Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Laapata Ladies, Bridgerton and Heeramandi might have dominated the OTT cycle last month, but none of these dramas can hold a candle to the absolute thriller that unfolded during the Lok Sabha election cycle this year. While the parties scramble to decide their allegiances, most people are already convinced about a result familiar to the previous two general elections: <keyword id="20509939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-3-0" source="keywords">Modi 3.0</keyword>. However, the road to the end has proven anything but a bed of lotuses for the Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword>). Despite staunch optimism of winning 400 out of 543 seats, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (<keyword id="19938590" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NDA" source="keywords">NDA</keyword>) managed to capture only 293 — a margin barely above the 272 seats majority, and dozens below their 2014 and 2019 standings. Then came the fact that the BJP, with only 240 seats won, would have to be supported by two major partner parties: the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), if they wished to finalise a majority and form the next Lok Sabha. This meant that the ball currently remains in the courts of these two quintessential “Kingmakers”; will they keep their pre-poll promises to ensure the continuity of Mr Modi, or usurp him by joining the opposition <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA" source="keywords">INDIA</keyword> bloc? This mystery may linger not just this week, but throughout the term of the next government given the fickle nature of the Indian political system. As we move into the final few legs of this political marathon, the story has only taken a turn for the juicier. According to media reports, INDIA has now offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister to JD(U) Nitish Kumar and a special status to Andhra Pradesh (with TDP majority) if the parties align with the alliance and forsake their NDA partnership. If they agree, the INDIA-TDP-JD(U) coalition could overthrow BJP-NDA to form the government, making for the biggest <keyword id="21945335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-plot-twist" source="keywords">political plot twist</keyword> in decades. While we wait for the historical gavel to drop, let’s take a look back at the other bombshells to have come out of the tallying process so far. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP falls short of majority" comment="subhead" text="BJP falls short of majority">BJP falls short of majority</cmsannotation> Despite battle cries of ‘Abki baar 400 par’, the Modi-led party has failed to cross the required 272 seats necessary for a clear majority and stands far below their performances in 2014 and 2019. They are no longer self-sufficient enough to make a third term without the support from allies. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland" comment="subhead" text="BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland">BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland</cmsannotation> The northern states, which constitute a large section of the Hindi-speaking population, have been considered BJP’s biggest loyalists. Despite this, the party has faced unexpected stiff competition in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Haryana. These are crucial states for the BJP, as they hold a large number of seats and losing a majority of these seats has weakened their moral position. While some blame the loss on the anger of dominant castes in the region, others say that the party ignored these stronghold regions in pursuit of expansion to the east and south. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions" comment="subhead" text="NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions">NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions</cmsannotation> Not only has BJP itself been unable to capture the required majority, their NDA coalition hasn’t even touched 300 Lok Sabha seats. This indicates a significant loss of public support compared to predictions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP loses Ram Temple Constituency" comment="subhead" text="BJP loses Ram Temple Constituency">BJP loses <keyword id="41267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram-temple" source="Orion">Ram Temple</keyword> Constituency</cmsannotation> Construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been one of BJP’s most prominent election promises in the past two elections. Despite delivering on this front, the party has lost the Faizabad seat to Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lotus blooms down south" comment="subhead" text="Lotus blooms down south">Lotus blooms down south</cmsannotation> BJP opened its account for the first time in Kerala with a win for actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi at the Thrissur seat. In Telangana, both BJP and Congress put up a strong performance by winning eight seats each and sidelining the regional parties. However, for the BJP, Tamil Nadu was a disappointment as it failed to win even one seat despite immense push from all quarters. The party did manage to increase the vote share to double digits despite a lack of support from the regional parties. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP wins all Delhi seats" comment="subhead" text="BJP wins all Delhi seats">BJP wins all Delhi seats</cmsannotation> Making a hat-trick, the BJP won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi for the third time, beating the Congress-AAP alliance. <h3>Individual/Regional Politics</h3><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Rahul Gandhi wins two seats" comment="subhead" text="Rahul Gandhi wins two seats">Rahul Gandhi wins two seats</cmsannotation> After a risky contest for two seats in Kerala’s Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli, the Congress leader has won both by a massive margin. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kangana Ranaut wins Himachal seat" comment="subhead" text="Kangana Ranaut wins Himachal seat"><keyword id="10343350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kangana-ranaut-wins" source="Orion">Kangana Ranaut wins</keyword> Himachal seat</cmsannotation> The celebrity candidate’s debut resulted in a strong win for the Mandi seat for BJP. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Smriti Irani loses" comment="subhead" text="Smriti Irani loses">Smriti Irani loses</cmsannotation> Despite high expectations, Smriti Irani loses the Amethi seat by a large margin to Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma. This is a high-profile defeat for a key BJP figure. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup" comment="subhead" text="Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup">Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup</cmsannotation> Earlier trends had briefly indicated trouble for the recurrent Thiruvananthapuram MP. However, the tides turned quickly, handing Tharoor the win over Rajeev Chandrasekhar. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins" comment="subhead" text="Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins">Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins</cmsannotation> Stepping up to politics for the first time, cricketer turned politician Yusuf Pathan won West Bengal’s Baharampur seat for the Trinamool Congress. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab" comment="subhead" text="Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab">Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab</cmsannotation> Amritpal Singh, a notable Khalistan supporter and independent candidate clinched the Khadoor Sahib seat from jail in Punjab. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share" comment="subhead" text="Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share">Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share</cmsannotation> Despite a final win by Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel in Karnataka’s Hassan constituency, JD(U)’s Prajwal Revanna garnered 46.5% of the total votes. This has occurred despite being in police custody and having a massive sexual assault case lodged against the candidate. <h3>Other notable events</h3><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters" comment="subhead" text="Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters">Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters</cmsannotation> Controversy had earlier erupted in Indore after Congress candidate Akshya Kanti Bam deferred to BJP shortly before the voting process had begun. In response, over 2 lakh voters placed their bets on ‘None of the Above’, expressing dissatisfaction with the choices presented to them. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels" comment="subhead" text="Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels">Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels</cmsannotation> Anticipating an easy win and stable third term for Modi, the Indian stock surged right before the election. However, government uncertainty later on spurred the Nifty and BSE Sensex indices to crash by as much as 8.5%.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Biggest shockers to come out of the thrilling election results

