Latest news with #Paras
News18
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Shefali Jariwala's Remark Goes Viral After Death: 'I Want To Be Called Kaanta Laga Girl Until I Die'
Last Updated: In the throwback video, Paras asked Shefali if she ever gets tired of being called the 'Kaanta Laga girl.' Actor and former Bigg Boss 13 contestant Shefali Jariwala's sudden demise has left the entertainment industry in shock. Amid the tragic news, an old interview clip featuring Shefali and fellow contestant Paras Chhabra is going viral. The two were discussing Shefali's popular tag—the 'Kaanta Laga girl,' from her breakout 2002 music video. In the throwback video, Paras asked Shefali Jariwala if she ever gets tired of being called the 'Kaanta Laga girl.' Shefali responded with a smile and said, 'Never… There can only be one Kaanta Laga girl in the whole world and that is me. I love it. And I want to be known as the Kaanta Laga girl till the day I die." 90's crush, always remembered🙏 #ShefaliJariwala — Pranjul Sharma (@pranjultweet) June 27, 2025 The clip has taken on new emotional weight since the news of her passing broke. Fans are sharing the video widely, reminiscing about her confidence, charm, and the iconic music video that catapulted her into fame. Shefali reportedly passed away on Thursday. While the exact cause of her death is yet to be confirmed, her family was seen arriving at the hospital visibly shattered. Her mother appeared almost unconscious with grief, and husband Parag Tyagi was spotted breaking down outside the hospital. Several celebrities, including Mika Singh, Aly Goni, and Divyanka Tripathi, have expressed their shock and condolences. Mika Singh wrote, 'I'm deeply shocked, saddened, and feeling a heavy heart… Our beloved star and my dearest friend @shefalijariwala has left us. Still can't believe it." Shefali rose to fame with the remix music video Kaanta Laga and later appeared in the film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, alongside Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. Her stint on Bigg Boss 13 earned her further popularity and respect from fans and colleagues alike. As tributes pour in, fans are remembering Shefali for her unapologetic personality. First Published:
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Science
- Al Jazeera
India's innovation push falters with researchers denied timely funding
New Delhi, India – Getting into one of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) schools was supposed to be the end of the financial woes for Paras* and his family. Instead, things have only worsened due to the federal government's long delays in dispensing Paras's monthly fellowship allowance of 37,000 rupees ($435). At the IIT, Paras is a research fellow, looking into solutions to a global public health crisis created by the spread of infectious diseases. His fellowship comes from the INSPIRE scheme, funded by India's Department of Science and Technology (DST). But delays in the scheme's payment have meant that Paras was not able to pay the instalments on the laptop he bought for his research in 2022. His credit score plummeted, and his savings plans crashed. Paras's parents are farmers in a drought-affected region of western India, and their income depends on a harvest that often fails. So, he has resorted to borrowing money from friends, including as recently as between August and December, he told Al Jazeera. Paras is not alone. Al Jazeera spoke to nearly a dozen current and former fellows enrolled in top institutes across India under the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme. The interviewees studied at institutions such as the IITs, a network of engineering and technology schools across the country, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, another network. All had gone from three to as long as nine months without a stipend. The funding delays and procedural lapses have marred the fellowship and impaired their research capacity, they said. Many researchers recently took to social media to complain, tagging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh. 'For over a year now, many of us who are pursuing PhDs under DST-funded fellowships have not received our stipends,' Sayali Atkare, an INSPIRE fellow, wrote on LinkedIn. 'This has pushed many young researchers into severe financial and emotional stress.' Last year, India ranked 39th in the Global Innovation Index of 133 countries, up one spot from the year prior. It leads lower-middle-income countries like Vietnam and the Philippines in innovation. China leads upper-middle-income countries and is followed by Malaysia and Turkiye. The federal government termed the ranking an 'impressive leap' in a news release. It said that India's 'growing innovation potential has been supported by government initiatives that prioritise technological advancement, ease of doing business, and entrepreneurship'. At a federal government conference in April, Modi boasted of India's growing research acumen. Under his leadership in the past decade, the government has doubled its gross spending on research and development from 600 billion rupees ($7.05bn) to more than 1,250 billion rupees ($14.7bn), while the number of patents filed has more than doubled – from 40,000 to more than 80,000. The numerous steps taken by the government – like doubling of expenditure on R&D, doubling of patents filed in India, creation of state-of-the art research parks and research fellowships and facilities – ensure 'that talented individuals face no obstacles in advancing their careers', Modi said. However, an analysis of government documents, budgets and interviews with researchers reveals that the government is more focused on commercial research, primarily product development led by start-ups and big corporations. It is offering little funding for research conducted at the country's premier universities. For instance, in the current financial year, 70 percent of the Science and Technology Department's annual budget has been allocated to a scheme under which interest-free loans are provided to private companies conducting research in sunrise domains, such as semiconductors. At the same time, the government has made misleading statements about its investments in the country's research institutes, including with schemes like the INSPIRE fellowship, where funds have actually been cut instead of being increased as touted by the government. Poor pay, funding delays The INSPIRE scheme offers PhD and faculty fellowships to 'attract, attach, retain and nourish talented young scientific Human Resource for strengthening the R&D [research and development] foundation and base'. The fellowships are offered to top-ranking postgraduate students and doctoral researchers to conduct research in areas from agriculture, biochemistry, neuroscience and cancer biology to climate science, renewable energy and nanotechnology. Under the scheme, PhD fellows are to receive 37,000 rupees ($435.14) to 42,000 rupees ($493.94) per month for living expenses and 20,000 rupees ($235.21) annually for research-related costs, such as paying for equipment or work-related travel. Faculty fellows are offered teaching positions with a monthly salary of 125,000 rupees ($1,470) and an annual research grant of 700,000 rupees ($8,232). In the year 2024-25, 653 fellows were enrolled in the PhD fellowship, and 85 in the faculty fellowship programme. 'I couldn't attend an important annual meeting in our field because it required travel, and I was not sure if I would get my allowance,' a faculty fellow at an institute in eastern India said. He has not received his payments since September 2024. Atkare, the PhD student who wrote about the government's failure on LinkedIn, also wrote, 'We've made endless phone calls, written countless emails – most of which go unanswered or are met with vague responses. Some officials even respond rudely.' Another INSPIRE PhD fellow told us of a running joke: 'If they pick up the phone, you can buy a lottery ticket that day. It's your lucky day.' In May, DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar accepted that there were funding delays and said that they would soon be resolved. Karandikar told the Hindu newspaper that he was 'aware' of the disbursement crisis but said that from June 2025, all scholars would get their money on time. 'All problems have been addressed. I don't foresee any issue in the future,' he said. Al Jazeera requested a comment from the science and technology minister, the DST secretary and the head of the department's wing that implements the INSPIRE scheme, but has not received a response. Dodgy math In January, the federal government folded three R&D-related schemes to start Vigyan Dhara or 'the flow of science' to ensure 'efficiency in fund utilisation'. The INSPIRE scheme had been funded under one of those schemes. But instead of efficiency, there has been chaos. Under Vigyan Dhara, DST asked institutes to set up new bank accounts, leading to delays in payments for INSPIRE fellowships. New Delhi also said that it had 'significantly increased' funding for the Vigyan Dhara scheme, from 3.30 billion rupees ($38.39m) in the last financial year to 14.25 billion rupees ($167.58m) in the current financial year. However, that math was incomplete. The 3.30 billion rupees ($38.39m) is what the government earmarked for the scheme, which was only launched in the last quarter of the fiscal year. The budget for the full fiscal year of the three schemes that Vigyan Dhara replaced amounted to 18.27 billion rupees ($214.93m). So, in effect, the current budget saw a 22 percent decrease in allocation from 18.27 billion rupees to 14.25 billion rupees ($167.58m). Overall, budget for Vigyan Dhara's constituent