Manisha Koirala is a renowned Nepali-Indian actress known for her exceptional talent and versatility in Hindi, Nepali, and South Indian cinema. Born in Kathmandu, she comes from a prominent Nepali political family. Manisha has delivered some powerful performances in iconic films like Bombay, 1942: A Love Story, Dil Se, and Khamoshi: The Musical. Known for her skill in portraying deep and complex characters, she returned to the spotlight with the OTT series Heeramandi, earning significant critical acclaim.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, veteran actress Manisha Koirala opens up about her journey in Bollywood, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from her acclaimed films such as 1942: A Love Story, Khamoshi, Dil Se, Bombay, and Heeramandi. She reflects on her experiences within the industry, discussing the ways Bollywood has evolved over the years.

A cancer survivor, Manisha speaks on her advocacy for cancer awareness, emphasizing the importance of timely treatment. She also shares her thoughts on spirituality and the central role of family in her life.

0:00 - Introduction

0:40 - The Cult of '1942: A Love Story'

5:25 - The Story Behind 'Khamoshi'

7:35 - Behind the Scenes of 'Heeramandi'

10:50 - How Bollywood Changed Over the Years

16:18 - The 'Bombay' Controversy

19:27 - The Original 'Dil Se' Plot

24:50 - The Making of 'Heeramandi'

30:00 - Battling with Cancer

37:12 - The Legacy of Koirala Family

45:10 - Navigating Through Bollywood

49:25 - Friendships & Relationships

51:33 - A Director's Actor

53:43 - Political Volatility in Nepal

58:22 - The Massacre of Nepal’s Royal Family

1:00:38 - Role of Spirituality

1:01:41 - Raising Cancer Awareness

1:05:17 - The Importance of Therapy

1:07:00 - Speaking Up on Women's Issues

1:09:38 - Nepal's Human Trafficking Crisis

1:10:50 - Mantra & Goals

1:11:46 - The Importance of Family

Get ready for the much-awaited episode of the 'Real' Samosa Caucus!

Edition 4.0 is here and it's all about raw, uncensored, no-holds-barred discussions.

Joining the chat are:

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF

Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst

Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

This episode dives into some heated topics, including:

The India-Canada spat over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

The rise of Khalistani elements under Trudeau’s watch

Did India send an agent to take out Khalistani separatist Pannun in the USA?

The panel also digs into why exit polls keep missing the mark on voter sentiment and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu's call for more babies—what's behind it? And much more.

Don't miss the witty banter in this episode!

00:00 - Introduction & Message to Viewers

03:14 - Samosa Caucus Returns

08:43 - Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killing

15:40 - Israel-Iran War Escalation

16:45 - Impact of Cancel Culture

19:06 - Canada-India Diplomatic Crisis

27:14 - Canada Harbouring Criminals?

33:42 - U.S. Sheltering 'K-Backer' Pannun

36:54 - Did India Disown Vikas Yadav over 'Kill Pannun' plot?

46:39 - BRICS 2024 & India-China Relations

55:00 - Pakistan's Bid to Join BRICS

1:01:25 - Exit Polls' Flop Show

1:07:34 - Mainstream Media Losing Credibility?

1:15:34 - Ola's Business Model

1:23:38 - Samosa Caucus 5.0 in Goa?

1:25:04 - J&K Assembly Elections 2024

1:31:29 - Stalin Demands 'Tamil Name' for Kids

1:33:39 - Aging Population Issue in South India

1:40:34 - Inter-State Migration

1:50:11 - 'Batenge to Katenge' Row

2:06:14 - Uber's MOU with IAF

2:19:48 - Maharashtra Assembly Polls

2:28:14 - Why Congress Lost Haryana

2:31:34 - 'Flop' Exit Poll

2:32:47 - Favorite OTT Shows

2:38:14 - Luxury Apartments

2:43:52 - Resolutions for 2025

In recent months, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a surge in attacks, with police encountering new strategies from terrorists. Who is fueling this renewed terror, and how can armed forces respond? To answer all these questions, we have former top cop Shesh Paul Vaid, who has witnessed the rise of militancy firsthand and the evolving landscape of J&K. He shares insights from his personal experiences, including surviving an attack, the release of Masood Azhar, and attributing recent violence to Pakistan’s influence.