Meerut, Actor <keyword id="19935807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="arun-govil" source="keywords">Arun Govil</keyword>, who has been fielded by the BJP from the <keyword id="21103234" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="meerut-lok-sabha" source="keywords">Meerut Lok Sabha</keyword> seat, said he has spent 17 years of his life in the city and was looking forward to serving the people there. The actor, who became a household name after essaying the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's "Ramayan", reached Meerut on Tuesday evening and held meetings with the local BJP leaders and office bearers. "I was born here (in Meerut) and spent my childhood here. The first 17 years of my life were spent in Meerut. I was a student of <keyword id="21103233" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sarasawati-shishu-mandir-school" source="keywords">Sarasawati Shishu Mandir School</keyword> after which I joined the Government Inter college," Govil told reporters after he arrived in the city. Asked what the people of Meerut can expect from him if he wins the election, he said, "Whatever I have done in my life till today was a form of service... This (MP) will be another form of service to the people." In response to a question regarding the Ram temple, Govil said after the consecration ceremony, the entire country and the world have become "rammay". He also praised Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> for his developmental work and said no one else can match him. After he arrived in Meerut, Govil along with party officials also went to Augharnath Temple, where he performed Jalabhishek of Lord Ashutosh. A large crowd gathered at the temple to catch a glimpse of Govil or take a selfie with him. Later, the BJP candidate reached the Martyrs' Memorial and paid tributes to the fallen soldiers. Govil, however, refused to comment on Congress leader <keyword id="20202422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supriya-shrinate" source="keywords">Supriya Shrinate</keyword>'s alleged offensive remarks against actor <keyword id="19941210" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kangana-ranaut" source="keywords">Kangana Ranaut</keyword> who has been fielded by the BJP from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat. "Don't ask me... Ask her (Ranaut)," Govil said.

