In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), and Dinkar Srivastava, former diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation.

They discuss the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, the future of the Awami League, and the role of Sheikh Hasina. The conversation also revolves around at growing concerns about minorities, including Hindus in Bangladesh. Is there a rising wave of Islamisation? And how should India move forward in its ties with Dhaka?

Pakistan is also in focus. The guests talk about the rise of Asim Munir, the new boss of all things military and nuclear in Pakistan. Can the threat of another terror attack from Pakistan be ruled out?

The episode also explores how China and the United States are shaping choices in South Asia, and what India’s response should be in a changing regional scenario.

00:00 – Introduction

01:45 – Why Asim Munir Took CDF Role

05:54 – The Fall of Pervez Musharraf

07:43 – Can Pakistan Attack India Again?

15:03 – Will Bangladesh Hold Elections in February 2026?

25:37 – Imran Khan vs Asim Munir

32:39 – Rising Islamisation in Bangladesh

44:20 – Rohingya Crisis Explained

47:15 – Role of Pakistan Army in Politics

51:03 – When ISI Trained Guns on Dinkar Srivastava

01:11:40 – Anti-India Sentiment in Bangladesh

01:23:50 – India as the Standard in Pakistan

01:30:15 – India’s Neighbourhood Strategy

Gaur Gopal Das is a life coach, author, and motivational speaker. He studied at the College of Engineering, Pune, and briefly worked with Hewlett Packard. Soon after, he chose a very different path and became a monk and has been living in an ashram in Mumbai for the past 26 years.

Over the years, he has studied ancient Indian philosophy along with modern psychology. For more than two decades, he has travelled across the world, sharing his thoughts with students, professionals, charities, and institutions. He has also spoken at the United Nations.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Gaur Gopal Das talks about whether religion and spirituality can be separated, and whether marriage is becoming an outdated idea. He shares insights into the life of a monk and explains why he chose this path.

In this New Year special episode, he also speaks about the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and explains, in simple terms, what dharma truly means.

00:00 – Introduction

00:52 – Life of a Monk

07:56 – Understanding Spirituality

14:30 – Why Monks Wear Orange?

19:29 – Controlling Desires

23:03 – Dealing with Anger

30:49 – Spirituality vs Religion

34:38 – Power of Chanting Mantras

45:25 – Why Modi Gifted Gita to Putin?

57:39 – Who Should One Read Gita

01:03:33 – Spirituality and Politics

01:09:47 – Living with Differences

01:12:36 – Gen X vs Gen Z

01:17:43 – India and Its Adversaries

01:25:09 – Parenting in Digital Times

01:36:26 – Importance of Family Love

01:38:42 – Marriage an Outdated Concept?

01:46:33 – Gaur Gopal Das Married?

01:50:43 – How Relationships Grow

01:54:51 – Fixing Broken Relationships

02:00:04 – Couples Staying Together for Children

02:07:15 – Real vs Fake Gurus

02:09:44 – Handling Others’ Pain

02:14:36 – Does Fame Change Friends?

02:19:02 – Healthy Habits for Life

Sanjeev Sanyal is a historian, economist, author, and currently serves as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

In this edition of the Podcast with Smita Prakash, he uncovers colonial ‘lies’ in India’s history. He talks about his project on INSV Kaundinya, showcasing India’s ancient maritime exploration.

He speaks on the IndiGo crisis, freebies, pensions, and the future of India’s economy. He also explains urban challenges in Indian cities and GDP measurement tools.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

01:08 – INSV Kaundinya Sailing Vessel History

04:54 – Sailing Training for INSV Kaundinya

09:12 – The Forgotten Chapters of Indian History

13:53 – Kalinga War & The Myths About Ashoka

16:55 – Indian History and Language

18:58 – India vs Big Tech: The Battle for Narrative

31:13 – Can India Build Its Own Tech Platforms?

33:44 – Indian Democracy

37:12 – The West on India’s Growth

41:42 – India Growing Without Creating Enough Jobs?

46:05 – India’s Skill Development in the 20th Century

51:44 – Universalisation of Education & NEP

53:32 – Bureaucracy & the Changing World

01:00:09 – Delhi Pollution

01:04:40 – Infrastructure Crisis in India

01:07:54 – Millionaires Leaving India

01:10:55 – Indigo Crisis & Monopoly Problem

01:11:53 – India’s Financial System

01:15:58 – Impact of Freebies & Pensions

01:22:03 – India’s Role in the Global Power Order

01:27:25 – Is India’s GDP Data Reliable?

The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus –Edition 7.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations.

Joining the panel 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 issues like illegal immigration and demographic changes, rising radicalisation in Bangladesh, the Vande Mataram debate, the SIR showdown, internal security threats and India’s foreign policy challenges.

The panel also talks about propaganda in cinema, marriage in the modern world, and much more.

Don’t miss the sharp arguments and witty banter in this episode!

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

06:00 – Kangana, Mahua & Supriya at Jindal Wedding

11:48 – India’s Road Safety Crisis

18:35 – TV Panelists vs Anchors

28:36 – The ‘Godi Media’ Label

41:06 – Demography vs Democracy

48:28 – Congress Leadership & Rahul Gandhi

01:01:15 – India’s Education System

01:16:20 – Hindu Temples

01:26:48 – Islam in India

01:35:03 – Radicalism in Bangladesh

01:48:17 – Idea of Marriage in India

01:59:31 – Media & Celebrity Culture

02:10:20 – Putin’s Visit to India

02:22:45 – Karnataka Hate Speech Bill

02:30:18 – Hybrid Threats & Internal Radicalisation

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Lt. Col. Pavithran Rajan, a former intelligence officer, academic, and tech entrepreneur, and Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Foreign Service officer and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation.

Together, they discuss India’s narrative war against Pakistan and why winning this battle is crucial. Should India’s armed forces have a dedicated team to counter Pakistani propaganda in real time? Why does India still lack a strong and organised information-warfare system? How can India protect its global image?

They also examine how Western think tanks publish anti-India reports that shape global opinion, and how India should respond.

00:00 – Introduction

01:17 – India vs Pak: Information Warfare

07:06 – India vs Pak: Social Media Battle

11:57 – India’s Fact-Checking System

18:34 – Information Warfare: What Should India Do?

23:10 – India vs Pak Narrative During War

27:24 – Red Fort Attack & GPS Spoofing

33:00 – Sanchar Saathi App & Surveillance Concerns

40:54 – Phone Tapping

44:56 – How Terror Networks Avoid Detection

46:23 – Freedom of Speech vs National Security

50:24 – Open-Source Intelligence and Data Leaks

53:13 – National Security Rules for Tech Companies

56:10 – Disinformation During Operation Sindoor

01:00:18 – Western Media Bias Against India

01:03:48 – Rise of Anti-Drone Systems

01:06:28 – India’s Drone Challenge

01:13:06 – Gaps in Internal Security

01:16:01 – Grey-Zone Tactics & Diplomacy

01:17:33 – Role of AI in Information Warfare

01:22:36 – Need for a Unified Tech Framework

01:26:29 – Hybrid Warfare Challenges with Pakistan

01:28:19 – Possibility of Operation Sindoor 2?

01:31:26 – Public Trust & Security Strategy

Bina Ramani is a fashion designer, author, and entrepreneur. She pioneered India’s boutique culture, played a key role in shaping Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village, and was a key witness in the Jessica Lal case.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Bina Ramani recalls memories of the Kapoor family, including Raj Kapoor, and speaks about her romantic association with Shammi Kapoor. She also talks about her friendship with Rekha and her role in introducing her to Mukesh Agarwal.

Bina Ramani shares anecdotes from her interactions with Indira Gandhi, including gifting her jewellery. She also reflects on her encounters with global icons such as Jackie Onassis and Yoko Ono.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:29 – Breaking Years of Silence

02:37 – 'Bird in a Banyan Tree' & the Night of 1999

08:02 – The Jessica Lal Murder Case

17:42 – Allegations of Evidence Tampering

21:31 – Tihar Jail and the Reopening of the Case

24:15 – How Fame Turned into Public Backlash

26:25 – Media Trial & ‘No One Killed Jessica’ Movie

28:49 – When Bollywood Sidelined Bina Ramani

31:17 – Life Inside Tihar Jail

36:44 – Ram Jethmalani and the Turning Point

44:43 – The End of ‘Page 3’ Culture

49:52 – Early Life & Raj Kapoor

56:28 – Relationship with Shammi Kapoor

01:06:16 – Why Shammi Kapoor Lived for His Audience

01:08:27 – Binatone: A Product Named After Bina Ramani

01:11:32 – Marriage, Affairs, and Turmoil

01:19:37 – Her Career with the Taj Group

01:22:12 – The Man Bina Ramani Connected with the Most

01:36:11 – Who Was Pamela Bordes?

01:44:06 – What Made Asha Puthli a Global Icon?

01:51:46 – Interviewing Indira Gandhi

01:58:24 – Chandraswami and Spiritual Scams

02:08:06 – Money Laundering and the FBI Probe

02:13:28 – Rekha’s Marriage to Mukesh Agarwal

02:23:06 – What Led to Mukesh Agarwal’s Suicide?

02:26:56 – Battling Cancer and Finding ‘Malabar Secrets’

Taran Adarsh is a leading film trade analyst and renowned critic. With decades of experience, he is considered one of the most trusted voices on box office trends and reviews.

Bhawana Somaaya is an Indian film journalist, critic, author and historian. She was conferred the Padma Shri in 2017. She has written over 13 books on Hindi cinema and iconic Bollywood personalities.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Taran Adarsh exposes how social-media armies and personalised PR machinery are creating a new kind of burden on Hindi cinema. He explains how actors’ ‘big’ egos and reduced director control are hurting Bollywood today.

