<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47470364.cms" /> Bollywood’s reigning queen <keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword> is all set to launch America’s high-end fashion brand <keyword id="6431981" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gap">GAP</keyword>’s first store in India. But do we know why the brand roped in this pretty lady of all the big names that are ready to pose with this iconic brand for their store launch? 
	 
	Well, the story goes that the petite actress was spotted in one of the GAP clothing sometime back, which made the brand approach her instead of any other Bollywood actress for the store launch. 
	 
	“Well, it was a coincidence that she has been wearing GAP clothes. So, we decided to approach her because of her preference for our brand,” Ismail Seyis, vice president of GAP International Strategic Alliances tells BI India. 
	 
	Ranaut, who is believed to be a wildcard entry in Bollywood, is also considered to be a fashion icon-- hailed for edgy looks and her experimental fashion sense. The actress showed her loyalty to the brand when she chose to wear a simple white GAP t-shirt in her latest blockbuster <keyword id="2600630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tanu-Weds-Manu-Returns">Tanu Weds Manu Returns</keyword>. Not only then, she has often been spotted in apparels or flip flops from the house of GAP. 
	 
	But does the brand plan take this mutual love to the next level. “No,” says Seyis. He explains that while the brand is looking at different marketing tools for its promotion in the market, however, it definitely has not though of any brand ambassador as of now. “ May be later, but nothing in the pipeline at the moment,” he notes. 
	 
	GAP will launch its first store on May 30 at Select City Walk, which is considered to be the largest mall in the country. The brand is in a 20 year long partnership with Arvind Lifestyle, and will be available in 15-20 cities. The fashion house will only focus on tier 1 cities and has claimed to be price competitive in the market.
 
Representational Image: Indiatimes.com

Read on to know why iconic fashion brand GAP chose Bollywood’s
‘It’ girl Kangana Ranaut for store launch!

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47453703.cms" /> 
 <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is full of trends and traditions that start off as gestures but end up being remarkable traditions in the Hindi Film Industry. 
 Be it Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar’s Holi party, the #AskSRK sessions by Shah Rukh Khan on Twitter, or the Sunday gatherings outside Salman Khan’s and <keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword>’s residences, these traditions, private or public, tell us how strongly connected Bollywood is, in itself or to the fans. 
 
One such tradition, off late, has stemmed from the humble nature of megastar Amitabh Bachchan. Whenever Big B finds a performance appealing, he writes a letter to the actor and sends him or her bouquets. 
 
Getting appreciation from none other than someone who is an institution of acting in himself is surely something to be proud of, which is why the whole young brigade of Bollywood secretly aspires to get this letter from Mr. Bachchan. 
 While in the past we have seen <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword>, <keyword id="106133" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ranveer-Singh">Ranveer Singh</keyword>, <keyword id="6354535" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayushmann-Khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</keyword> and <keyword id="6363098" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Richa-Chadha">Richa Chadha</keyword> getting such letters, it was the turn of Kangna Ranaut, who is busy collecting rave reviews for her performance as both Tanu and Datto in the recent release <keyword id="2600630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tanu-Weds-Manu-Returns">Tanu Weds Manu Returns</keyword>. 
 
What makes her even happier is that this is not the first time that Kangna has received this appreciation letter from Mr. Bachchan. She had got one for the 2014 movie Queen as well, in which her performance also earned her a National Award. 
 
In a candid chat with the Times of India, the actress shared her delight of getting not one but two letters and bouquets this time, for playing both Tanu and Datto. Below is an excerpt from the interview: "Mr Bachchan sent me a letter for Queen too, but that was written in English and that too, the level of English that he himself speaks, which is high end. This time, he has written a poem and that too in Hindi, so I could read it out as is to my parents as they understand only Hindi. I felt like his two letters were my two medals. I am going to frame these and keep them for life as my memory. For my parents who are not artistes and don't understand performance, this is their proof that I have performed. Mr Bachchan has written about the minutest of details of my performance which makes it so fulfilling for an artiste, coming from a legend like him. This time he has sent me not just one, but two letters and bouquets, one for Tanu and the other for Datto. He wrote, 'It happens very rarely that our eyes fill up watching a performance. You made me cry'. He said for Datto, 'For the girl who is Tanu's lookalike called Datto, I don't know her but please extend my warm wishes to her.' What broke me down reading his letters was when he wrote, 'Main apne aap ko bhagyashali samajhta hoon, ki main uss udyog se juda hoon, jisme Kangana basti hai' (I feel fortunate to be a part of an industry in which Kangana is a part). Being an outsider, I was ridiculed for the longest time with people openly making fun of me. But the flowers Mr Bachchan sent have not just filled up my room, they have left me overwhelmed." 
 
Well, all we can say is that the other actors from the young brigade need to pull up their socks if they want to have this appreciation letter from Mr. Bachchan, who is an idol for many. 
 
Image courtesy Indiatimes

Guess who got a letter and bouquet from Amitabh Bachchan, once again?

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/41801920.cms" /> <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> actresses are having a gala time. Never ever in the history of <keyword id="4636" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Cinema">Indian cinema</keyword>, Indian actresses enjoyed power like they enjoy today. Women-oriented films are on the rise, and audiences accepting them whole-heartedly. Recent success of Queen testifies the fact. But who would be the queen of Bollywood in 2014—and get the coveted ‘Heroine No. 1’ title? Let’s take a look. 
	 