schemes reduced 67.5 percent from 43.89 billion rupees ($513.2m) in financial year 2016-17 to 14.25 billion rupees ($167.6m) in financial year 2025-26. DST officials did not respond to Al Jazeera's query requesting clarification of Vigyan Dhara's budgetary allocations. Commercialisation of research On the other hand, the Indian government earmarked 200 billion rupees ($2.35bn) for the new Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme targeting the private sector. This money is part of a larger 1-trillion-rupee ($11.76bn) corpus previously announced by India's finance minister to provide long-term financing at low or no interest rates. These changes in schemes are intended to make India a 'product nation', get more patents filed in India, and curb the brain drain, as Union Minister Aswini Vaishnaw and DST officials explain in different videos. But the plight of the researchers at state-run organisations remains unaddressed. 'The government throws around big terms but those toiling in laboratories are suffering,' said Lal Chandra Vishwakarma, president of All-India Research Scholars Association. 'Stipends should be similar to salaries of central government employees. Fellows should get their money every month without fail,' he said. In the current scenario, most fellows Al Jazeera spoke to said that they would prefer a fellowship abroad. 'It's not just about funds but the ease of research, which is much better in Europe and USA. We get so much staff support there. In India, you get none of that,' said a professor at an IIT, who supervises an INSPIRE PhD fellow who faced funding issues. While the private sector is being heavily financed, researchers told us they downplay their funding costs as that improves their chances of landing government research projects. 'Cutting-edge research is so fast, if we lose the first few years due to cost-cutting, we are behind our colleagues abroad,' the IIT professor said. 'Once we submit necessary documents, like annual progress reports, DST takes at least three months to release the next instalment. It's usual,' said a PhD fellow who is a theoretical mathematician. 'Right now, I would say only people with privilege [and high-income backgrounds] should be in academia. Not because that's how it should be, but because for others, it's just so hard,' the IIT professor said. *Al Jazeera has changed names to protect the identity of interviewees.
News18
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Paras Kalnawat Returns To TV With A Bang In Parineeti After 8-Month Break
Paras Kalnawat was asked to leave Anupamaa midway, but the actor didn't give up on his hopes. Actor Paras Kalnawat made his most anticipated comeback to the small screen after taking a break from television. Stepping into the role of Aditya Kashyap in Parineeti, Paras has joined the show after a generational shift. Alongside Paras, the serial also features Anchal Sahu in the lead roles. During a recent interview with Times of India TV, the actor opened up about his comeback to the small screen, shared insights into his role and revealed his sudden exit from Anupamaa. According to Paras, returning to a show produced under Balaji Telefilms made him feel like he had returned home. 'This comeback feels emotional and exciting at the same time," the actor shared. After his last show, Paras took eight months off from the spotlight to work on himself, and he is back better than ever. Previously, the actor's sudden exit from Anupamaa sparked controversies. The actor was asked to leave the show midway, but he didn't give up on his hopes. Talking about the incident, Paras opened up to say that many people had told him he was taking a big risk and warned him, but he wanted to take the chance. 'Not everyone gets that opportunity. And if I hadn't, maybe I would've felt sad," he stated while thanking God for giving him the chance to prove himself. Recalling this tough time, Paras explained that he never had self-doubt during this time. 'Even when my family had concerns about why I suddenly had to leave the show, I told them, 'I want to do what's right, not just what's big,'" the actor stated proudly. The actor is currently playing the lead in Parineeti, which has taken a 20-year leap, heightening the excitement among the fans. Talking about joining the show, Paras explained, 'This feels like a great opportunity. It's rare to get a chance to enter a popular show that's already doing so well." The actor took this chance and is willing to give his maximum efforts to win the hearts of the audience. Talking about his role in Parineeti, Paras described Aditya as confident and stylish – someone who doesn't believe in love. He further described how Aditya is different from the other characters he usually plays. 'I've played sweet and romantic characters, but Aditya has a more serious side," Paras stated while explaining that the role is extremely special to him as it has helped him grow as an actor. First Published:
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
TV actor tells Anushka Sharma's guru Premanandji Maharaj he's been cursed with black magic; guru laughs: ‘They're trying to fool you'
The spiritual guru Premanandji Maharaj has several celebrity followers, the most popular of whom are without a doubt Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. Over the years, he has also interacted with the likes of Ashutosh Rana and others. Recently, he offered words of advice to TV actors Paras Chhabra and Karan Khandelwal, who approached him with serious personal concerns. Paras said that he was so depressed that he didn't leave his house for multiple years, while Karan was sure that someone had cast a dark spell over him. Paras said, 'I listened to your advice and chanted the name of Radha Rani. My mother moved to Vrindavan after listening to your sermons. When I started making a name for myself, and began earning, I bought a house in Vrindavan as well. Before I became spiritual, I used to suffer from anxiety and depression. I didn't leave my house for three or four years. I was sure that I was going to die. I was sure I had cancer. I was overthinking, and I was overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Now, I'm completely fine.' Also read – Hina Khan's husband asks Sri Sri Ravi Shankar about turning vegetarian, wonders if he has eaten chicken: 'Tandoori chicken is true love' Paras is best known for the shows Splitsvilla and Bigg Boss. Another television actor, Karan Khandelwal, told the guru that he hasn't yet emerged from whatever difficulties he's experiencing. He said that people he has consulted have told him that he's under the influence of black magic. 'No, you aren't. If there was magic, you wouldn't have been here,' the guru said, adding, 'There is no such thing as black magic, someone is trying to scam you, that's all.' Read more – Javed Akhtar accused Sadhguru of 'playing dangerous game' with devotees: 'He's using his brain, doesn't want you to use yours' He continued, 'Listen to me, nobody has cursed you. There is no such thing as ghosts. I'm telling you.' The guru advised Karan not to sit idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's playground,' he said, telling him to exercise and chant the name 'Radha'. 'Nobody has done any magic on you, neither black nor yellow. If you fall for all this, they'll suck you dry. They just want to rob you,' he said. Some weeks ago, Virat and Anushka paid a visit to the guru's ashram. He asked Virat, 'Prasanna ho (Are you happy)?' Virat answered, 'Ji, abhi thik hain (Yes, I'm okay).' Advising the couple, the guru said, 'Prosperity is not merely God's grace — it is the result of virtue (punya). It is considered to be a movement toward the divine. What truly matters is the transformation of your inner self… Live just as you are living now, fully engaged in the world, but let your inner self change. Let there be no desire for recognition or fame within. Your inner thoughts should be: 'Lord, enough of all worldly experiences, now, I seek only You)'.'
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
DNA samples collected, it's 72-hour agonising wait for the Kamdar family to get remains
1 2 Nagpur: The agonising wait of victims' families, including the Kamdars of Nagpur, for bodies of their loved ones has now extended to 72 hours after DNA samples were collected, amidst the grief sweeping them. The samples from charred bodies will be matched with the ones collected from their kin before identifying them. A day after the crash, the anger of the Kamdars exploded over the ignorance of the maintenance staff, who may have ignored a possible technical snag in the aircraft, which was reported by the passengers of the connecting flight. "The flight came from Delhi to Ahmedabad. The ones who alighted at Ahmedabad expressed disappointment regarding the AC not working and other discomforts. These complaints were probably not attended to during the one-hour maintenance break at Ahmedabad before it took off," said Paras Kamdar, cousin of Yasha, who died in the crash along with her two-year-old son, Rudra, and mother-in-law Rakshaben. "The authorities collected samples from the victim's parents for matching. All we are getting are assurances and consolations, but what about the trust that was betrayed," he asked, adding there was a discrepancy in maintenance of the aircraft and all red flags were ignored. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Paras, who was with the grieving family, also questioned the trustworthiness of the aviation sector. "Neither the aircraft management body nor the ground staff lost their families. It's the passengers and their kin who faced this overwhelming grief," said Paras. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
