Entertainment

Panchayat, Prime Video’s hit comedy-drama series, is celebrating its 5th anniversary today (April 3). The milestone turned extra special for fans when the OTT platform confirmed the return of Panchayat Season 4. The 4th part will release on July 2, 2025.

Prime Video dropped a hilarious promo video for Panchayat 4 on Instagram. The clip features the show’s lead cast, Jitendra Kumar, alongside two of his co-stars — Durgesh Kumar and Ashok Pathak. 

Television actress Gia Manek, best known for playing Gopi Bahu in the soap opera Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, appears in the clip. Additionally, popular social media influencers, including Bhupendra Jogi, Darshan Magdum and Vijay Magdum, assemble under one roof, making the video super-fun to watch. 

The clip begins with Darshan Magdum singing “Panchayat hatao, naukri bacaho (Remove Panchayat, save jobs)”, in his signature karaoke style. 

Meanwhile, Gia Manek washes study books with soap. Her act reflects the viral Saath Nibhaana Saathiya scene where her character washes a laptop. It has led to several memes. Gia, in the video, jokingly criticises Panchayat for ruling social media with its own meme-worthy moments.

Soon, Jitendra Kumar makes an entry, and almost at the same time, Durgesh Kumar video calls Gopi Bahu. He recites his classic Panchayat dialogue, “Dekh raha hai Binod (Are you seeing this Binod?”) Binod, played by Ashok Pathak, is sitting beside him. 

This is followed by Jitendra Kumar asking the stars to create “moments” and not run behind viral trends. In one segment, he switches from his Panchayat character, Abhishek Tripathi, to the character of Jeetu Bhai from his 2019 hit series Kota Factory. 

The video ends with Jitendra Kumar sharing all the details of Panchayat 4. 

The side note read, “Meeting meeting when? Watch till the end.”

Panchayat 4, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Akshat Vijaywargiya, is produced under the banner of The Viral Fever. 

Panchayat, released in 2020, centres around an engineering graduate who joins as a panchayat secretary in the fictional Phulera village in Uttar Pradesh. The show ran successfully for three seasons. 

Artist Moka Vijay Kumar working on millet art works in Visakhapatnam.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Visakhapatnam-based artist Moka Vijay Kumar, who makes art works with millets, has gained international recognition by securing a place in the America Book of Records as the first artist in the realm of millets. His achievement was recognized on March 25, reinforcing his status as a pioneer in an art form that combines creativity with nutritional awareness of millets. He had recently done a series on US President Donald Trump, capturing some of the milestone moments of his life.

An employee of the Indian Railways, Vijay Kumar has been painting with millets for years, transforming tiny grains into intricate works of art that depict mythological tales, famous personalities, human emotions, and the beauty of Nature. His paintings, created entirely from different types of millets, serve as a powerful medium to promote the significance of these nutrient-rich grains in diets.

Vijay Kumar’s journey as an artist has always been intertwined with innovation. Initially trained in conventional art, he discovered the potential of millets as a medium that not only adds texture and uniqueness to his creations but also spreads a crucial message about sustainable food choices.

“Millets have been an integral part of Indian diets for centuries but gradually lost prominence with the rise of refined grains. I wanted to use them not just as a medium for his art but also a means to reignite awareness about their health benefits,” he says. Vijay Kumar hopes that the recent recognition from the US will bring the global spotlight on millets and India which is the world’s largest producer of millets. Through his works, he aims to remind people of the nutritional and ecological advantages of millets, which are drought-resistant and require minimal resources to grow.

Over the years, Vijay Kumar has produced hundreds of paintings using millets, featuring deities from Hindu mythology, celebrated figures from Indian history. His works are a testimony to his artistic finesse and his dedication to spreading awareness about healthy eating habits.

Each painting requires meticulous effort and takes days to complete, as the grains are carefully selected, sorted, and placed to achieve the desired hues and textures. The artist mainly uses ragulu (finger millet), arikalu (kodo millet), sajjalu (pearl millet), and samalu (little millet) in his works. His artwork has been showcased at various exhibitions.

He is currently working on a series on Jesus Christ. “It is a work in millets that will depict the 14 Stations of the Cross. I will be releasing it on Good Friday,” says the artist.

Last year, Vijay Kumar bagged the title in India Book of Records 2024 as an IBR Achiever (for exceptional and noteworthy feats) for making 50 paintings of famous personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late APJ Abdul Kalam using millets. He has won many awards in the past for his millet works.

Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan says she and actor-husband have got into the habit of cooking at home, but he is any day a better cook.

The actor was speaking at the launch of her nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar’s book The Commonsense Diet on Wednesday.

“There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal after a hard day’s work. I mean, now Saif and I have started cooking ourselves.

“We enjoy it quite like that, so we kind of also made it a way of life like that. And somehow it just is affecting our personality. Saif is a better cook, that’s for sure. I can’t even boil an egg,” she said.

Kareena, 44, said she isn’t choosy about her food choices and even doesn’t mind eating the same thing, like her comfort food khichdi, for days.

“If I don’t eat khichdi for three days, I actually start craving it… My cook is exhausted because he’s (like I want to eat) the same food for 10-15 days… I’d be really happy to eat khichdi five days a week. It keeps me happy with that little dollop of ghee on it,” she added.

The actor also revealed that one dish the Kapoor family is obsessed with.

“Paaya soup,” she said, calling it a “golden dish” for the family.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Priyanka Chopra is usually the most famous person in the room, but in 2010, she had a surprising experience. While flying from Kolkata to Mumbai, she saw a fan excited to meet choreographer Terence Lewis instead of her. The airport manager even delayed the flight until his wife got a picture with Terence!
Airport Manager’s Unexpected Request
In conversation with Pinkvilla, Terence recalled how the airport’s general manager recognized him and praised his show, saying his whole family watched it. The manager insisted on a photo for his wife, even though she was 45 minutes away. When Terence mentioned his flight, the manager jokingly said he wouldn’t let it take off without the picture!Lewis further shared that Priyanka, who was sitting opposite him, was surprised by the attention he was receiving. They had worked together before, but she had never seen him get so much admiration. Curious, she invited him to sit next to her and asked about his life. Terence explained that his show had become a huge success, bringing him recognition and love from audiences. Priyanka, as always, was kind and supportive, congratulating him and expressing her happiness for his success.
Priyanka Chopra Turns Photographer
When the general manager’s wife arrived, she saw the actress sitting next to Terence. Priyanka, being kind as always, offered to take the picture herself. Terence appreciated her generosity and realized the massive impact of television. His own family never watched his show, as they prioritized academics over entertainment. Terence made his TV debut as a judge on Dance India Dance and remained on the show for three seasons.

Terence Lewis has judged several dance reality shows, including Nach Baliye (Seasons 5, 6, and 8), So You Think You Can Dance (2016), Dance Champions (2017), and India’s Best Dancer for four seasons. He has also choreographed songs in Lagaan (2001) and Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela (2013).

South Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun has become the subject of intense scrutiny and mockery following his emotional press conference on March 31, where he addressed his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-Ron.

South Korea’s highest-paid actor spent approximately 30 minutes reading a prepared statement, frequently breaking down in tears while dressed in a formal black suit. During the conference, he denied dating Sae-Ron when she was a “minor”, insisting their relationship only began in 2019 when she was 19 and he was 31.

Soo-Hyun explained his previous denial of their relationship, stating that as the lead actor of Queen Of Tears, he couldn’t publicly confirm their past romance when rumours surfaced in March 2024, as he feared it would overshadow the hard work of the cast and crew involved in the production.

“When the deceased posted a photo of us together during Queen of Tears, I denied the dating rumors,” he explained. “Five years ago-four years before Queen of Tears aired – we dated for about a year. I understand if people criticise me for that choice or doubt what I’m saying now.”

He further clarified that their relationship had ended naturally and denied allegations that Sae Ron’s tragic death on February 16 was connected to any pressure from him or his agency regarding debts.

Despite his emotional display, many users questioned the authenticity of his tears. Memes quickly circulated online, with critics dubbing the press conference “King of Fake Tears,” suggesting it was merely a continuation of his acting from Queen of Tears.

Most notably, Soo Hyun’s appearance became a central point of ridicule. While celebrities typically appear disheveled during public apologies, the Internet users pointed out that the actor’s hair was meticulously styled and his face fully made up with foundation, even as he left his facial hair conspicuously unshaven. This contrast led many to question the sincerity of his remorse.

The conversation took an unexpected turn when unflattering images of his foundation smudging and caking from his tears began circulating online. “Kim Soo Hyun’s foundation” quickly became a trending topic on Weibo, with users noting that “the foundation around his nose is completely gone” and others jokingly inquiring about the brand he was using since it “doesn’t seem long-lasting at all.”

Some speculated it might be from cosmetics brand Y.O.U, which Soo Hyun had previously endorsed – a partnership reportedly terminated after the press conference as the brand “wanted to avoid being associated with his messy appearance.”

Adding to the controversy, sharp-eyed viewers claimed the actor was wearing a wig, pointing to an “obvious difference in hair quality on the sides of the actor’s hair.” One particularly detailed comment read, “I wear wigs too. It’s obvious from the hairline – there’s a net glued to his scalp, and the connection between the wig and natural hair is uneven.”
 

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar got emotional after being questioned about using the phrase ‘f**k you’ in the trailer for Kesari Chapter 2.

On Thursday, the actor arrived in New Delhi for the grand release of the film’s trailer. Speaking to the media at the event, Akshay clarified why he used the offensive word in the trailer.

Akshay, who plays the role of lawyer C Sankaran Nair in the film, stated, “Haan maine yeh word use kiya. Lekin voh jo word use kiya tha (for Indians in the trailer) ‘You are still a slave!’- that was not a gaali for you? I think usse bade gaali aur kuchh ho nahi sakti. I would have been happy if you had said something about using the word ‘slave’ rather than you talking about me saying ‘f**k you’. Mere hisaab se agar aise time pe hum logon ne goli bhi maar di hoti na toh bhi chhota rehta.”

Khiladi Kumar was seen wiping away his tears as he stood up to address the media.

In one of the scenes in the trailer, Akshay takes a fearless stand in a courtroom against the British Empire. When a voice declares, “You are still a slave to the British Empire,” he shuts down his opponent with two powerful words, ‘F**k You’ highlighting the strength of his character in the film.

The trailer opens with a powerful exchange between Akshay and General Dyer, where the actor questions, “How did you warn the crowd at Jallianwala Bagh to disperse? Did you use tear gas? Did you fire shots in the air? Or did you simply open fire without any warning?” To which General Dyer defends, “They were not just a crowd; they were terrorists.” Akshay counters, “But they were human beings! Babies as young as eight or nine months were shot in the chest with bullets. What weapons did they have?”

Inspired by true events, the film delves into the aftermath of the tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the relentless quest for justice led by C. Sankaran Nair, a distinguished lawyer and former President of the Indian National Congress. The film also stars Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill, a determined female barrister who partners with Nair in his pursuit of justice. R. Madhavan plays Neville McKinley, a brilliant mind referred to as ‘a genius’ in the film.

Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari Chapter 2 is set to release in theatres on April 18.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)