	 

	1. <keyword id="6354526" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alia-Bhatt">Alia Bhatt</keyword> With three back to back hits in a year, Alia is on a roll. Her first release of the year was Imtiaz Ali’s Highway, which brought pride and appreciation her way. After this coming-of-age story, we saw Alia in 2 States next, where she enacted the role of a Tamilian to perfection. Alia’s third movie was Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, where she was at the top of her act. 

	2. Kangana Ranaut

	Queen proved to be a game changer for Kangana Ranaut. This unconventional movie not only won her accolades for her powerful acting, but also changed contemporaries’ perception about her. 
 

	3. <keyword id="89958" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shraddha-Kapoor">Shraddha Kapoor</keyword> The Aashiqui 2 girl too had a great run at the Box Office this year. Her film, Ek Villain was a hit and she won appreciations from all corners for her brilliant performance. She will soon be seen enacting the role of a journalist in director Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider, based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. 
	 

	4. Vidya Balan

	Vidya appeared twice on screen this year. While her first movie, Shaadi Ke Side Effect failed to impress audience, Vidya managed to make up for the loss with Bobby Jaasoos. The story of an aspiring girl detective struck a chord with the audience and set cash registers ringing at the Box Office. 
	 

	5. Rani Mukherjee

	It won’t be wrong to call Rani Mukherjee’s Mardaani as the movie of the year. After a dud called Aiyya, Rani bounced back with this movie. She excelled in the role of Shivani, a crime branch inspector, and won accolades and adulation from all corners. Not just that, the film was declared tax free in some parts of the country. A Hero-ific act indeed!
 

	6. Priyanka Chopra

	Seems Priyanka Chopra will earn many awards and honours with Mary Kom, a film based on the life of Olympic legend. Critics and junta are going gaga about Priyanka’s performance that packs a punch and lots of power. A well-deserving name for the coveted number one title?
 

	7. Deepika Padukone

	Last year, she was the queen of Bollywood and delivered four back to back mega hits. However, this year Deepika seems to be in a relaxing mood and has only two movies in her kitty. First up is Homi Adjania’s Finding Fanny, where she is playing a Goan girl and next is Farah Khan’s multi-starrer Happy New Year. Will Deepika be able to replicate her last year’s success this year as well? Only time will tell.
 

	8. Parineeti Chopra

	After Hasee Toh Phasee, Parineeti will soon be seen playing a Hyderabadi girl in Daawat-E-Ishq. News is rife that Parineeti took formal training from actress Elaahe Hiptoola to get the deccani accent right. Hope her hard work pays off!
 

	9. Katrina Kaif

	After last year’s Dhoom 3, Katrina will be seen in Bang Bang next. In this much-awaited movie, the sexy lass would be seen romancing Hrithik Roshan and performing some kickass action. Will this bring Katrina back in the ‘number one’ game?

Alia, Kangana, Deepika: Who will be on Number 1?

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/45135906.cms" /> 
 
A picture tweeted from the official account of Eros International gives us a glimpse into <keyword id="854855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tanu-Weds-Manu-Season-2">Tanu Weds Manu Season 2</keyword>, which as the name suggests is the sequel of 2011 romcom film <keyword id="71996" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tanu-Weds-Manu">Tanu Weds Manu</keyword>. 
 The movie stars <keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>, who has tasted both critical and commercial success with her movie <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword>, which was released in March this year. The movie, other than being a critical success, set the box office (BO) ablaze, and did a business of almost Rs 100 crore. It also established Kangana much ahead in the race of the best actress in <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword>. 
 Actor <keyword id="4759" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madhavan">Madhavan</keyword> would be seen reprising his role of Manu in the sequel. Between the first and second movie of the Tanu Weds Manu series, he has acted in one Hindi movie, Jodi Breakers, which failed to make an impact on the BO. His other movie Taak Jhaank, which was completed in 2006 and premiered at the 19th Kolkata Film Festival in 2013, is yet to be released in theaters because of the sudden and unfortunate death of director Rituparno Ghosh. However, Madhavan still has got a certain charm, which when mixed with the right story can pull audience to theaters. 
 
Director Aanand L. Rai, who directed <keyword id="963049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Raanjhana">Raanjhana</keyword> in between the two movies, has also managed to impressed audience and critics alike in the meantime. Raanjhana earned Rs 120 crore at the BO and was also praised for its gripped direction albeit a confused storyline. 
 
Now talking of money, Tanu Weds Manu was produced at a medium budget of Rs 11.25 crore and Rs 6.25 crore were spent on the publicity, making the total estimated cost to be Rs 17.5 crore. The movie went on to do a business of worth Rs 56 crore, while being one of the biggest critical hits of 2011. 
 
It would be interesting to watch whether the actors and the director would be able to cast the same magic that they did with the first movie, or will the movie fail to make an impact on the BO, just like many other sequels made in Bollywood. 
 
Image courtesy: <a href="https://twitter.com/ErosNow/status/531666658168156160">Eros</a>

Tanu Weds Manu Season 2: Will It Be Able To Recreate The Magic?

