Latest news with #Shandilya
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Samarth Shandilya: Let's just say, Toofan brings the thunder in Rana Naidu
Samarth Shandilya In the chaotic sprawl of Mumbai's airport over a decade ago, a young aspiring actor stood still, eyes caught between two billboards - one of Salman Khan , the other featuring himself in a Samsung ad. 'It was my first time in Bombay,' recalls Samarth Shandilya . 'And I saw that - Salman Khan on one side, and me right next to him. I thought, okay, this is a brilliant gesture by God. I guess I'm staying.' More than a decade later, the Delhi-born actor, who played a memorable supporting role in Netflix's gritty crime series Rana Naidu, returns in Season 2 with a punchier character named fittingly Toofan. 'They always smile when they hear that name,' he laughs. 'And this time around, I am bringing a good storm in the show too.' Shandilya, who first moved to Mumbai in early 2011, is part of a growing crop of actors who've transitioned from theatre and modelling into films and OTT stardom - often quietly, always persistently. Known for his grounded presence and emotive range, he reflects on the city that has shaped him. 'Delhi is my heart, but Bombay is where I work. I think Bombay has made me a better version of who I was. It tells you what your hidden talent is - it pushes you to your limit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo And in that process, you realise you're not really competing with anyone else. You're just competing with yourself. It's beautiful and scary at the same time.' Before Mumbai, there was Delhi - and a different kind of fame. A print model with appearances across Delhi Metro hoardings, shopping malls, and major ad campaigns. He says,"Modelling was never really my thing. I wanted to be an actor.I think I was confident in who I was. I was also already doing theatre, which helped me express myself beyond just posing.' Samarth Shandilya In Rana Naidu, Shandilya's supporting turn in Season 1 was noticed and even won him a few awards. But he promises that Season 2 dials things up a notch. 'It's lighter in some ways, especially with the gore. The first season shocked a lot of people,' he says. This one has more drama, more action, and definitely more star power - Arjun Rampal, Kirti Kharbanda, Rajat Kapoor, Dino Morea. It's packed. And Toofan? 'Let's just say, he brings the thunder,' Shandilya grins. The part came to him during the pandemic when he sent in a self-taped audition. Soon after, the casting director called - Karan Anshuman , the show's creator, wanted to speak. 'Karan sir said, 'This is you, man. Just show up like you.' That was the brief,' Shandilya recalls. 'No notes. Just trust.' Self-taped auditions, he explains, are now the norm. But they come with their own kind of solitude. 'You need to become your own studio,' he says. 'And until recently, I didn't have people around to give me cues. Sometimes I'd call friends on Zoom to read lines. You do what you have to.' Samarth Shandilya And then, there's the emotional choreography - of rejection, resilience, and learning to move with the tide. 'It's a beautifully corrupted life, you know?' he says, after a pause. 'The moment we decide to become actors, we're already in a battle - first with ourselves, then with our families, convincing them to let us try one of the most competitive careers out there.' 'You leave behind your home, your cooked food, your comfort zone. You arrive in a new city, not even knowing who to speak to or where to go. You're surrounded by rejection. You try to stay strong for your family, your friends - and in the middle of it, you're constantly meeting new people, losing others. It's overwhelming. A weirdly beautiful concoction of emotions.' He admits there's no full immunity to the emotional toll. 'But yes, the journey prepares you - heartbreak, rejection, criticism. Someone might say, 'Yaar, yeh film toh achhi bani hi nahi.' And I'm like - do you even know how hard I fought to land that role? How long I waited for those dates to align? How much travel and prep went into it? What if a scene didn't get shot, or something went wrong in editing or sound? What if politics or the market changed just before the release?' Then there are the silent heartbreaks - unseen, unspoken where scenes are cut. He says,"Whoever does that, I don't judge them. They're in a position where they can do that. And I know how tough it is to even get there. So, yeah - you abide by the rules of the game. You smile, you carry on. You never know what life might bring.' Samarth Shandilya Samarth Shandilya
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Agencies discuss mapping of drug trafficking routes & intelligence sharing
Hyderabad: During the first convergence meeting involving various anti-drug enforcement agencies in the country, held in Hyderabad on Thursday, it was decided to map drug trafficking routes and hotspot areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TG-ANB) Director Sandeep Shandilya said that the stakeholders are in the process of developing a common platform for intelligence exchange. "Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling trans-border operations, coordination in unravelling financial trails and financial assets of major players in drug trafficking, and the mode of assistance in sharing advanced technology tools, including forensics available with respective agencies, were discussed," Shandilya stated. At the meeting, senior officials from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) participated. During this meeting, police shared details of the 250 accused wanted from various states of India with the concerned state police. The meeting was inaugurated by the in-charge Director General of Police, Jitender.
