The meteorological department had forecasted the monthly rainfall to be between 94% and 106% of the long-period average (LPA) – which falls within the normal range. However, it ended nearly 15% above normal
Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein is the debut film of actors R. Madhavan and Dia Mirza with Saif Ali Khan in a key role. Even though the movie didn’t do great business when it was released on the big screen for the first time, it eventually became a cult classic. The audience loved the film so much that after 23 years of its release, it got a nationwide re-release. Celebrating this milestone, the stars came live on social media and recalled how heartbroken they were when the film didn’t impress the audience then.
Recalling the conversation she had with Madhavan during the promotion of the film, Dia Mirza revealed that one day when they got a break of five minutes together, he told her that it is a very special film and it will really connect with the audience. To which she responded ‘I hope so’. But when the film was released and people did not really go to the theatres just to watch it, they were disappointed.
“It broke us; it broke our hearts so much because there was so much anticipation, so much expectation. And we worked so hard,” the Dhak Dhak actress mentioned. But she acknowledged the works of the Tanu Weds Manu actor and admitted that he was right about people loving it. She stated that even though the audience didn’t make it to the theatres back then, they have made time for it over and over again, over the years and given it so much love.
Adding to this, R. Madhavan said that he was also taken aback by the negative response at the box office. This is when he started doubting all the efforts that were made in making the film. He exclaimed that it was their first film and they had sincerely worked on it. “Then, we started blaming ourselves that had I got fitter or done the film more sincerely, or had the costumes been better… anything. You start looking for the imperfections,” he opined.
But he was happy that it has been 23 years that the movie is being showered with love. But now, when he is seeing houseful shows, even after all that, he is confused as to why people want to pay money to watch the film. Why are they coming to the theatres? he questions adding that this means that cinema lovers still want to experience the film on the big screens.
In their candid conversation, Madhavan also admitted that he was intimidated by Dia even though his South Indian films were doing good. He stated that at that time, she had won the title of Miss Asia Pacific International in 2000. So, he thought to himself that no one would look at him because when Dia comes, the whole room lights up. He even thought if the movie would work, it would be because of her.
While they enjoyed going back in time and reminiscing about working together, they asked filmmakers to cast them together now. Mirza said that she has known Madhavan for the past 23 years even though they haven’t worked together in any other film. “I have no idea why that has happened. All filmmakers please cast us together,” she stated.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Dia was last seen in the limited series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack which was released on August 29. As for R. Madhavan, he featured in Shaitaan, earlier this year.
ALSO READ: Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein: Dia Mirza recalls being ‘dropped from many projects’ after movie’s box office failure; ‘Film’s popularity grew once…’
A war of words between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has escalated over the Assam government’s move to scrap the practice of two-hour assembly session adjournment for jumma prayers.
While Mr Sarma from the ruling BJP pointed out the decision was taken jointly by all MLAs including Hindu and Muslim leaders, Mr Yadav alleged the Assam Chief Minister’s party has made Muslims soft targets to spread hate and polarise society.
What escalated the exchange between the two was Mr Yadav’s post on X that took a swipe at Mr Sarma as someone who wants to “gain cheap popularity and become the Chinese version of Yogi,” alluding to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
असम के मुख्यमंत्री सस्ती लोकप्रियता हासिल करने एवं “योगी का चाइनीज़ वर्जन” बनने के प्रयास में जानबुझकर मुसलमानों को परेशान करने वाले कृत्य करते रहते है। BJP के लोगों ने नफ़रत फैलाने, मोदी-शाह का ध्यान आकृष्ट करने एवं समाज में धुर्वीकरण करने के लिए मुसलमान भाइयों को सॉफ्ट टारगेट… pic.twitter.com/tVue9mXoY9
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) August 30, 2024
The RJD leader did not indicate if he was referring to inferior quality goods from China, or the north-east region, where people have often complained of racist remarks directed towards them.
Responding to Mr Yadav’s attack, Mr Sarma said, “Doing away with the two-hour jumma break was not the Chief Minister’s decision, but of all Hindu and Muslim legislators. When the assembly Speaker on Friday announced it, no Muslim MLA in the house raised any protest. There are 25 Muslim MLAs in Assam assembly, out of a total 126.”
असम में जुम्मे के ब्रेक को ख़त्म करने के निर्णय को कांग्रेस ने भी समर्थन दिया। बिहार या देश की किसी भी अन्य विधानसभा में ऐसा कोई ब्रेक है ही नहीं। मैं हैरान हूँ कि असम के बाहर के लोग बिना सोचे-समझे इसका विरोध कर रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/fuUhhEi1nf
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 31, 2024
The Assam Chief Minister said the proposal to do away with this provision in the rules of procedures of the assembly was placed before the rules committee, headed by the Speaker, which unanimously agreed to drop the jumma practice.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who is from the BJP, waded into the battle and attacked Mr Yadav, alleging that the RJD leader had labelled the Assam Chief Minister “a Chinese just because he is from the northeast.”
“It appears that the INDI Alliance is made up of a bunch of ignorant racists who have no information about the history and geography of our country. First, it was Sam Pitroda. Now, it’s Tejashwi Yadav who is being racist towards the people of northeast,” Mr Singh said.
It appears that the INDI Alliance is made up of a bunch of ignorant racists who have no information about the history & geography of our country.
First, it was Sam Pitroda. Now, it’s Tejashwi Yadav who is being racist towards the people of North east.
It is unfortunate that a… pic.twitter.com/uc78LpohC2
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) August 31, 2024
Mr Sarma also shot back at Mr Yadav, accusing him of “hypocrisy”. “Tejashwi Yadav is criticising me but I want to ask him… is there any such practice in Bihar? You (Mr Yadav) should have implemented a four-hour break when you were deputy chief minister of Bihar. Practice it first before preaching,” Mr Sarma said.
He added the decision was being criticised only outside Assam, while the state MLAs showed commitment to work for development.
In May 2021, a blogger from Punjab was charged by the Arunachal Pradesh government for his racial remarks against a Congress MLA. The YouTube blogger Paras Singh had in a video termed then Congress MLA Ninong Ering a “non-Indian” and claimed the “state was a part of China”, sparking furore among Arunachal residents as well as people from other parts of the country. Paras Singh was arrested and brought to Arunachal Pradesh, where he said he realised his mistake and sought apology. He was granted bail and allowed to return home.