<ul><li><keyword id="6354616" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter" source="Orion">Twitter</keyword> has announced that anyone with a suspended account can request a review for reinstatement under new criteria.</li><li>The appeals will be evaluated under new criteria set by Twitter, but the details of these criteria have not been disclosed.</li><li>According to Twitter, the review process can take several days.</li></ul>Twitter, a microblogging site, has recently said that users will soon be able to appeal account suspension and get their accounts evaluated under new safety standards. In a tweet thread posted by TwitterSafety, the company said, “Starting today, anyone can request that we review a suspended account for reinstatement under our new criteria.” <div type="twitter" handle="TwitterSafety" handlename="Twitter Safety" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1356366102528315394/UHUFLIPh_normal.jpg" favoritecount="7014" retweetcount="8054" status="Starting today, anyone can request that we review a suspended account for reinstatement under our new criteria. You… https://t.co/1GksCBe8ni" createdat="1675279833000" id="1620867218333646848"></div> When <keyword id="6355315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-musk" source="Orion">Elon Musk</keyword> took over Twitter, he said he would offer amnesty to previously banned and suspended accounts. Since then, he has restored dozens of controversial high-profile users, including Donald Trump (yet to return to the platform), comedian Kathy Griffin, number of white nationalists, and much controversial Bollywood actress, Kangana Ranaut. Now, Twitter is opening a public-facing appeals process by which anyone whose account has previously been suspended to request reinstatement. The company also indicated a new appeals process would be coming as part of its policy to take ‘less severe actions’ against rule-breaking accounts. Going forward, the company also said they will take less severe action. Twitter also added that appeals would be evaluated under new criteria for reinstatement, but it didn’t elaborate on the criteria and how long the process would take. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="To appeal a suspended Twitter account, follow these steps." comment="subhead" text="To appeal a suspended Twitter account, follow these steps.">To appeal a suspended Twitter account, follow these steps.</cmsannotation> <ol><li>Go to the Twitter Help Center: Visit https://help.twitter.com/en and click on “Report a suspended account” under the “Accounts” category.</li><li>Log in to your suspended account: You will be prompted to log in to your suspended account if you are not already logged in.</li><li>Submit an appeal form: Fill out the appeal form with the required information and provide a detailed explanation of why you believe your account was suspended in error.</li><li>Wait for a response: Twitter will review your appeal and respond with a decision. The review process can take several days.</li></ol>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/new-patent-suggests-that-apple-could-bring-a-foldable-iphone-with-a-self-healing-display-in-the-future/articleshow/97302738.cms">New patent suggests that Apple could bring a foldable iPhone with a self-healing display in the future</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apples-mixed-reality-headset-could-feature-full-body-facetime-avatars/articleshow/97300580.cms">Apple's Mixed Reality headset could feature advanced hand tracking and may work as a second display for Mac</a>

Twitter finally opens public appeals for suspended accounts — here’s how you can reclaim your lost profile

<ul><li>The release covers a report survey on the online sentiments for 26 Bollywood actors for the period of August - October 2020. </li><li>The sentiments have been analyzed on the basis of 100 million online impressions which include trends on Twitter, Google search Wikipedia, YouTube.</li></ul>Checkbrand, an online sentiment analysis company today announced the data about online sentiments of top movie stars in the country. As per the report, the brand value in monetary terms, basis the engagement and followers for <keyword id="7099679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priyanka-Chopra-Jonas">Priyanka Chopra Jonas</keyword> stood at INR 2.65 billion, for <keyword id="2823" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Akshay-Kumar">Akshay Kumar</keyword> at INR 2.60 billion, followed by <keyword id="6354583" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="salman-khan">Salman Khan</keyword> at INR 2.52 billion, <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword> at INR 2.11 billion and Shahrukh Khan at INR 2.09. The most trending (Twitter, Google Search, Wiki, YouTube etc) actress in the last quarter was Kirti Sanon (2334) followed by Priyanka Chopra (2331) and Alia Bhatt (2277). All the top three places were occupied by Indian actresses. Akshay Kumar (1792), Salman Khan (1421), Aamir Khan (1145), Shahrukh Khan (1133)m followed the chart. In terms of engagement, the top three positions have been occupied by male actors. Salman Khan had an engagement of 2.25 lakhs, followed by Shahrukh Khan at 2.16 lakhs, Akshay Kumar at 1.7 lakhs, Ajay Devgan at 0.64 lakhs and Amitabh Bachchan at 0.62 lakhs. The five actors have a collective engagement of 7.3 lakhs, which was more than rest of the collective engagement of 21 film stars which is meager 3.64 lakhs. The 21 stars included both males and females. Only seven movie stars could cross more than one lakh in terms of social media mentions. The names included with mentions are Salman Khan (4.97 lakh), Shahrukh Khan (4.52 lakh), Kangana Ranaut (3.70 lakh), Akshay Kumar (3.54 lakh), Ajay Devgn (1.95 lakh), Aamir Khan (1.88 lakh), Alia Bhatt (1.80 lakh). Despite the increasing popularity of Ananya Pandey and Bhumi Pendkar, their mentions were less than 500 in the last quarter. King Khan still ruled the overall brand score with 41.76, followed by Priyanka Chopra 41.26, Deepika Padukone 36.54, Shraddha Kapoor 34.48. The lowest score was for Kangana Ranaut 9.87. Even Aamir Khan was the third last at 11.69. The overall score is measured out of 100. Five parameters have been considered for devising this score which are followers (20), trends (10), sentiment (30), engagement (20) and mentions (20). Speaking on the sentiment analysis, Anuj Sayal, MD, ADG Online and Checkbrand.online said, “Some interesting facts have come out in the last few weeks. The overall sentiment for KanganaRanuat has gone down. She slipped to almost last position. It is interesting to note that 71% sentiment for Abhishek Bachchan is positive and Aamir Khan’s sentiment is negative at 28.1%. Anushka Sharma’s overall sentiment is negative at 4.6%” “This is our first report and we plan to add more interesting anecdotes in our next quarterly report. We wanted to create a platform which could help brands understand their real value in terms of presence on Digital media on real time basis. We are eager to work and help them improve their overall digital presence,” he further added.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ brand value beats Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan: Report

