Vijay Sharma is the MLA from the Kawardha constituency and currently serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. He had served as the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Over the years, he has been actively involved in several protests, including those related to paddy procurement and ration card distribution.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Deputy CM Vijay Sharma speaks about the recruitment of minors by Naxal groups, the overall law and order situation in the state, and whether journalists are safe in Chhattisgarh. He also shares an update on the murder case of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar and strongly criticises the previous Congress government, accusing it of widespread corruption under Bhupesh Baghel’s leadership

00:00 – Introduction

00:19 – From School Teacher to a Politician

03:46 – First-Time MLA to Home Minister

04:29 – Naxalism in Chhattisgarh

10:56 – Ceasefire: A Naxal Tactic?

13:32 – Minors in Naxalism

16:05 – Anti-Naxal Ops or Revenge Killing?

17:20 – Rehabilitation for Naxals

22:14 – Modern Weapons for Police

25:31 – Cyber Crimes in Chhattisgarh

29:25 – Balodabazar Violence

32:53 – Overcrowding in Jails

36:31 – Mukesh Chandrakar Murder Case

39:26 – Human-Animal Conflict

47:29 – Forced Religious Conversion

51:32 – Impact of Waqf Act

53:18 – Metro in Chhattisgarh

54:24 – Government Policies

O.P. Choudhary cracked the UPSC exam at the age of 23 and was part of the 2005 batch of the Chhattisgarh cadre, the first batch after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. In 2018, he joined the BJP. During his 13-year career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the former Raipur Collector earned a reputation as a simple, hardworking, and dynamic officer.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, O.P. Choudhary talks about whether Nava Raipur can outperform cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He also shares how Chhattisgarh is working to create more jobs, boost tourism, and change the way people see the state.

00:00 – Introduction

00:50 – Journey from IAS to politics

08:58 – Posting in Dantewada

15:09 – Naxalism in Bastar

21:41 – Chhattisgarh Budget

25:53 – Nava Raipur

29:01 – IT Hubs in Nava Raipur

34:48 – Welfare schemes

38:42 – Sustainable Development

44:53 – Tourism & Investment in Chhattisgarh

47:35 – Online betting in the Gaming Sector

51:35 – Rebuilding Agricultural Sector

55:13 – Schemes for Transgender

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joins the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash in Raipur during the 'Vichaar for Viksit Chhattisgarh' Conclave.

Mr. Sai has had a long political journey. He served as an MLA from 1990 to 1998 and was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Raigarh constituency in 1999. In 2006, he became the Chhattisgarh BJP president and later served as a Union Minister of State. He is also known to have close ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

In this episode of the ANI Podcast, He talks about the Waqf Act and what it means for the state, raises concerns about religious conversions, and explains his government's approach to dealing with Naxalism. He also speaks about action being taken against the mining mafia and the plans to develop Nava Raipur into a modern, world-class city.

00:00 – Introduction

00:39 – Childhood Stories

05:42 – First time becoming 'Sarpanch'

06:22 – Mentor for political journey

07:57 – Promises after becoming CM

13:23 – Mahadev betting app scam

15:32 – Developments under BJP govt

18:19 – From rice bowl to IT Park

21:59 – Surrender policies for Naxalites

24:04 – Skilling Naxals

25:34 – End of Naxalism by 2026?

29:22 – From Naxalism to Tourism in Chhattisgarh?

33:00 – Mining Mafia

34:26 – Waqf Act

35:06 – Forced religious conversion

39:01 – 'Ghar Wapsi' program for Hindus

40:35 – 'Rubber stamp CM' Jibe

43:23 – Mahtari Vandana Yojana

45:18 – Odisha-Chhattisgarh Mahanadi Dispute

46:17 – Working for youth development

49:10 – Attacks on journalists

Abhijeet Bhattacharya is one of the most iconic voices in Bollywood, having lent his voice to several memorable tracks for Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, and Salman Khan. His voice became synonymous with Shah Rukh Khan in many hit songs. He won the Filmfare Award and the Screen Award for Best Singer for his song "Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon" from Yes Boss.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Abhijeet discusses what's wrong with the music industry, as Auto-Tune and artificial intelligence are increasingly taking over. He also shares untold stories about legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammad Rafi. Going down memory lane, he reveals why he chose to pursue a career in singing.

