Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (File photo)

NEW DELHI: The Gauhati high court on Thursday issued a notice to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding multiple PILs that allege he made “hate speech.”A division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury, heard the three petitions. Notices were also issued to the Assam government and the Director General of Police.

The court scheduled the next hearing for April 21.“The respondents have to reply to the notices before the next date. The court has not issued any other order,” advocate Santanu Borthakur, who assisted the counsels for one of the petitioners, told PTI.The petitioners include the political parties CPI and CPI(M), each of which filed separate petitions, as well as a joint petition by Sahitya Akademi awardee Hiren Gohain, former DGP Harekrishna Deka, and senior journalist Paresh Malakar.Gohain, Deka, and Malakar submitted their petition on February 24, while the CPI and CPI(M) had filed their separate petitions earlier, on February 21, concerning the same issue.Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused, on February 16, to entertain petitions seeking action against Sarma in a similar matter.The petitioners alleged that Sarma’s remarks could “divide society” and constituted “blatant hate speech” against a minority community in Assam. They claimed he directed party members to file complaints against Bengali-origin Muslims, derogatorily referred to as “Miyas,” to cause them harassment.The PIL stated that Sarma has been instigating social and economic boycotts, propagating harmful stereotypes, and encouraging civilians to take law and order into their own hands. It also alleged that he has used his office to harass the minority community and incite communal disharmony.The petitioners demanded a complete cessation of such hate speech, an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) chaired by a retired high court judge, and appropriate action against Sarma. They noted that despite publicly recorded speeches suggesting incitement, no FIR had been registered, creating a climate of impunity.

West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford walks off the field after his dismissal during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between West Indies and South Africa, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)

South Africa moved closer to a semifinal spot in the T20 World Cup with a commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in their Super 8 match on Thursday at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, extending their unbeaten run in the tournament.The Proteas combined disciplined bowling with controlled batting to register their sixth straight win, while ending West Indies’ unbeaten streak. The two points also strengthened India’s position in the group, as a South Africa loss would have complicated the hosts’ qualification scenario.

The defeat also impacted the West Indies’ net run rate, which dropped to 1.791 from 5.350.After being asked to bat, West Indies were reduced to 83 for 7 as Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Lungi Ngidi (3/30) ran through West Indies’ top and middle order. A lower-order partnership between Jason Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out off 37) added 89 runs for the eighth wicket, helping the side recover to 176 for 8.In reply, South Africa chased down the target in 16.1 overs. Captain Aiden Markram remained unbeaten on 82, while Quinton de Kock made 47 and Ryan Rickelton scored 45 not out.The chase was set up in the powerplay itself, where South Africa scored 69 runs in six overs. De Kock and Markram added 95 runs in 7.5 overs, striking 16 boundaries, including six sixes. De Kock hit four sixes and four fours in his 24-ball innings before being caught by Holder at long-on. Markram brought up his fifty with a single off Gudakesh Motie and later shared an unbeaten 82-run stand with Rickelton. He finished the match with a straight boundary off Holder.“We actually bowled pretty well, obviously the powerplay was a big thing for us, to get off nicely. The partnership with Quinny [set things up],” said Markram, who was named Player of the Match.“The second innings was good to bat on, it was slightly tacky early on and the guys bowled pretty well early on.”Earlier, West Indies had started quickly. Shai Hope (16 off 6) hit Keshav Maharaj for two sixes and a four, while Brandon King (21 off 11) attacked Marco Jansen as the side reached 29 in just over two overs.Rabada removed Hope, caught behind while fishing outside off. Shimron Hetmyer (2) was dropped by Corbin Bosch at mid-on but was dismissed three balls later, miscued off Rabada. Ngidi then dismissed King and Roston Chase (2) in the fourth over, leaving West Indies at 44 for 4.Sherfane Rutherford (12) hit Bosch for a six but fell next ball, top-edging to de Kock. Ngidi’s third wicket was Rovman Powell (9), reducing the side to 71 for 6. Matthew Forde (11) later fell to Bosch after hitting a six.Holder and Shepherd then rebuilt. Holder struck 22 runs in one over off Jansen before being run out off the penultimate ball of the innings. Shepherd carried on to ensure a competitive total.“Losing so many wickets in the powerplay cost us. We were 40-50 short. Must commend the guys in the bottom half for giving us a chance, never know things could have changed,” Hope said.“The way we play our cricket, there will be a loss, aim was to get it out early. Next game will be quarter-final.”

