Shehzad Khan is an actor best known for his role as ‘Bhalla’ in the cult classic ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ and is the son of legendary actor Ajit.
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about his father Ajit’s journey from hero to iconic villain, his friendship with Dharmendra and bond with Salim Khan.
Shehzad also looks back at his career in Bollywood and why Ajit never wanted him to use his name or influence to get work.
*Timestamps*
0:00 – Introduction
0:32 – Role of ‘Bhalla’ in ‘Andaz Apna Apna’
9:27 – Father Ajit’s Rules for Shehzad
16:21 – ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ Story
22:23 – Why ‘Razia Sultan’ Flopped
26:25 – Ajit & Salim Khan’s Bond
31:17 – Bollywood’s Iconic Villains
35:28 – Ajit’s Entry Into Films
38:25 – Love Story of Ajit
43:43 – Ajit’s Early Retirement
47:52 – Screenwriting of Salim-Javed
52:03 – Working in ‘Tirangaa’ Movie
54:13 – Unpaid Bollywood Projects

Lieutenant General K.J.S. ‘Tiny’ Dhillon is the former Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency and has commanded the strategically important 15 Corps in Kashmir. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor is the former Commandant of the National Defence Academy and has extensive experience in air operations, training and strategic affairs. Together, they have written Nobody’s War, Everybody’s War.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, they discuss the FlyDubai incident, the radicalisation of professionals and how drones are changing modern warfare. They also explain what India can learn from the Iran war, China’s growing military power, threats to India’s energy security and why the country must strengthen its indigenous defence manufacturing.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Intro

03:10 – FlyDubai Incident

07:44 – Brave Passengers

11:19 – Civilian Bravery

18:51 – Hijack Codes

23:56 – Teaching Children Safety

30:04 – Drone Warfare

35:05 – More Drones for India?

37:58 – Iran’s War Preparations

40:52 – US War Goals

45:53 – Fighting Terrorism

46:59 – Drones vs Soldiers

49:55 – Op Sindoor & Defence Industry

53:58 – China Arms Pakistan

55:08 – Maritime Chokepoints

56:34 – Oil & Gulf Security

58:15 – China Gains from War?

59:19 – War Room Decisions

1:06:39 – India Ready for Next Crisis?

1:07:50 – India’s Economic Challenges

1:11:16 – India–China & Third Parties

1:17:38 – India’s Military Power

1:20:14 – Politics & National Security

1:24:03 – Why They Wrote the Book

1:25:49 – Advice for Youth

1:30:35 – Manufacturing in India

1:33:42 – Closing Remarks

Nimrat Kaur is an actor known for her performances in The Lunchbox, Airlift, Dasvi, Homeland and The Family Man. She has worked in both Indian cinema and international television, playing a wide range of roles, from a lonely housewife to a spy.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about her journey from modelling to films, and why she refused to be typecast after The Lunchbox. She also opens up about losing her father to terrorism in Kashmir, her mother’s strength, working in Hollywood, social media pressure and her life away from the screen.

00:00 – Introduction

01:22 – Success After The Lunchbox

04:20 – How Homeland Happened

05:27 – Avoiding Typecasting

10:35 – Working with Irrfan Khan

13:14 – Being Raised by a Single Mother

15:53 – Her Father’s Kidnapping and Assassination

20:01 – Filming Homeland

24:38 – Indian vs International Film Sets

26:31 – Paparazzi and Social Media

31:14 – PR Agencies

34:15 – Breaking the ‘Sanskari’ Image

40:00 – Growing Up in a Military Family

41:45 – Do Men Feel Intimidated by Thinking Actresses?

43:43 – Working with Amitabh Bachchan

45:42 – Spirituality, Solitude and Staying Grounded

49:22 – Dealing with Impostor Syndrome

52:14 – Artificial Intelligence in Filmmaking

54:24 – Body Image and Changing Perceptions

55:19 – Playing a Spy in The Family Man

55:38 – Akshay Kumar and On-Set Prank Stories

58:23 – Friendships in the Film Industry

1:00:08 – Auditions and Screen Tests

1:02:20 – Indian Actors and Hollywood

1:04:36 – Dhurandhar and Authentic Spy Films

1:09:50 – Role Models and Her Acting Dream

1:11:56 – Relationships and Staying Authentic

1:14:50 – Conclusion