Deepika Padukone has had a successful year to begin with. Back-to-back blockbusters like Pathaan and Jawan have truly increased her star value, showcasing her talent. She had pivotal roles to play in two films starring Shah Rukh Khan. And now, she’s gearing up for Fighter. 

The actress was seen in a video yesterday that was making the rounds online, with her sister Anisha Padukone. They are reportedly visiting the Tirumala temple to seek blessings from Lord Venkateswara.

Deepika was seen dressed in a casual black co-ords set and a top knot.

Check out the pictures here:

The Supreme Court has directed the family of Nikhil Gupta – the man accused by the United States of conspiring to assassinate US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun – to approach a Czech court for relief. Mr Gupta, currently in a prison in Prague, had asked India to intervene in extradition proceedings imitated by the US. The petition, filed by a family member identified only as Mr X, claimed Mr Gupta’s detention “illegal” and said there were fears to his life as a “law-abiding citizen”.

The court acknowledged this to be an “extremely sensitive matter” for the Ministry of External Affairs, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna first directed the petitioner to “go before the court which is outside India”, making the point that the Supreme Court of India had no jurisdiction over arrests in another country.

“The person detained (Nikhil Gupta) has not given affidavit. If there is violation of any law… you have to go to court over there,” Justice Khanna underlined, before relenting and scheduling a hearing for next month, “Serve copy to central government (also),” the court said before closing the matter for now.

The petition had said “… circumstances (of the arrest in Prague) were marked by irregularities, with no formal arrest warrant presented, and the apprehension executed by self-claimed US agents rather than local Czech authorities”. It also claims “grave violations of fundamental rights”, including “forced consumption of beef and pork” that he found offensive as he is a “devout Hindu and vegetarian”.

READ | “Rights Violated”: What Family Of Indian Accused In US Murder Plot Claimed

Nikhil Gupta, 52, is accused of trying to hire a hitman to assassinate Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist who holds American-Canadian citizenship. The ‘hitman’ was an undercover US federal agent.

He faces a 20-year jail term if convicted of the murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges. The US has also accused an Indian government employee, whose identity has been withheld at this time.

READ | Who Is Nikhil Gupta, Man Charged In Failed Plot To Kill Khalistan Terrorist

US federal prosecutors have said Mr Gupta and the Indian government employee, whom they have code-named CC-1, exchanged a series of telephonic and electronic communications starting May, in which the latter asked the former to plan the murder. In return, Mr Gupta was promised assistance in dropping a criminal case against him in India. The two also met in person, in Delhi, the US has said.

Acting on CC-1’s instructions, Mr Gupta allegedly sought the assistance of an individual he believed to be a criminal associate but who was, in reality, a confidential informant working with the United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration, to hire a hitman to kill Pannun in New York City.

Subsequently, CC-1 reached a deal – allegedly brokered by Mr Gupta, labelled an “international narcotics trafficker” – with the undercover officer to pay $100,000 for the killing.

Responding to the charges, the External Affairs Ministry had said “India takes such inputs seriously, since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments are already examining the issue.” A high-level inquiry committee has been established, the government said.

Last week, the White House called on Delhi to hold accountable those involved in this plot, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States “looks forward to the results” of the inquiry.

READ | “Take It Very Seriously”: US After Indian Charged In Alleged Murder Plot

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that while India “remains a strategic partner”, “… we take these allegations, and this investigation, very seriously”.

Meanwhile, this case has prompted renewed scrutiny of allegations made by Canada – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government said it had “credible allegations” that an Indian government official was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen, in June.

READ | India Must Take “Canada’s Allegations Seriously”: Trudeau After US Case

Last month, after the US’ charges were revealed, Mr Trudeau told reporters it “… underscores what we’ve been talking about from the beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously.”

READ | S Jaishankar Asks Canada To Give Evidence In Hardeep Nijjar Killing Case

India has rubbished Canada’s claims as “motivated” and “absurd”, and told Ottawa “this is not the Government of India’s policy”. It has also pointed out that no concrete evidence has been shared so far.

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Kaisi Ye Dor feels like an ode to the Sooraj Barjatya school of filmmaking. It’s set in a smalltown, is vocal about family values and family bond, and is teeming with people who are super sanskari. And the conflict in the film, which is designed as an old-fashioned love triangle, gets resolved without much effort. It also contains good old-fashioned music, reminiscent of the golden era of Hindi films, which utilised folk melodies.

Tripathi Ji (Brijendra Kala), is a strict cop who isn’t at all happy with his wayward son, Abhimanyu (Nikhil Pandey), who is a tourist guide in Benaras but in reality cons foreign tourists into spending more and more money into frivolous things.Abhimanyu is of the belief that the end always justifies the means and can’t seem to reconcile himself with his father’s honest ways. Though he doesn’t get along with his father, his mother, (Sunita Rajwar), always supports him. Things take a turn when he falls in love with Rashmi (Jashn Agnihotri), a rich girl who has come to explore her roots. They start off on the wrong foot but later become close. His father thinks that he would wake up to the realities of life after marriage and forces Abhimanyu into an arranged wedding with Vidya (Ratna Neelam Pandey), a traditional and well-educated girl. There’s no connection with them at all. He refuses to consummate his marriage and doesn’t even speak to her. Things thaw up when he notices how diligently she’s taking care of his parents. But in the meanwhile, he’s also reconnected with Rashmi and soon, has to take the decision to choose between the two.

The film was shot at real locations at UP and that lends authenticity to the film. It feels like it was shot guerilla style, as it has crowds gawking at the camera at some places. The camerawork also suffers from jump cuts at times, which is understandable, given the circumstances. The film is told in linear progression, but the editing isn’t that much up to the mark. As said earlier, the music, while not in sync with today’s scene, does hold your attention because of the melody and well-versed lyrics. The good thing about the story is that it doesn’t turn the other girl into a vamp. One sympathises with her as well. The commendable thing is that the in-laws are shown to be totally supporting the bahu. The plot could have been more taut, though. And the ending is too abrupt. The film has been directed well otherwise by Ratna Neelam Pandey and Sandeep Choudhary.

The three leads, Nikhil Pandey, Ratna Neelam Pandey and Jashn Agnihotri, have all acted well and have done full justice to their characters. Veterans Brijendra Kala and Sunita Rajwar have lent able support, as usual.

It’s an old-fashioned, family oriented film, reminiscent of the ’60s socials. In an era where toxic masculinity is the byword, its softer narrative might just surprise you.