C I N E M A journal

Mumbai, Monday, June 30, 2025

www.freepressjournal.in

Vikrant Massey Sonam

Actor reveals
some in the film

still faces bias

industry still try
to belittle him, shares Sanju
memory
but their
negativity CJ Desk shouldn’t generalise it. There are

B
many people who, from time to
fuels his drive ollywood actor Vik- time, try to make you feel lesser-
rant Massey has re- and they still do. Even today? Yes,
vealed that despite his even today. There are many who Actress celebrates 7 years
success, there are still do that. But I believe such people
people in the film in- are necessary.” “They help keep of Ranbir Kapoor’s Sanju
dustry who make him feel lesser. the fire inside you burning. I ac- with a heartfelt BTS moment
In a recent interaction with tually think we need people like
IANS, he also admitted that-those who challenge you, who CJ Desk

R
that many don’t look down on you. They still exist,
like him as an and I’m thankful for their pres- anbir Kapoor and Sonam
actor but added ence. There are a lot of people who Kapoor starrer 2018 biographical
that their doubts don’t like me as an actor. I know comedy-drama Sanju has clocked
only fuel his de- that. I won’t name them, but they seven years since its release on
termination to give me the drive to keep going.” Sunday. To mark the milestone,
keep proving When asked if it affects him Sonam took to her Instagram Stories to share a
himself. When mentally, Vikrant Massey re- special memory. She posted a video featuring
asked if any sponded that it doesn’t disturb one of her scenes with Ranbir Kapoor from the
star kids ever him at all. In fact, he said such film, blending it with behind-the-scenes glimpses
made him feel negativity fuels his motivation from the set.
less important and drives him to do better. “Not In one shot, Sonam is seen alongside
during his at all. In fact, it works in my favor. director Rajkumar Hirani. The post
struggling There are so many who think, concludes with a throwback clip of
days, Massey ‘Oh, he’s not a good actor.’ Some the entire team announcing the
clarified that it even believe I’m overrated. So, wrap of the film. Sanju, directed
wasn’t about when my film does well, it feels and edited by Rajkumar Hirani,
star kids spe- good-I prove them wrong. That’s was co-written by Hirani and
cifically, but what keeps me going.” Abhijat Joshi.
about certain The Gaslight actor went on to The film was jointly
individuals mention, “That’s the driving force produced by Hirani and
in the in- for me. That feeling stays with you- Vidhu Vinod Chopra under
dustry who it’s very important. They help keep the banners Rajkumar
tried to that inner fire alive. So really, it Hirani Films and Vinod Cho-
make him depends on the person. It’s not pra Films.
feel small. about being a star kid or not. Not The movie explored the
The 12th at all. If we’re talking about star turbulent life of Bollywood star Sanjay
Fail actor kids, most of them have actually Dutt, shedding light on his battle with
shared, “No, been very nice to me.” drug addiction, his arrest in connection
it’s not about Work-wise, Vikrant Massey is with the 1993 Bombay bombings, his
a star kid. It’s gearing up for the release of his bond with his father, and his journey in
about the film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan the film industry. Ranbir Kapoor played
kind of alongside Shanaya Kapoor. the titular role alongside actors Paresh
people who Helmed by Santosh Singh, the Rawal, Vicky Kaushal, Manisha Koirala,
make you feel romantic drama is slated for a the- Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza, and Jim
small. We atrical release on July 11. Sarbh. Sanju, which recorded the big-
gest opening of any Indian release in
2018, was released on 29 June.
Interestingly, Sonam Kapoor made
her acting debut in 2007 with Sanjay

Enrique Iglesias adds

Leela Bhansali’s romantic drama Saa-
wariya alongside Ranbir Kapoor.
The Neerja actress made her come-

second show in Mumbai

back to the screen with the 2023 crime
thriller Blind, in which she portrayed
a visually impaired ex-police officer.
The film marked her return to act-
CJ Desk to his previously announced ing in the country. “I’ve missed ing following a break she took after wel-

P
concert, which will take place performing in India, the fans coming her son, Vayu, in 2022. Directed
opular Spanish on October 30. Both the per- there are some of the most by Shome Makhija, the thriller also
singer Enrique Ig- formances will be held at loyal and passionate in the starred Shubham Saraf, Danesh Razvi,
lesias, who is re- MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai's world. Since my first show Purab Kohli, Vinay Pathak, Lillete
turning to perform Bandra Kurla Complex. The back in 2004, the love has Dubey, and Javed Khan in key roles.
in India after 13 event is produced and pro- always been unreal. I Blind, released as a JioCinema
years, has added second show moted by EVA Live in partner- can’t wait to get back original, was a remake of the 2011 South Korean film
in Mumbai following the high ship with BEW Live, according to Mumbai and of the same name, originally
demand. Iglesias will to a press release. bring them this featuring Yoo Seung-ho
now have another The Bailamos new show,” he and Kim Ha-neul in
show on Oc- singer said he said in a lead roles.
tober 29, prior missed perform- statement.

