Latest news with #pan-India
Mint
3 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Bank holiday today: Are banks open or closed on Saturday, June 28? Check here
Bank holiday today: Banks throughout India will be closed today, June 28, 2025, as it is the fourth Saturday of the month. According to the Reserve Bank of India calendar (RBI), banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays each month. Usually, banks remain closed on weekends, except on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays. Apart from weekends, banks remain closed for national, regional and religious observances, depending on the state of residence. Therefore, bank holidays differ from state to state in India. Before making a visit to the bank, customers should check with the local bank branch for holiday lists. The next designated bank holiday falls on Sunday, June 29, 2025. In terms of festivals, banks in Aizawl will be closed on Monday, June 29, 2025 due to Remna Ni. Notably, banks will be closed for three consecutive days in Aizawl, including the weekend. For the month of June, banks were scheduled to be closed for four days, apart from weekends. Here's a list of state-wise bank holidays for this month. June 7 (Saturday) — Bakrid (Id-Uz-Zuha) — All banks closed pan-India. June 11 (Wednesday) — Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti / Saga Dawa — Banks will be shut in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. June 27 (Friday) — Rath Yatra / Kang (Rathajatra) — Banks closed in Odisha and Manipur. June 30 (Monday) — Remna Ni — Banks closed in Mizoram. Yes, during a bank holiday, online banking services remain accessible across the country even if the nearest branch is closed. Customers can use these services for convenient financial transactions. Requests for fund transfers can be submitted using NEFT/RTGS transfer forms, demand draft request forms, and chequebook forms. Credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards can be accessed through card services. Additionally, services such as account maintenance forms, setting up standing instructions, and applying for a locker are also available.
India.com
4 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
BJP's ‘Nari Shakti' Rhetoric Faces Leadership Test Within Party
New Delhi: In Indian politics, slogans often do the heavy lifting. 'Nari Shakti', the BJP's rallying cry for women's empowerment, has been a consistent part of its electoral pitch, development agenda, and cultural messaging. From schemes like Ujjwala Yojana to the push for the Women's Reservation Bill, the party has repeatedly projected itself as a champion of women's rights. However, despite years of promoting 'Nari Shakti' as a key electoral plank and cultural identity, the Bharatiya Janata Party today finds itself in an uncomfortable position, lacking a strong, popular pan-India woman face in its top leadership or newly formed cabinet. While the Modi cabinet has seven women ministers, none of them enjoys pan-India popularity like Sushma Swaraj or other former women leaders of the party. This apparent disconnect between rhetoric and representation hasn't gone unnoticed. This gap has raised eyebrows among political observers, and as the 3.0 Modi-led government takes shape, a critical question arises: Where are the women? A cabinet without prominent women "Nari Shakti" is a powerful slogan, but slogans don't substitute for representation. The absence of prominent female leadership highlights how women are still perceived more as support systems than leaders within the party. This is not a new pattern. The BJP fielded around 16% women candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a modest improvement, but still far short of the 33% goal it has publicly endorsed. Despite a strong base of women MPs (31 out of the BJP's 240 in the 18th Lok Sabha) and growing female participation in election campaigns and grassroots politics, few women are elevated to positions of national political visibility or decision-making authority. As per several analysts, parties field women candidates in either safe or hopeless constituencies, rarely in the crucial battleground seats. Women are mobilized during elections, but not groomed for leadership. Experts feel the BJP's Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Act was a mere eyewash, promising 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but delivering a paltry 31 women MPs in 2024, a stark decline from 42 in 2019. Experts say this is a part of a broader pattern where women are mobilized as voters and campaigners, especially in welfare schemes and outreach initiatives, but are not empowered as political decision-makers. This paradox, between women's increasing political visibility and their absence from actual leadership, has drawn criticism. Political Analyst Sandeep Choudhary said, "Making Droupadi Murmu the President of India, a tribal woman from a humble background, certainly sent a message to the world. But let's not mistake representation for empowerment. Women do not become empowered merely by holding symbolic positions. Real empowerment demands structural change; women must be given real power in legislative assemblies, in