ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Nimrat Kaur is an actor known for her performances in The Lunchbox, Airlift, Dasvi, Homeland and The Family Man. She has worked in both Indian cinema and international television, playing a wide range of roles, from a lonely housewife to a spy.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about her journey from modelling to films, and why she refused to be typecast after The Lunchbox. She also opens up about losing her father to terrorism in Kashmir, her mother’s strength, working in Hollywood, social media pressure and her life away from the screen.

00:00 – Introduction

01:22 – Success After The Lunchbox

04:20 – How Homeland Happened

05:27 – Avoiding Typecasting

10:35 – Working with Irrfan Khan

13:14 – Being Raised by a Single Mother

15:53 – Her Father’s Kidnapping and Assassination

20:01 – Filming Homeland

24:38 – Indian vs International Film Sets

26:31 – Paparazzi and Social Media

31:14 – PR Agencies

34:15 – Breaking the ‘Sanskari’ Image

40:00 – Growing Up in a Military Family

41:45 – Do Men Feel Intimidated by Thinking Actresses?

43:43 – Working with Amitabh Bachchan

45:42 – Spirituality, Solitude and Staying Grounded

49:22 – Dealing with Impostor Syndrome

52:14 – Artificial Intelligence in Filmmaking

54:24 – Body Image and Changing Perceptions

55:19 – Playing a Spy in The Family Man

55:38 – Akshay Kumar and On-Set Prank Stories

58:23 – Friendships in the Film Industry

1:00:08 – Auditions and Screen Tests

1:02:20 – Indian Actors and Hollywood

1:04:36 – Dhurandhar and Authentic Spy Films

1:09:50 – Role Models and Her Acting Dream

1:11:56 – Relationships and Staying Authentic

1:14:50 – Conclusion

Vivek Agrawal is a crime author and investigative journalist who has spent more than three decades reporting on crime, terrorism, organised crime and national security. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he takes us inside Mumbai’s underworld, its rivalries, networks and connections with the city’s business and film circles.

He also talks about Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan, the relationship between the underworld and Bollywood, and how extortion and traditional criminal networks evolved into real estate and business operations.

*Timestamps*

0:00 – Introduction

1:22 – Chhota Rajan’s Origin Story

6:24 – Haji Mastan, Karim Lala & Varadarajan Mudaliar

11:05 – Rise of Dawood Ibrahim

20:35 – Chhota Rajan vs Dawood

30:04 – Arun Gawli-Dawood Gang War

32:11 – 1993 Bombay Bombings

47:48 – Sanjay Dutt’s TADA Case

53:00 – Crime Reporting

56:00 – Dawood’s Portrayal in Bollywood

1:00:06 – D-Company at Present

1:01:23 – Karachi Module Uncovered

1:02:58 – Ajit Doval’s Covert Operations

1:07:21 – If Dawood Returns, Who Gets Exposed?

Biswajit Chatterjee is an actor who has spent seven decades in the Bombay film industry.
In the 1960s, Biswajit became one of Hindi cinema’s defining romantic leads. With his effortless charm and trademark smile, he starred in films such as Bees Saal Baad, Kohra, Mere Sanam, Night in London, April Fool and Kismat.
His films gave us enduring songs, including “Aap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte Rahe” and “Kajra Mohabbat Wala.”
At 89, he sits down with Smita Prakash on the ANI Podcast to look back on his career, his life and his loves.

Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction
3:26 – Dharmendra’s Last Film
8:42 – Playing Different Roles
11:27 – Meeting Guru Dutt
16:07 – First Bollywood Film
18:50 – Guidance From Uttam Kumar
21:08 – Evergreen Songs
21:31 – Working With Waheeda Rehman
22:52 – Entering Bollywood
27:44 – Raaj Kumar Stories
31:45 – Acting With Kishore Kumar
33:12 – Forgotten Actors of Yesteryear
40:45 – The 70s and the Fall of Romantic Heroes
47:14 – Working With Mumtaz and Pran
49:34 – Dealing With Fame
49:44 – Kiss Controversy With Rekha
50:56 – Music Journey
53:20 – Dev Anand’s Son’s Debut Film
54:14 – Sunil Dutt’s ‘Rocky’
55:20 – Bangladesh Documentary
58:40 – His Son Prosenjit Chatterjee
59:31 – Meeting Shah Rukh Khan
1:02:03 – Bengali Film Industry vs Bollywood
1:07:14 – K. Asif, Bimal Roy and ‘Madhumati’
1:11:18 – Making Films Today

Dr Vikram Sampath is an author and historian known for his books on V.D. Savarkar, Tipu Sultan and Gauhar Jaan, among others. He is the founder of the Foundation for Indian Historical and Cultural Research and the co-founder and director of Naav AI, which uses artificial intelligence to bridge language barriers.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr Sampath questions why India’s history remains centred around Delhi and discusses how NCERT textbooks have shaped our understanding of the past. He speaks about Mahatma Gandhi, Veer Savarkar and Tipu Sultan, and challenges the influence of Leftist historians on India’s historical narrative.

This episode explores how India can reclaim and rewrite its history.

00:00 – Introduction

1:15 – History Textbooks in India

4:51 – Cholas, Ahoms and Marathas

10:09 – Narrative of Indian History

14:36 – India’s Cultural Geography

18:18 – Historical Research Projects

23:24 – Bias in Historical Writing

29:37 – Mahatma Gandhi’s Legacy

35:23 – Ancient Texts & Language Barriers

40:36 – History of Buddhism

52:21 – Religious Conversion

58:00 – Forgotten Women in Indian History

1:04:12 – Kashmir’s Historical Documentation

1:10:51 – Portrayal of History in Movies

1:16:10 – Future of History Education

1:25:19 – India’s Musical Heritage

Mandakini is an actress best known for her role in Raj Kapoor’s iconic film Ram Teri Ganga Maili. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she discusses working with Raj Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor, her controversial scenes and how she got her screen name. She also addresses her rumoured links with Dawood Ibrahim, the gunshot controversy and why she eventually quit films.

0:00 – Introduction

0:51 – Story Behind 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili'

9:53 – Working With Raj Kapoor

11:04 – From Yasmeen to Mandakini

12:41 – Working With Rajiv Kapoor

14:02 – Controversial Scenes

18:16 – Raj Kapoor’s Vision

21:53 – Bollywood: Then vs Now

25:16 – Rumoured Links to Dawood

28:07 – Performing Live Shows Abroad

31:48 – Gunshot Controversy

35:17 – Why Mandakini Quit Films

Manu Joseph is a journalist, columnist, novelist and screenwriter known for his sharp and often provocative observations on Indian society. He is the author of 'Why the Poor Don’t Kill Us' and the creator of the Netflix series 'Decoupled'.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses India’s broken cities, the jobs crisis facing Gen Z, and the decline of civic sense. He also speaks about Noida versus Gurugram, Vijay’s rise in Tamil Nadu politics, freedom of expression, privilege, merit and why India “looks so poor”.

0:00 – Introduction

1:13 – Life in Gurugram

2:33 – Village–City Divide

3:55 – Civic Order vs Social Order

5:47 – Why India Looks So Poor

6:57 – Swanky Airports and Broken Cities

10:51 – India’s Obsession With Useless Issues

14:24 – Leaving Gurugram

18:22 – Bengaluru Has Become a Hellhole

19:36 – Why Indian Cities Are Unliveable

22:30 – Is Goa India’s Most Cosmopolitan Place?

29:30 – What’s Wrong With Kerala?

33:42 – Kerala’s Healthcare

35:58 – Kerala Mothers

40:06 – Indian Parents and Education

47:19 – North India vs South India

52:51 – Servility, Saluting and Class in India

55:10 – How Indians Treat Salespeople

55:48 – How Indians Treat Waiters

1:02:59 – Why the Poor Don’t Kill Us

1:03:22 – The Attention-Span Crisis

1:08:35 – Cockroach Janata Party

1:13:11 – Why Gen Z Is Screwed by Equality

1:13:52 – India’s Employability Crisis

1:26:53 – Unemployment Among Educated Women

1:31:54 – Exam Leaks and Student Protests

1:35:42 – Freedom of Expression in India

1:40:25 – “Vijay Was My Classmate”

1:42:57 – Mani Ratnam and Tamil Cinema

1:44:45 – Vijay’s Political Rise

1:55:13 – Caste and Public Toilets

1:59:46 – Manu Joseph’s Stand-Up Film

2:04:48 – Left-Wing vs Right-Wing Politics

2:09:11 – Why Ancient History Is Unreliable

2:12:43 – Leaving Journalism and Writing Fiction

2:15:50 – His Take on ‘Godi Media’

Samrat Choudhary is the first BJP leader to serve as the Chief Minister of Bihar. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the Bankipur election result, Prashant Kishor, migration and jobs in the state. He also discusses the alcohol ban, reservation, infrastructure, the revival of sugar mills, and what his government plans to do next.

00:00 – Introduction

00:36 – Bihar Floods

4:08 – Water Treaty with Bangladesh

11:05 – Women’s Employment Scheme

17:23 – Jobs in Bihar

23:31 – Bihar’s Education System

27:29 – Skill Development

31:48 – Migration

35:50 – Alcohol Ban

36:50 – NDA Alliance

43:00 – BJP’s Bankipur Defeat

50:15 – Reservation

53:40 – Road and Bridge Collapses

Rasika Dugal is known for her performances in films and streaming series such as Mirzapur, Delhi Crime, Manto, Qissa and Out of Love. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, she is best known for playing Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur, a role that brought her widespread recognition.