<ul><li>The 27-year-old is the only actress to have made it to the <keyword id="4430727" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="forbes-30-under-30">Forbes 30 under 30</keyword> list. </li><li><keyword id="2873457" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sai-pallavi">Sai Pallavi</keyword> is famous for refusing to endorse fairness creams. </li><li>The talented dancer also refuses to be a side-kick heroine and chooses author-backed roles. </li><li>She is playing an autistic character in an upcoming Tamil movie. </li></ul> In a world where plastic surgeries have become common, 27-year old Sai Pallavi is a breath of fresh air. In her debut movie in Malayalam, Premam her unfiltered act with acne on the face – wooed the audiences. The movie went on to be a superhit and audiences were enthralled by her natural beauty - and she won a Filmfare award. Now, she became the only actress to feature in the<a href="http://www.forbesindia.com/lists/30-under-30-2020/1829/all"> Forbes list of 30 under 30</a> celebrities – and one of the five women in the list. No to fairness creams “Confidence is the real beauty,” Pallavi said after her movie debut made her overcome a personal insecurity. And, she decided to pass it on to others as well –refusing to endorse a fairness cream which offered her ₹2 crore. When Pallavi was asked why she refused it,<a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/sai-pallavi-reveals-why-she-rejected-rs-2-crore-fairness-cream-commercial-1536695-2019-05-28"> she answered</a>, “What will I do with the money I make like that?” Kangana Ranaut is the only other top actress to have refused to endorse a product which builds inferiority complex. Pallavi struck a chord with millennials not only with off-screen charisma but also with the roles that she played. In her Telugu superhit movie Fidaa which made her a star, she plays the role of a village girl torn between her love for an NRI and her need to stay on ground. These roles have caught the fancy of young audiences who admire the chutzpah that she displayed in her performances. The Rowdy Baby dance She is popularly known as Rowdy Baby where she showed off her impeccable dancing skills. So much so, in the song choreographed by Prabhu Deva, she outshone her co-actor Dhanush, a top star in Tamil Nadu. Extremely good dancing skills that are common with actors but uncommon with actresses, turned her into a hot commodity. A lot of filmmakers would either want her to make a song-and-a-dance-appearance-role in movies with top stars where the story revolves around them. But Pallavi is not keen on an item-dance career or is happy with being an eye candy in any movie. “She has a criterion for choosing a movie – she either has to be in the plot or an influence of the plot,” said Dhanush in a<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maari-2-review-an-overlong-yet-entertaining-sequel/article25798174.ece"> movie promotion</a>. As promised, she has kept up her love for experimentation by playing an <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/sai-pallavi-plays-an-autistic-character-nithya-in-athiran/articleshow/68725307.cms">autistic person </a>in a movie with Tamil heartthrob Fahadh Faasil’s Athiran. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/kamal-haasan-net-worth-and-his-finances-after-2-years-in-politics/articleshow/73290359.cms">Kamal Haasan's ₹25 crore loan revealed a lot about his finances after nearly 2 years in politics</a>