Shesh Paul Vaid, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has served as one of Jammu and Kashmir's most respected top cops. Known for his dedication and resilience, Vaid led the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) as Director General (DGP) during a critical period marked by heightened militancy and security challenges. His tenure saw numerous counter-insurgency operations aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. He also worked to strengthen community policing initiatives to foster trust with local communities.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, former Jammu and Kashmir top cop Shesh Paul Vaid discusses the recent surge in terror attacks in the region. He shares insights into the terrorists' modus operandi and the strategies they use to incite violence in the Valley. Vaid also reflects on the release of Masood Azhar during his tenure, describing it as an embarrassing moment for the country, and details his role in the arrest and interrogation of Afzal Guru. Additionally, he recounts a near-death experience when his convoy was ambushed by 17 terrorists, as well as the circumstances surrounding the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.

00:00 - Introduction

00:45 - IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

08:44 - Masood Azhar's Release

22:20 - Kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed

25:14 - 'First' Wave of Militancy in Kashmir

30:36 - Aftermath of Burhan Wani Killing

39:44 - Public Safety Act

42:44 - Operation All-Out in J&K

44:26 - Hanging of Afzal Guru

51:09 - Hurriyat hypocrisy

57:24 - When 17 Terrorists Attacked SP Vaid

1:04:54 - 'Special' Treatment for Syed Ali Shah Geelani

1:07:07 - Mast Gul's Escape from Charar-e-Sharief Shrine

1:10:32 - J&K Security Situation in the '90s

1:12:18 - Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits

1:22:34 - Contribution & Sacrifices of J&K Police

1:29:26 - Modus Operandi of Recent Terror Attacks in J&K

1:38:05 - J&K Assembly Elections 2024

New Delhi-Ottawa relations have reached an all-time low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of Indian government officials and diplomats in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a figure who was designated as a terrorist in India and placed on Canada’s no-fly list.

Both countries have since expelled top envoys and other diplomats as tensions over Nijjar's killing escalate. Trudeau accused India of interfering in Canada’s sovereignty, while India dismissed his claims as baseless and absurd.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Kumar Verma, the recalled Indian High Commissioner to Canada, shares his perspective on Canada’s handling of Sikh extremist elements, which he believes is influenced by vote-bank politics.

Verma also explains why Trudeau has refrained from taking action against Khalistani figures who are wanted in India for serious crimes. He shares personal accounts of the challenges he and his family faced in Canada. Verma stresses that a small group of Khalistani elements has hijacked the narrative and that the majority of Sikhs do not support the Khalistan movement.

Watch this episode to understand how the Canadian government addresses Khalistani extremism and why some believe it has given them a free hand.

0:00 - Coming Up

1:12 - Introduction

2:02 - India-Canada Diplomatic Row

8:40 - What Canadians Think of India

12:00 - Nijjar Killing Probe

16:44 - Bishnoi Gang Link to Nijjar Killing

21:07 - Trudeau's Allegations Against New Delhi

23:56 - MEA's Strong Response to Canada

27:00 - Threats & Attacks against Envoy Sanjay Verma

35:34 - Attacks on Diplomats in Western Countries

39:47 - Indian Journalists Accused of Foreign Interference

45:22 - Lawrence Bishnoi

51:00 - Trudeau Harbouring Khalistani Elements

55:33 - 'Fake' Asylum Claims in Canada

59:06 - India: A 'Rogue' Nation?

1:01:30 - Will India-Canada Ties Improve?

1:04:05 - Pakistan-Khalistan Ties?

1:05:05 - What's Next for Envoy Sanjay Verma

Annu Kapoor is an entertainer who has worn many hats—actor, singer, director, producer, radio jockey, and television presenter—earning immense respect and recognition worldwide. He became a household name through iconic television shows like Antakshari and Wheel Smart Srimati.

Known for speaking his mind, Annu Kapoor has appeared in over 100 films and numerous television shows. He has been honoured with two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and two Indian Television Academy Awards.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Annu Kapoor delves into his thoughts on nationalism. He expresses his belief that most Indians do not truly love their country and also opens up on atheism.

Kapoor shares anecdotes about legends from the film industry, including a vivid recount of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar’s wedding, and reflects on a spat with Amitabh Bachchan. He also reveals an intriguing episode from the sets of 7 Khoon Maaf, alleging that Priyanka Chopra refused to kiss him because he wasn’t a 'hero.'

