alia bhatt8217s sweet
|

Alia Bhatt’s sweet reaction to Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana’ trailer

Alia Bhatt could not contain her excitement once the trailer for Ranbir Kapoor’s mythological epic Ramayana finally dropped. The Jigra actress turned to her Instagram story on Thursday morning to share it with fans. She kept her caption short and sweet. It simply read “DIWALI 2026,” dressed up with a few sparkle emojis.

Alia Bhatt's Instagram story featuring Ramayana trailer

Fans had been watching closely for this moment. Alia has always been vocal about supporting Ranbir’s work online. So her reaction to his big mythological role felt like a natural continuation of that habit. It arrived within hours of the trailer going live, adding fuel to the growing buzz around the film.

This is not the first time Alia has praised Ranbir’s work on the project either. During an earlier Zoom conversation, she spoke warmly about his performance. “I think Ranbir has just done such a beautiful job and I just can not wait for you guys to see it,” she said. “It is just out of this world.”

There is also a personal layer to all this excitement. The film is expected to be daughter Raha Kapoor’s first-ever trip to the cinema. Ranbir has spoken about how much this moment means to him. “I am very excited to take my daughter to the film,” he shared. “It is going to be her first film on the big screen.”

In Ramayana, Ranbir plays the role of Lord Ram. According to reports, he leaned into the emotional and spiritual side of the character during preparation. The focus was not just on the physical transformation. It was about truly understanding who Ram is at his core.

The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. It brings together a powerhouse cast. Sai Pallavi plays Sita. Yash takes on the role of Ravana. Sunny Deol steps into the part of Hanuman. Together, they make up one of the most talked-about casts in recent Indian cinema.

Ramayana’s first part is scheduled for release this Diwali, in 2026. Its second instalment will follow a year later, during Diwali 2027. With the scale of the project and the anticipation building around it, the Kapoor family’s theatre outing might turn out to be just as special for audiences as it will be for young Raha.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Goods transporters defer nationwide strike for 40 …

    Goods transporters have announced a 40-day postponement of their nationwide strike following talks with government representatives in Karachi. The negotiations were held at the Governor House in Karachi. Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association President Malik Shahzad attended the meeting. Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Malik Shahzad said transporters had decided to postpone the strike after receiving assurances from the government. He said the transporters had been on a nationwide strike for the past nine days. According to him, the Sindh government assured them that the parking issue would be addressed. Shahzad said the government had also sought 15 days to review the mechanism for determining petroleum prices. The issue of whether fuel prices should be revised every 15 days or once a month would be examined, he added. He said Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan had assured the transporters that a committee would be formed to review toll taxes and consider reducing the charges. The transporters were also assured that 10-wheeler vehicles would be allowed to carry an appropriate weight, Shahzad said. He added that the federal and provincial governments had already resolved some of their concerns. Other issues require decisions at the cabinet level, he said. Shahzad said meetings of the relevant committees would continue. He expressed hope that the government would fulfil its commitments. He clarified that the transporters were not ending their strike permanently. Instead, they were postponing it for 40 days. He warned that the transporters could resume protests if the government failed to implement the assurances given during the negotiations. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the government had addressed the transporters’ issues that could be resolved immediately. He said some demands required formal procedures, which the government would complete. Several committees had been formed to work on the remaining issues, he added. Aleem Khan also criticised the condition of the Karachi-Hyderabad road. He said the existing road could not properly be described as a motorway. He announced that work on a new motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad and onward to Karachi would begin this year. The minister said the government wanted to avoid decisions that could create unnecessary disputes. Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi said the regional situation was currently unusual and had significant economic implications. He said the economic effects of conflicts were being felt not only in Pakistan but across the world. He added that the prime minister and the field marshal were making efforts to ensure that the impact on the public remained manageable. Hashmi said the government and transporters had listened to each other during the negotiations. Both sides, he added, agreed that they were prepared to make sacrifices for the country. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the authorities had spent the entire day trying to resolve the issues raised by transporters. He said the Sindh government would take action on matters falling under its jurisdiction. Wahab stressed that the authorities wanted to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation.

