Cockroach’ protests end in stunning victory

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has opened up about the importance of mental and emotional well-being, urging people to pay as much attention to their minds as they do to their physical health. The National Award-winning actress reflected on how her experiences while working on films such as Mimi and Do Patti changed her perspective on acting and the emotional impact of portraying complex characters. According to Kriti, she once believed that the characters she played remained confined to the world of cinema and did not have any lasting effect on her personal life. However, her experiences with these two films made her realise that characters can leave an unconscious emotional impact on actors. Kriti explained that the effect of a demanding role does not always become apparent immediately. Sometimes, an actor may complete filming and only begin noticing emotional changes several days later. She said that a character can continue to influence a person’s mood, behaviour and thoughts even after the cameras stop rolling. The actress said this experience taught her the importance of consciously separating herself from the characters she portrays. While actors are expected to completely immerse themselves in their roles, Kriti believes that it is equally important to know when to step away from the emotional world created for a film. She also recalled times when she was personally dealing with difficult or emotionally challenging situations while having to continue working on a comedy project. Despite going through personal struggles, she still had to portray cheerful and entertaining characters in front of the camera. Kriti pointed out that actors repeatedly draw upon their own emotions while performing. They have to access different feelings and sometimes revisit difficult emotional spaces to make their performances believable. Because of this, she believes that maintaining good mental and emotional health should be an important part of an actor’s life. The actress encouraged people to find healthy ways of managing their emotions and maintaining mental balance. She suggested practices such as meditation, therapy and other activities that help individuals feel mentally grounded and emotionally stable. Kriti also shared that she personally turns to meditation from time to time and finds it beneficial. For her, taking a pause and reconnecting with herself helps maintain emotional balance, particularly after working on emotionally demanding projects. Her comments highlight a broader reality of the entertainment industry, where performers are often required to move between intense emotions and different personalities within a short period of time. While professional commitment is important, Kriti believes that taking care of one’s mental health should never be overlooked. Kriti Sanon was most recently seen alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in Cocktail 2. The actress continues to remain one of Bollywood’s prominent performers, balancing commercially successful projects with roles that require emotional depth and versatility.

Mark Ruffalo has strongly rejected allegations of antisemitism made by Paramount after the actor criticised the company’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The actor said his comments were directed at the business and political activities connected to the deal, rather than Jewish people or the Jewish community. He argued that criticising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, military technology contracts, or executives involved in such agreements should not be equated with antisemitism. “The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest,” Ruffalo said in a statement shared on X. He maintained that his remarks were based on his political beliefs and concerns about the proposed merger. Ruffalo also stressed that he has “deep love and respect” for Jewish people, pointing to the important role Jewish friends, colleagues and loved ones have played in his life. His response came after he criticised the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal and raised questions about Oracle’s involvement in supplying technology used by the Israeli military. Paramount had previously criticised Ruffalo’s remarks, saying it was concerned that antisemitic tropes were being used in connection with a business dispute. A company spokesperson said Paramount did not tolerate prejudice against anyone but argued that Ruffalo’s comments warranted criticism. The dispute is part of a wider debate surrounding Paramount’s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo has argued that the transaction could have major consequences for the entertainment industry, particularly in areas such as editorial independence, employment and corporate influence. The actor has also questioned Oracle’s business interests in data, surveillance technology and government contracts. He raised concerns about the possible influence of foreign money and powerful technology companies on media organisations and editorial decisions. Ruffalo has called for greater scrutiny of the proposed transaction, arguing that regulators should provide clearer answers about potential national security concerns before the merger is allowed to proceed. “Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review,” Ruffalo said, arguing that the deal should not move forward until those concerns are properly addressed. His opposition to the merger is not new. In April, Ruffalo joined attorney Norm Eisen in urging state officials to challenge the takeover through antitrust measures. An open letter opposing the transaction has also attracted more than 5,000 signatures, with support from several entertainment industry and advocacy organisations. The proposed deal gained momentum after Paramount Skydance made a $31-per-share offer for Warner Bros. Discovery following Netflix’s withdrawal from its own proposed agreement with the company. As discussions over the merger continue, Ruffalo’s comments have added another layer to the controversy, bringing questions about corporate ownership, political influence, technology contracts and editorial freedom into the wider debate over the future of the entertainment industry.