Forbes goes Fidaa on Tamil Nadu’s favourite Rowdy Baby - Sai Pallavi

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s government has slammed Western celebrities for backing the <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> protesting in New Delhi.</li><li>Farmers say the government's proposed reforms to agricultural laws will leave them poorer.</li><li>Pro-government crowds burned photos of Rihanna and Greta Thunberg on Thursday.</li></ul>The Indian government has launched an attack on Western celebrities, with some supporters burning their photos, for publicly supporting mass protests by farmers.In late November 2020, some 300,000 farmers marched on New Delhi and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-closed-farmers-occupy-cities-in-revolt-against-market-reforms-2020-12">set up camp to protest a planned reform of agriculture laws</a> that they say will see them lose their income.Many have joined them - with the crowd size <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-farmer-strike-largest-protest-history-us-world-pay-attention-2020-12">reaching 250 million</a> at its peak - and the farmers remain unmoving.This week, the farmers' cause was taken up by several US and European celebrities, prompting anger from the government and its supporters."The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible," India's external affairs ministry <a href="https://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/33456/Press_Statement_on_recent_comments_by_foreign_individuals_and_entities_on_the_farmers_protests">said in a statement Wednesday.</a><div type="image" title="Indian Farmers Protests" height="1744" width="3488" msid="80722099" hostid="261"></div>The comments came hours after celebrities including the climate activist Greta Thunberg, singer Rihanna, and author Meena Harris - who is also the niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris - expressed support for the farmers."We stand in solidarity with farmers protests in India," Thunberg <a href="https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1357054451769606147">tweeted</a> Tuesday. The next day, Thunberg tweeted <a href="https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1357054451769606147">a "toolkit"</a> for supporting the farmers, including how to sign petitions and which hashtags to use.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rihanna-tweets-about-farmers-protests-in-india-faces-vicious-trolling-on-twitter/articleshow/80664477.cms">Rihanna</a> on Tuesday tweeted an article about the protest, writing: "Why aren't we talking about this?!"<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Rihanna (@rihanna) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1356625889602199552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2021</a></blockquote>The same day, Meena Harris <a href="https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1356747965713371138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1356747965713371138%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Findia-government-attack-us-celebrities-backing-farmer-protests-burn-effigies-2021-221-2">tweeted</a>: "We ALL should be outraged by India's internet shutdowns and paramilitary violence against farmer protesters."Harris was referring to the government's <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/01/asia/india-internet-cut-farmers-intl-hnk/index.html">decision last Sunday to once again shut down the internet</a> around New Delhi amid the protests.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Meena Harris (@meenaharris) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1356747965713371138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2021</a></blockquote>On Thursday, pro-government protesters in New Delhi also burned photos of Thunberg, Rihanna, and Harris, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/04/greta-thunberg-effigies-burned-in-delhi-after-tweets-on-farmers-protests">The Guardian reported</a>.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1357331040528814083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1357354596155363328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote>Harris <a href="https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1357376550803369986">tweeted</a> in response to a photo of her likeness being burned: "I spoke out in support of human rights for Indian farmers, and look at the response."The NBA player Kyle Kuzma has also <a href="https://twitter.com/kylekuzma/status/1357009721090138112">tweeted</a> about the protests, while the NFL player JuJu Smith Schuster <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamJuJu/status/1357048037302960129">tweeted</a> that he had donated $10,000 to help the farmer obtain medical supplies.A number of Indian celebrities have also publicly supported their government, with the <a href="https://theprint.in/india/after-rihanna-greta-thunberg-support-farm-protests-kangana-calls-farmers-terrorists/597806/">actress Kangana Ranaut</a>, describing the farmers as terrorists, and the Indian cricket player Pragyan Ojha <a href="https://twitter.com/pragyanojha/status/1356697584291639296">tweeting to Rihanna</a>: "We don't need an outsider poking her nose in our internal matters!"Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-against-republicans-voted-for-impeachment-2021-2">Trump is plotting a campaign revenge tour targeting GOP defectors after Senate impeachment trial</a><h2>Why are the protests happening?</h2>The Indian government wants to liberalize the agriculture industry - in which 40% of Indians work - and deregulate crop pricing.Farmers' unions say the proposed laws <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/world/asia/india-farmer-protest.html">would make them poorer</a> and leave them exposed to exploitation from large corporations. They also say <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/were-farmers-consulted-before-farm-laws-no-record-says-rti-response-2345287">they were not consulted</a> about the new plans.The demonstrations <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/world/asia/india-farmers-protests-delhi.html">have often turned violent</a>, with <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55899754">the police erecting barbed wire barricades</a> and <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/police-use-barbed-wire-spikes-trenches-to-cut-off-protest-sites/article33734304.ece">digging trenches</a> around parts of New Delhi.On January 27, a number of farmers broke into the city's historic Red Fort, and the government called the military eject them. Three hundred police officers were also injured in the city that day, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55817628">the BBC added</a>.Some farmers <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-farmers-protest-law-suicide-epidemic-2021-1">have also said that the proposed laws are worsening the suicide epidemic</a> sweeping their industry, as Insider reported last month.The farmers' efforts have had some impact, but how the fight will end remains unclear.Late last month, India's Supreme Court ruled to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/world/asia/india-farmers-protest-court-law.html">suspend the new laws</a> from being imposed last month, but farmer are <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55615482">refusing to back down</a> until the laws are completely repealed - a move that the government has already vowed not to do.

The Indian government and its supporters are attacking Western celebrities for supporting the farmers' protests

<ul><li>The <keyword id="1400873" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Khadi-Village-Industries-Commission">Khadi Village Industries Commission</keyword> (KVIC) saw a 25% jump in sales to ₹75,000 crore. </li><li>KVIC’s sales are twice that of the largest consumer goods company in India, Hindustan Unilever (HUL). </li><li>The growth in KVIC sales volume can be attributed to the increase in demand for khadi products. </li></ul>The Indian government’s retail division that boasts exclusively of ‘Made in India’ consumer products — Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) — saw a 25% jump in sales in the year ending on 31 March, 2019. In comparison to India’s largest fast moving consumer goods company, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), KVIC’s sales stood at ₹75,000 crore — twice that of HUL’s at ₹38,000 crore. A large part of this explosive growth has come from khadi or handmade products, which grew at their fastest rate ever in the last four years. Khadi in vogue KVIC’s growth in sales is largely due to a rise in demand for khadi products — like papad, honey and cosmetics. Together they accounted for 4.3% of all sales. And, then there’s khadi itself. KVIC is not only selling it in stores but also <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/spinning-on-khadi-weaves-a-success-story-rs-3200-crore-sales-in-fy19/1527425/">supplying</a> to bigwig fabric companies like Raymond, Arvind Mills and Aditya Birla Fashion. They’re also tying up with state-owned companies — like ONGC, Oil India and even the Indian Post Office — to give out gift coupons to employees, and use khadi for uniforms. Not to mention that khadi is reportedly ‘chic’ fashion in the current era in part due to its comfort. Indian millennials <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/khadi-the-fabric-for-india-s-fashionable-and-young-1451881-2019-02-09">look</a> at khadi as an icon of sustainable fashion. Actress Kangana Ranaut is one of the many Indian celebrities who promotes homespun fashion at global film festivals. Make in India and Buy Indian Khadi, a hand spun and hand woven cloth, was one of the weapons of Mahatma Gandhi’s fight for freedom from the British. As a part of the Swadeshi movement, he inspired his countrymen to buy products made by Indians to support the local economy, than allowing Britain to market its own. Today, KVIC is the statutory body responsible for the planning, promotion and organisation of the programmes that aid the use of khadi across. Their growth is also fueled by the current government’s push for local manufacturers with the ‘Make in India’ programme. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/local-phone-manufacturing-saves-india-3-trillion-through-make-in-india/articleshow/65517201.cms">Local phone manufacturing saves India ₹3 trillion through Make in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-invites-manufacturers-for-6-5-billion-p-75-submarines-contract/articleshow/69883990.cms">Indian government kick-starts ₹450 billion project to make six submarines under Make in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/made-in-india-apple-iphones-wont-be-cheap-enough-for-indian-users/articleshow/67285223.cms">‘Made-in-India’ Apple iPhones may get cheaper but they probably won’t be cheap enough for Indian users</a>