Deepika reacts to F1
Says Selena Gomez
compliments to feature in
from him Wizards Beyond
meant more Deepika Padukone expresses Waverly Place
than awards admiration for Brad Pitt after Season 2
F1 movie release

Subhash Ghai CJ Desk

remembers
B
ollywood actress Deepika Padukone
has publicly expressed her admir-

Irrfan Khan
ation for Hollywood superstar Brad
Pitt following the release of his highly
anticipated racing film, F1.

Selena revives
The actress took to her official Insta-
CJ Desk nuanced performances, held far gram account on Sunday to express

V
greater meaning to him than her excitement over Brad Pitt’s
eteran filmmaker Sub- public accolades. performance in the film.
hash Ghai took a nos- He wrote, “I have always been in Posting a cheeky tribute on

beloved character
talgic trip down more of admirations of good n her Instagram stories,
memory lane as he great actors than just cosmetic Deepika wrote, “Brad Pitt.
fondly remembered stars of any time. -Good actors en- That’s it, that’s the post.
late actor Irrfan Khan, calling him hance the story telling-Stars play IYKYK.” Since its inter-
one of the finest talents in the in- stars to glitter the film I was more national release on June 27, CJ Desk

A
dustry. In a heartfelt post, Ghai happy to get compliments from F1 has garnered widespread
shared a photo and revealed that a Irrfan than award at an award praise from both audiences ctor-singer Selena Gomez
compliment from Irrfan meant function So I remember this pic- and critics. will reprise her role of
more to him than any award. ture vividly. We miss u irfaan Directed by Joseph Ko- Alex Russo in the second
The director expressed how @muktaartsltd @muktaa2cin- sinski, best known for his season of Wizards Beyond
deeply he valued the actor’s craft emas @whistling_woods.” work on Top Gun: Mav- Waverly Place.
and recognition. Sharing a throw- In the image, Irrfan Khan can be erick, the film tells the Created by Todd J Greenwald, the
back picture featuring him and seen smiling while sharing a light- story of Sonny Hayes, a vet- show is a spinoff of the 2007 sitcom,
Irrfan on Instagram, Subhash Ghai hearted moment with the film- eran Formula One driver which starred Gomez alongside David
reflected on his admiration for maker at an award show. Ghai is played by Brad Pitt, who Henrie, Jake T Austin, Jennifer Stone and
truly talented actors who elevate seen holding an award while makes a comeback to the David DeLuise, Maria Canals-Barrera.
storytelling through their per- warmly embracing the late actor. sport after a 30-year hiatus. The first season of the spinoff series
formance. Subhash Ghai and Irrfan Khan The movie is produced released in 2024 and featured Gomez
The filmmaker, known for cult shared a professional association in collaboration with in two episodes. with “Just feels right” written over it.
classics like Karz, Ram Lakhan, through the film Right Yaaa Formula 1 legend Lewis According to the entertainment The Emilia Perez actor was holding the
and Taal, emphasised the impor- Wrong, in which the actor played Hamilton, ensuring a news outlet The Hollywood Reporter, wand in the picture.
tance of substance over glamour in a pivotal role. Ghai also served as high degree of auth- the 32-year-old actor is preparing to The original series ran till 2012, with
cinema. Subhash recalled how a the producer of Iqbal, where enticity in the racing return for the second season. four seasons. It revolved around the
compliment from Irrfan Khan, cel- Irrfan appeared in a notable sup- world depicted She shared a picture from the set on Russo family, who own a restaurant and
ebrated for his powerful and porting role. on-screen. her Instagram handle on Thursday live in New York.
 www.freepressjournal.in

Your most unhappy

customers are your
greatest source of
learning.
Bill Gates,
Co-Founder of Microsoft