Abhijeet also speaks about Sanatana Dharma, A.R. Rahman, and his controversial relationship with Shah Rukh Khan.

Audio Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:53 – Singing as a Career

05:45 – Stories of Lata, Kishore, & Rafi

08:10 – Childhood Stories

15:40 – How Directors Choose Heroines

22:45 – How the Music Industry Evolved

26:45 – Accent Influence in Singing

33:02 – Singing with Jatin–Lalit

35:18 – Udit Narayan Kiss Controversy

39:15 – Ranveer Allahbadia Controversy

41:25 – Udhayanidhi's Remarks on Sanatan Dharma

43:05 – PR Advice

46:43 – Pakistani Actors & Singers

49:58 – Gandhi–Pakistan "Father of Nation" Row

54:40 – Love for 90s Songs

56:19 – Clash with Music Directors

01:01:10 – Hit Songs

01:05:40 – Songs for Shah Rukh Khan

01:07:25 – Kishore Kumar & Mukesh Songs

01:10:41 – Meeting Old Friends After Fame

01:13:20 – AI in the Music Industry

Sonal Man Singh is a former Rajya Sabha MP, an Indian classical dancer and a Guru in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance styles. She received the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonal Man Singh shares untold stories about Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and the challenges artists faced during the 1975 Emergency. She also discusses whether art can be separated from the artist.

She also speaks about today's cancel culture, how she got into dancing, the relationship between a Guru and Shishya, and what it takes to become a great dancer. She also shares her thoughts on whether today’s younger generation is losing interest in Indian classical dance.

00:00 – Introduction

00:56 – Dancing as a Career

05:58 – Rajya Sabha Experience

17:44 – Running Away from Home

24:02 – Divorce

24:55 – Kelucharan Mohapatra as a Guru

30:29 – Guru-Shishya Parampara

33:52 – Learning Odissi from Kelucharan Mohapatra

37:56 – Support from Family Members

39:18 – Story of Second Marriage

42:34 – Experience Meeting Indira Gandhi

47:57 – TM Krishna Getting Subhalakshmi Award Row

49:43 – Limits of Artistic Expression

53:59 – Inspiration to Be Creative

57:41 – Interacting with Pupul Jayakar

01:00:32 – Industrialists Backing Artists

01:08:26 – Living a Private Life

01:09:39 – Padma Award Story

01:17:26 – Why She Was Sacked from Sangeet Natak Akademi

01:20:10 – Cancel Culture

01:31:38 – Personal Relationships

01:35:51 – How to Handle Tough Times

01:37:21 – Favourite Cities for Performance

01:43:14 – Can an Atheist Emote Divinity in Dance?

Tigmanshu Dhulia is a filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and casting director, best known for Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011). His films, often critically acclaimed and explore human relationships, social issues, and the nuances of Indian culture.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tigmanshu takes a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his childhood in Allahabad- now known as Prayagraj- and what makes the city so special to him. He reflects on his days at the National School of Drama (NSD), his friendships with those who made a mark in Bollywood, and how he got his first break as a director. He also shares how legendary filmmaker Shekhar Kapur played a crucial role in shaping his career.

Tigmanshu doesn’t hold back in criticizing corporate influence in Bollywood, calling out how films are often sold even before they are made. He also shares untold stories about Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan Khan.

From rising ticket prices to his upcoming Bollywood project, this conversation is a straight talk about the Hindi Film Industry.