Indians are buying more Khadi than Hindustan Unilever products

<ul><li><keyword id="99676" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shilpa-Shetty-Kundra">Shilpa Shetty Kundra</keyword>, who has been missing from the big screen for the past 13 years has become the face of yet another brand. </li><li>She has 13 brands in her kitty from varied categories like Food &amp; Beverages, Telecom, Skincare, FMCG, Chocolates, and more. </li><li>As Shilpa signs another brand, we try to decode what still makes the actor relevant and how she has become an example of breaking age-disparity in the industry. </li></ul>Shilpa Shetty Kundra, the 43-year-old Bollywood actress, has bagged yet another brand in her kitty. She is now the face of home decor brand, Stellar Homes USA and represents 13 brands in total. Shilpa was last seen on the silver screen in the 2007 film Apne but she never really left the limelight. She continued judging various TV reality shows, became an entrepreneur by starting her own fitness channel called The Shilpa Shetty app and invested in a start-up called Mamaearth. Shilpa has over 1.6 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, which covers fashion tips, her fitness regime and a cooking show. While on Instagram, she has gained more than 6 million followers in a short span of time. According to media reports, she has a net worth of $20 million. This year, her long sabbatical of 13 years will also come to an end as she will be seen in two movies -- Nikamma and Hungama 2. Brand Journey Shilpa was 16 and a part of the modelling world when an aerated drinks brand approached her. Today, she regrets falling for money and choosing shortcuts. Shilpa is now wary of the kind of brands she chooses to work with. She has walked out of the meeting rooms if she doesn’t resonate with the brand. “Earlier, I really didn't think about whether I suited the brand. It was only about whether I was getting paid enough to leverage my name. But in the last five years, there has been a change in my thought process. When people take you seriously as a brand or rather someone synonymous with health and fitness, you become more responsible. So if something doesn't resonate with my personality or something that I can't use at home for my family or me, I won't endorse it,” admits Shilpa. Before her big release lined up this year, Shilpa turned down a Rs 10 crore offer from an Ayurvedic Slimming Pill brand because she did not want youngsters, who look up to her, to fall for fad diets. “There's so many brands I have turned down, I can't sit down and list those,” she breaks into a chuckle. She says she would have bagged a lot more brands and made more money had she not been so fastidious. Pan Masala brands and Aerated Drinks are completely off her list and she says she wouldn’t consider endorsing them ‘for all the money in the world.’ Explaining her modus operandi of choosing deals, she says, “I'm very particular and there's a lot of due diligence that goes into the brands that I work with. And I really believe that there is no shortcut in life. If you were to tell people that by popping pills you will lose weight, I think people who actually work out the right way will start losing faith in what they're doing. And I just feel that though we stopped focusing on mental health, and we will be talking about prizes and losing weight, fitting into a certain size, I think mental health is equally important. And I can't endorse something that doesn't fall into line with my philosophy.” The secret behind her relevance in the industry It was during her post-pregnancy period that Shilpa was asked a lot of questions about her fitness regime on the internet. She joined social media to help people out and realised that the audiences’ love for her hasn’t changed. She used that to her advantage and started her own application. It is her penchant for fitness and strong social media following, that brands still find her relevant. “After all these years, I feel like I stayed relevant. Today, I'm doing two films after 13 years but people still know me, not only because of television, but also because I stand for propagating good health. I want to bring about an awareness and want to play the role of a catalyst. As actors, we are always looked up to, and we have the power of social media. I used that to start my own YouTube channel,” shares Shilpa. Now, Shilpa Shetty is in-between meetings, looking for a fundraiser for her application to expand her reach further. Experts Speak Ashutosh Harbola, CEO and Co-founder, Buzzoka thinks that Shilpa had a strong influence on the industry since she made her fortune in Big Brother; her brand image changed after that and IPL, he says, added a cherry on the cake. “Shilpa Shetty is an ever-blooming social media star and her constant touchpoint with her audience makes her relevant even when she doesn't have too much in her kitty. From a brand's perspective, it's the right fit. Since the social and digital-first audience is always on social media, their appetite for relevancy is much filled. Also, Shilpa has been testing a couple of other platforms too which is keeping her both busy and buzzed. We all saw her entry on TikTok and it's a perfect example of being in the news for the right reasons,” says he. “Post her marriage, she is amongst the rich kids of Instagram making the world drool on her cuteness and the lavish lifestyle,” adds Harbola. N Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Research, highlights how strong her social media currency is, which is one of the reasons why brands still love her. “It is not easy for an actor who has been out of an active acting career for over 10 years to continue to stay relevant. However, Shilpa Shetty has reinvented herself in many new avatars to do what she is good at. She is a fitness icon, TV reality show judge, fashionista, partner in a spa chain, has over 1.6 million subscribers on her Youtube food channel, 6 million followers on her Instagram, among other things. Guess that's more than enough to keep her relevant with new-age millennials and others,” says Chandramouli. Social Media and Brand Expert, Karthik Srinivasan thinks Shilpa’s relatability factor for millennials and Gen Y has worked in her favor. “Shilpa Shetty, I believe, appeals to and can be recognised by a whole lot of middle-aged and older women unlike an Ananya Panday or Alia Bhatt. That relatability is what perhaps works in her favor. Ditto for actors like Vidya Balan. To some extent, it's also a factor of a 40+ woman actor to continue to want attention, work and assignments. Some may choose to shun the limelight and live a more obscure life surrounded by people close to them, as a way to escape the excess attention of earlier times. Shilpa Shetty has been in the limelight long after her exiting the film industry, including her foray into owning teams and so on. So, modeling and films continue to help her position her brand,” explains Srinivasan. An inspiration for other actresses The Khans of Bollywood and actors like Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, still continue to be the Top 10 celebrities. Senior actresses, on the other hand, struggle to find film projects. As they vanish from the limelight after they get married, brands stop approaching them. Shilpa is unhesitant to agree that she found her calling much later in her career arc and feels women are finally stepping up to turn the tables. “I found my calling very late but I guess better late than never. Also, times are changing. You see actresses are far more daring today. It's also a more egalitarian world now. Women are given far more opportunities. I think women today are willing to take risks. And yes, it's a different world. And I think that's the only thing that's constant - change,” says Shilpa. Srinivasan also thinks the situation is changing, thanks to actresses like Shilpa Shetty and Vidya Balan and script writers that are breaking the age stereotypes. “I think as an industry, Bollywood (and the regional film industries, in particular) have moved definitely away from age-limits for women actors. While there's always (and still) a demand for young women actors, there are scripts being written for older ages as well, who do not fit the conventional stereotypes of a leading woman in films,” says Srinivasan. He adds, “From a branding point of view, I was very pleasantly surprised to see Tapsee Pannu featured in a Horlicks ad where she was specifically called out as being 30+. Or a Kangana Ranaut playing a mother of a boy in Panga. This scenario was unheard of a few years ago when only men had the freedom to be called 30+, 40+ and still get away with conventional roles in films. 40+ Shilpa Shetty is a variant of the 30+ Tapsee and Kangana.” Chandramouli, on the other hand, feels the onus also lies on actresses. “Brands take endorsements from 53-year-old male actors endorsing colas, and 77-year-old males endorsing everything. When it comes to women celebrities, there are occasions when you will see someone like Madhuri Dixit, who is above 50 years get endorsements. But many don't get as lucky as her. And this age-related aberration is one of the strangest as many times when choosing actors playing an older role, directors tend to cast younger actors. To correct this is the responsibility of female actors as also it is of brands and advertising agencies. Many times due to the paucity of opportunities, women celebrities above 40 tend to start focusing on other areas of their interests in work and personal life. In a highly competitive world, they must continue to stay relevant in their interest areas, stay connected with audiences, and find new interests which find newer fans. Since all endorsements are a commercial arrangement, the fee of endorsement also matters, for the potential endorsers must be willing to adjust fees in line with market demand. For the brands and agencies, it is important to have greater acceptance, to try the different, reink campaigns with such potential endorsers.” While many actresses have come and vanished with time, Shilpa Shetty Kundra has never left the showbiz, setting an example for other female actors in the industry.