Spent my childhood in Meerut, eager to serve its people: Ramayan's Arun Govil

Mumbai, <keyword id="360594" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="actress-kangana-ranaut" source="Orion">Actress Kangana Ranaut</keyword>, who is gearing up for multiple films in her kitty, has called her upcoming film '<keyword id="38025" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chandramukhi" source="Orion">Chandramukhi</keyword> 2', a "quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer", and her role as a larger-than-life one in the film. After delivering her performance as the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa in '<keyword id="12047665" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thailaivii" source="Orion">Thailaivii</keyword>' (2020), the actress will be back on the Tamil screens with the P. <keyword id="21795" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vasu" source="Orion">Vasu</keyword> directorial 'Chandramukhi 2'. In the film, she steps into the role of a dancer who is known for her beauty and unmatched dancing skills. 'Chandramukhi 2' is a true blue commercial entertainer and a sequel to one of the most celebrated films in popular culture 'Chandramukhi' which has led to many remakes in multiple Indian languages. Talking about working in 'Chandramukhi 2', the four times National Award winning actress said, "I play a larger-than-life character in a quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer. It's a mix of genres, the film has a bit of action, comedy, horror, romance and is also a musical. In fact, this is the first time that I have been part of a big entertainer playing a larger-than-life character." She further mentioned, "My director, P Vasu has been an inspiration to work with. Working on this film has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life." 'Chandramukhi 2' is set to debut in theatres on September 15. Post this, the actress will be seen in 'Tejas' which is based on the life of air force pilot <keyword id="12691363" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tejas-gill" source="Orion">Tejas Gill</keyword>. She also has her directorial in the pipeline, 'Emergency' in which she will portray the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. --IANS aa/svn

Chandramukhi 2 a quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer: Kangana Ranaut

<keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>, who has been bouncing from controversy to controversy over the last one year, has won the title of best actress at the <keyword id="9121721" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="67th-national-film-awards">67th National Film Awards</keyword> for her work in Manikarnika and Panga. This is her fourth win under the National Film Awards banner. In 2008, she won the award for the best-supporting actress in the movie Fashion. Her second award came in 2014 for her performance in the movie Queen followed by her third win in 2015 for Tanu Weds Manu Returns. (Developing story)

Kangana Ranaut bags the award for best actress at the 67th National Film Awards

International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is one of the most reputed film awards, and also the most awaited ones for sure. This year, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> celebrities touched down at Malaysia to attend one of the biggest galas of the year, and thanks to social media, everyone got to have a look at the ongoing magnificence. 
 
The award function took place on 5th June, and was a grand affair, as visible from the various images on Twitter and Instagram. 
 
Hosted by the Bollywood babas Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, the award function would be telecast on Colors channel, but we bet that you can’t wait to know who won what at this esteemed award ceremony. 
 
You really don’t have to wait that long; here is the complete list of major performance awards won at the esteemed award function. 
 
Image courtesy: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheIIFAAwards/photos/a.246171418738203.61529.246171195404892/619413718080636/?type=1&amp;theater">IIFA Facebook</a>

Here is the list of the winning performances at IIFA 2015

There’s a reason why <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/All-Hail-The-Queen-Here-Are-Kangana-Ranauts-Top-10-Looks-So-Far/articleshow/47500080.cms">Kangana Ranaut</a> is referred to as the ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Queen</a>’ of Bollywood. Apart from her commendable acting skills which can make any film an overnight success, Kangana’s interviews are a breath of fresh air because of how candid she is, compared to most actors in the film industry. 
 
Hardly afraid to call a spade, a spade, she doesn’t shy away from saying what everyone else is merely thinking in their heads. 
 Diplomacy be damned, when <keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword> is around, for this girl stands for is bluntness! 
 
In a recent interview with RJ Malishka, Kangana Ranaut demystified the meaning of a phrase frequently used by our stars. 
 
According to Kangana, the term’ just good friends’ in reality transcends to a fuck buddy being promoted a little bit. 
 
While social media has been going gaga over Ranaut’s honesty, considering Bollywood is starved of actors speaking their heart out, who don’t prefer hiding behind the veil of diplomacy; this is indeed a big win. 
 However, this is not the first time the <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword> has spoken her mind. Business Insider lists down five instances when Kangana Ranaut has proved that she’s all about the honesty- 
 
1. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Heres-how-Twitter-trolled-Sonam-Kapoor-for-being-Desi-Rihanna/articleshow/47344824.cms">Sonam Kapoor</a>, known for saying things without thinking had on Koffee with Karan suggested that Kangana Ranaut should brush up her English skills. To that, Kangana had the following response- 
 
"I can also things like that but I don't. I don't know what is best for Sonam, I don't know what she should be doing with her life because I don't think about her life. It is very kind of her to think about me, but really I don't need her advice" 
 
2. Sexism is a part and parcel of life if you’re a woman living in country. And, Kangana Ranaut’s following quote proves that you cannot escape that even if you are a National Award winning actress! 
 
“Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don’t get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It’s not so much about the money, but it’s about ( being a) woman” 
 
3. In an interview with Rajeev Masand, where she was accompanied by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Deepika-Padukone-Video-Vogue-Or-Vague/articleshow/46744351.cms">Deepika Padukone</a>, Kangana Ranaut redefined what being frank actually meant. 
Masand asked both the actors if they had signed a movie just for money. While Padukone was quick to retort with ‘No, never’, Kangana, on the other hand spoke the truth- ‘Yes I have’ she said. 
With that answer, she also taught us that we should be proud of your mistakes. We forgive you for Krrish 3 Kangana, We do. 
 
4. Unlike most others in the industry, which includes King Khan himself, Kangana made headlines when she turned down a Rs 2 crore fairness cream, advertisement opportunity. When asked what led to her decision, this was her response- 
 
“Ever since I was a kid, I have never understood the concept of fairness. Especially, in such a case, as a celebrity, what kind of an example would I be setting for younger people? I have no regrets about turning this offer down. As a public figure, I have responsibilities," 
 
You had her heart, but with this you have our respect, Kangana. 
 
5. “I am the struggler of the century” 
 
She’s spent over eight years in the industry and has carved out a name for herself without piggy backing on connections and yet she considers herself as a struggler and not a star. If this is not brutal honesty, I don’t know what is. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Five times Kangana Ranaut proved that she is the queen of sass

<ul><li><keyword id="7162500" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tanhaji">Tanhaji</keyword>: The Unsung Warrior has crushed the box office records ever since its release on January 10, with a whopping ₹224 crore collection in three weeks. </li><li>Tanhaji is dominating the box office primarily because there are no films to compete against it. </li><li>Republic Day also gave a big boost to Tanhaji’s huge growth on its third Sunday — with trade analyst suggesting earnings going up by ₹15 crore. </li></ul><keyword id="6354714" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ajay-devgn">Ajay Devgn</keyword>’s Tanhaji:The Unsung Warrior crushed the box office records with a whopping ₹224 crore collections in three weeks. It is the first film of 2020 to cross the ₹200 crore club. The movie which is still running to packed houses, earned ₹5.4 crore on January 24 and ₹9.5 crore on January 25. The film is on the path to become the biggest blockbuster for Ajay Devgn, beating his comic caper hit, Golmaal Again. <keyword id="6354713" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kajol">Kajol</keyword>, who also features in the film, took to instagram to express her excitement about Tanhaji’s success. She is now waiting for the box office collection to cross ₹250. <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype=""><cdata><![CDATA[


]]></cdata></div>

 “The collections are lopsided and it's rare for films that are lopsided to become a blockbuster but Maharashtra is simply insane at all its centres,” <a href="https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=5851">said Boxofficeindia. </a> The patriotic movie was declared tax-free in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana after it entered the ₹100 crore club. Tough competition to Street Dancer 3D and Panga Tanhaji also owes its success to little competition from new releases. Remo D’Souza’s Street Dancer 3D, released on January 24, failed to woo the audiences. The film received poor reviews — for being ‘boring’. “Street Dancer 3D Review: Just Watch TikTok Instead,''<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/street-dancer-movie-review-varun-dhawan_in_5e2ab14ac5b67d8874afbd31"> wrote</a> Ankur Pathak from HuffPost India. But Street Dancer 3D isn’t the only disappointment as Panga featuring Kangana Ranaut too minted a mere ₹12 crore on its opening weekend. Tanhaji also beat Deepika Padukone’s <keyword id="7140139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chhapaak">Chhapaak</keyword> which also released on the same day. It earned thrice that of Chhapaak on the release day to clock in ₹50 crore for the weekend. The film is based on the life of <keyword id="2133659" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tanaji-Malusare">Tanaji Malusare</keyword>, the military leader of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji army. The winning formula of patriotism The Republic Day weekend also gave a big boost to Tanhaji’s footfalls on its third Sunday. For the weekend, it might have earned as much as ₹15 crore, say analysts. According to s<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/heres-why-ajay-devgn-and-saif-ali-khans-period-drama-tanhaji-the-unsung-warrior-is-a-phenomenal-success-senior-trade-analyst-shares-his-view/articleshow/73651366.cms">enior trade analyst Taran Adarsh</a>, the historical plot of the film clubbed with brilliant performances aided its remarkable run. Patriotism has become a superhit formula for Bollywood. In 2019, <keyword id="71431" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uri">Uri</keyword>: the surgical, based on the fictional account of a covert operation by the Indian army, also earned a whopping ₹342 crore. Aditya Dhar, director of Uri, believes that patriotic fervour <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-50577448/the-success-of-india-s-patriotic-movies">played a big role in its success. </a> “As long as it's a patriotic film and as long as the story is great, it will work,” <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-50577448/the-success-of-india-s-patriotic-movies">he told BBC. </a> Another patriotic film that won the hearts of the audience was Mission Mangal featuring Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha. The fictional film is based on India’s ambition mission to Mars, and earned ₹209 crore. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/pvr-and-inox-are-all-set-to-rise-ticket-prices-but-for-the-first-time-in-2-years/articleshow/73520251.cms">PVR and Inox are all set to rise ticket prices — but for the first time in 2 years</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/weekend-watchlist-the-top-shows-on-netflix-amazon-prime-and-other-streaming-services/articleshow/73572808.cms">Weekend Watchlist: The top shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services</a>