ministries, in administrative authority, and in decision-making bodies where their voice is not just present, but heard and acted upon." "Women's participation in politics should not be conditional upon the will or generosity of men. As long as male leaders continue to decide which woman should get a ticket, whose voice should rise, and who should be sidelined, empowerment will remain a distant dream. Women must be allowed to rise through their merit, their strength, and their vision, not based on what role the male leadership assigns them. Until then, this will not be true empowerment, but controlled representation," he further added. "Look at Smriti Irani, she is articulate, bold, and deeply connected to the ground realities. Yet after her defeat, she vanished from political prominence. In contrast, men like Pushkar Singh Dhami and Keshav Prasad Maurya were made Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister despite losing. This inconsistency shows that women are still viewed as exceptions, not equals," Choudhary further highlighted, adding, "Today, the BJP governs many states across India, yet how many women do we see as Chief Ministers? Just one, and that too, a recent appointment of Rekha Gupta in Delhi, after the fall of the AAP government. If women truly matter in politics, why are they missing from the top posts across the country? You cannot talk about Nari Shakti while structurally excluding women from leadership roles." Experts feel that when capable women are ignored, it sends a message to the next generation of women that their rise will always depend on factors beyond competence. "Slogans like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' and 'Nari Shaktikaran' are powerful, but they must translate into policies, opportunities, and representation. Until a woman can rise from the Panchayat to Parliament without systemic bias, until her ticket isn't decided by the male high command, and until her defeat isn't treated as final while men are resurrected, true women's empowerment will remain a distant ideal," he concluded. Ground-level mobilization, but no elevation To be fair, the BJP has effectively mobilized women at the grassroots, using self-help groups, local welfare schemes, and women-specific subsidies to cultivate strong female voter bases. In states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, women played a decisive role in the BJP victories. Initiatives like the Ladli Behna Yojana and targeted welfare programs have built immense goodwill among women voters, especially in rural India. BJP has mastered the art of symbolism when it comes to women, but that mobilization has not translated to genuine political inclusion. Women are present on the ground, not in the room where decisions are made. This dissonance, women as voters versus women as leaders, is now becoming too stark to ignore. Reports also say that women's representation is far lower than in many other democracies. The few women who do make it are typically from politically privileged families. Senior Journalist Rahul Lal slammed the BJP, saying, "The BJP's actions suggest that women's empowerment is not a priority for the party, and that the Nari Shakti slogan is merely a publicity gimmick." Making his views stronger, Rahul Lal added, "Women have been marginalized in every matter in terms of representation, and it's not an exaggeration to say that the BJP's Nari Shakti slogan has been a mere facade. The BJP could have given more tickets to women, but they didn't, and as a result, women's representation in the party has taken a hit. The Saffron party's promises of women's empowerment have turned out to be empty promises, with no substance or action to back them up." Regional contrast and missed opportunities Regional parties have offered a different model. In contrast, parties like the TMC, BSP, and even Congress have put women front and center. Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are household names. Meanwhile, the BJP, a party with a national presence and deep organizational machinery, lacks any woman who occupies a similar national leadership space today. What must change Experts feel that for the BJP to credibly claim the mantle of 'Nari Shakti,' it must: Elevate women into the party's highest decision-making bodies, including cabinet committees and national executive posts. Field women candidates in winnable constituencies and train them for long-term leadership roles. Move beyond symbolism, giving women policy authority, not just campaign responsibilities, and promote internal mentorship and leadership pipelines, especially from grassroots to national politics. Time for structural empowerment The BJP's messaging around "Nari Shakti" has undeniably reshaped how women voters see politics, as something accessible and participatory. But turning that participation into real representation requires more than slogans. Until women are given real power, not just portfolios but policy-shaping authority, the gap between narrative and reality will continue to grow. In an era where optics matter, substance matters more. The question is no longer whether the BJP can mobilize women. It's whether it is ready to be led by them.