What continues to make Shilpa Shetty Kundra relevant for brands

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a32b3f84aa6b5bc198b4c8d-2400/rtxybn8.jpg" alt="Shah Rukh Khan" data-mce-source="Reuters" data-mce-caption="Actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan arrive for the inaugural Times of India Film Awards in Vancouver, British Columbia April 6, 2013." />ReutersShah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan.</div></div></div><ul><li>In interviews with Business Insider, Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Twinkle Khanna say that a hushed culture of sexual misconduct exists throughout India's entertainment industry.</li><li>Allegations against Hollywood mega-producer Harvey Weinstein have encouraged other women to detail reports of sexual misconduct.</li><li>Women in Bollywood are cautious to speak up, but some are starting to tell stories of sexual misconduct. </li></ul><hr /> Hollywood has been roiling with claims of sexual misconduct ever since <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html">The New York Times</a> and <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories">The New Yorker</a> published <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ashley-judd-accuses-harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-2017-10">accusations</a> in October against mega-producer Harvey Weinstein. Since then, more than 50 women have <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-women-who-have-accused-harvey-weinstein-of-sexual-harassment-or-assault-2017-10">accused him</a> of rape, unwanted advances, and sexual harassment.The avalanche of allegations has rocked the film and television world and has even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/powerful-men-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-after-harvey-weinstein-list-2017-10">seeped into other industries</a>. In recent weeks, widespread discussions have sprung up among stars in Bollywood.<h2>'Everybody knows about it'</h2>In an interview with Business Insider, Akshay Kumar - one of the most famous actors in Bollywood - said sexual misconduct is "everywhere" and that the allegations against entertainment stars in the US may encourage other women around the world to speak up."It's just that when [sexual misconduct] happens in Hollywood, it comes out so big," Kumar told Business Insider. "Everybody knows about it, but it's everywhere."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a32c376b0bcd51e008b4ff8-817/gettyimages-97011864.jpg" alt="Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna" data-mce-source="Sherwin Crasto/Getty Images" />Sherwin Crasto/Getty ImagesTwinkle Khanna and her husband, Akshay Kumar.</div></div></div>Twinkle Khanna, an author, film producer, and former Bollywood actor, believes that following the Weinstein allegations, more women in Hollywood are coming forward because they are fed up with mistreatment."It's an outreach that's been suppressed for very long," said Khanna, who is also Kumar's wife. "Women are tired of being grabbed and groped. Women are tired of bending over backwards to get ahead in the workforce, bending over backwards to the point where sometimes they have to lie horizontal in order to go forward."Bollywood is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2014/09/03/bollywood-indias-film-industry-by-the-numbers-infographic/#ccb16d02488b">both larger and smaller</a> than Hollywood, depending on whether you measure size by ticket sales and movies produced (larger) or total revenue (smaller). But broadly speaking, the Indian film and TV industry is colossal. And in a country where patriarchal values still wield tremendous influence, sexual misconduct is especially concerning to a number of stars."We should not just let it be about 'Oh this man behaved like this' and 'This is so shocking,' or all of that," Shah Rukh Khan, another top movie star who's worked in Bollywood for three decades, told Business Insider. "But we should respect the emotion of the women taking such a strong step in coming out, and being so brave, and help stop this from happening in our individual industries."Khan admitted his A-list status comes with some blind spots. When asked if he'd encountered or witnessed any sexual misconduct in his industry, he said he hadn't. But he was quick to concede that he is a successful man in a patriarchal system."The sad part of it is that you don't know if it could be happening right under your nose," Khan said.<h2>Women are overcoming the culture of shame</h2>Bollywood actresses and producers have <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/kangana-ranauts-boldest-statements/kangana-ranauts-take-on-the-sexual-harassment-allegations-against-vikas-bahl/photostory/58129294.cms">reported</a> experiencing harassment before the Weinstein allegations. At the same time, there is a culture of shame for women who come forward.Kangana Ranaut was one of the first (and very few) women in Bollywood to do so.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a32c2824aa6b51d008b4fb2-2000/ap290490236506.jpg" alt="Kangana Ranaut" data-mce-source="Saurabh Das/AP Images" />Saurabh Das/AP ImagesKangana Ranaut.</div></div></div>"I got harassed and I know a lot of people who got harassed. Sometimes you don't have that liberty to put your career at stake," she recently <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-bollywood-sexual-harassment-4982188/">told</a> The Indian Express. "Why would you say, 'Why now? Are you out of job? You didn't scream at that time. Where's the photo? Where's the video?' I should be allowed to talk about [sexual harassment] even from my death bed." Stories from women in India's entertainment industry are starting to trickle out. In <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/13/bollywood-sexual-harassment-actors-speak-out-indian-cinema-open-secret">a recent report</a> from The Guardian, Bollywood actor Reena Saini accused casting director Sohan Thakur of groping her; Swara Bhasker, now an award-winning actor in India, alleged that, when she was new to the industry, a male director sent her incessant text messages on set and demanded she hug him while drunk. Khanna said that she has heard rumors of sexual misconduct in Bollywood, and adds that she's "sure it exists in every profession - across the board." Khan echoed her sentiments."But I think that times are changing," Khanna said. "It's wonderful that women are standing up for something that's been going on for a long time, and hopefully, within a generation, we will come closer to this equality we're trying to achieve. " <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-amazon-warehouse-2016-8">Amazon has an oddly efficient way of storing stuff in its warehouses</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/EtpSuVJz-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

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