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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Squid Game' Finale: Top questions about hit Korean drama answered!
The final season of 'The Squid Games' has officially dropped, and while a lot of previous questions were answered from the previous season, a new set of doubts presented themselves in the last season. One of the biggest plot twists that fans were presented with is Cate Blanchett 's cameo at the end of the show. Here's the answer to some of the questions that may have been bothering viewers after the finale. What happened to Gi Hun? Is he still involved in the games, or is this the end There is no true end, as was the message delivered in the show. While Gi Hun made the ultimate sacrifice to save Jun Hee's newborn child, it still leaves room for what may unfold in the future. The character's last words on the show, 'We are not horses. We are humans', also matter a lot, relating to how the show's tagline was based on how low humanity can sink. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Turn Nervous Into Natural – Book a Free Demo Today Planet Spark Book Now Undo What happened to the Front Man character in the games? In Ho is well and alive, as seen in the final moments of the last episode. The Front Man lives and escapes with Jun Hee's baby after ordering the island to be destroyed. While his fate in the show remains a bit of a mystery, one thing is sure that his role is not over yet. After delivering the final box to Seong Gi Hun's daughter in LA, the actor can be seen watching Cate Blanchett, who takes on the role of the next Salesman. Does anyone survive in the games? In Ho, The Front Man is one of the main survivors of the game, along with Jun Hee's child. Almost all of the main cast were killed off within the first few episodes, with Hyun Ju's death starting the chain reaction. In the last scene, only Minggy, Gi-Hun, and Jun Hee's baby remain. Did The Front Man and Gi Hun finally meet? In Ho had joined the second season as a player, and in the final season, the two finally met as Player 456 and the Front Man. He depicts that he has died in the show; however, he later reveals his true identity. What about the mastermind of the game? The mastermind behind the game was originally Oh Il Nam, who is already gone and confirmed to be dead by now. In Ho took over after his death and had been controlling the game till Gi Hun's death, after which the island was destroyed. While this seems to be the end of the games in South Korea, a new chapter may be on the way in the United States. Cate's mysterious character, who is seen playing the infamous game of Ddakji, paves the way for new possibilities. Are there any 'Easter Eggs' in the show? There are a couple of things that were portrayed throughout the show that can be counted as 'easter eggs'. The first one is the phrase 'today it's me, tomorrow it will be you', which may directly point towards the fact that there is still a future for the show, even though Gi Hun and everyone else's story comes to an end. Another phrase in Korean is also seen in the show, ('Beware of people, idiot'), which can be seen as a foreshadowing of the betrayal the fellow characters will be facing from Minggyu (Player 333). An ironic phrase was also written right at the beginning of the show. The words 'safety first' can be seen in the first episode of the final season. Were the authorities able to find the game? Did Detective Jun Ho succeed? In short, no, Detective Jun Ho did not succeed in bringing the Squid Games down in season 3. He and No-Eul, made it out safely, with the show ending on the detective receiving Jun Hee's baby and a gold credit card with the winner's amount on it. He had managed to discover that Captain Park was the corrupt insider who was in on the games. Before Jun Ho could take proper action with the authorities, The Front Man, also known as In Ho, ran away and disappeared, tying up all loose ends on the way out by destroying the island. What happened to the masked VIPs in the show? The VIP's in the show managed to escape rather than face the consequences of their horrific decisions. While the ending of their fate remains mostly ambiguous, they're seen sipping on drinks and laughing about, enjoying the player's misery, perfectly showcasing the class and status disparity that divides all. Will there be a spin-off next? The creators of 'The Squid Game ' have time and time again confirmed that season 3 will be the final chapter in the games. On the other hand, the possibilities are endless, as Cate Blanchett's mysterious woman enters the scene, playing the game with people in LA to recruit them. The fate and point of certain characters such as In Ho and No-Eul also remains to be explored, leaving the doors open for something new.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Prabhas' cameo surprises the audience – A sight of love and respect