  • | |

    Arjumand Rahim opens up about anxiety and multiple ER visits

    Arjumand Rahim is one of Pakistani television’s most enduring and respected performers. She began her career in the 1990s and has built a body of work that spans three decades, evolving alongside the industry itself and consistently delivering performances that leave a mark. Her recent role in Sher reminded audiences precisely what she is capable of, earning widespread praise and reinforcing her standing as one of the finest actors of her generation. Away from the screen, however, she has been quietly navigating a health struggle that was far more frightening than anything she has portrayed on camera. Appearing as a guest on Vasay Chaudhary’s show, Arjumand spoke with remarkable candour about a period in her life when she repeatedly found herself in the emergency room with no clear explanation for what was happening to her body. She described feeling faint and physically unwell on multiple occasions, with each ER visit leaving her more shaken than the last. Adding to her fear was a deeply personal detail: her father had passed away due to cardiac arrest, and the physical symptoms she was experiencing brought that grief rushing back in the most frightening way possible. Every episode of faintness or discomfort carried the shadow of that loss. It was only when she received a proper diagnosis that the picture began to make sense. She was found to be suffering from extreme anxiety and depression, conditions that had been manifesting through very real and alarming physical symptoms. For someone who had not understood what was happening to her, the diagnosis, while difficult to hear, was also the beginning of clarity. She sought professional help, underwent therapy, and received the treatment she needed to begin recovering. She described the period before the diagnosis as truly frightening, a time when she did not know what was wrong with her and could not explain what her body was doing or why. The uncertainty, layered on top of grief and the physical toll of the episodes themselves, made for an extraordinarily difficult stretch of time. The good news, and she was clear about this, is that she is doing significantly better now. The treatment worked, and the willingness to seek help made the difference. Her decision to speak openly about what she went through carries weight beyond her own story. In Pakistan, conversations around mental health and its physical manifestations remain challenging, and the stigma surrounding anxiety, depression and therapy continues to prevent many people from reaching out. When a figure of Arjumand Rahim’s stature speaks plainly about her own diagnosis and her experience of getting treatment, it sends a message that reaching for help is not weakness but the beginning of getting better. That is a message worth hearing.

  • | |

    Sindh orders immediate reduction in public transpo…

    The Sindh government has ordered an immediate reduction in public transport fares following a significant decrease in the price of high-speed diesel. According to local media reports, the Sindh Transport Department has directed transporters to pass the full benefit of the Rs32.63 per litre reduction in diesel prices on to passengers. The directive covers buses, minibuses, coaches, vans and other public service vehicles operating across the province. Transport authorities have also instructed operators to clearly display updated fare lists at vehicles and bus terminals. The move is aimed at ensuring that passengers receive the benefit of lower fuel prices and that transporters do not continue charging fares based on previous diesel rates. Officials have further been directed to conduct daily road inspections and check public transport vehicles to monitor compliance with the new instructions. Transporters found charging passengers excessive fares could face strict action. According to the Transport Department, penalties for violations may include fines, suspension of route permits and cancellation of vehicle fitness certificates. Authorities have also been instructed to submit daily implementation reports to the Sindh Transport Department. The directive comes after the price of high-speed diesel was reduced by Rs32.63 per litre, bringing its new price to Rs363.06 per litre. The reduction is expected to lower operating costs for public transport operators and has prompted authorities to seek a corresponding reduction in passenger fares. Public transport fares are an important issue for millions of commuters, particularly low-income workers, students and daily wage earners who rely heavily on buses, minibuses and other shared transport services. The Sindh government’s decision is therefore likely to attract considerable attention from passengers who have been waiting for transport fares to reflect changes in fuel prices. The enforcement mechanism will be crucial in determining whether commuters actually receive the benefit of the diesel price reduction. Daily inspections and penalties could help prevent transport operators from charging fares above the officially approved rates. Authorities have emphasized that transporters must comply with the new instructions and ensure that revised fares are clearly communicated to passengers. The latest move represents an effort by the provincial government to link public transport fares in Sindh with changes in fuel prices and provide immediate relief to commuters following the reduction in diesel costs.

  • |

    Pakistan digitises Hajj 2027, announces Rs1.2m cost

    Pakistan has moved towards a completely digital Hajj management system, enabling intending pilgrims to complete registration and make pilgrimage-related payments through the official Pak Hajj mobile application, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf announced on Monday. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the minister outlined the government’s preparations for Hajj 2027, including the estimated cost of pilgrimage packages, payment schedules, allocation of seats for short-duration Hajj and arrangements for collecting payments from pilgrims. He said the government had taken steps to bring the entire Hajj process onto a digital platform in an effort to make registration, payments and other administrative procedures easier, more transparent and traceable. According to the minister, approximately 400,000 people have already registered and are currently progressing through the application process for the government’s Hajj arrangements. Hajj 2027 packages and costs Sardar Yousuf announced that the estimated expenditure for the regular government Hajj package, which will cover a stay of around 40 to 42 days, has been set at approximately Rs1.2 million. The cost of the shorter package, designed for pilgrims opting for a stay of approximately 20 to 22 days, will be around Rs1.3 million, he said. The government has allocated 30,000 seats specifically for pilgrims opting for the short-duration Hajj package. The minister said the government would begin collecting the first instalment of Hajj expenses from August 17, while the second instalment would be payable during the second week of October. He added that applicants who are not selected to perform Hajj in 2027 would be placed on a waiting list for consideration in the subsequent year. Payments to be processed digitally The minister said the digitalisation programme would cover financial transactions as well as the registration process. Pilgrims would be required to use the Pak Hajj application for making payments instead of relying on other payment channels. The same digital mechanism will also be available to pilgrims travelling under the private Hajj scheme, allowing them to make their payments through the application. Sardar Yousuf emphasised that the government intends to keep Hajj-related financial transactions within the designated digital system to improve monitoring and ensure greater transparency. Pilgrims opting for the private scheme, however, will retain the option of selecting an online Hajj service provider of their choice. Habib Bank selected for Hajj payments As part of the new financial arrangements, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has entered into an agreement with Habib Bank Islami to facilitate the collection of Hajj payments. The minister said the bank would work with the ministry as its authorised banking partner for receiving pilgrimage-related funds under the arrangements being introduced for the upcoming Hajj season. He expressed satisfaction over the partnership and said the agreement would formally be signed on Monday. Minister responds to question over bank selection During the press conference, a journalist questioned the ministry’s decision to authorise Habib Bank as the banking partner for collecting Hajj applications and payments, asking why other banks had not been selected. Responding to the question, Sardar Yousuf said the ministry had opened the process to banks and invited them to participate. He explained that the banks that submitted applications were evaluated against the ministry’s requirements. According to the minister, Habib Bank was the only institution that fulfilled the required criteria, particularly those related to digital payment facilities. He said other participating banks were unable to meet the ministry’s stipulated requirements, which ultimately led to Habib Bank being selected as the authorised partner. Government seeks greater transparency through digital system The government believes the new digital framework will reduce paperwork and simplify several stages of the Hajj process for Pakistani pilgrims. By shifting registration and payment procedures to a centralised digital platform, the Ministry of Religious Affairs aims to improve oversight of applications and financial transactions while reducing the scope for manual errors. The integration of both government and private Hajj arrangements into the app-based system is also expected to provide pilgrims with easier access to information and payment services.