Thane: Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, on Thursday convened a high-level review meeting with Thane police officials, the state health department, the civil administration and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in connection with the alleged illegal human egg extraction racket unearthed in Badlapur.Expressing grave concern, Chakankar said the case appeared “far more serious than initially believed”, flagging the possibility of unreported fatalities among egg donors. She pointed out that none of the five accused arrested so far — including four women — possessed recognised medical or paramedical qualifications or expertise in IVF procedures. “Despite this, hormonal injections were allegedly administered and egg extraction procedures conducted under anaesthesia, posing significant risks to women’s health,” she said.Chakankar directed the local administration, particularly the FDA, to immediately verify the legality, registration and licensing status of all sonography centres, IVF clinics, and gynaecology and obstetrics hospitals operating in Badlapur and surrounding areas. Officials said the inspection drive commenced on Thursday and would be expanded based on preliminary findings.Inputs reviewed at the meeting indicated that a facility identified as Malti IVF Center, licensed to operate only in Nashik, was allegedly functioning in Thane without authorisation. Chakankar instructed authorities to conduct a comprehensive probe to map the network, identify alleged masterminds and take stringent legal action against those found complicit.Police officials informed the meeting that at least 40 women had come forward as donors, many of whom allegedly underwent multiple egg donation cycles. Investigators said the women were largely from economically vulnerable backgrounds, including those facing unemployment or domestic distress. Police further alleged that forged identity documents, including manipulated Aadhaar details, were created to bypass regulations and facilitate repeated donations at different locations across the country.Authorities said the racket came to light after a woman approached a health centre claiming she had not been paid for an egg donation procedure.Earlier, police arrested Sulakshna Gadekar, Ashwini Chabuskar, and Manjusha Wankhede, accused of running the operation from their residences in Badlapur and Ulhasnagar. During searches, officers reportedly seized ovulation-stimulating injections worth more than Rs 10 lakh from their premises.According to investigators, financially distressed women were allegedly lured with promises of money, administered ovulation-stimulating injections without proper medical consultation, and subjected to unauthorised sonography tests. Once ovulation was induced, the women were allegedly referred to IVF/ART centres where eggs were extracted and purportedly sold illegally. Donor selection, officials claimed, was based on matching blood groups as per demand.On Wednesday, the four women accused were produced before the Ambernath court. Relatives of the accused told media persons that the women were innocent and had merely worked as agents, demanding a fair investigation.Chakankar also directed the FDA to examine the supply chain of hormonal injections and related medicines used in the alleged procedures. Separately, she flagged reports of illegal sale of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits in districts such as Chandrapur and Bhandara, calling for statewide raids on medical stores suspected of selling abortion kits without prescriptions.Thane police said multiple teams were pursuing leads and that further arrests were likely.

NEW DELHI: Veteran journalist and news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary on Thursday shared his reflections on the evolution of television journalism and the fast-changing landscape of digital news during a session at the Fourth Annual Storyboard18 Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi.In an engaging conversation moderated by RJ Raunac — the artist, entertainer, and entrepreneur popularly known as “Bauaa” — the discussion, themed “The new world order of news: rewriting the playbook for a resilient digital future”, explored how technology continues to redefine storytelling, credibility, and audience engagement in modern newsrooms.Responding to a question about the dramatic shift from the early days of television to the rise of the digital and AI-driven era, Chaudhary traced his journey from the mid-1990s, when India’s TV news industry was just taking root.“When I began my career in 1994–95, television was just taking off in India. There was only one news bulletin a day, aired around 9 or 10 pm. People would wait eagerly for that slot, believing it marked the dawn of a new era in broadcasting. It was truly just the beginning,” he said, recalling how the medium evolved from a single nightly bulletin to over 400 channels running 24 hours across the country today.Sharing anecdotes from his early reportage, Chaudhary highlighted the challenges of telling stories when technology was limited. He recounted how, during the Kargil War in 1999, which he called India’s first “televised war,” sending footage from the conflict zone to Delhi took up to two days, often leaving reporters anxious and helpless.Sharing another memory from the 2002 Parliament attack, he said, “I had the best visuals, best footage of the incident, but there was no medium to send it from the Parliament to my office in Noida. Though OB vans were a thing, we did not have OB vans available that day.”Reflecting on how far the industry has come, he observed that despite the tools changing—from broadcast to social media, and now AI—certain core principles have remained constant.“People say TV is dying now since it’s being taken over by social media, which is also being challenged by AI. But I feel certain things have not changed,” he said.Emphasising the enduring essence of journalism, Chaudhary noted, “Storytelling, clarity, and responsibility — these things have never changed. Technology can create content for you, but the emotion and intent behind the content will always be driven by you.”The DNPA Conclave 2026 brought together policymakers, editors, technologists, and industry leaders to deliberate on the future of news in an AI-led world. The day’s sessions examined how innovation, regulation, and ethics can coexist to shape a trustworthy and sustainable digital media environment for the next decade.

South Africa delivered a statement performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, crushing West Indies by nine wickets in a lopsided Super 8 encounter to become the first team to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals.

Clinical chase: Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock set the platform for South Africa

Chasing 177, South Africa’s opening pair of Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram dismantled the West Indies bowling attack with a breathtaking 95-run partnership inside the first eight overs. De Kock was particularly aggressive, racing to 47 off just 24 deliveries before falling to Roston Chase, caught by Jason Holder at mid-wicket .

Markram, however, continued the onslaught, finding an able partner in Ryan Rickelton, who smashed an unbeaten 45 off 28 balls. The pair added 82 runs in just 49 deliveries, with Markram bringing up his fifty off 30 balls before accelerating further. The Proteas skipper finished with 82 not out off 46 deliveries, his innings studded with six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 178.26 .

South Africa reached 177/1 in just 16.1 overs, their second-highest successful chase in T20 World Cup history and the fastest by any team against West Indies in the tournament.

West Indies innings: Jason Holder’s heroics propel Caribbean total

Earlier, South Africa captain Makram won the toss and elected to field first and the decision was bang on as the Proteas pace quartet ripped through the top order. Kagiso Rabada struck early, removing Hope for 16 off 12 deliveries, while Lungi Ngidi claimed the prized wickets of Brandon King (21 off 11) and Roston Chase (2 off 2).

At 60/5 in the 10th over, West Indies were staring at a below-par total. However, Jason Holder produced a magnificent counter-attacking knock, scoring 49 off just 31 deliveries with three fours and four sixes. He found support from Romario Shepherd, who smashed an unbeaten 52 off 37 balls, as the pair added 89 runs for the eighth wicket.

Shepherd’s innings was particularly brutal, featuring 3 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 140.54. Their partnership propelled West Indies to a respectable 176/8 from their 20 overs.

Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 3/30 in his four overs, claiming the crucial wickets of King, Powell and Chase. Kagiso Rabada supported with 2/22, while Corbin Bosch claimed 2/31, including the wicket of Sherfane Rutherford.

Player of the Match

Aiden Markram’s all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award. The South African captain also took a sharp catch to remove Hetmyer and led his team with tactical acumen before delivering with the bat.

Also WATCH: Keshav Maharaj plucks a screamer to remove Shimron Hetmyer during T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 encounter

Here’s how fans reacted:

Aiden Markram is a dream to watch – pure elegance, pure class. A true delight to eyes for every cricket fan. ❤️

— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) February 26, 2026

Marvelous Markram! 🔥

What an innings from Aiden Markram 👏🏽

The South Africa national cricket team look sharp in this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Is this their year? 🇿🇦🔥#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/rpAWvKHFfz

— Audrin Van Schoor (@audas_vanschoor) February 26, 2026

Take a bow, Aiden Markram. Solid knock! 🔥 #T20WorldCup2026

— Khwezi 👨🏾‍💻 (@Khwezi_bass) February 26, 2026

Petition to rename Narendra Modi Stadium as Aiden Markram Stadium.. 🙌🙌👏👏#SAvsWI #T20WorldCup #CricketTwitter @AidzMarkram

— Dr. Shubham Misra शुभम मिश्रा🧠⚛️🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@Shubham_Neuro) February 26, 2026

Aiden Markram means business 🙏🔥.

Congratulations Proteas!

— Onkabetse M (@alfredbailar) February 26, 2026

AIDEN MARKRAM’S SOUTH AFRICA deserves to win this t20 world.
The way they are playing – totally DOMINATING !! #T20WorldCup

— Kaku (@Kakufied) February 26, 2026

Aiden Markram responding to all his doubters, he has been amazing 😭🔥

— Sabelo (@Mahoota11) February 26, 2026

AIDEN KYLE MARKRAM 🔥🔥🔥#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/sRnxXY5rsX

— Lawrence Bailey 🇿🇦 (@LawrenceBailey0) February 26, 2026

You are made for greatness if the King appreciates you.
Well played and thank you Aiden Markram 👏 pic.twitter.com/SlnhoDkEfT

— RCB TWEETS (@fcRCBtweets) February 26, 2026

AIDEN MARKRAM IN THIS T20 WORLD CUP 2026:

– 59(32).
– 5(8).
– 86*(44).
– 28(11).
– 4(7).
– 82*(46).

Captain Markram, A Leader leads by example! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Xgm2aV5Hic

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) February 26, 2026

Well played, Aiden Markram 👏🔥 A classy 82 that set the tone beautifully!#AidenMarkram #Cricket #T20WorldCup #WIvsSA

— Bheemendra Pratap (@BheemendraP) February 26, 2026

What a performance from the South Africa national cricket team! 🔥🇿🇦

Captain courageous Aiden Markram leading from the front 👏🏽

Proteas still unbeaten in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup!#T20WorldCup #unbreakable pic.twitter.com/Ube3HoXOun

— Audrin Van Schoor (@audas_vanschoor) February 26, 2026

Also READ: IND vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 – TNCA takes a unique step to curb dew in Chennai

Indian cricket team (ANI)

With India gearing up for a must-win ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash against Zimbabwe in Chennai, former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has urged the team to return to their fearless, attacking approach if they are to keep their semi-final hopes alive.The MA Chidambaram Stadium is set for a high-pressure evening, with India not only needing victory but also a sizeable margin to boost their net run-rate.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Chopra analysed India’s qualification scenario and pointed out the challenges ahead.On India’s road to the semi-finals, he said, “The tricky problem for India is they need to win both of their remaining Super Eight matches, and they will also be hoping that South Africa win their games against West Indies and Zimbabwe. But if that does not happen, then the net run-rate comes into play.”Chopra emphasised that if qualification comes down to net run-rate, India must rediscover their attacking mindset. He believes captain Suryakumar Yadav has a key role to play in that shift.“That is when India will need to bring out their explosive brand of cricket. Suryakumar Yadav is the man for that role. He needs to bat at three and bat with freedom. Against South Africa, I felt he was too slow. By the time he got out, the mountain was too high for others to climb,” he said.Chopra also raised concerns about India’s current batting pattern, suggesting it lacks balance and clarity.“India have batters at the top who go hammer and tongs from ball one and lose their wicket. That puts the team in tricky situations. Then the batters who come in after are too cautious and conservative. They start eating deliveries regardless of the pitch, conditions or the bowler. They play the situation completely and fall behind in the game.”He further pointed out that this measured approach is a departure from the fearless cricket India have showcased in recent years.“This is not the brand of cricket India have played in the last two years. They took pride in saying we hammer teams and score 250, 260 or 270. But Suryakumar Yadav and his men have perhaps forgotten that formula. The template now is to score just 180-190. That is good enough on some days, but good teams chase those totals easily. India need to bring back their aggressive brand of cricket. If they don’t, their hopes of making the semi-finals could be in trouble,” he concluded.With their campaign hanging in the balance, India must deliver a commanding performance against Zimbabwe to stay in contention for a semi-final spot.

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna have officially tied the knot in Udaipur, confirming their union as ‘The Wedding of VIROSH’. The couple, who met on the sets of ‘Geetha Govindam’, celebrated their marriage with Telugu Hindu and Kodava rituals.