In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dugal discusses why she initially feared she was not right for Mirzapur and shares her experience of working with Pankaj Tripathi and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. She also remembers Irrfan Khan and explains what he taught her about being a good co-actor. Dugal speaks about how streaming platforms have transformed her career, the challenges women-led stories face, and the patriarchal expectations placed on women in the entertainment industry.

*Timestamps*

0:00 – Introduction

0:34 – Acting Style

3:05 – Family's Reaction to Acting

4:12 – Moving to Mumbai

6:58 – Studying at FTII

9:49 – Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur

15:07 – Intimate Scenes in Mirzapur

22:17 – Working With Kulbhushan Kharbanda

26:28 – Role in Delhi Crime

29:03 – Long-Form Storytelling

31:51 – Working With Irrfan Khan

34:15 – Working in Manto

37:25 – Scrutiny on Women Actors

42:17 – Importance of Small Details

44:11 – Violence in Mirzapur and Delhi Crime

46:09 – Creative Freedom on Sets

52:29 – Beena Tripathi’s Revenge in Mirzapur

54:49 – Working With Saif Ali Khan

59:07 – Being an Outsider

1:03:07 – Women’s Stories in Indian Cinema

1:04:13 – Working With Male and Female Directors

1:09:07 – How AI Can Help Filmmakers

1:12:43 – Conclusion

Lobsang Sangay served as the democratically elected Sikyong, or President of the Central Tibetan Administration, from 2011 to 2021. He became its top political leader after the Dalai Lama gave up his political authority. Born in 1968, Sangay grew up in a Tibetan refugee settlement near Darjeeling, India. He studied at Delhi University and Harvard Law School before becoming an American citizen.

In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sangay discusses the Nepal–Tibet floods and questions why China failed to issue a timely warning that could have saved hundreds of lives. He also alleges that Beijing censored videos and controlled the information coming out of Tibet. Sangay also speaks about Xi Jinping’s health, the purges within the PLA, China’s plans for Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s succession and the risk of China weaponising water.

0:00 – Introduction

1:34 – Tibet–Nepal Flash Floods

2:24 – Internet Shutdown in Tibet

4:17 – Could China Have Warned Nepal?

6:51 – Why China Is Hiding the Truth

9:02 – The Real Death Toll in Tibet

10:58 – China Blocks Journalists and Scientists

12:18 – Melting Glaciers and 2030 Warning

15:06 – Dams, Earthquakes and AI Data Centres

23:51 – Nepal’s Rescue Efforts

28:12 – China’s Information-Control Playbook

30:16 – International Water-Sharing Laws

34:38 – China’s Mega-Dam on Brahmaputra

36:52 – India–China Ties and Tibet

39:17 – China’s Claims Over Arunachal

43:15 – Purge of PLA Generals

46:00 – Xi Jinping’s Health

48:23 – Xi Jinping’s Succession Problem

52:12 – China’s Ethnic Unity Law

56:12 – Chinese Police Station

58:31 – Dalai Lama’s Succession

1:02:32 – Will There Be Two Dalai Lamas?

1:12:17 – Chinese Pressure on Nepal

1:14:59 – Tibet’s Future

1:22:29 – Nepal Rejects Foreign Rescue Teams

1:25:27 – The Human and Economic Cost

1:27:05 – Conclusion

Baba Ramdev is a yoga guru turned businessman, known for taking yoga into millions of homes in India and around the world. He runs Patanjali, an Indian consumer goods company that competes with major FMCG giants. Baba Ramdev also frequently makes headlines for his views on Hinduism, politics and national issues.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Baba Ramdev explains his idea of a Hindu Rashtra, responds to criticism over becoming a businessman, shares his views on the performance of the Modi government, and talks about how he sees Gen Z and protests in India.

0:00 – Introduction

1:55 – Hindu Rashtra

7:30 – Religion and Conversion

18:19 – Youth Protests and Unemployment

25:00 – India Against Corruption and CJP

28:29 – Gen Z and a Changing India

33:57 – Black Money and Corruption

36:00 – Modi Government’s Report Card

44:39 – Youth’s Expectations from Modi

49:36 – Yoga Guru Turned Businessman

53:06 – Daily Routine

54:22 – Patanjali Products and Legal Battles

1:00:14 – Ayurveda vs Allopathy

1:04:28 – Rahul Gandhi

1:05:36 – Business Advice

1:09:31 – A Caste-Free India

1:13:48 – Gurukuls, Youth and Addiction

1:19:13 – Free Speech and Godi Media

1:22:38 – Deep State

1:27:46 – Succession Plan

1:29:46 – Ramdev’s Legacy

1:32:29 – Sings a Song

1:34:34 – Conclusion