  • |

    Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji dies at 97

    BEIJING: Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, a key figure in the country’s economic transformation during the 1990s, has died at the age of 97. Zhu was known for his direct speaking style and his strong support for economic reform. His tenure was marked by major changes aimed at restructuring China’s state-dominated economy and opening it further to global markets. He served as China’s vice premier from 1991 to 1998 before becoming premier, a position he held until early 2003. Zhu’s political career began decades earlier. He graduated from Tsinghua University and joined the Communist Party in 1949. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to work in the countryside and experienced a period of political hardship. He was later rehabilitated and gradually returned to senior government positions. In 1987, Zhu became mayor of Shanghai. During his tenure, he helped guide the city through early economic reforms and development that eventually contributed to its emergence as a major international financial centre. He moved to Beijing in 1991 after joining the central government. As vice premier and later premier, Zhu became closely associated with efforts to tackle economic overheating, inflation and financial instability. His government introduced wide-ranging reforms to state-owned enterprises. Many inefficient state companies were closed, restructured or privatised, while large numbers of workers were laid off. Zhu also strengthened the central government’s control over taxation and introduced reforms that encouraged private home ownership. Those changes played a major role in reshaping China’s housing market. One of his most significant achievements was helping China secure membership of the World Trade Organization in 2001, following years of difficult negotiations. China formally joined the organisation in December that year. The WTO accession accelerated China’s integration into the global economy and helped expand international trade and investment. However, Zhu’s reform programme also had critics. Some observers argued that changes to agricultural policy, tax arrangements and state-owned enterprises created difficulties that later governments had to address. Despite those criticisms, Zhu remained widely regarded as one of the most influential economic reformers in modern Chinese history. His reputation for blunt remarks became particularly prominent after a collection of his speeches was published in 2011. The books contained unusually candid assessments of corruption, government debt, banking problems and weaknesses in public administration. The speeches attracted significant public attention because they addressed many of the economic and social challenges facing China at the time. Zhu warned about corruption, inequality and problems created by local officials. His comments continued to attract interest among reform-minded officials, academics and members of the public long after he left office. His death marks the passing of a leader who played a central role in one of the most consequential periods of China’s economic development. Zhu’s legacy is closely linked to the difficult reforms of the 1990s, when China moved towards a more market-oriented economy while maintaining the political control of the Communist Party.

  • |

    England fast bowler John Turner retires at just 25

    England fast bowler John Turner has announced his shock retirement from professional cricket at the age of 25, bringing the curtain down on a promising five-year career. Turner, who represented England in two ODIs and two T20Is in 2024, made the difficult decision after a prolonged battle with injuries kept him away from professional cricket since June last year. The Hampshire fast bowler suffered a stress fracture in his back, an injury that forced him to spend more than a year on the sidelines. Despite having two years remaining on his Hampshire contract and holding an England and Wales Cricket Board development contract until the end of last year, Turner decided that it was time to move on. Explaining his decision, Turner said the repeated injuries had made him think seriously about his future both as a cricketer and beyond the sport. “Playing professional and international cricket was always my dream,” Turner said, describing representing Hampshire and England as the fulfilment of childhood ambitions. He admitted that retirement was one of the toughest decisions of his life but said he believed it was the right moment to take on a new challenge. Turner made his first-class debut for Hampshire in 2021 and described his five years with the club as the best period of his life. He also thanked Hampshire’s management, coaches, teammates and supporters for their unwavering backing. His retirement brings a surprisingly early end to the career of a bowler who had once earned an international opportunity at just 23.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *