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Every year, Bollywood releases films that open up with significant buzz, promotions and are expected to attain record numbers. Fans celebrate the films, and memes flood social media along with box office numbers touching the sky. But just one year later, many of these films are barely talked about. Films like ‘Pathaan,’ ‘Jawan,’ ‘Singham Again,’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ show this new trend clearly.Hype is bigger than the storyMost recent blockbusters depend heavily on star power and loud action. ‘Pathaan’ brought Shah Rukh Khan back in style and crossed Rs 1,000 crore. But the story felt familiar and simple. Once the excitement faded, people had little reason to rewatch it. Big stunts cannot hide weak emotions for long. ‘Pathan’ might be an enjoyable one-time watch in theaters with a huge crowd, but will it stay forever in our minds? No.
‘Jawan’ created a massive buzz with Shah Rukh Khan in a double role and strong visuals. The film earned hugely at the box office within days of its release. But its dramatic twists and heavy style felt like too much for repeat viewing, and also the majority of those scenes were copies from Atlee’s Tamil films themselves, offering nothing new for the audiences. We all feel it’s a fun watch, but not memorable enough to stay.
‘Singham Again’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ earned well because people already knew the characters. But both films were criticized for their long runtime, predictable scenes, and weak writing. On OTT, viewers called them boring. Old formulas no longer excite modern audiences. Coming to the case of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa,’ the core idea, provided by Mollywood’s ‘Manichitrathazhu,’ was stretched too far, losing its essence.
Today, films reach streaming platforms very fast. What once felt like a theater event now becomes just another option on a screen. With endless choices, viewers move on quickly. There is no time for films to grow slowly in people’s hearts like older classics did. Director Dhwani Gautam who has chaired films like ‘Hoon Tari Heer’, ‘Daayro’, ‘Shubh Saanj’, ‘Vaanki Chuki Love Story’ and more has opened up on this subject and spilled the beans exclusively with us, “Today’s blockbusters don’t fail at the box office they fail the memory test. Built on hype, they shine brightly and vanish quickly. Modern blockbusters are engineered for the first weekend, not for posterity and that is why they fade before they can become hits. Star power still guarantees a strong opening, but without emotional depth or originality, today’s blockbusters fall once the buzz goes down.”
A viral moment from the ‘United in Triumph’ event has captured cricket fans’ hearts, with ICC Chairman Jay Shah fondly addressing Rohit Sharma as “India’s captain” long after the star batter stepped down from leadership duties. The 38-year-old opener’s beaming smile lit up the room, underscoring his enduring legacy amid India’s transitional phase. This gesture highlights Rohit’s monumental contributions, even as Shubman Gill takes the ODI helm ahead of the 2027 World Cup preparations.
Shah’s words resonated deeply during the event, where he declared, “Our captain is sitting here. I will call him captain only, as he has led the team to two ICC trophies. During the 2023 World Cup, after winning ten successive matches, we could only win hearts but couldn’t lift the trophy. In February 2024, I had said in Rajkot that in the next World Cup, we will win both hearts and the cup.”
Shah reflected on the 2023 ODI World Cup agony—ten straight wins but no silverware—and how Rohit delivered on a promise made in Rajkot in February 2024 to conquer both hearts and cups. Under Rohit’s full-time ODI captaincy from December 2021, India notched 42 victories in 56 matches, clinching the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, where his gritty 76 steered a four-wicket chase.
In T20Is, Rohit’s record shines brightest: 49 wins from 62 games, boasting a 79.03% success rate, capped by the 2024 T20 World Cup glory—India’s second title in the format.
Jay Shah 🗣️: “our captain Rohit Sharma is sitting here. I am still calling you captain because under you, we won two ICC trophies”.
Jay Shah is grateful to Rohit Sharma for ending the drought of ICC trophies for India 🥹🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/7xjVZdjkwQ
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) January 8, 2026
Also READ: Does Virat Kohli’s INR 65,700 black cardigan’s ‘A’ stand for Anushka Sharma? Here’s the real story
Rohit enters the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand with red-hot batting form, primed to unleash his destructive opening prowess starting January 11 at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium. Recent Mumbai training sessions revealed a fitter Rohit hammering sixes and crisp drives, signalling his intent to dominate after a calculated ODI break post the October 2025 Australia tour captaincy handover and South Africa series.
Averaging over 50 in ODIs as a specialist batter this cycle, Rohit’s explosive 76 in the 2025 Champions Trophy final chase against New Zealand underscores his big-match temperament, setting the stage for fireworks alongside Virat Kohli under Gill’s leadership.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has thanked President Donald Trump for the support in helping the company ‘Make in America’. Tan’s message follows a high-level meeting with the President, who celebrated the ‘milestone’ in American semiconductor manufacturing by highlighting the first “sub-2 nanometer” CPU processors are now being designed, built and packaged entirely within the US.“I just finished a great meeting with the very successful Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. Intel just launched the first SUB 2 NANOMETER CPU PROCESSOR designed, built, and packaged right here in the U.S.A. The United States Government is proud to be a Shareholder of Intel, and has already made, through its U.S.A. ownership position, Tens of Billions of Dollars for the American People — IN JUST FOUR MONTHS,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.“We made a GREAT Deal, and so did Intel. Our Country is determined to bring leading edge Chip Manufacturing back to America, and that is exactly what is happening!!!” he added.In response, Tan thanked the Trump administration for backing the company.“Honored and delighted to have the full support and encouragement of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @CommerceGov Secretary @howardlutnick as we bring leading edge chip manufacturing back to America!” Tan said.“@intel is now shipping the latest Core Ultra Series 3 CPU processors – designed, manufactured and packaged with the most advanced semiconductor technology, right here in the USA,” he added.
At CES 2026, Intel launched its Core Ultra Series 3 processors – first AI PC chips manufactured on the Intel 18A process in the US. According to the company, the new lineup introduces high-performance X9 and X7 tiers, featuring integrated Intel Arc graphics and up to 50 NPU TOPS for AI tasks.“They are purpose-built for multitaskers that handle advanced workloads like gaming, creation and productivity on the go. The top SKUs feature up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe -cores and 50 NPU TOPS, delivering up to 60% better multithread performance, over 77% faster gaming performance and up to 27 hours of battery life,” Intel said.Intel said that the consumer laptops with these chips are expected to hit the market in Q2 2026. The pre-orders have already begun, with global shipping starting January 27.
NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma could not hide his happiness when ICC chairman Jay Shah called him “our captain” at a recent public event. A video of the moment has gone viral on social media, showing Rohit smiling widely as he listened. His wife, Ritika Sajdeh, was also seen smiling beside him.This moment stood out because Rohit is no longer India’s official ODI captain. He was replaced by Shubman Gill ahead of India’s tour of Australia in October 2025. Even so, Rohit’s reaction showed how special the recognition still was for him.
Watch:Rohit had a very successful time as India’s captain. Under his leadership, India won two major ICC titles. The team lifted the T20 World Cup in 2024 and followed it up with the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. These victories made Rohit one of India’s most successful captains in recent years.Earlier, Rohit had announced his retirement from T20 Internationals and Test cricket. Suryakumar Yadav took charge of the T20I team, while Shubman Gill was named Test captain.With the ODI World Cup scheduled for 2027 and Rohit now 38 years old, the selectors felt it was the right moment to hand over the ODI captaincy to Gill so he could grow into the role.Rohit was named Virat Kohli’s successor as India’s ODI captain in December 2021 and went on to lead the team in 56 matches.Now, Rohit is set to return to action as a player. He will feature in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series, which begins on January 11.
