Evil. The series, starring Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami, is the story of a man who hides a dark past from his wife, a police officer. It explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of identity, as the wife investigates a series of murders that lead her to her husband. Duranga is directed by Aijaz Khan and the late Pradeep Sarkar. Rangbaaz: Darr Ki Rajneeti The series is based on the life of gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin. It revolves around the life of Haroon Shah Ali Baig, played by Vineet Kumar Singh, a gangster from Bihar who gains power and money through his exploits. However, he uses his wealth to help the needy, which leads to his Robin Hood-like reputation. The series, directed by Sachin Pathak, also features Aakanksha Singh, Vijay Maurya, Rajesh Tailang, Prashant Narayanan, and Geetanjali Kulkarni. Murshid Murshid is a popular crime drama web series directed by Shravan Tiwari. The plot revolves around Murshid Pathan (Kay Kay Menon), a former underworld don from Mumbai, who is forced to return to the world of crime to save his family from danger. The story highlights the themes of power, freedom, and how Murshid navigates his complex relationship with his adopted son Kumar Pratap Rana, who is now a police inspector. The series also features Tanuj Virwani, Zakir Hussain, Anang Desai, and others. Naxalbari Naxalbari, created by Partho Mitra, stars Rajeev Khandelwal as Raghav, an STF agent, who is tasked with suppressing a growing Naxal threat in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. The series delves deep into the complexities of the Naxalite movement and the protagonist's struggle against it, while also exploring his connection to the region and the tragic events that shaped him. The cast members include Sreejita De, Satyadeep Misra, Tina Dutta, and many others. Expiry Date Another crime series, Expiry Date starring Tony Luke, Sneha Ullal, Madhu Shalini, and Ali Reza, revolves around a couple caught in a complex web of love, betrayal, and murder. The plot takes a sinister turn when Vishwa (Tony) comes to know about his wife Disha's (Sneha) affair with Sunny (Ali), which leads to a series of events that cause Disha's accidental death. This series explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the dark side of relationships.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Starbucks employee with OCD that makes it hard for her to throw away trash sues for wrongful termination
A Starbucks barista whose obsessive-compulsive disorder makes it extremely difficult for her to throw things away claims she was fired after requesting special accommodations for her condition. Part of Nilani Thiyagarajah's job was 'maintaining cleanliness and organization in the store' in downtown Chicago, according to a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent. However, her OCD results in an inability to 'regulate behaviors related to perfectionism, time management, and discarding items,' the lawsuit states. In addition to compelling Thiyagarajah to hoard trash, the 40-year-old's complaint says the condition 'affects her concentration, focus, memory, [and] ability to complete tasks,' which 'substantially limits [her] major life activities.' But instead of providing 'task modifications during peak hours (such as reassignment from the oven station), and an understanding and supportive work environment,' Thiyagarajah – who was in her role for around six months – was subjected to 'repeated passive-aggressive comments… being called into a back room in front of male employees and told she must wear a bra to work, [and] being mocked and ridiculed by management,' the complaint alleges. When Thiyagarajah later sought time off to participate in an intensive outpatient program to treat her OCD, the complaint maintains she was fired for purportedly not being friendly enough to customers. In an email on Tuesday, a Starbucks spokesperson told The Independent, 'We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where all our partners (employees) feel welcomed, respected, and valued. We take all concerns seriously and are committed to reviewing any claims brought to our attention with care and diligence. However, we will not be commenting on pending litigation.' Thiyagarajah did not respond to numerous messages seeking comment. Her attorney, Nathan Volheim, declined to comment. Thiyagarajah began working at Starbucks in May 2024, with duties that included preparing and serving beverages and food items to customers, operating the cash register and handling customer transactions, and keeping the store clean and tidy, according to her complaint, which was filed June 6 in Chicago federal court. People with OCD face a constant barrage of unwanted thoughts and fears, or obsessions, that prompt repetitive behaviors, or compulsions, in response, according to an OCD primer by the Mayo Clinic. It says those ritualistic compulsions can include such things as hand-washing until your skin becomes raw, checking doors over and over again to make sure they're locked, silently repeating a prayer, word, or phrase, or arranging canned goods to all face the same way. 'Ultimately, you feel driven to do compulsive acts to ease your stress,' the Mayo explains. 'Even if you try to ignore or get rid of bothersome thoughts or urges, they keep coming back. This leads you to act based on ritual. This is the vicious cycle of OCD.' When workers with OCD are engaging in rituals or experiencing self-doubt and uncertainty, 'their bosses and co-workers might believe the employees are slow, incompetent, lazy, or not paying attention,' according to the International OCD Foundation. 'If OCD is leading to poor performance reviews, counseling, discipline, or other problems at work, it is time to consider whether or not to disclose the disability and ask for reasonable accommodation.' So, after a month or two on the job, Thiyagarajah told the store's manager and assistant manager about her OCD, which severely impacts her 'ability to throw items away,' the complaint goes on. It says Thiyagarajah, who was apparently having trouble getting to work on time, asked them to assign her duties 'aligned with her strengths,' and requested a 15-minute grace period for arrival. She also requested 'task modifications during peak hours (such as reassignment from the oven station), and an understanding and supportive work environment.' Instead, Thiyagarajah was 'mocked and ridiculed by management,' who subjected her to 'repeated passive-aggressive comments,' according to her complaint. As a practical matter, Thiyagarajah's complaint says her OCD affects her 'ability to throw items away.' Nevertheless, it claims she was written up for letting detritus accumulate at her workstation, being late, disciplined for wearing a logoed shirt under her apron, reprimanded for working too slowly, and ordered to wear a bra to work. Conversely, other employees and supervisors who wore logoed shirts 'openly,' were routinely late, or worked at a slow pace, did so 'without consequence,' the complaint states. But because Thiyagarajah was unable to provide a doctor's note 'within a rigid deadline,' higher-ups refused to accommodate her OCD-related limitations, the complaint alleges. In July 2024, after Thiyagarajah contacted the Starbucks Ethics and Compliance Hotline and made a claim of disability discrimination, she was subsequently 'subjected to increased scrutiny and hostility' from her shift supervisor, according to the complaint. Thiyagarajah subsequently asked to transfer to a different store – which was denied, all while 'other non-disabled employees were permitted to transfer.' That November, amid a steadily worsening situation at work, Thiyagarajah 'initiated a request for continuous medical leave to participate in an intensive outpatient program to treat her OCD,' according to the complaint. Days later, while her leave request was still pending, Thiyagarajah was terminated for 'pretextual reasons, including vague accusations such as 'not socializing with customers' and 'not greeting customers,' which were not previously raised as concerns,' the complaint asserts. It says the timing of Thiyagarajah's firing suggests that Starbucks 'retaliated against her for seeking accommodations for her disability,' and that letting her go constituted 'unlawful discrimination on the basis of disability.' In 2011, Starbucks agreed to pay $75,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission on behalf of a barista in New Mexico with dwarfism who was fired after requesting a stool or small stepladder to better see over the counter. In 2016, Starbucks was ordered to compensate an employee in London who was accused of falsifying documents when in fact she had simply misread the water and fridge temperatures due to her dyslexia. That same year, Starbucks settled a lawsuit brought by a deaf barista in Arizona who claimed the chain terminated her after she asked for a sign language interpreter to be provided during staff meetings. Thiyagarajah's complaint says her firing has led to mental anguish, distress, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life. She is alleging four separate violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act, including disability-based discrimination, disability-based harassment, failure to accommodate, and retaliation. Thiyagarajah is now seeking back pay and benefits with interest, front pay, attorneys fees and court costs, and compensatory and punitive damages to be determined by a jury.
