'India, you are always special': Kurta-clad Ed Sheeran regales fans at Mumbai concert

Agencies
November 20, 2017

Mumbai, Nov 20: Thousands gathered on Sunday at the Jio Gardens, Bandra Kurla Complex, to catch a glimpse of British pop sensation Ed Sheeran, who belted out a set of 17 songs, including hits such as 'Shape Of You' and 'Galway Girl' with only a guitar and a loop station.

The 26-year-old singer-songwriter arrived in India on the Asia leg of his tour for his new album 'Divide'. He honoured his promise to Indian fans even though he recently suffered fractures in his right wrist and left elbow in a bicycle accident.

He was to trek in Taipei, Osaka, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong through November 5, which he had to cancel due to the injuries.

The gates of the venue opened at 5pm as a crowd of around 10,000 waited for Sheeran to crank up the jukebox.

American artiste Lauv regaled the fans with popular singles such as 'I Like Me Better' and 'Easy Love'.

"I am from California and this is my first show in Asia. I am having a great time here. Thanks to Sheeran and his team, he is such a talented genius, and down to earth guy. I am grateful to him, his team," he said.

The Grammy Award winner did not tease his fans as he sauntered onto the stage in a casual manner around 8pm in T-shirt and jeans.

Sheeran instantly struck a chord with the eager audience as he started the show while strumming to the ode to his hometown, 'Castle on the Hill.'

The stadium reverberated with the rock band-influenced guitar anthem by the singer, who went on to sing tracks such as 'Eraser', 'Bloodstream' and 'I See Fire', from the 2013 film 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' soundtrack.

Sheeran performed 10 songs from 'Divide,' while five came from 'Multiply' and two from his debut album 'Plus'.

During his gig, the singer had donned a turquoise kurta that had 'Divide' written on its back in Hindi.

Towards the end of the concert, Sheeran returned to the stage, wearing a blue T-shirt that read 'India', and sang hits such as, 'Shape of You' and 'You Need Me'.

A night high on octane was full of sing-alongs. The artiste engaged with the crowd and got them singing and dancing throughout his 90-minute long concert.

"India: you are always special and this night is magical. Thank you all so much. Hope you all are having a good evening? Pleasure to be back in India. I want the crowd to be involved in my show ... sing as loud as you can, you can dance out here ... I want to see you all dancing, singing and I am going to give you all," Sheeran told the crowd.

To the fans, who enjoyed and grooved on every song, Sheeran kept saying, "Mumbai sing out loud!"

Sheeran, who last came to Mumbai in 2015 for a gig, said he was happy to be back in India.

"This has been a cool year for me... I've been all over the world. Here, in Mumbai, it's a great crowd. When I came here last time, the crowd was so loud. I think you all can be loudest. I am so so happy, pleased to be here. This country is good, the people here are so good. It's amazing!"

Sheeran landed here on Friday amid heavy security and much fanfare. He was welcomed at the airport in a traditional ceremony with flowers, dancers and dhols.

After he landed, Sheeran partied with Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapoor with wife Mira, Malaika Arora and others, who enjoyed a party at filmmaker Farah Khan's residence, who hosted the much-publicised night in the honour of the 'Shape Of You' hitmaker.

According to the organisers, Sheeran is accompanied by an entourage of 45 people, and has put up in a hotel in south Mumbai.

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News Network
January 28,2020

Mumbai, Jan 28: A 33-year-old woman has written to the National Commission for Women (NCW) alleging that Bollywood choreographer Ganesh Acharya used to make her watch porn videos whenever she visited his office in Mumbai.

In a complaint filed with the police, the woman, an assistant choreographer, has alleged that Acharya and two women assaulted her during a function of the Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association (IFTCA) held in suburban Andheri on Sunday.

Besides Acharya, the complainant, Divya Kotian, has named Jayashree Kelkar and Preeti Lad in her complaint for assault, a police official said on Tuesday.

Calls made to Acharya for his reaction remained unanswered.

In her letter to the NCW, Kotian, a resident of suburban Bhayandar, claimed that Acharya forced her to watch adult videos whenever she visited his office.

In her complaint with Amboli police station, Kotian alleged that Acharya was demanding a commission from her for working in the film industry.

Kotian is also a member of the IFTCA.

Acharya, who was elected as a general secretary of the IFTCA, used to frequently call the complainant at the office in Andheri, the police official said quoting the complaint.

On January 26, when Kotian reached the IFTCA office, Acharya shouted at her and announced that she was being "suspended", he said.

Acharya grew furious after Kotian told him that she is a member of the IFTCA and allegedly asked his team member, Jayashree Kelkar, to slap her, the police official said.

"Kelkar and Preeti Lad hit me in public view which was captured on the CCTV," the complaint stated.

Police have registered a non-cognisable (NC) offence and investigating, the official added.

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Agencies
January 4,2020

Mumbai, Jan 4: After the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur constituted a panel to decide whether legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poem 'Hum Dekhenge' is offensive to Hindu sentiments, filmmaker Shoojit Sircar had a cryptic take on the burning controversy.

"Best time for the rich & small businesses to make money as most of the population are engaged with a revolutionary poet named Faiz," Sircar said in a tweet.

The poem, penned down by the iconic poet in 1979, came into limelight again recently during the protests against CAA and NRC in IIT Kanpur.

Earlier on Thursday, senior lyricist Javed Akhtar rejected the claims about the poem being 'anti-Hindu'.

IIT Kanpur on Thursday had set up a committee to look into the issue.

The move came after a complaint that the students who took out a peaceful march in the campus on December 17 against the Citizenship Amendment Act and in solidarity with Jamia Millia Islamia students, sung it as a mark of protest, which hurt the sentiments of other communities.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians who faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

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News Network
June 2,2020

New Delhi, Jun 2: After Amitabh Bachchan, it is actor Akshay Kumar, who has come forward to support Bhumi Pednekar's initiative -- Climate Warrior -- urging the people to plant trees.

Bhumi Pednekar has sought to bring Bollywood together to spread awareness about mother nature through her campaign in view of the coming World Environment Day (June 5).

The campaign endeavours to get leaders from the entertainment industry to tell what is the 'one wish they have for the earth.'

Following the thread, the 'Kesari' actor was seen raising his voice on issues, and have taken steps to bring awareness to important causes like climate change.

"Our Beautiful Planet that has sustained us now needs us to protect it more than ever. During this time we as a community must tread carefully and act immediately" Akshay Kumar was seen saying in a video posted by Pednekar on Instagram.

"A lot of damage has been done and climate change is a grave reality that all of us are facing," he added.

Explaining his one wish to rebuild mother nature, is, as he says: "The simplest act of planting trees."

"I consider this as one of the most basic and efficient deeds that we can exercise individually and also urge others to do so. Let us do our bit to heal and rebuild the only planet we have. So join me and become a Climate Warrior," the 'Padman' actor concluded.

Ahead of the World Environment Day, and in support of Bhumi's initiative, legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan earlier in the day also pledged to be 'climate-conscious' in a bid to protect nature.

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