Tune in to this episode as Kapoor shares his flair for 'shayari' and performs a 300-year-old rap in his signature style.

00:00 - Introduction

01:44 - Upcoming projects

04:37 - Early life struggles

16:42 - Patriotism vs. Nationalism

21:37 - Early days in Bollywood

33:10 - Why he avoids watching films & news

34:33 - National Awards

37:05 - Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita

39:19 - True meaning of 'Deshbhakti'

43:59 - Publicity stunts

46:30 - Punctuality & Discipline

49:02 - Why was Wheel Smart Srimati scrapped?

53:40 - Learning discipline from Islam

55:27 - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad teachings

58:52 - Love, religion, and honour killings

1:02:14 - The story of 'Bharat'

1:04:34 - Annu 'Google' Kapoor

1:10:14 - Relationship with parents

1:13:48 - 'Kiss' controversy with Priyanka Chopra

1:20:14 - Shabana Azmi & Javed Akhtar's wedding

1:22:14 - Darr shoot

1:25:14 - Story behind India's independence

1:29:58 - World's 'oldest' rap song

John Chambers is the Chairman of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and the former CEO of Cisco. Under his leadership, Cisco became one of the world’s largest and most successful technology companies.

Dr. Mukesh Aghi is the President and CEO of USISPF. He works closely with business and government leaders in both the U.S. and India to promote trade and strengthen ties between the two nations.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the evolution of India-U.S. relations over the past 15 years. John Chambers expresses strong confidence in India, saying that this decade and century belong to New Delhi. Dr. Mukesh Aghi shares a similar view, noting that the ties between India and the U.S. are on an upward trajectory, unaffected by changes in political leadership.

They also address the recent tensions between India and Canada over the Khalistan issue and its potential impact on businesses and students. Both guests praise Prime Minister Modi for fostering an environment in which entrepreneurship and startups have flourished in the past decade.

00:00 - Introduction

00:44 - India’s Century

03:49 - India: Then vs. Now

04:55 - India-Canada Spat

10:00 - U.S. Presidential Election

12:08 - India vs. China Economy

14:10 - India: A Tough Negotiator

16:54 - The Future of AI

20:15 - U.S.-China Tensions

22:30 - Middle East Conflict

25:00 - Tariffs & Migration in the USA

29:34 - India’s Chip Ambitions

33:34 - Business Prospects in India

37:31 - Indian vs. U.S. Investors

Conrad Sangma is the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and a leader of the National People's Party (NPP). He began his political career as a campaign manager for his father, P.A. Sangma, a former Cabinet minister. After serving as an MLA and the Opposition Leader, he became the NPP President in 2016. Sangma was first elected Chief Minister in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, CM Conrad Sangma discusses his alliance with the BJP, despite having the numbers to run the government independently. He addresses the beef ban issue, stating that people should not interfere with others' eating habits.

He also talks about the border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya in Mukroh. Further, Meghalaya CM Sangma shares his thoughts on the Uniform Civil Code and its potential impact on the region. He also discusses the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and One Nation, One Election.

He explains Meghalaya's economy and a government lottery scheme designed to increase revenue. Additionally, he highlights the drug problem in the Northeast and how tourism can contribute to economic growth. He also compares the Look East policy, which was upgraded to the Act East policy in 2014 by the Modi government.

00:00 - Introduction

01:25 - Legacy of P.A. Sangma

02:55 - Congress sidelined P.A. Sangma?

08:28 - Formation of NPP

11:12 - BJP-NPP Alliance

15:14 - Beef Ban Row

20:25 - Assam-Meghalaya Border Dispute

26:50 - UCC

28:50 - CAA-NRC Impact in NE States

31:17 - One Nation, One Election

33:36 - NPP to Expand in Other States?

35:05 - UPA's Neglect of the NE

40:04 - Bangladesh Crisis: Security Risks for Meghalaya

43:20 - Meghalaya's Economy

47:36 - Government Lottery Scheme

53:38 - Northeast's Drug Problem

1:02:05 - Tourism in Meghalaya

1:10:28 - Manipur Crisis Impact on Meghalaya

1:15:10 - Snap Reaction

1:33:25 - CM 'Cool'