Vicky Kaushal has an exciting slate of upcoming films. On Thursday, the actor dropped BTS photos from the sets of the period action film Chaava. The film will see him play Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj alongside Rashmika Mandanna who will play Yesubai Bhonsale. 

Vicky Kaushal took to his Instagram handle to share snaps from the sets of Chaava. The actor can be seen in a rugged look wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. He accessorised with a cap and shades.

Check it out here:

The next snap sees him alongside director Laxman Utekar. Check it out here:

In his caption, Vicky wrote, “Last day on set for this year. Ending the year by completing the biggest action sequence of my career so far. 2023, you have been truly gratifying… Walking into 2024 hungrier than ever before!”

Filmfare had earlier exclusively revealed that Vicky and Rashmika began filming for Chaava in October this year. The film is set to release on December 6, 2024.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal (United) national president Lalan Singh attended a meeting of its national office-bearers here on Thursday, a day before its national executive and council meetings, amid a buzz that Singh may make way for Kumar to lead the party.

Some party leaders said there have been talks even within the organisation about Mr Singh quitting his position in Mr Kumar’s favour but made it clear that no such message has been conveyed by either of them so far.

A party leader noted that the council meeting is generally called to ratify any important decision taken by the national executive.

While the office-bearers discussed the contents of political agenda which will be approved at the meeting of the party’s apex bodies, a combative Singh earlier reacted contemptuously to reports about his resignation and a rift within the party, which has a history of swinging across the ideological spectrum to change allies.

“You are trying to set the narrative… JD(U) is one and will remain united,” he said in response to the media’s queries on his resignation and differences in the party, asserting that it is a routine meeting, a view also echoed by Kumar before he boarded the flight from Patna to Delhi.

“If I have to resign, I will call you (mediapersons) and consult you about what to write in the resignation letter so that you can go to the BJP office and get the draft,” Mr Singh said sarcastically.

After the meeting, JD(U) chief spokesperson K C Tyagi dismissed questions on whether the chief minister may join the BJP-led NDA. “We are not joining the NDA,” he said.

Another party spokesperson, Rajib Ranjan, said the office-bearers discussed the contents of the political agenda for Friday’s meetings. There was no discussion on any organisational changes, he asserted.

Issues like caste census and rise in reservation in Bihar are likely to figure prominently in the meetings on Friday.

Before the meeting of office-bearers, Mr Singh met Kumar at his residence here and the two leaders later arrived at the party office together, a gesture apparently aimed at sending out a message of unity within the party.

The two leaders go back many decades and Mr Singh has been a key ally of Kumar except for a period between 2010 and 2013 when he had quit the JD(U).

Shortly before leaving Patna for the national capital, the Bihar chief minister asserted that the JD(U)’s two-day conclave in Delhi was a “normal and annual” affair with “nothing extraordinary” about it, rejecting speculations of turmoil in his party.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Singh may be asked to resign due to alleged proximity to JD(U) ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the relationship between India and Russia is not just about diplomacy or economics, it is something much deeper.

Mr Jaishankar, who is on a five-day official visit to Russia, made the remarks while interacting with Indologists at St. Petersburg State University.

“The relationship between India and Russia is not just about politics or diplomacy or economics. It is something much deeper,” he said, adding that the intelligentsia’s role and the contribution of scholars to this understanding and bonding is very important.

He said India and Russia are always trying to find new linkages, common points and the intellectual world can make a difference. “We need to have a direct understanding of each other rather than by other countries or societies deciding it,” he said.

“Today, when you look at India, we are an economy which is approaching 4 trillion dollars…You can see our effort is to ensure that in the next 25 years, we are successful and become a developed country. A developed country doesn’t just mean a developed economy, it is also a country which is aware, conscious and proud of its traditions, heritage and culture,” the minister added.

On Wednesday, Mr Jaishankar met President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow.

Ties between India and Russia remained strong notwithstanding Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

India’s import of Russian crude oil has gone up significantly despite increasing disquiet over it in many Western countries.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)