Mint
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Meet the only Indian actor with two pan-India films in the ₹1,000 cr club, not Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Allu Arjun
Star power remains one of the strongest indicators of success in the Indian film industry. A recent example is Salman Khan. Despite Sikandar receiving underwhelming reviews, fans still flocked to theatres, proving the power of Salman's stardom. This brings us to the only Indian actor who has achieved a box office feat that even superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Allu Arjun haven't. With not one, but two pan-India films crossing the ₹ 1,000 crore mark globally, this icon has set a record in the industry. It is none other than Prabhas. With Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas has carved a place for himself in Indian cinema history, earning the title of the undisputed pan-India superstar. While Shah Rukh Khan, Allu Arjun, and Vicky Kaushal are among the biggest actors in Indian cinema, none of them technically have two pan-India films that have each crossed the ₹ 1,000 crore mark worldwide like Prabhas. Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan and Jawan were massive blockbusters of 2023, crossing ₹ 1,000 crore globally. However, Shah Rukh is still not the only Indian actor with two pan-India films in the ₹ 1,000 crore club. This is because, although both films did cross ₹ 1,000 crore globally, they were primarily Hindi-language films with dubbed versions in other languages. Hence, they don't qualify as true-blue pan-India multilingual releases like Prabhas's films, which were not only shot but also marketed in multiple languages. Similarly, Allu Arjun's Pushpa: The Rise was a huge success during a lull period at the box office. As per Sacnilk, the film crossed the ₹ 350 crore mark worldwide but failed to reach the ₹ 500 crore milestone. Its sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, became the fastest Indian movie to cross the ₹ 1,000 crore mark at the worldwide box office, the tracker reported. However, it is the only film of the actor to have crossed that milestone. As for Vicky Kaushal, although he starred in blockbusters like Uri: The Surgical Strike and Sanju, his latest, Chaava, didn't cross the threshold despite an impressive business at the box office, raking in ₹ 807.88 crore. Released in 2017, Baahubali 2 became a cultural phenomenon. With its breathtaking visuals, grand storytelling, and Prabhas's powerful portrayal of Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali, the film shattered records, collecting over ₹ 1,788 crore worldwide and ₹ 1,030.42 crore in India, as per Sacnilk. It marked a turning point in Indian cinema, proving regional films' potential on the global stage. Last year, he replicated the success with Kalki 2898 AD alongside Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan. The futuristic sci-fi epic, directed by Nag Ashwin, brought Prabhas back into the spotlight. Based on the Mahabharata with science fiction elements, Kalki was a visual spectacle and a magnum opus in itself. Within weeks, it joined the ₹ 1,000 crore club, earning ₹ 1,042.25 crore worldwide and ₹ 646.31 crore in India, according to Sacnilk. Friday marks 1 year since the release of Kalki. Kalki revolved around the epic tale of Lord Krishna cursing Ashwatthama to eternal suffering, only for destiny to set him on a path of redemption by protecting the woman carrying the final avatar of Vishnu, Kalki. The Kalki 2898 AD sequel starring Prabhas is already in the works. The film ended with a title card announcing the Kalki 2898 AD Cinematic Universe. Confirming the sequel, it read: 'To be continued…' Besides Kalki, Prabhas has several projects lined up. He will be starring in the romantic horror comedy The Raaja Saab. Directed by Maruthi, Prabhas plays a triple role in the film. It also features Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Sanjay Dutt. He also has Hanu Raghavapudi's directorial Fauji as his next. The actor was also roped in for Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film Spirit, which would have reunited him with Deepika Padukone. However, the actress has now been replaced by Triptii Dimri.
Mint
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Meet the only Indian actor with two pan-India films in the ₹1,000 cr club, not Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Allu Arjun
Star power remains one of the strongest indicators of success in the Indian film industry. A recent example is Salman Khan. Despite Sikandar receiving underwhelming reviews, fans still flocked to theatres, proving the power of Salman's stardom. This brings us to the only Indian actor who has achieved a box office feat that even superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Allu Arjun haven't. With not one, but two pan-India films crossing the ₹ 1,000 crore mark globally, this icon has set a record in the industry. It is none other than Prabhas. With Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas has carved a place for himself in Indian cinema history, earning the title of the undisputed pan-India superstar. While Shah Rukh Khan, Allu Arjun, and Vicky Kaushal are among the biggest actors in Indian cinema, none of them technically have two pan-India films that have each crossed the ₹ 1,000 crore mark worldwide like Prabhas. Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan and Jawan were massive blockbusters of 2023, crossing ₹ 1,000 crore globally. However, Shah Rukh is still not the only Indian actor with two pan-India films in the ₹ 1,000 crore club. This is because, although both films did cross ₹ 1,000 crore globally, they were primarily Hindi-language films with dubbed versions in other languages. Hence, they don't qualify as true-blue pan-India multilingual releases like Prabhas's films, which were not only shot but also marketed in multiple languages. Similarly, Allu Arjun's Pushpa: The Rise was a huge success during a lull period at the box office. As per Sacnilk, the film crossed the ₹ 350 crore mark worldwide but failed to reach the ₹ 500 crore milestone. Its sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, became the fastest Indian movie to cross the ₹ 1,000 crore mark at the worldwide box office, the tracker reported. However, it is the only film of the actor to have crossed that milestone. As for Vicky Kaushal, although he starred in blockbusters like Uri: The Surgical Strike and Sanju, his latest, Chaava, didn't cross the threshold despite an impressive business at the box office, raking in ₹ 807.88 crore. Released in 2017, Baahubali 2 became a cultural phenomenon. With its breathtaking visuals, grand storytelling, and Prabhas's powerful portrayal of Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali, the film shattered records, collecting over ₹ 1,788 crore worldwide and ₹ 1,030.42 crore in India, as per Sacnilk. It marked a turning point in Indian cinema, proving regional films' potential on the global stage. Last year, he replicated the success with Kalki 2898 AD alongside Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan. The futuristic sci-fi epic, directed by Nag Ashwin, brought Prabhas back into the spotlight. Based on the Mahabharata with science fiction elements, Kalki was a visual spectacle and a magnum opus in itself. Within weeks, it joined the ₹ 1,000 crore club, earning ₹ 1,042.25 crore worldwide and ₹ 646.31 crore in India, according to Sacnilk. Friday marks 1 year since the release of Kalki. Kalki revolved around the epic tale of Lord Krishna cursing Ashwatthama to eternal suffering, only for destiny to set him on a path of redemption by protecting the woman carrying the final avatar of Vishnu, Kalki. The Kalki 2898 AD sequel starring Prabhas is already in the works. The film ended with a title card announcing the Kalki 2898 AD Cinematic Universe. Confirming the sequel, it read: 'To be continued…' Besides Kalki, Prabhas has several projects lined up. He will be starring in the romantic horror comedy The Raaja Saab. Directed by Maruthi, Prabhas plays a triple role in the film. It also features Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Sanjay Dutt. He also has Hanu Raghavapudi's directorial Fauji as his next. The actor was also roped in for Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film Spirit, which would have reunited him with Deepika Padukone. However, the actress has now been replaced by Triptii Dimri. Last but not the least, Prabhas is also a part of Prasanth Varma's upcoming Brahmarakshas.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Rashmika Mandanna almost rejected her first film offer for THIS reason
has emerged as a leading actress across India, gaining widespread recognition beyond her South Indian cinema roots. With numerous Bollywood projects in her portfolio, she continues to dominate the industry as a versatile and highly sought-after pan-India star. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Early Career and Unexpected Film Offer However, Rashmika almost declined her debut film offer due to nervousness about auditions. In a Curly Tales interview, she shared that the opportunity came while she was still in college, soon after winning a young beauty pageant. A production company contacted her after spotting her photo in a newspaper, surprising her as she was just settling back into college life. Struggles with Auditions Mandanna opened up about her audition fears, admitting she was uncomfortable performing in front of the camera when cues came from off-screen. She confessed that auditions were her weakest point, saying, 'I felt like I can't do auditions, man… Like, auditions are my low ... I can't even move in front of the camera strangely.' While she felt confident acting in scenes, the experience of delivering lines alone in a room with someone giving cues from behind the camera was not something she found easy. Rise to Prominence in Indian Cinema Over the years, Rashmika has become a prominent figure in Indian cinema, showcasing her talent in major films alongside top actors like , , and . Her impressive work has firmly established her as a leading star in the industry. Recent and Upcoming Projects On the professional front, Rashmika Mandanna's latest release was 'Kuberaa' on June 20. She now looks forward to her upcoming films 'The Girlfriend' and 'Thaama', which are set to continue showcasing her versatility and talent in the industry.