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are finally married. The couple who has been dating for many years now, never confessed to being in a relationship publicly. They also remained silent on the wedding rumour until Sunday where they confirmed and called it ‘The wedding of Virosh’. The couple tied the knot at Mementos by ITC Hotels in Udaipur. They tied the knot with Telugu Hindu rituals, representing Vijay’s tradition, in the morning on February 26. They have now dropped first pictures as husband and wife. While Rashmika opted for a traditional orange and gold saree look, Vijay could be seen in a white dhoti and a ‘dushala’ matching with Rashmika’s saree which had zardosi work on it. Both the bride and groom, opted for traditonal gold jewellery to complet their look. Vijay Deverakonda wrote, “One day, I missed her. Missed her in a way that made me feel like my day would’ve been better if she were around. Like my meals would’ve felt more wholesome if she were sitting across from me.Like my workouts would’ve been more fun and less of a punishment if she were doing them with me.Like I needed her – just to feel that sense of home and calm, no matter where I was. So,I made my best friend… my wife. 😀❤️26.02.2026 Rashmika penned an emotional note which read, “Hi my loves, Introducing to you now “My Husband”! 💘 Mr. Vijay Deverakonda!! ❤️The man who taught me what true love feels like, the man who showed me what being in peace feels like! 🤍The man who told me everyday that dreaming big was absolutely ok and constantly telling me I was capable of achieving something much more than what I could possibly think I ever could! 🤍The man who’s never stopped me from dancing like no one’s watching..the man who showed me travelling with friends is the best thing ever, and trust me I could write a book on this man! 🤍I’ve become the woman I have always dreamt of being, because you made her who she is today!I’ve truly been blessed! 🤍 Vijju I am always short of words to describe the feelings I have for you!! I’ve always told you that!!But you know suddenly all of my achievements, struggles, happiness, sadness, joy, life – everything just makes a lot more sense now – it is because I have you – witnessing it all.. being the biggest part of it all! ❤️I am so so so so soooo excited to becoming your wife! to be your wife! To be called your wife!! 💃🏻💃🏻❤️ it’s full party time now!!💃🏻❤️Let’s have the bestestest life ever together! I love you! ❤️” Their first pictures prove that their wedding was rooted deeply in culture and that’s what even their outfits depict. As soon as they dropped these pictures, fans couldn’t hold their excitement and dropped congratulatory messages. A user said, “No nazar for mr and mrs Devarakonda ❤️❤️❤️❤️”Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor and others like this post. Rashmika and Vijay first crossed paths on the sets of Geetha Govindam, later reuniting for Dear Comrade. The two are now gearing up for their third Telugu collaboration, Ranabaali, which is scheduled to hit theatres on September 11.

MUMBAI: Residents can look forward to safer drinking water, improved taste, fewer water-borne illnesses, and a step closer to 24×7 supply once the new-generation water treatment plants at Bhandup and Panjrapur become operational by 2029–30. Equipped with advanced, compact, and energy-efficient technologies, the facilities are expected to sharply reduce contaminants and pathogens compared with ageing plants. They will also lower chemical and power consumption and strengthen supply reliability, meeting nearly 65% of the city’s drinking water needs. In a major development, Welspun Enterprises Ltd (WEL) has been awarded a Rs 3,145 crore contract by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to design, build, and operate a 910 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant (WTP) at Panjrapur. The project includes a 15-year operations and maintenance (O&M) component worth around Rs 1,156 crore. The Panjrapur plant will complement the 2,000 MLD Bhandup WTP, currently under construction, which will replace an ageing facility. Together, the two plants—executed by Welspun with global water management firm Veolia as the technology provider and O&M partner—will create a combined capacity of 2,910 MLD, forming the backbone of Mumbai’s future water security. Advanced technology, smaller footprintUnlike conventional plants that rely on large sedimentation tanks and energy-intensive systems, the new facilities will use high-rate, compact technologies such as Actiflo for clarification, TGV-DMF for advanced filtration, and Actidyn for sludge thickening. Actiflo uses microsand ballast to settle impurities up to 50 times faster than traditional processes, allowing world-class purification in a much smaller footprint—an important advantage in land-scarce Mumbai. The technology can reduce chemical use by up to 50% and cut energy consumption by at least 30% compared with older plants. Sludge treatment using lamella-based systems eliminates the need for massive gravity tanks, conserving urban land and improving operational efficiency. Digital tools, including AI-enabled monitoring, digital twins for real-time simulation, and camera-based surveillance, will support predictive maintenance and stable output even during monsoon-related spikes in turbidity. Direct benefits for consumersCivic officials said the advanced treatment processes will significantly reduce contaminants and pathogens compared with older systems, resulting in safer, more consistent drinking water. “For households, this means improved taste, lower risk of water-borne diseases, and greater confidence in the safety of tap water,” a senior BMC official said. “The enhanced reliability of production is also a key step towards continuous, pressurised supply.” By 2030, the two plants are expected to meet 65% of Mumbai’s potable water demand, enhancing supply resilience amid rapid urbanisation and climate variability. Veolia will oversee the production and treatment of drinking water, while distribution management and the reduction of non-revenue water (NRW) losses will remain under the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). Lower costs, long-term stabilityOfficials said the improved energy and chemical efficiency of the new plants could lower the cost of producing treated water over time, giving the municipality fiscal flexibility to either moderate tariffs or reinvest savings into strengthening pipelines, rainwater harvesting, and reuse infrastructure. Guillaume Dourdin, CEO and Country Director, India, Veolia, said: “For more than 25 years, Veolia has partnered in India’s urban transformation, proving that 24×7 water supply is not a distant dream but a fundamental standard for cities facing water stress. We bring this expertise to Mumbai’s Bhandup (2,000 MLD) and Panjrapur (910 MLD) plants, securing 65% of the city’s drinking water needs by 2030.” He added that optimised operations at the new facilities would significantly improve water quality while ensuring efficient plant performance over decades under a 15-year O&M contract. Part of a larger water pushThe Panjrapur project is scheduled for completion within 48 months, after which it will be operated and maintained for 15 years. The Bhandup plant is expected to be operational by 2029, followed by Panjrapur by 2030. Welspun Chairman BK Goenka said that upon completion of both projects, the company would be treating nearly 65% of Mumbai’s freshwater requirements. Managing Director Sandeep Garg added that the focus would be on delivering a world-class facility with the smallest possible footprint in a land-scarce city. With an order book of over Rs 16,000 crore and multiple water and wastewater projects underway—including the 418 MLD Dharavi Wastewater Treatment Facility—Welspun’s expanding portfolio aligns with Mumbai’s broader push for sustainability, water reuse, and circular water management. For residents, the most tangible outcome will be simple: cleaner, safer, and more reliable water flowing from taps, bringing 24×7 supply closer to reality.

PM Modi’s selfie with Fauda cast

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a lighthearted selfie of him meeting the star cast of the Jewish spy thriller series Fauda on Thursday.Posting the photo on X, PM Modi wrote: “Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie, no undercover work!”Fauda (Arabic for “chaos”) is a critically acclaimed Israeli political thriller that gained global popularity. The show explores the high-stakes, morally complex world surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, portraying undercover operations, counterterror missions and the human cost of prolonged violence on both sides.

PM Modi’s meeting with the star cast comes as various stakeholders in the Indian and Israeli entertainment industries have been seeking collaborative projects and possibilities of utilising each other’s strengths in various aspects of the creative space. Last year, amid government efforts to make India a global film production hub, an Indian film festival kicked off in Israel with the screening of filmmaker Kiran Rao’s acclaimed feature “Laapataa Ladies”. “Dangal”, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, “Mimi”, “English Vinglish” and “777 Charlie” were the other five movies to be screened in the film festival, which ran till March 8.The lineup showcased India’s diversity, rich traditional heritage, contemporary challenges and its creative genius.During his 2018 visit to India, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after making a fervent appeal to the Hindi film industry to shoot in his country, captured some of Bollywood’s biggest faces into a selfie with Amitabh Bachchan helming the epic shot.“We believe in India-Israel relationship. One of the most viral pictures occurred at the Oscars a few years ago. I’d like the Bollywood stars to join me for a selfie so a few hundred million Indians and Israelis can see this phenomenal friendship. Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Israel!” he said as he beckoned the actors and filmmakers at the gathering titled Shalom Bollywood.India’s entertainment industry is valued at roughly $29–30 billion (2024), driven by films, television, OTT platforms, music, gaming and advertising. It produces the highest number of films globally and has strong cultural influence across Asia, the Middle East and the diaspora.Israel’s industry is much smaller in revenue but influential in global TV formats, high-quality dramas and creative exports.