The Diplomat
Based on the true story of Uzma Ahmed in 2017, The Diplomat is a Hindi political thriller that follows an Indian diplomat’s tense mission to repatriate a young woman from Pakistan, where she was allegedly deceived and forced into marriage.
Set against strained India-Pakistan relations, the film delves into the moral and political dilemmas faced by diplomats torn between duty and personal conviction.
Bollywood actor John Abraham stars as the titular diplomat J.P. Singh, and also produced the film directed by Shivam Nair. Kashmiri actress Sadia Khateeb plays the fictionalised Uzma, while Punjabi actor Jagjeet Sandhu takes on the role of her abusive husband.
Released during Holi on Mar 14, the film earned around Rs 53 crores ($8.17 million) worldwide. It began streaming on Netflix on May 9 and quickly rose to the top of Netflix India’s Top 10 Movies.
Finding Her
Indie-pop artiste Kushagra’s single Finding Her is a Hindi ballad that highlights the lingering ache of lost love and the haunting presence of memories that refuse to fade. Written by Kushagra and Saaheal, the lyrics poignantly express the sleepless nights, the unfulfilled promises and the yearning for closure.
Musically, Bharath’s composition complements the heartfelt lyrics, crafting a melancholic yet soothing ambience, perfect for daydreaming or unwinding after a long day at work.
The single dropped on Jan 29 and climbed to the top of Spotify’s Top 50 – India playlist. It now boasts over 91 million streams while its accompanying music video on YouTube has racked up around 41 million views.
Based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Kushagra is known for blending his classical roots with a dynamic contemporary sound. While his breakout hit Dard gained traction on Instagram, it was Finding Her that catapulted him into the limelight, making him one of the emerging Indian artistes to watch.
Why not?
Ankitha Rajendaran has journeyed to over 100 countries across all seven continents while holding down a nine-to-five job as a full-time marketing director.
In her travel memoir Why Not?, the 36-year-old globetrotter debunks stereotypes about misunderstood countries and shares practical travel tips.
From Afghanistan to Gabon, Syria to Madagascar and São Tomé to South Sudan, she has explored some of the world’s most challenging and unconventional destinations.
Born in Chennai, raised in Oman and currently residing in Dubai, Ankitha wrote on Instagram that her book is “for anyone who’s ever doubted if they were brave enough – and went anyway!”
Published by Indiepress, the book is available to purchase on Amazon.