In early December 2025, the Indian rupee reached a key milestone when it surpassed Rs 90 per dollar for the first time. The rupee had been falling steadily throughout the year, as foreign investors sold off Indian stocks and US tariffs made Indian exports less competitive.However, on December 5, 2025, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra delivered a clear message”We don’t target any price levels (of rupee) or any bands. We allow the markets to determine the prices.”On the rupee’s slide, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran told reporters that the government wasn’t “losing sleep” over the currency’s decline. The falling rupee, he insisted, was “not affecting inflation or exports” and should “improve next year (2026).”
These weren’t throwaway lines. They reflected a fundamental economic framework – the impossible trilemma – that constrains every modern central bank and explains why India prioritizes inflation control over defending arbitrary currency levels. The rupee’s approximately 6% depreciation in 2025 wasn’t a policy failure. It was the deliberate price of maintaining monetary independence.
The impossible trilemma, explained by economists Robert Mundell and Marcus Fleming in the early 1960s, presents one of the most fundamental constraints in international economics.It states that it is impossible to have all three of the following at the same time:
As Paul Krugman famously summarized: “The point is that you can’t have it all: A country must pick two out of three.”
Free Capital Flows: This means allowing capital—both foreign and domestic—to move in and out of a country without restrictions. Investors can buy Indian bonds or stocks, and Indians can invest abroad without facing capital controls. The benefit is access to global capital markets, which can fund growth and development. The risk is volatility—hot money can rush in during good times and flee during crises.Independent Monetary Policy: This is the central bank’s ability to set interest rates based purely on domestic economic conditions—inflation, growth, unemployment—without worrying about external pressures. If inflation is rising domestically, the RBI can raise rates. If growth is slowing, it can cut rates. This independence is crucial for managing the domestic economy.Fixed Exchange Rate: This means committing to maintain the currency at a predetermined level against another currency (usually the US dollar) or within a narrow band. The benefit is predictability for trade and investment. The cost is the loss of flexibility to respond to economic shocks.
If a country wants to maintain a fixed exchange rate while allowing capital to flow freely across its borders, it must sacrifice control over its monetary policy. Here’s why:Suppose India tried to fix the rupee at Rs 80 per dollar while keeping borders open to capital flows. If the RBI increased interest rates to fight domestic inflation, higher returns would attract foreign capital, creating demand for rupees and pushing the exchange rate below Rs 80—say, to Rs 78. To maintain the Rs 80 peg, the RBI would have to sell rupees and buy dollars, increasing money supply and negating the interest rate hike’s anti-inflationary effect.Conversely, if the RBI cut rates to stimulate growth, capital would flee to higher-yielding assets abroad, weakening the rupee beyond Rs 80– say, to Rs 82. To defend the peg, the RBI would have to sell dollars and buy rupees, reducing money supply and negating the rate cut’s growth-boosting effect.In both cases, the attempt to maintain a fixed exchange rate forces the central bank to intervene in ways that undo its monetary policy actions. The interest rate becomes a tool for managing the exchange rate, not the domestic economy.As Ranen Banerjee, Partner and Leader, Economic Advisory Services & Government Sector Leader at PwC India, told TOI “The trilemma refers to making a monetary policy choice between first having fixed or floating interest rates, second free or restricted capital mobility and third having an independent capability to set interest rates. A monetary policy of a country has to make a choice of any two of these and cannot make a choice to have all three.“
India’s choice has been clear since the 1990s economic liberalization: prioritize monetary policy independence and capital account openness, accepting exchange rate flexibility as the necessary trade-off.“In the case of India, we have made a choice of having independence in setting interest rates and having free capital mobility,” says Ranen Banerjee. “Thus, we will not have the ability to control exchange rates and it has to be floating. If we attempt to control the exchange rate, we will have to make a compromise on either our ability to set interest rates or bring in capital flow controls. Hence in the current policy choices made in the monetary policy, the rupee will find its own level with the Reserve Bank interventions being only for management of volatility as stated in its policy.“In 2016 a flexible inflation-targeting framework was adopted, which made price stability—targeting consumer price inflation at 4% with a tolerance band of ±2 percentage points—the RBI’s primary statutory objective.
While India officially follows a “market-determined” exchange rate system, in practice it operates what economists call a “managed float” regime. The RBI doesn’t target a specific exchange rate level, but it does intervene to manage excessive volatility.
The RBI’s forex interventions typically occur through:
The key distinction: These interventions aim to smooth volatility, not defend a specific rate. As Governor Malhotra clarified, “We don’t target any price levels or any bands.”
India’s foreign exchange reserves—currently around $686.8 billion (as of January 2, 2025)—provide the ammunition for these interventions. However, using reserves comes with costs. Each dollar sale drains reserves, and aggressive defence can deplete this buffer, leaving the country vulnerable during a genuine crisis.Sachchidanand Shukla, Group Chief Economist at Larsen & Toubro, points to another constraint: “RBI’s large net FX short forward positions act as a drag on the INR. While the RBI can roll over on maturity dates, it risks making it cheaper for speculators to fund long-USD positions and giving delivery would adversely impact durable liquidity, which could impact monetary transmission and weigh on the FX reserves.”
India’s inflation-targeting framework, adopted in 2016, mandates the RBI to prioritize price stability. The framework defines this as targeting Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 4% with a tolerance band of 2-6%, according to Inflation targeting framework 2016. In 2025, inflation has remained extraordinarily low, dropping below even the 2% lower tolerance band for three consecutive months (September-November).This success wasn’t accidental. It required consistent focus on domestic price stability, sometimes at the expense of currency stability. Between May 2022 and February 2023, the RBI raised the repo rate by 250 basis points (from 4% to 6.5%) to combat post-pandemic inflation, even as this widened interest rate differentials with other economies and put upward pressure on capital outflows. As Ranen Banerjee notes, maintaining this independence is crucial: “Hence in the current policy choices made in the monetary policy, the rupee will find its own level with the Reserve Bank interventions being only for management of volatility as stated in its policy.”
History is evident with crises where nations tried to “have it all” and failed spectacularly:
The UK tried to maintain the pound’s peg to the Deutsche Mark within the European Exchange Rate Mechanism while allowing capital flows. When economic conditions diverged—Germany needed high rates to fight reunification inflation while the UK needed lower rates to combat recession—the peg became unsustainable.Speculators, most famously George Soros, bet against the peg. On September 16, 1992, the Bank of England spent billions defending the pound and raised interest rates from 10% to 15% in a single day – but since it failed the implementation never happened. The UK was forced to exit the mechanism, devalue the pound, and abandon the peg. Soros reportedly made over $1 billion, according to Investopedia.The lesson: No amount of reserves can defend an overvalued peg against determined market forces when fundamentals don’t align.
Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea attempted to maintain currency pegs with open capital markets while their economies overheated. When the Thai baht came under speculative attack in July 1997, Thailand spent its reserves defending the peg before finally floating.The baht collapsed 50% within months. The crisis spread to Indonesia (rupiah fell 80%), Malaysia, and South Korea. The IMF had to arrange bailout packages. Millions lost jobs, incomes, and savings.The lesson: Fixed pegs with open capital accounts become untenable when underlying economic fundamentals—current account deficits, asset bubbles, private sector debt—turn unfavorable.
Argentina maintained a 1-to-1 dollar peg for a decade while allowing relatively free capital flows. When the economy slipped into recession in 1998-1999 and capital began fleeing, Argentina should have either floated the peso, imposed capital controls, or implemented painful deflation to restore competitiveness.It did none of these decisively. Reserves drained, confidence collapsed, and in December 2001, Argentina froze bank deposits, defaulted on $95 billion in sovereign debt, and abandoned the peg, according to Cato Institute. The peso eventually fell to 4-per-dollar. GDP contracted 20%, unemployment hit 25%, and poverty soared. . In 2001, the debt-to-GDP ratio was 55 percent, although the figure increased to 150 percent after the depreciation since most of the debt was denominated in foreign currency, according to a Brooking study. The lesson: Trying to maintain all three corners of the trilemma during a crisis only delays and amplifies the eventual collapse.
The rupee’s performance needs context. While it depreciated approximately 6% in 2025—becoming one of Asia’s weaker currencies—this follows a year of relative stability. Why the Rupee weakened in 2025Multiple factors converged to pressure the rupee in 2025:
At the other end of the spectrum, India has already seen rate cuts along with other easing measures, which have significantly narrowed its interest rate differential with regional peers and put downward pressure on the rupee, an analysis by Haver Analytics said “This has significantly reduced India’s interest rate differential with regional peers and placed downward pressure on the Indian rupee.” Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve kept rates elevated for longer than expected, widening the US-India rate differential.
Foreign institutional investors turned net sellers of Indian equities and debt in 2025. The outflows were driven by:
Source – BofA
India’s current account deficit—though still modest at 1.1% of GDP (December 2025)—reflects ongoing import demand, particularly for oil. As Sachchidanand Shukla notes: “The absence of positive newsflow on the India-US trade deal and expectations of a larger BOP [balance of payments] deficit continue to hurt INR.
Source- BofA
“This backdrop forces RBI to prioritize monetary independence and open capital account as inflows, especially FDI are important, and hence it allows INR to be flexible/gyrate,” explains Sachchidanand Shukla. “Also, an aggressive defense of the INR at the current juncture could be futile.”
Allowing the rupee to depreciate, rather than spending reserves to defend arbitrary levels, serves multiple strategic purposes:
“An aggressive defense of the INR at the current juncture could be futile,” argues Sachchidanand Shukla. “Instead, two-way movement in INR can be used to absorb some of the global pressures, preserve FX buffers and allow market-driven adjustments that boost export competitiveness in a volatile world.”India’s forex reserves, while substantial at $696.6 (dec 26, 2025) billion, are finite. The Asian Financial Crisis showed that reserves can be depleted quickly when defending unsustainable levels. By allowing gradual depreciation, the RBI preserves reserves for genuine emergencies.
A weaker rupee makes Indian exports cheaper in dollar terms, potentially offsetting some impact of US tariffs. With the REER having peaked at 108.14—indicating significant overvaluation—allowing depreciation helps restore competitiveness.Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran emphasized this point, noting the falling rupee was “not affecting inflation or exports” negatively. In fact, a more competitive exchange rate could support export-oriented sectors like IT services, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.
Most crucially, allowing currency flexibility preserves the RBI’s ability to set interest rates based on domestic needs. With inflation falling to historic lows (0.25% in October 2025), the RBI had justification to cut rates to support growth. Attempting to defend the rupee at a fixed level would have required keeping rates high despite low inflation—sacrificing domestic economic goals for an arbitrary currency target.
“Two-way movement in INR can be used to absorb some of the global pressures,” notes Sachchidanand Shukla. When the rupee only weakens (one-way movement), it becomes a profitable one-way bet for speculators. If they know the RBI will prevent strengthening but allow weakening, they can short the rupee risk-free.Two-way movement—allowing both appreciation and depreciation—makes speculation riskier and more expensive, naturally deterring some of it.
Looking ahead, the rupee’s trajectory will depend on factors some of which are outside the RBI’s control:External Factors:
Domestic Factors:
What won’t change is the framework. India will continue prioritizing monetary independence and capital openness, accepting exchange rate flexibility as the price. The RBI will intervene to manage volatility, not defend specific levels.As Ranen Banerjee summarizes: “In the current policy choices made in the monetary policy, the rupee will find its own level with the Reserve Bank interventions being only for management of volatility as stated in its policy.”The impossible trilemma isn’t a theoretical abstraction. It’s a practical constraint that shapes decisions about interest rates, capital flows, and exchange rates. Understanding it is essential to understanding why the RBI responds to currency movements the way it does—and why allowing the rupee to find its level, rather than defending arbitrary bands, is not policy failure but policy by design.
Here are top five stories of the day:
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest rally in Kolkata on Friday against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a day after the central agency conducted raids at the office of political consultancy I-PAC and the residence of its chief, Partik Jain. The rally was held near the 8B bus stand in Jadavpur, where a large number of TMC leaders and workers gathered, raising slogans against the alleged misuse of central agencies. Heavy police deployment was seen in the area. Read full story
The ministry of external affairs on Friday termed the remarks made by US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick that “PM Modi’s reluctance to call Trump” was the reason behind the delay in the trade deal between the United States and India, as “inaccurate.”In a media briefing MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “PM Modi and President Trump have spoken on eight occasions in 2025.” Read full story
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday warned the protesters, saying the Islamic Republic would “not back down” amid escalating unrest accusing “foreign-backed elements” of trying to destabilise the country. He also targeted Donald Trump, claiming the “hands of the US President are stained with the blood of Iranians” further asserting that the “arrogant” leader would eventually be overthrown. In a speech aired on state television, the 86-year-old leader said, “Everyone should know that the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, and it will not back down in the face of saboteurs.” Read full story
The Madras high court’s chief justice has temporarily stayed the single judge’s order that directed the CBFC to grant a UA certificate. The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 21, after the Pongal holidays. Representing the Censor Board, the ASG stated that the single judge held the Chairperson’s January 6 letter to be without jurisdiction, but argued that the letter itself was never challenged before the court. He pointed out that no writ of certiorari was sought against the letter. The ASG further contended that the CBFC should have been given an opportunity to defend its position by filing a counter affidavit. Follow live updates
Indian women’s cricket team batter Jemimah Rodrigues recently shared a scary yet funny story from her childhood that left everyone shocked at the time. The incident happened when she was just eight years old, long before she became a World Cup hero for India. Jemimah recalled that she was at a church programme with her cousins. The kids were playing outside an auditorium while the adults were busy inside. Like most children, they were full of energy and mischief. Read full story
She observed that many children appeared distracted during prayers, their minds restless. Instead of reprimanding them, Shalini saw an opportunity to steady their thoughts, prepare them for the day ahead, and gently introduce them to the wisdom of the Gita. She began setting shlokas to simple tunes and explaining their meaning in everyday language. The response surprised even her. “The children started enjoying it,” she says. “Now, even when it isn’t my period, they ask me to come and sing a song or a shloka with them.”Her own faith in music was shaped long before the viral video. Shalini recalls a deeply personal moment from her youth. “When I observed Chhath for the first time, before marriage, I was standing in the water on the fourth day of the fast-shivering with cold and weakness,” she says. “With folded hands, I prayed to Chhathi Maiya that if I could build a good career through music, if I could be recognised for it someday. It was a vague, quiet prayer. But I feel God listened.”
The journey, however, was far from easy. Her father, a retired teacher from Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Khalari, Ranchi, had a deep love for music and often sang bhajans at jagarans. Young Shalini would accompany him. “We were three sisters, and my parents were often mocked for not having a son,” she recalls. “When my father took me to jagarans, people would raise their eyebrows. He was treated with disrespect. Small towns can be unkind.” Whenever she felt hurt, her father would quietly remind her to ignore the noise and focus on her art.
Today, Shalini explains the Gita to her students through relatable examples. “I tell them, when you sit down to study and your mind wanders to the TV or mobile games, that is your mind slipping out of control,” she says. “Would you allow any other part of your body to behave like that? Or would you want to master it?” Through such conversations, abstract philosophy becomes lived wisdom.Her husband, Apurv Sumant, a social science teacher at the same school, manages her Instagram account and remains her strongest support. The recognition has followed naturally. “We received a call from Banaras Hindu University informing us that Shalini would be honoured with the Madan Mohan Malviya Award,” he says, as she listens with the same quiet disbelief that marked her first brush with fame. Supported by her husband, in-laws, school, and principal, Shalini remains rooted. Her goal is unchanged-to share the deep knowledge of religion and mythology with the younger generation in such a way that it is easily understandable and relatable to the young minds.Shalini Singh’s story is not just about viral fame; it is about faith, perseverance, and purpose. It is a reminder that when talent is guided by sincerity and service, it finds its way, sometimes quietly, sometimes suddenly, but always meaningfully.
Vodafone Idea (Vi) will pay the government Rs 1,144 crore over the next 10 years, with the remaining adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues — frozen at Rs 87,695 crore — to be paid in instalments starting March 2036, the company said on Friday, reported PTI.The Union Cabinet has frozen Vi’s AGR dues at Rs 87,695 crore, with repayments to begin from FY2031-32 and continue until FY2040-41. In addition, the government has granted the telco six years, from FY2025-26 to FY2030-31, to clear AGR dues pertaining to 2017-18 and 2018-19 without any change.Vi said the entire AGR liability — comprising principal, interest, penalty and interest on penalty for the period from 2006-07 to 2018-19 as of December 31 — will be frozen and repaid in tranches.“Maximum Rs 124 crore to be paid annually over next six years i.e. March 2026 to March 2031; Rs 100 crore to be paid annually over four years i.e. March 2032 to March 2035; the remaining AGR dues, has to be paid in equal instalments annually over six years, i.e. March 2036 to March 2041,” the company said in a regulatory filing.The relief provides a fresh lease of life to the debt-laden operator, which would otherwise have had to pay around Rs 18,000 crore by March 2026 and a similar amount every year for the next six years without government support.Earlier, Vi had informed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that its total liabilities to the government were about Rs 2 lakh crore, including Rs 1.19 lakh crore towards spectrum dues. The company said that without support, the Centre would face significant losses, including no recovery of spectrum dues, erosion of equity value worth Rs 53,083 crore, and no recovery of AGR dues.Vi’s annual liabilities were more than double its operational cash generation, which has ranged between Rs 8,400 crore and Rs 9,200 crore over the last three years.The company also said a DoT-appointed committee will reassess the AGR dues, with its decision to be final. “Thereafter, the reassessed amount is to be repaid between March 2036 and March 2041 in equal annual instalments,” the filing said.Analysts said the relief could ease funding pressures. A Citi report said the move could “fast-track the completion of Vi’s Rs 250 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) bank debt raise” and potentially pave the way for another equity raise, while improving confidence in the company’s ability to continue as a going concern and revive network investments.Ambit Capital said decisive government action and possible upside from reassessment would help Vi raise bank funding needed for survival capex. It added that a favourable Supreme Court verdict had already enabled Vi to raise Rs 3,300 crore through non-convertible debentures recently.
Rocking Star Yash‘s fans celebrated January 8 as a special double event. Birthday messages flooded in along with the new teaser drop for ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown Ups’. That teaser grabbed attention fast, mainly for one close-up, intimate moment with Yash and a foreign actor. The makers confirmed the film is for adults only.
The ‘Toxic’ teaser is blowing up online, as fans keep rewatching it and posting reactions everywhere. People are guessing the film will get an ‘A’ rating. Its “fairy tale for grown-ups” label and daring visuals point to a dark, adult story that stands out from typical big movies.
The mystery woman in Yash’s viral ear-biting scene from the teaser is Natalie Burn, a Ukrainian-American actress from Hollywood. She joins the ‘Toxic’ cast and serves as a producer too, heightening interest in her role.
Natalie Burn, born Natalia Guslistaya in Kyiv, Ukraine, works as an actress and producer in international films. She started with a successful modeling career that paved her way into Hollywood acting. Beyond that, she excels as a martial artist, professional ballet dancer, and speaks four languages.
Over the last week, the ‘Toxic’ team has unveiled the looks and character names of its leading ladies. Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, and Huma Qureshi play key roles. Still, the teaser’s sultry co-star with Yash is stealing the spotlight.