Mumbai, Monday, June 30, 2025

Make Your Brand The

Bata’s Big Bet: Retail Therapy First Choice, Not The
For Badri Beriwal of Bata, flowing with trends is only half Cheapest Option
the battle; the real edge is in sensing when they’ll lose
M
any companies fall port the same positioning –
into the trap of rac- whether a customer is inter-
steam and pivot before they plateau. ing to the bottom by acting with your team, view-
cutting prices in an attempt to ing your website or reading
Tsunami Costabir trader in the country, but rather as curated so that each offer- outperform competitors. an advertisement. Your brand
an entity that is creating wealth for ing is distinct from the However, smart brands are becomes memorable and

T
he country’s most iconic the people in the country. other. aware of a basic reality – that trust is built by this align-
footwear brand, Bata, is re- While that is from a financial We believe that when you customers choose the option ment.
vamping from the inside- perspective, the next thing is to walk into our store, we that best suits their needs, ■ Avoid Competing On
out. On one end, they’re focussing customise product offerings to the should be able to tell you goals and values rather than Price: Competitive pricing is
on becoming talent-magnets region. The idea is to think glo- stories from our collections. the one that is the cheapest. a useful tactic, but it shouldn't
through Gen-Z friendly working bally, but adapt locally. One critical step in that is to The secret to winning that be the mainstay of your
policies and on the other, driving declutter the store and make decision is positioning your brand. Instead, emphasise
repeat customers through a re- Q. Tell us about trends or sure that the micro stories brand strategically. clients' overall value, includ-
newed focus on retail. changes in what people are reach the customer. Positioning is the impres- ing dependability, knowledge,
In an interview with Brand- looking for from footwear. Across our store network, sion you leave on your cus- design, community and any
Sutra, Badri Beriwal, their Chief How is Bata adapting? we are working on creating the tomers. It goes beyond a other advantage beyond
Strategy and Business Devel- A. Today's customer is more con- right ambience with lights and tagline or pricing plan. It out- price.
opment Officer, tells us in detail nected with the world due to so- music. We want to ensure that lines your brand's values, how ■ Deliver On The Promise:
about their strategy to create great cial media and OTT exposure. our customers feel relaxed and it differs from competitors Positioning is only effective
experiences through micro-stories Because of dubbing, global con- spend more time at the store. and—above all—why it when supported by experi-
within stores, the science of lights, tent has been democratised to the We also do high performance should be the first option, ence. Every customer inter-
sounds and their effect on mood, whole population of India. merchandising where each store even if it isn't the most afford- action, from product
and curating merchandise so as to So with that, it becomes very is customised through AI/ML- able. performance to customer
not overwhelm the customers critical that we bring the right bal- based learning, which defines the Although lower service, must live up to
with choice. ance of global designs while locally right range for a shopping area. prices draw in bar- the brand promise.
Excerpts from the interview… manufacturing. Today, almost 70- a certain stage. The fact is that for Q. What are some growth gain hunters, they This alignment
80% of our designs are globally Q. What does the ratio of customers, retail is therapy. It's a categories in footwear? hardly ever en- creates momen-
Q. Bata is an iconic brand that thought. sales for e-com to retail look pleasure for them to go out and A. Sneakerisation as a trend con- courage consumer tum for word-of-
has really cemented itself in The other thing that we are like, and tell us a little about have the experience of shopping. tinues to grow in India, but we also advocacy or brand mouth and
the country. Tell us a bit about working on is around infusing our the focus on retail expansion. It is also very essential that we believe that it will plateau at some loyalty. A well- improves reputa-
how the brand has had to A. E-com is a significant por-
OPINION
products with technology. Cus- drive our retail footprint, stage. positioned brand, tion.
evolve over the decades. tomers are no longer in the zone tion—almost 10% of our especially in tier-3 The second category that con- on the other hand, ■ Case In Point:
This is a brand with over 100 years of compromising on comfort for business and continues to cities and beyond. tinues to grow is open footwear commands trust, Suresh Companies such
of legacy here in India and world style. We have added something grow pretty aggres- Our massive net- that we play in with our brand creates emotional Mansharamani as Tesla, Apple