Bhawana Somaaya talks about writing on Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, showing how stars bounce back from setbacks. She shares untold stories about Dharmendra and Yash Chopra and reflects on how Bollywood has changed since the 1970s.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – PR Culture in Bollywood

06:23 – Hema Malini–Dharmendra’s Marriage

12:58 – Rajshri Films & ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ Review

17:31 – Inside Raj Kapoor’s RK Studios

22:01 – Generational Changes in Bollywood

27:25 – Jaya Bachchan and the Paparazzi

31:54 – Books on Amitabh Bachchan

37:43 – Box Office Truths

41:27 – ‘Saiyaara’ Review

42:01 – Honest Reviews vs Actor ‘Ego’

46:02 – Evolution of Film Reviews

52:02 – Influencers & Media Credibility

57:42 – Impact of AI and Social Media on Film Criticism

1:02:19 – Modern Trend of Entourages

1:05:39 – Evolution of Audience Preferences

1:14:04 – Theatre Experience vs OTT Viewing

Talmiz Ahmad is one of India’s most experienced diplomats, with decades of work across West Asia, the Gulf, and global strategic affairs. A former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, he has watched world politics change from the front row.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Ahmad breaks down India–Russia ties and why the West is rattled by New Delhi’s independent foreign policy. He explains the new Saudi–Pakistan defence pact, China’s growing influence in the Gulf, and what these changes mean for India.

He also discusses India’s role in the Middle East, the Israel–Gaza war, and why the era of unquestioned Western power may be ending.

00:00 – Introduction

01:04 – Takeaways from Putin’s India Visit

05:58 – India’s Strategic Autonomy

11:06 – Why the USA is Rattled

14:48 – Conflicts in the Middle East

23:45 – How the USA Broke the World Order

39:24 – Saudi–Pakistan Defence Pact

45:02 – Middle East’s View on India–Pakistan

47:13 – Saudi Arabia’s Fight Against Terror

52:09 – India’s Fight Against Terrorism

Madhuri Dixit is one of the film icons that India has loved for over four decades. From Mohini in 'Tezaab' to Nisha in 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' and Chandramukhi in 'Devdas', her characters live on in people’s memories. Her dance, her expressions, her screen presence, they shaped an entire generation of moviegoers.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Madhuri Dixit opens up like never before. She talks about being booed at IIT Bombay, then dancing for 1.5 hours, her legendary partnership with Saroj Khan and working with Yash Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

She also speaks about MF Husain visiting her home in Denver, her first meeting with Dr Nene, shifting to the US, pay parity, and her take on the 8-hour shift debate.

And for the first time in her 40-year career, Madhuri plays a serial killer in 'Mrs Deshpande', releasing on JioCinema on December 19. She tells us what went into creating this raw and intense character.

This podcast shows that behind the superstar is someone curious, grounded, and always ready to try something new.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:38 – Acting Journey

04:12 – Family Support for Joining Films

05:16 – Bond with Saroj Khan

08:07 – Working with Directors & Crew

10:27 – Actors Who Dance Well

13:54 – Were Karisma and Aishwarya Competitors?

17:12 – Women-Centric Roles

20:36 – Playing a Serial Killer in Mrs. Deshpande

24:44 – How OTT Has Changed Cinema

27:23 – Taking a Break from Acting

33:56 – Acting Then vs Now

37:44 – Women Actors on Set

40:25 – Remembering Dharmendra

41:26 – Sanjay Dutt & the Khalnayak Shoot

44:18 – Who Helps Madhuri Choose Her Roles Now?

49:32 – Has Social Media Killed Stardom?

57:24 – Will Madhuri Join Politics?

58:49 – Films vs OTT: What Changed?

Namrata Soni is one of India’s most celebrated makeup artists. Over the last two decades, she has worked with the biggest names in the industry and even built her own beauty brand, 'Simply Nam'.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast, she talks about her early years, when female makeup artists were banned from working in Bollywood. She shares how Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan stood by her. Namrata also breaks down the truth about skincare, the Korean-skin myth, and why simple routines work best in India.

Namrata Soni also did the makeup for the bride at the viral Udaipur wedding, which is being called the “wedding of the year” because of its star-studded guest list and the number of Bollywood celebrities who attended.

Watch this podcast to know the real truth about skincare and makeup in India.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:32 – The Myth of ‘Korean Skin’

01:33 – Skincare Steps to Avoid if You Have Fillers

03:42 – The 10-Step Skincare Routine

06:53 – The Right Age to Start Your Skincare Journey

06:22 – The No-Makeup Look & Celebrities

11:36 – Unrealistic Expectations of Brides

14:16 – Top Celebrities Namrata Has Worked With

15:43 – Working With International Icons

16:38 – The Reality of the ‘No-Makeup Makeup Look’

18:05 – Why Skin Prep Is Key Before Makeup

20:05 – Sonam Kapoor’s Bridal Looks

22:52 – The Pressure of Walking Into a Makeup Store

29:35 – Being Banned by the Union

32:05 – Gender Bias in Bollywood

41:02 – Delhi vs Mumbai Fashion