'Kannappa' getting released on the big screen on June 27, 2025, instigated a hurricane of talks across social media when the 'Bahubali' superstar Prabhas, seen as Rudra in the movie, entered in a surprise, extended cameo of approximately 30 minutes. The internet called his entrance 'standout' and 'spine-chilling,' appreciating him for updating the film's second half. Many viewers said the first half felt a bit slow but agreed that Prabhas's presence moved the storyline to life. Comments like 'last 15 to 20 minutes spectacular' and 'mind-blowing' underscored his dramatic impact. Fans praise the depth of Prabha's role In the contradiction to the fleeting cameos, Prabhas's role is considerate, reportedly spanning around 30 minutes, and is central to the protagonist's transformation from confusion to faith. Netizens were quick to highlight this: 'Prabhas's entry scene…viral,' 'powerful role,' and 'stand-out performance'—all common tags on social media. Here are some more reactions from the fans: Prabhas' cameo in Kannappa was just perfect! Looks, dialogues everything was on point.👌 Tickets book chesukondi mana tarak kuda unnadu movie lo — Rishi Salaar (@Hulksalaar) June 27, 2025 No fees charged—a testament to respect The cameos by Prabhas and Malayalam megastar Mohanlal came free of charge. Vishnu Manchu, the film's lead, revealed that both actors waived their fees out of respect for his father, veteran actor-producer Mohan Babu. Manchu even announced he'd later give them paychecks, praising their humility and support. Cameo = Game-Changer Watchers have pronounced 'Kannappa' a mythological epic worth experiencing, mostly due to its thrilling second half and emotional climax, powered in large part by Prabhas's portrayal of Rudra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Public Speaking Course for Children Planet Spark Book Now Undo Critics and fans alike used words like 'stand-out,' 'spine-chilling,' and 'spectacular' to praise his contribution. Even amid some pacing critiques, there's no question: Prabhas's cameo became the film's key talking point. Lineup On the work front, fans have a lot to look forward to with Prabhas's presence, which will be seen in 'The Raja Saab,' 'Salaar: Part 2 - Shouryanga Parvam,' 'Kalki 2,' and 'Spirit.' With every project, he continues to raise the bar, and his cameo in 'Kannappa' is yet another reminder of his immense growth.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Luggage lifters strike Duronto Express, steal passengers' goods worth lakhs
Patna: Raising serious concerns over passengers' security on trains, thieves struck at least five coaches of New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Duronto Express (12282) in the early hours of Friday and decamped with valuables worth several lakhs of rupees, belonging to about 10 to 12 passengers aboard. The criminals struck coaches B1, B2, B3, S2 and SE1 — three of which are air-conditioned — between Paraiya and Kastha stations near Gaya Junction in Bihar falling under the DDU division of East Central Railway (ECR) and decamped with the booty scot-free under the cover of darkness by pulling an alarm chain to halt the train. According to Gaya Government Railway Police (GRP) inspector Rajesh Kumar Singh, the criminals stole Rs 50,000 in cash, seven mobile phones, one laptop and other valuables of the passengers while they were fast asleep in the dead of night between DDU and Gaya station on the Grand Chord section. Victim passengers, including K V Rivli, Bhawani Shankar and Suchi Smita, in their statement to police, raised serious questions about the security lapse as to how the criminals managed to board the reserved AC coaches. The train had no scheduled stoppage at Gaya Junction and that it would stop at Adra only under South Eastern Railway jurisdiction after DDU, they said. Other passengers like Anita, Sumita Patnaik and Anita Bappam, in their statements, said that their belongings were very much intact till DDU where the train reached around 12.20am. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Public Speaking Course for Children Planet Spark Book Now Undo However, their luggage and other valuables, including purses, were missing when they woke up after the train suddenly stopped near Gaya around 1.30am, they added. The GRP inspector said a team left with the victim passengers by Duronto Express to record their statements after the train was detained for about 40 minutes. "The GRP personnel, in coordination with Rafiganj Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Paraiya's local police, launched a massive hunt for the criminals. Intensive raids were conducted at the hideouts of the suspected criminals in Paraiya and Kastha areas, as a result the police team recovered six mobile phones, one laptop and five purses, belonging to the passengers," the GRP inspector said, adding raids were still going on at the suspects' hideouts to recover other valuables, including cash. Meanwhile, DDU RPF commandant Jetin Raj deployed a special intelligence team to assist in the investigation and trace the culprits. The police are examining CCTV camera footage from the stations concerned and questioning the railway staff in the matter, he said, adding the RPF escort party got down at DDU, and thus there was no escort party on board the train. The Gaya GRP has registered an FIR in this connection.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sudhanshu Pandey reacts to Ram Kapoor controversial statements; says, 'I decent individual would always…'