00:00 - Introduction

00:22 - Childhood Memories of Allahabad

05:13 - Recalling NSD Days

10:44 - Working as an Assistant Director

12:22 - Getting Credit as a Casting Director

17:12 - Collaborating with Shekhar Kapur

23:17 - Experience in the TV Industry

24:49 - Working on Dil Se

30:24 - Impact of Irrfan Khan’s Demise

36:34 - Working with Favorite Actors

45:17 - Experience in Gangs of Wasseypur

50:02 - Corporate Interference in Filmmaking

58:48 - The Cult of Sanjay Leela Bhansali

01:04:57 - Lack of Focus in Today’s Actors

01:09:06 - Working in the OTT Space

Raza Murad comes from a family of actors and is known for his astounding voice. He started his career with the film 'Ek Nazar' in 1972 and became famous for his versatility, especially in villain roles. He has worked in over 200 films and has been featured in several popular Bollywood films, including Prem Rog, Henna, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, and Ram Lakhan. He continues to leave his mark with roles in films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Padmaavat, Jodhaa Akbar, and Bajirao Mastani.

In this Mumbai edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Veteran Actor talks about his journey into Bollywood. He shares insights into how the Hindi Film Industry has changed over the last 50 years.

He also shares stories about legends like Raaj Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Rajesh Khanna, and Raj Kapoor. He discusses his experiences working with directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ashutosh Gowariker and how they tell their stories on the silver screen.

More on why Bollywood movies aren’t clicking as much today and what stardom truly means.

Audio Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:35 - Working with Amitabh & Rajesh Khanna

11:55 - Experience with Hrishikesh Mukherjee

22:21 - Raj Kapoor as a Director

25:26 - Regret of not interacting with Raj Kapoor

30:08 - Raza Murad’s voice: Asset or drawback?

33:31 - Media favoritism towards actors

36:20 - Did Raaj Kumar commit a crime?

40:44 - Funny stories about Raaj Kumar

48:41 - Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

55:56 - Upcoming projects with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

57:18 - Collaboration with Ashutosh Gowariker

59:21 - Why was Mughal-e-Azam never remade?

01:01:21 - Why aren’t films succeeding today?

01:03:49 - Controversy during Padmaavat release

01:05:51 - Old actors vs. today's stars

01:08:01 - Teaching at FTII

01:09:14 - Ranveer Allahabadia controversy

01:12:41 - Raza Murad’s childhood love story

01:14:47 - Raza Murad’s wedding

01:18:16 - Maintaining relationships in cinema

01:20:19 - Zeenat Aman’s second marriage

01:21:45 - Battling Depression in Bollywood

Yogi Adityanath's government has completed eight years in Uttar Pradesh, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister in the state's history and the only one to serve two consecutive terms.

In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Yogi Adityanath discusses his government's achievements over the past 8 years and shares his vision for making Uttar Pradesh a one-trillion-dollar economy. He also defends his bulldozer action, stating that strict measures are necessary to eliminate 'Mafia Raj' in the state.

He addresses concerns about Muslim safety in Uttar Pradesh and explains why the Mandir-Masjid debate resurfaces from time to time. Additionally, he reflects on what went wrong for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The conversation also covers Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, the Kumbh tragedy, Aurangzeb, freedom of speech, and the Constitution controversy.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

00:24 – 8 Years of Yogi Sarkar

04:55 – Transformation of Ayodhya

08:32 – Aurangzeb Controversy

13:09 – Muslims' Safety in U.P

19:59 – Sambhal Excavation Controversy

24:17 – Kumbh Tragedy

32:11 – Muslim Vote Bank Politics

37:53 – Constitution Row

42:19 – Kunal Kamra Joke Controversy

43:28 – ‘Batenge to Katenge’ Slogan

51:17 – Pride in ‘UP Identity’

53:42 – Waqf (Amendment) Bill Controversy

56:08 – Delimitation Debate & Language War

1:01:40 – Foreign Funding in 2024 LS Polls

1:07:44 – Rahul Gandhi

1:10:35 – $1 Trillion Economy Aim for UP