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Telangana anti-drugs agency finds cartel's hawala cash in washing machine in Goa
The Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) uncovered a major hawala operation linked to an international drug cartel, seizing nearly ₹50 lakh in cash hidden inside a washing machine in a Goa apartment. The money was reportedly moments away from being transferred to Nigeria. TGANB director Sandeep Shandilya said the cash, collected over just two days, was recovered during a raid conducted after a month-long surveillance operation in coordination with the Goa police. 'Had we delayed the raid by an hour, the entire amount would have been transferred. It was neatly stashed inside the washing machine, ready for dispatch,' ToI quoted Shandilya as saying. According to the report, the raid was carried out at an apartment in Highland Park and at Sangeetha Mobile Shop in Mapusa. The main accused, Uttam Singh, who ran the mobile shop, was arrested. The probe agency said that Singh laundered ₹2.1 crore of drug money within a week. His modus operandi involved receiving cash from foreign nationals, routing it through informal channels to Mumbai, and then facilitating its transfer to Nigeria. The ₹49.65 lakh seized during the raid is believed to be part of a larger money laundering network and a TGANB team is being sent to Delhi for further investigation. The hawala network came to light after the arrest of Nigerian national Emmanuel Bediako alias Maxwell, from Hyderabad earlier this week, reported news agency PTI. The 34-year-old was found in possession of 150 grams of cocaine and ecstasy pills worth ₹1.25 crore. According to a TGANB statement cited by news agency PTI, Bediako had made three visits to India since 2013, operating primarily out of Goa and selling various drugs including high-purity "celebrity cocaine," regular cocaine, and MDMA. TGANB officials believe the drugs were sourced from abroad and the profits routed to Nigeria via a sophisticated laundering network involving Indian hawala operators and the Nigerian drug cartel.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- New Indian Express
TGANB launches anti-drug, adulterated toddy awareness drive
As part of their engagement efforts, the TGANB teams will also distribute sports kits to local youth to encourage their participation in the anti-drug movement. 'We want to spread the message: Say no to drugs. If Telangana wants to be drug-free, the youth must lead the fight against drugs,' Shandilya emphasised. The initiative comes in the wake of a serious incident in Kamareddy district on April 8, when 83 individuals were hospitalised after consuming adulterated toddy. Following the incident, TGANB teams, in coordination with local police, conducted raids on toddy shops, registering two cases, arresting eight accused, and seizing 1,087 grams of alprazolam. Highlighting the severity of the issue, Shandilya revealed that in 2024 alone, TGANB had busted seven factories illegally manufacturing alprazolam. 'We seized property worth Rs 30 crore belonging to a depot owner in Shadnagar. In another case, we are in the process of seizing additional properties linked to illegal toddy operations,' he said.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
Cops bust e-cigarette racket in Hyderabad, two arrested
1 2 Hyderabad: The TG Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) officials on Monday busted an e-cigarette racket and arrested two people. The officials seized 1,217 e-cigarettes worth Rs 25 lakh from their possession. The arrested were identified as Sadiq Lalani and his brother Anil Lalani, natives of Nampally. According to Sandeep Shandilya, TGANB director, the duo was selling banned e-cigarettes and vapes to the youth and school-going children. "They created a WhatsApp group with nearly 500 people in the name of 'SID'. They regularly share advertisements of the new products in the group. The group members purchase them by making online payments," Shandilya further said. Amit, a native of New Delhi, and Waseem from Mumbai, were supplying the e-cigarettes to Sadiq and Anil. "If the payments are above Rs 50,000, the duo uses the services of hawala operators — Mangi Ramji Goutham and CR Sharma — both from Hyderabad," he said. The officials found that the accused even used the services of transport aggregators and courier services to deliver e-cigarettes and vapours to the end users, who place the order over the phone. "Aggregators and courier companies will be held responsible for not verifying what is being picked up for delivery," Shandilya said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Meanwhile, the police identified 13 juveniles who were involved in the network. "From the bank transactions, a conservative estimate can be made that they did e-cigarette sales to the tune of around Rs 1 crore in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. E-cigarettes have 20 times more nicotine content and are addictive. All the accused are liable for 1-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh if convicted," the director further said.