over. And one of the key assets of called EasySlide in our range of sively. Omnichannel is work that we Floatz. Floatz, though launched bonds and pro- and Patagonia
this brand is that in whichever shoes, where you do not need to also a decent contribu- have gives us a three years ago, is already a 150- vides a strong ar- serve as examples
countries it operates, people be- use your fingers to put on your tor where customers huge competi- crore brand. Customers today are gument for why customers of the effectiveness of posi-
lieve it is part of their own country. shoes. You can just press your feet go to our stores to tive advantage willing to pay a little extra for should choose it at any cost. tioning. Each commands pre-
In India, this brand has gone and they will slide into the shoes. try and buy products, in the footwear comfortable footwear. mium pricing and a devoted
through an evolution with the Another example is our proprie- and if a particular size sector. We add And the biggest trend we see is Elements Of Effective following, but none is the
population. If you zoom out and tary FloFoam in floats that adds a is not available, we de- almost 150 stores what we call hybrid sneakers or Brand Positioning: cheapest in their respective
look at our country, we’ve gone lot of comfort and cushioning. liver it to their homes. every year. office sneakers. It is our range of ■ Know Your Audience: markets. Their ability to
from being a new, post-indepen- Finally, keeping customer cen- That itself constitutes al- footwear that gives you the com- Understanding of the cus- effectively and consistently
dence country marked by struggle tricity in mind, we aim to give cus- most 4.5% of our sales. fort of a sneaker while looking like tomer is the first step to- convey their value—and to
and scarcity, to today, where the tomers a fantastic experience. If We are also now part- a formal shoe. wards effective positioning. live up to it—makes them suc-
people have adequate resources— you’d visited any of the Bata stores nering with hyperlocal Who are your ideal clients? cessful.
be it food or housing or other util- five years ago, versus today, you retailers who drive in- Q. Lastly, what marketing What matters to them? Positioning is a strategic
ities. would see a marked difference in stant deliveries within methods and channels have What problems do they en- necessity, not a marketing
Indians are demanding more our store experience. 10 and 15 minutes. proved most effective for the counter, and how does your afterthought. Brands that
from their lives. And the same While e-com- brand? offering outperform the stand for something distinct,
sentiment extends to footwear— Q. How has the store merce is impor- A. In the last few years, from competition in resolving appealing and trustworthy
whether it is style, comfort or experience changed? Could tant, we have being heavily TV-driven, we them? are the ones that succeed in a
technology. you give us examples? noticed, es- have completely flipped it to digi- ■ Define A Clear Differ- crowded market where price
A. We find that a lot of retailers in pecially in ma- tal. entiator: Every successful wars are unsustainable and
Q. What are the key aspects India tend to put everything that ture markets, A year ago, 35% towards digital brand has a unique quality consumers have short atten-
that make people feel like they have in the showroom and let that e-com- sounded like a good amount. that makes it stand out. It tion spans.
Bata is a native or homegrown customers decide what they want. merce pla- Today, 60-70% of our spends are might be your backstory, your You can change the focus of
brand? But the science of retailing does teaus at digital and the rest goes into out of strategy for sustainability or the discussion from cost to
A. One of the keys has been mak- not work in that home or proximity marketing at the particular issue you re- value, from transaction to re-
ing sure that the company is part manner. People malls. TV is now sparingly used solve. It's important to be lationship and from short-
of the local culture. So, for get confused unless we get a marquee property clear. You cannot explain term sales to long-term
example, there was never an effort with too where we think that it is the right what makes your brand growth by identifying what
to export into India. From day one, much var- medium. unique if your customers can- makes your brand the best
we set up a factory here. iety. So We are heavily focused on not. option, not just the most
When the organisation went in while you influencers. For example, ■ Align Messaging Across economical.
for an IPO, locals became share- have to when we launched our EasySlide Touchpoints: Credibility is
holders in Bata India Limited. provide var- collection, we collaborated with increased by consistency. (The author is the Founder
Now, you’re not just seen as a iety, it should be over 100 trainers on social media. Your messaging should sup- of Tajurba Business Network)

Anna Wintour steps

down as Editor-in-Chief
IN BRIEF
A Legacy Brand’s Reinvention Digest
of Vogue US
Tsunami Costabir From the house of Alpenliebe, Happydent and Center Fresh, Gunjan Khetan tells us how
Perfetti Van Melle is reinventing—with nostalgia as its arm candy.
“N
After nearly 37 years at the helm ostalgia gives brands emo-
of Vogue US, Anna Wintour is tional equity, but relevance
stepping down as Editor-in-Chief. demands reinvention,” from a cheeky phrase to a digital jug- latest campaign—Chamking Gum: ativity must be grounded in
However, Wintour’s influence on says Gunjan Khetan, Marketing Direc- gernaut—with integrations into Paytm Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan— commercial reality. “Mar-
the world of publishing remains tor at Perfetti Van Melle India (PVM). Soundbox and branding in the Delhi isn’t merely about oral freshness. It’s a keters must evolve into
far from over. She will continue in With iconic brands like Alpenliebe, Metro. From short-form videos to cre- cinematic ode to how something as commercial leaders,” he
her powerful roles as Chief Con- Happydent, Chupa Chups, Center ator collaborations and interactive ex- simple as a smile can spark change. says, pointing to a hybrid
tent Officer at Condé Nast, over- Fruit, and Center Fresh in its stable, periences, the focus is now on Crafted by advertising veterans like approach where perform-
seeing a vast editorial empire that includes Vanity Fair, PVM has become synonymous with seamlessly blending into digital cul- Prasoon Joshi, Shantanu Moitra and ance metrics and brand
GQ, WIRED, Glamour, Allure, and more. Additionally, she Indian confectionery advertising over ture. Vinil Mathew, the film blends lyricism, equity are not seen as com-
stays on as Global Editorial Director of Vogue, guiding the last three decades. Still, the past is never far behind. music and visual storytelling—under- peting goals.
the fashion brand’s editorial vision across its worldwide Since entering the Indian market in Campaigns like Happydent’s cin- scoring Khetan’s belief that “brands This dual mindset is es-
editions. 1994, PVM has stood out not just for its ematic reboot and Mentos’ “Yes to can do more than advertise; they can sential in an impulse cat-
Still from the Happydent Chamking Gum ad
Autorickshaw Union
wide distribution—across five million Fresh” continue to nod to earlier suc- inspire.” Alpenliebe is evolving from a egory like confectionery,
outlets—but for creating culturally cesses, just repackaged for a new gen- nostalgic comfort brand to where measuring love is easy—but
launches Yatri Mitra sticky, emotion-led TVCs. In a category eration. one that experiments with tying it to purchase can be harder.
where impulse drives purchases, formats like dual-layer PVM’s experimentation in bundling,
Mumbai-based autorickshaw
PVM bets big on humor, The Cultural Pulse jellies. Chupa Chups is rapid launches, and regional cus-
union Seva Sarathi Autorickshaw
storytelling and resonance— “For Gen Z, confectionery is as pushing its sour jelly line tomisation attempts to address just
Taxi & Transport Union (SSATTU)
and software development com- and wins. much about mood and self-ex- with quirky shapes, and that.
pany Metazen Labs have launched pression as it is Mentos remains plugged
a new auto booking app, Yatri From Mass about indul- into youth culture through India, In All Its Flavours
Mitra, for Mumbai and Thane com- Media To Meme gence,” Khetan events like Social Nation India isn’t a single market—and PVM
muters. Yatri Mitra, which was Culture explains. “Fla- and digital-first activations. 3–4% of sales but are crucial play- knows it. “Our distribution strategy is
launched in beta mode today, is While its legacy is vour experimen- grounds for testing new bundles, built on three integrated levers: depth,
onboarding auto drivers on the platform. The drivers will steeped in televi- tation, format The Balancing Act formats and price points. agility, and distinctiveness,” Khetan
have to pay a fee of INR 25 per day to get rides from the sion, today’s media innovation and But nostalgia, if overplayed, can turn says. While consistency matters, re-
app, which follows a zero commission model. playbook looks ingredient con- gimmicky. “We treat nostalgia not as a Commercial Creativity gional preferences, price sensitivities
very different. “This sciousness has static memory, but as a springboard “We’ve had the chance to work with and cultural cues demand hyperlocal
ITC pulls the plug on generation doesn’t grown in impor- for new experiences,” Khetan says. some of the best creative minds in the responsiveness.
ITC Store just watch ads—
they scroll, skip,
tance. Addi-
tionally, Gen Z
The challenge lies in staying emo-
tionally familiar while being format-
industry—Ogilvy, McCann, and sev-
eral agile digital agencies that help us
The confectionery market is more
crowded than ever. Trends shift fast,
Launched at the height of the Covid- remix and share.” expects brands and platform-forward. “The key is to navigate today’s media fragmentation,” attention spans are shorter, and brand
19 pandemic in November 2020 to So while PVM re- to show up in retain the core promise—the familiar Khetan notes. loyalty is harder to win. But in PVM’s
capitalise on the surge in online shop- mains rooted in culturally rel- taste or feeling—while delivering it in That multiplicity extends beyond journey—from Alpenliebe’s creamy
ping, “ITC Store” has now stopped tak- emotional storytell- evant ways.” a way that resonates with digital-first creative partnerships. While general pull to Center Fruit’s tongue-tickling
ing orders. The FMCG major is ing, the spaces it This insight has audiences.” trade remains dominant, quick com- twist—what persists is a clear desire to
reportedly now leaning into a multi- tells those stories is shifted how This balancing act is also evident in merce and digital channels are now stay emotionally relevant.
platform digital distribution strategy changing. PVM builds PVM’s distribution model. Urban mar- critical to engaging younger con- “Sometimes the sweetest success,”
that spans ecommerce, quick com- Take Center both products kets get premium offerings and inno- sumers who demand novelty, speed, Khetan says, “isn’t in being the loudest,
merce and modern trade. As per the report, the com- Fruit’s recent ‘Kaissi and communica- vation, while rural areas focus on and relevance in equal measure. but in staying tuned to the quiet shifts
pany is also focussing on digitally-enabled sales and
Jeebh Laplapayi’ tion. affordable, core SKUs. E-commerce Like many contemporary mar- in consumer behaviour—and finding
strengthening its presence in general trade.
campaign. It went Happydent’s and quick commerce currently form keters, Khetan emphasizes that cre- space to grow within them.”

Knowledge partner Feedback: [email protected]

www.freepressjournal.in Reg. No. MCS/048/2018-20; | RNI No. 1541/1957/M.P.C.S. | Office Mumbai-400001

Everyone sits
down to a
banquet of
consequences
- Robert Louis
Stevenson

MUMBAI | MONDAY | JUNE 30, 2025 EXCLUSIVELY FOR BMC SCHOOLS

The Maharashtra government has cancelled two resolutions on

the three-language policy for schools following strong criticism
Dalai Lama
of the government’s attempt at ‘Hindi imposition’ turns 90
Maha Government
backs down on Hindi

S
piritual gurus landed at Kangra
Airport on Sunday to attend the
90th birthday celebration of the
14th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama will
turn 90 on July 6, but according to the
Tibetan Lunar Calendar, tomorrow is
his birthday.

Mango festival to
celebrate India’s
he Maharashtra government has cancelled
rich agri diversity
two resolutions on the three-language pol-
icy for schools. Chief Minister Devendra
Fadnavis has announced that a panel will
deliberate on the policy's future. After a
state Cabinet meeting, Fadnavis
announced, "We have decided
that a committee will be formed
Lost jets: Cong under the leadership of educa-
K N O W?
tionist Dr Narendra Jadhav to DID U
questions govt determine from which standard

A
Thackeray brothers
on Op Sindoor the languages should be imple-
mented. Meanwhile, both the
- Uddhav and Raj -
come together to
iming to promote tourism and
cultural activities, the New
T he Congress on Sunday
cited the reported com-
ments of India's defence
Government Resolutions issued
on April 16 and June 17 have been
announce a joint
protest on the issue. Delhi Municipal Council
(NDMC) is gearing up to organise a
cancelled." The Fadnavis govern- two-day Mango Festival on July 5 and
attache to Indonesia that the
Indian Air Force lost fighter jets ment had issued a GR on April 16, 6 in Chanakyapuri. The Mango
to Pakistan during Operation making Hindi a compulsory third language Festival is part of NDMC's continuing
Sindoor and accused the gov- for students in classes 1 to 5 studying in efforts to promote cultural and sea-
ernment of having "misled" English and Marathi medium schools. sonal festivities that bring commu-
the country. The party also The second GR, issued on June 16, nities together and celebrate India's
asked why the demand reopened the 'Hindi imposition' row. rich agricultural diversity.
for a special session of
Parliament has been What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes
rejected.
a part of us - Helen Keller
 The Chief Minister
www.freepressjournal.in
Devendra Fadnavis is
p2 against the Marathi
language
- Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI | MONDAY | JUNE 30, 2025

Deepika goes gaga over Brad Pitt

B
ollywood actress Deepika ance in the film. Posting a cheeky
OW? Padukone has publicly tribute on her Instagram stories,
N
DID U K expressed her admir- Deepika wrote, "Brad Pitt. That's
ation for Hollywood superstar it, that's the post. IYKYK." 'F1' has
The movie is
produced in Brad Pitt following the release of garnered widespread praise from
collaboration with his highly anticipated racing both audiences and critics. The
Formula 1 legend film, 'F1.' The actress took to film tells the story of Sonny Hayes,
Lewis Hamilton to
ensure authenticity Instagram to express her excite- a veteran Formula One driver
ment over Brad Pitt's perform- played by Brad Pitt.

Rlys reverse
The Railway Ministry
Enrique Iglesias has enhanced the
limit on passengers'
adds another show
decision
waiting list from 25
per cent to 60 per
cent for all AC classes

P
opular Spanish singer Enrique
Iglesias, who is returning to per-
form in India after 13 years, has he order to cap the wait-
added second show in Mumbai fol- ing list of passengers of all
lowing the high demand. Iglesias will classes at 25 per cent was
now have another show on October originally issued on April
29, prior to his previously announced 17 to all zones as well as
concert, which will take place on the Centre for Railway
October 30. Both the performances Information System
will be held at MMRDA Grounds in (CRIS). The CRIS
Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. amended the reservation
system and implemented
it from June 16. "Just 12
Unique family days after implementing
the order to cap all wait-
IDs in J&K ing list at 25 per cent of
the total seats/berths of and in super cession of fined capacity of each

J
ammu and travelling classes, the the earlier instruction class available at originat-
Kashmir gov- ministry realised its mis- dated 17.04.2025 it has ing as well as roadside
ernment is take and almost reversed been decided that the stations for air-condi-
planning to cre- its decision," said a senior maximum current wait- tioned and non air-condi-
ate a unique ministry official reques- ing list limits will be tioned classes respect-
family identifica- ting anonymity. "The revised to 60 per cent and ively," said the Railway
tion for every matter has been reviewed 30 per cent of the rede- Ministry on Saturday.
household in the
Union territory,
in a move to
streamline the delivery of public services.
Indian women’s team’s 8th loss

A
Officials said on Sunday that the initiative lready relegated from the FIH Pro League, the Indian
will also enhance beneficiary outreach and women's hockey team squandered a one-goal lead to
serve as a unified source of truth for plan- lose 2-3 against Chine and suffer its eighth consecu-
ning and monitoring across government tive defeat in the event in Berlin on Sunday. The defeat
departments. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo meant India ended at the bottom of the nine-team standings
chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday and has been relegated to the FIH Nations Cup.
to lay the groundwork for creation of the
family IDs for every household.
 I'm much more confident
www.freepressjournal.in
now and much more
ambitious than earlier
- R Pragg p3
MUMBAI | MONDAY | JUNE 30, 2025

Norris wins
Wimbledon hat-trick

Austrian GP

L
ando Norris held off a race-long chal-
lenge from his McLaren teammate
Oscar Piastri to win the Austrian
Grand Prix on Sunday and lift his Formula
1 title hopes. Norris and Piastri battled for
the lead early on, with the Australian
briefly into the lead before Norris took the
position back. A rash lunge by Piastri
nearly caused a collision soon after.

Alcaraz will kickstart his Wimbledon campaign against

38-year-old Fabio Fognini in round one from Monday.

Alcaraz’s campaign Smriti wants

to keep pushing

begins today I
ndia's stand-in cap-
tain, Smriti
Mandhana, is look-
ing for more success
after blazing her way
kickstart his Wimbledon ive milestone is up for to her first T20I cen-
campaign against 38-year- grabs for this legend in the tury during the series
old Fabio Fognini in round making. If he completes a opener against
one from Monday. The hat-trick of England in
stars are aligned for Wimbledon Nottingham. Mandhana, who served as
Alcaraz, as far as past form titles, he will the stand-in skipper in the absence of
Defending Wimbledon is concerned. Not only has join legendary K NO W? injured Harmanpreet Kaur, led from the
champion Carlos Alcaraz he won the tournament Bjorn Borg as DID U front as India kicked off the series with a
said that the idea of com- back-to-back, but is also on the only men in Between thumping 97-run victory. Mandhana
1978-1980, Bjorn
pleting a hat-trick of this a career-best 18-match win the Open Era Borg captured the hammered 112 runs.
prestigious Grand Slam is streak, with title wins to complete a French Open
and Wimbledon
not on his mind, and he coming in during the double of titles three times
just wants to lift the trophy
on grassy surfaces where
Italian Open, French Open
and most recently, the
French Open-
Wimbledon in
in a row.
No wrestling in CWG
"the most beautiful tennis"
is played. Alcaraz will
Queens Club
Championships. A mass-
consecutive years, as per
ATP's official website.
disappoints Babita
F
ormer wrestler
QUICK NEWS Babita Phogat
participated in
‘Tanvi The Ghai remembers ‘Sitaare…’ the 'Fit India Sundays
on Cycle' initiative in
Great’ trailer Irrfan Khan collects Rs 100cr New Delhi. She

T he much-awaited
trailer of 'Tanvi
The Great' is all set to
F ilmmaker Subhash
Ghai recently took a
trip down memory lane
A amir Khan-starrer
"Sitaare Zameen Par"
has collected over Rs 100
expressed her disap-
pointment over the
absence of wrestling
be released on as he remembered the crore at the domestic in the Commonwealth
Monday, June 30. late actor Irrfan Khan. box office. Directed by R Games 2026. She highlighted the chal-
Anupam Kher shared Ghai shared an old S Prasanna, the film is lenges faced, particularly for women
a video that shows photo from an award produced by Aamir wrestlers, and emphasised the potential
how the film has ceremony with the alongside Aparna for India to win more medals if wrestling
already made a mark actor, along with an Purohit and Ravi were included. Babita is a three-time
across the world. emotional note. Bhagchandka. Commonwealth medalist.
 Not thinking about how
www.freepressjournal.in
many have won three
p4 Wimbledons in a row
- Carlos Alcaraz

MUMBAI | MONDAY | JUNE 30, 2025

Ankushita, Nikhat Night to remember forever

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev

in semis of Elite Shukla reminisces on India's ICC T20 World Cup win last year this day

When 11�yr
Boxing tourney
Former youth world champion Ankushita
Boro showcased her class on Day 2 of the

wait ended
Elite Women's Boxing Tournament,
advancing to the semi-finals in the 65kg cat-
egory win over Rajasthan pugilist Parthvi in
Hyderabad on Sunday. Meanwhile, in the
51kg division, home favourite and two-time
world champion
Nikhat Zareen
delighted the
Hyderabad crowd
with a dominant vic-
tory over Kalpana.
The tournament is n this day (June 26) last
being organized year, Team India ended
under the aegis of their 11-year-long trophy
Boxing Federation of drought as a match-win-
India ning half-century from
Virat Kohli and a brilliant
pace choke by Jasprit
India women continue Bumrah, Arshdeep
Singh, and ture their second The wait, the emotions,
emphatic run Hardik marquee T20 title. the glory all came
? Pandya Remembering that day, together in that magical
U K N OW helped them Shukla wrote, "June 29, moment." Former
DID
beat South 2024, was a night to Indian cricketer
Hardik Pandya,
Jasprit Bumrah and Africa by remember forever. After Mohammed Kaif also
Arshdeep Singh seven runs at 11 long years, India finally took to X, remembering
emerged as the prime Barbados in won an ICC trophy, lift- the day when India's
architects of the
Proteas' downfall. the T20 WC ing the T20 World Cup "great tactics" won them
final to cap- with pride and passion. the trophy.

The Indian senior women's team con-

tinued their emphatic run in the AFC
Fit India Sunday at 6K locations
U
Women's Football Asian Cup 2026 nion Minister of Sports, Mansukh Held simultaneously across 6,000 loca-
Qualifiers with a commanding 4-0 victory Mandaviya, led a diverse group, tions nationwide, the cycling drives were
against Timor-Leste at the 700th especially the 'Swachhta Senanis', joined by workers from the Ministry of
Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai on our frontline cleanliness warriors, in a Housing and Urban Affairs, sanitation
Sunday. With the win, India now sit atop special edition of Fit India Sundays on workers, Nagar Palika Nigam staff, as
Group B, ahead of Iraq and Thailand Cycle this morning in Palitana, Gujarat. well as municipal corporations.

2nd India-England Test begins tomorrow

T
eam India will play their second the series, failing to defend 371 runs
Test of the five-match tour of against England during the first Test at
England at Edgbaston in Leeds. Indian fans and players alike
Birmingham, where they have yet to would not like to see their record at
secure a win. The match at Edgbaston, where they are yet to win a
Birmingham will kick off on match. Seven out of eight matches have
Wednesday. Team India trails by 0-1 in been lost.

FP SCHOOL EDITOR: AMRISH HERDENIA

FP SCHOOL is a publication for and of school students. Principals, teachers, parents and students are welcome to send news and pictures of functions held at schools, students who have
excelled in different fields and stories, poems etc penned by students for publication to: [email protected]
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