Actor Sudhanshu Pandey , who won many hearts with his time on Anupamaa, recently made headlines amid his controversy involving fellow actor Ram Kapoor . This came after Ram made some 'inappropriate comments' during the promotional tour of his new show Mistry. Sudhanshu has now reacted to the situation while speaking to an online portal—FilmiBeatz. The Anupamaa actor criticised the remarks allegedly made by Ram, calling them a reflection of 'mansik asthirta' (mental instability). Sudhanshu expressed his disappointment over the comments and reacted strongly to Ram's statement. The actor even apologised to everyone on behalf of the industry. Reacting to the situation, Sudhanshu said, 'Firstly, Ram is damaging his own image by making such comments. Secondly, one must be mentally unstable to say such things, particularly when referring to a woman who is in close proximity. A decent individual should always treat others, especially women, with respect. If Ram has indeed said something like this, then I sincerely apologise on behalf of our entire industry. ' Ram, on the other hand, recently apologised after his statement went viral on social media. He shared, 'Let me start by saying that everything I've been accused of saying, I have said it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo So, the fact is that I am guilty as charged. But this is what I have to say in my defence. Whenever I'm with people I am comfortable with, I tend to become my bindass self. Everyone who knows me and who has worked with me knows that is how I am and that I don't mean to be offensive. ' Ram also claimed that he was unaware of the discomfort he may have caused the show's team during the event. 'I didn't feel that even once throughout the day. We were laughing and joking. If I had gotten the whiff that they were offended, I would have dealt with it right away.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sales cheer for India Inc, but recovery still uneven
Corporate India has shown signs of renewed energy in the financial year 2024-25. Listed private non-financial companies reported a commendable sales growth of 7.2%, an improvement from the previous year's modest 4.7%. This surge in performance, highlighted by data from the Reserve Bank of India, is based on the financial statements of 3,902 listed non-government non-financial firms. However, this recovery remains uneven, largely impacted by increasing input costs and tightening margins. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo A story of mixed results The manufacturing sector experienced a sales increase of 6.0%, up from 3.5% the year prior. This improvement can be attributed to strong performances in key industries such as automobiles, electrical machinery, food and beverages and pharmaceuticals. However, the growth in manufacturing was somewhat tempered by contractions in sectors like petroleum and metals, especially iron and steel. These declines can be linked to volatility in commodity prices and a slowdown in global demand. Live Events In contrast, the services sector displayed even more robust performance. Information technology firms reported a growth rate of 7.1%, up from 5.5% in the previous year. More notably, non-IT services experienced double-digit growth, driven by thriving activities in telecom, logistics, and trade. This segment's resilience highlighted the adaptability of services amidst global economic uncertainties. TNN Challenge of cost pressures Despite the positive sales figures, cost pressures are a significant concern for businesses. Manufacturers faced a 6.6% increase in raw material costs, with the ratio of these costs to sales rising, indicating more challenging operating conditions ahead. Staffing costs also escalated, with manufacturers seeing a 10% increase, IT firms 4.4%, and non-IT services experiencing a notable 12% rise. These wage pressures are occurring within a still-tight labour market, leading to squeezed profit margins. Consequently, manufacturing firms reported a decline in their operating profit margins, dropping by 20 basis points to 14.2%. As Corporate India navigates through these challenges, the interplay between growth and rising costs will be crucial for the sustainability of this recovery. The coming months will be pivotal in determining how businesses adapt to these economic pressures while striving for continued growth.