Tanhaji wins the third weekend battle too — as Street Dancer 3D and Panga fail to put up a fight

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">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> 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">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">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> </div> </div>

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar: Women speaking up about sexual misconduct is overdue

<ul><li>Singer Babul Supriyo, the BJP MP from Asansol in West Bengal swears into Modi’s cabinet. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh was also sworn in as a Minister of State.</li><li>Former Power and Railways Minister Dr Arvind Sawant from Mumbai South who defeated Milind Deora of Congress too has taken oath. </li><li>Among those who have taken oath include Thawar Chand Gehlot, S Jaishankar (former Foreign Secretary), Ramesh Pokhriyal, Arjun Munda, Dr Harsh Vardhan (former Science Ministry), Prakash Javadekar (former HRD minister), and Piyush Goel (former coal minister).</li><li>Narendra Modi has taken charge as the Prime Minister of the country for the second time in a swearing in ceremony that just concluded.</li></ul> Update at 09:05 pm Debut MP Debasree Chaudhuri of Raiganj in West Bengal takes oath as Minister of State in Modi’s cabinet. Sanjeev Balyan, Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao, Anurag Singh Thakur from Hamirpur, Suresh Angadi, Nityanand Rai, Rattan Lal Kataria, V Muraleedharan, Renuka Singh Saruta, Som Prakash, Rameshwar Teli, Pratap Sarangi, Kailash Chaudhari, Debasree Chaudhuri were also sworn in as Ministers of State. Update at 08:30 pm Ramdas Athawale from Maharashtra’s Sangli district was sworn in as Minister of State, along with Parshottam Rupala. Update at 08:25 pm Secunderabad BJP MP Kishan Reddy takes oath. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gen V K Singh, Krishan Pal Gurjar from Faridabad, and Raosaheb Danve too were sworn in. Update at 08:10 pm Prahlad Patel, Raj Kumar Singh from Arrah constituency, Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandavia, Faggan Singh Kulaste also take oath. Update at 08:02 pm Shripad Yesso Naik from North Goa is inducted into Modi’s cabinet. Dr Jitendra Singh, the current MP of Haridwar is also sworn in. Update at 08:00 pm Rao Inderjit Singh BJP’s MP from Gurugram, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Santosh Kumar Gangwar from Bareily in Uttar Pradesh were sworn in. Update at 07:55 pm Giriraj Singh from Bihar’s Begusarai who defeated Kanhaiya Kumar, the former student leader and a candidate of Communist Party of India (CPI) was also sworn in. Update at 07:50 pm Former Power and Railways Minister Dr Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai South who defeated Milind Deora of Congress too has taken oath. Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, former Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (former Minority Affairs Minister), Pralhad Joshi, too have taken oath. Update at 07:40 pm Piyush Goel and Prakash Javadekar take the oath. Update at 07:35 pm Smriti Irani who won at Amethi against Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi as its MP, also took oath to cheering public. She was the textiles minister in the earlier cabinet. Update at 07:25 pm Narendra Singh Tomar (formerly Rural Development Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad (former Telecom and Law Minister); Harsimrat Kaur Badal (former food processing minister) too have taken oath. Update at 07:19 pm Ram Vilas Paswan also takes the oath of office and secrecy. Update at 07:16 pm Incumbent Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also takes the oath. Update at 07:12 pm Shri Rajnath Singh follows Modi to take oath. He was home affairs minister in the last cabinet. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah has also taken oath. He did not hold a portfolio in the last cabinet Update at 07:07 pm Narendra Modi takes charge as India’s PM for the second time Update at 07:00 pm <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-narendra-modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> has also arrived at the event. As many as 50 ministers of the cabinet will take oath after the PM today. The ceremony will start at 7 PM. Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut have already arrived at the event at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid along with his first lady too arrived at the event. Update at 06:30 pm Dignitaries and top industrialists like Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani; along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah have already arrived at the venue, to view Narendra Modi take the oath as the Prime Minister for the second time. It’s a big day for India and Narendra Modi who will once again take oath as India’s Prime Minister for a second consecutive term. The master communicator, who has stormed back to power with yet another thumping majority, will once again use the moment and the stage as effectively as it can be. The oath taking ceremony will be held at 7 pm on Thursday (May 30), ensuring that all the attention of prime time television viewers are solely on him. He gave <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/full-text-of-modi-speech-lok-sabha-election-2019/articleshow/69467611.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">over an hour long victory speech</a>, again on prime time, after the election results were declared on May 23. Run up to the event Modi has kickstarted his oath-taking day, early this morning by saluting his heroes. He paid a tribute at the National War Memorial in the morning. The PM from Guajrat won a second consecutive term with a thumping majority, also paid tribute to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prominent former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This charismatic former Prime Minister was instrumental in creating the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 1998. Modi who hails from Gandhinagar which was also home to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, also visited Rajghat today to pay homage. The newly elected PM’s oath taking ceremony promises to be interesting as <a data-type="tilCustomLink">8,000 guests</a> from within and outside the country are expected to pour in for the event. It is being touted as the biggest ever event that takes place at Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The event also promises to be star-studded as many Bollywood celebrities including Vivek Oberoi who played the role of Modi, in a now-released movie ‘Modi’, are expected to attend the event. Invites have also gone in for <a data-type="tilCustomLink">BIMSTEC leaders</a>—which includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. However, it is now known that leaders from Kyrgyzstan and Mauritius will be attending the event. The swearing in ceremony is striving to make Modi’s guests from his constituency in Varanasi feel special. A special gallery called ‘Kashi Sankul’ is being set-up to accommodate 250 special guests from Uttar Pradesh. The event however is not without its controversies. The winning party BJP invited the families of those killed in the West Bengal political violence which erupted just before the last phase of polling. This move angered Mamata Banerjee the chief minister of the state and the head of Trinamool Congress, who declined an invitation to the attend the ceremony. BJP’s ally in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena slammed Banerjee for this move, in an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamna. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/modis-swearing-in-ceremony-is-set-to-be-the-biggest-event-ever-with-8000-guests/articleshow/69571352.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Modi's swearing in ceremony is set to be the biggest event ever, with 8,000 guests</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/full-text-of-modi-speech-lok-sabha-election-2019/articleshow/69467611.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Full text of Modi’s first speech after historic election victory</a>

You Searched For "kangana ranaut wins" and got 9 results

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Biggest shockers to come out of the thrilling election results

Ankush Banerjee

Spent my childhood in Meerut, eager to serve its people: Ramayan's Arun Govil

PTI

Chandramukhi 2 a quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer: Kangana Ranaut

IANS

Kangana Ranaut bags the award for best actress at the 67th National Film Awards

BI India Bureau

Here is the list of the winning performances at IIFA 2015

Nandini Sharma

Five times Kangana Ranaut proved that she is the queen of sass

Poulomi Das

Tanhaji wins the third weekend battle too — as Street Dancer 3D and Panga fail to put up a fight

Preeti Soni

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar: Women speaking up about sexual misconduct is overdue

Leanna Garfield,Chris Weller

Narendra Modi Oath Taking Ceremony Live Updates: Amit Shah enters Narendra Modi’s cabinet; Smriti Irani welcomed with loud cheers

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides