Reeling Tales

Recently, ANI has issued a copyright strike on YouTuber Mohak Mangal’s video and has allegedly demanded ₹45 lakh, threatening to have his channel deleted if the amount is not paid. The reason? In a few videos, Mohak Mangal had used a few seconds of ANI’s video clips. Mohak Mangal claims this is outright ''extortion'' and bullying''. Beyond the legal technicalities, couldn't a major media house like ANI simply take the revenue generated from Mohak Mangal’s video or ask him to delete the portions that used ANI footage and let him go with a warning? What does ANI gain by getting an entire channel of a small YouTuber deleted and hitting someone’s livelihood so harshly? Is this really fair?                                   

When India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission failed, you can imagine the emotional state of all ISRO scientists. It was a deeply disheartening moment — as if, despite putting in all their effort and betting everything they had, they were left with nothing. Who can forget that iconic moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced then-ISRO chief K. Sivan, as tears rolled down his face? Now, a similar mission failure from North Korea has caught global attention — but the reaction from its leader Kim Jong-un was drastically different. Recently, North Korea was launching its second massive 5,000-ton warship, celebrating the occasion with fireworks during the naval destroyer’s inauguration. However, during the ship’s descent into the water, a technical fault occurred — part of the ship broke, and it tilted to one side. Kim Jong-un was furious. His eyes reportedly turned red with anger, and he called the incident a case of “criminal negligence,” ordering the arrest of officials involved in the proj...

Here’s a shocking story for you — straight from Mexico. A 23-year-old TikTok influencer named Valeria Márquez, who had over 200,000 followers and also ran her own salon, was tragically murdered on camera — and the internet watched in horror. It all began when Valeria reportedly received a message saying someone had come by to drop off an expensive gift for her. During one of her livestreams, she heard a knock at the door and stepped out briefly. Moments later, she returned holding a gift, which she showed to the camera. But suddenly, she appeared visibly disturbed and muted her mic. Within seconds, two gunshots were heard, and Valeria collapsed in her chair — all while still live on camera. Who killed Valeria and why remains a mystery. The only thing clearly captured is her final moment on camera. This incident serves as a grim reminder — especially for women influencers — not to let strangers get too close in the pursuit of views, likes, or digital fame. Some gifts can turn deadly. ...

Reports suggest that some Bollywood filmmakers are eager to make a film on Operation Sindoor, and there's a rush to register for its cinematic rights. One producer has already announced the film and even released a poster. However, after facing trolling, the producer clarified that the intention isn’t profit but to showcase the good and heroic side of the story. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that — such films should be made to portray the bravery and righteousness of our forces. The real concern, though, is that in the name of storytelling, these artists and filmmakers might suddenly be bitten by the secularism bug or may rediscover their love for Pakistan. Because for some filmmakers, Operation Sindoor might just become an excuse to show a whole lot more — and while trying to make a "masala film," they may throw in human rights angles, victim cards, or even glorify Pakistan. After release, the film might feel less like Operation Sindoor and more like Operation Pakistan...

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was at one point considered to be a sharp critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has of late changed his tone towards Modi. Once seen as one of his opponents, Tharoor has recently started praising Narendra Modi for his work. This was evident when the Prime Minister visited the USA and the visit was lauded by Mr. Tharoor. The general perception is that the reason behind this changed stance lies elsewhere. Nowadays, it is believed that Mr. Tharoor is not happy with his own party. If sources close to Mr. Shashi Tharoor are to be believed, he is being sidelined within the Congress party, and he has openly expressed his displeasure. Recently, Mr. Tharoor met Mr. Rahul Gandhi and came out of that meeting totally disgruntled. He has even said, “If my party does not need me, then I have other options too.” Actually, Mr. Tharoor wants an active role in the Congress party—either in a uniform or non-uniform capacity. In his meeting with Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Tharoor com...

You must remember the iconic moment from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah where Masterji doesn’t punish the children, but instead punishes himself to teach them a lesson — standing in the rain to send a message. Something very similar was recently done by a headmaster in Andhra Pradesh. The headmaster said that despite several reminders, students were consistently failing to complete their homework, which was affecting their academic progress. Deeply concerned, the teacher decided to deliver a powerful message in a different way. During a school assembly, in front of all the students, the headmaster held his ears and did sit-ups as a form of self-punishment — in an attempt to convey the seriousness of the matter and inspire the students to take responsibility. What do you think — will this effort by the headmaster have a lasting impact on the students?                                       ...

Govinda, the lead actor of Kyuki Main Jhooth Nahi Bolta, once claimed that he is constantly offered small roles and has turned down projects worth a total of ₹100 crore in a year. Now, how much truth there is in Govinda’s claim is something only Govinda — or the divine one above — can confirm. But one thing is certain: Govinda hasn’t been seen in a film for quite some time. There could be many reasons for that, but one particular factor, acknowledged by several actors who have worked with him, is his habit of consistently arriving late to film sets. Actors like Shakti Kapoor and many others have at some point revealed that Govinda was rarely ever on time. Along with other reasons, perhaps this too played a role in his current lack of film offers. There was a time when Govinda had 49 films lined up and worked for 16 days straight without a break. Now, only time will tell which new film he appears in next — and in what kind of role.                 ...

Once in Parliament, Jaya Bachchan had famously said, “Jis thali mein khate hai usi mein ched karte hain”. After the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, the way Pakistani artists have come out in support of their country, it seems that this line fits them perfectly. Following Operation Sindoor, comments from actors like Fawad Khan, Hania Aamir, and Mahira Khan clearly show that they are the ones who "Jis thali mein khate hai usi mein ched karte hain”. They want to earn money from India, yet express loyalty and affection toward Pakistan. However, one thing must be said in favor of these Pakistani artists — unlike many Bollywood stars who often maintain silence during such situations, at least these Pakistani celebrities openly stand with their country. And this time, apart from a cryptic post about numbers, even Amitabh Bachchan's silence is telling. It seems Jaya Ji should once again repeat her “Jis thali mein khate hai usi mein ched karte hain” dialogue — not ...

There are some faces in Bollywood who, whenever they play patriotic roles in films, make it seem like they don’t have blood in their veins — but pure love for the nation. But when real-life situations come up where the country truly needs support, these stars either go completely silent or disappear altogether. One such name is ' Lovely Singh' — the same person who’s always seen reporting from every emergency situation in his films. But in recent real-life events, he has been completely missing from action. During ' Operation Sindoor' — when the entire nation stood united — 'Lovely Singh' stayed quiet. Not even a single tweet, as if he suddenly had Ghajini-style memory loss. The actor who proudly says lines like "I’ll die for my country" on-screen couldn’t even manage a single social media post when the country needed voices the most. This is the same Lovely Singh who once said, "Once I make a commitment, I don’t even listen to myself." A...

Recently, during a live show, singer Sonu Nigam lost his cool and had to school a few fans. The reason? A song request. During a performance in Bengaluru, a group of boys requested Sonu Nigam to sing a song in Kannada. However, the way the request was made didn’t sit right with Sonu — he felt that it sounded more like a threat than a polite request. While reprimanding them, Sonu Nigam also referenced the Pahalgam attack, which drew criticism from some people. After the show, Sonu released a video to explain his side of the story more clearly. While many felt it was inappropriate to link a song request incident to the Pahalgam attack, others came out in support of Sonu Nigam, saying that the Pahalgam victims were targeted because they were Hindus — not because they were from Karnataka or any other specific state. Was Sonu Nigam subtly pointing towards the idea that "if you divide, you’ll be destroyed"?                        ...

Preity Zinta, who started her career with the film Soldier, has made a name not just in movies but also in business. Recently, during an "Ask Me Anything" session, she was visibly upset by a fan’s question. A fan asked her, "Are you planning to join the BJP in the near future?" Her response came off as curt. She said, "Just because I visit the Kumbh Mela or temples doesn’t mean I should be associated with any political party.'' ''I’ve lived abroad for some time, and I simply enjoy staying connected to my roots. Please don’t link my religious beliefs with politics. I want to teach my children about Indian culture and am raising them as Hindus," she added. However, she later apologized for the harsh tone of her words.                             

Once known as the "Angry Young Man" of Bollywood, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has remained silent on the Pahalgam terror attack, in which unarmed Hindus were targeted and killed one by one. Other than sharing a cryptic post featuring just a number, he has not made any statement — and this silence has upset many of his fans. One user called it "overacting," while another said, "If you had already written something, you could have added a few more words." Another user joked, "Did Jaya ji take your phone away?" A fan asked another, "Are you still expecting something from him?" To which the reply came, "No expectations left anymore."                                                   

“I won’t treat them — I’ll kill them.”  This shocking statement came from an Australian nurse during an online video chat with an Israeli influencer. At first, the nurse commented, “Your eyes are beautiful,” but moments later, she added, “What’s the point? In the end, you’re going to die anyway, because you people kill Palestinians.” The influencer tried to explain that he was simply defending his country. But when he asked, “What if an Israeli or Jewish person came to your hospital for treatment?” the nurse abruptly interrupted and said, “I would kill him. I wouldn’t treat him.” She then made a spitting gesture toward the camera.                            The situation escalated further when another nurse present on the same call added, “I’ve already sent many people to hell.” As soon as this video went viral on social media, public outrage exploded. In response, the hospital administration immediately suspende...