ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

China has set an ambitious 5% GDP growth target for 2024 and vowed to 'transform' the economy. Beijing has signalled that stability and transforming its economy will continue to be a priority. This comes at a time when China's economy has performed weaker than expected post-pandemic. This episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash was recorded at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 20...

Eric Garcetti, currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to India, stands out as the sole U.S. envoy to have toured 22 states of India within just 12 months since his appointment in March 2023. He also served as the Mayor of Los Angeles, where he held the position of City Council President, becoming one of the city’s youngest mayors. Garcetti announced he would not run for president in 2020, opting...

China's ambitions are clear: it wants to gain control over Taiwan, but at what cost? The Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, "It is up to the Chinese people to resolve the Taiwan issue," affirming that Beijing will never renounce the right to use force but will strive for a peaceful resolution. The future of Asia's security—and perhaps the world's—is inextricably linked to Taiwan's future. This e...

The 39-year-old Annamalai Kuppusamy is making his parliamentary poll debut in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, contesting for the Coimbatore seat. Known for his aggressive style of politics, K. Annamalai is credited with the rise of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Unafraid to speak his mind, he confronts the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu directly and doesn't spare his former ally, the AIADMK. Some even attribute the b...

He is a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi family, an eight-time MLA and considered a 'troubleshooter' for the Congress party. DK Shivakumar is one of the tallest Vokkaliga leaders of the Congress, who lost out in the race to Siddaramaiah and became his deputy. Shivakumar started his political career as a student leader in the 1980s and gradually rose through the ranks of the Congress party. Some ev...

It's BJP's Madhavi Latha versus AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi. A long time RSS worker against a prominent Muslim leader will be taking on each other in Hyderabad. Madhavi Latha is not an active politician and does not belong to any political family. She is the first female candidate fielded by the BJP in Hyderabad. She is a social activist, Bharatnatyam dancer, and former NCC cadet, who is also run...

Jagadish Vasudev better known as "Sadhguru," is the founder of the Isha Foundation. He dons many hats as a yoga guru, mystic, philanthropist, author, and podcaster. Sadhguru defies stereotypes by actively engaging in various activities beyond meditation. He sings, dances, rides a bike, and drives vehicles for causes that impact humanity, such as "Save The Soil." In recognition of his spiritual tea...

Shehzad Poonawalla is a well-known face of the BJP on TV debates, with fiery puns and takes on the Congress. His debates often go viral on social media. Aditi Singh is a BJP MLA from Raebareli Sadar, the bastion of Sonia Gandhi, which now stands vacated as the former Congress president has moved to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Aditi a...

In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we bring you a perfect mix of humour, masti, and unapologetic conversation. Joining us are Anand Ranganathan, an author, scientist, and social commentator, alongside Ranvir Shorey, a former VJ who works in the Hindi film industry and is known for his candid political commentary on social media. From the vibrant realms of Bollywood to the...

Just ahead of the mega 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, the Centre has notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed by Parliament four years ago. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserts that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled another commitment after Article 370 and Triple Talaq. The opposition labels the CAA as 'anti-Muslim' and 'unconstitutional'. The CAA facilitates t...

After two years of political turmoil and an economic crisis, Pakistan held elections on 8th Feb 2024. As the results were being announced, accusations surfaced that the Pakistan military had assisted the coalition led by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N in winning the polls. This unfolded amidst former Prime Minister Imran Khan languishing in jail and being barred from contesting polls, with his party symbol,...

Rajat Sharma has been a prominent figure in Indian media and journalism for the last three decades. He is best known for his show, 'Aap Ki Adalat', 'Aaj Ki Baat’ and his role as the Editor-in-Chief of India TV. Before joining television, he was the Editor of Onlooker, Sunday Observer, and The Daily. He pursued higher studies at SRCC and was part of ABVP. In 1977, he was elected as General Secretar...

The world is currently witnessing two major war fronts: one between Israel and Hamas and the other involving Russia and Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has entered its third year, with no potential 'stalemate' or breakthrough in sight. In the aftermath of Hamas-led attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, intense bombing and ground campaigns in Gaza have ensued. U.S. President Joe Biden has expresse...

Atul Keshap is a former U.S. diplomat, now serving as the president of the of the U.S-India Business Council. He also serves as the senior vice president at U.S chamber of commerce. He also held the position of Chargé d'affaires of the United States mission to India. In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Atul Keshap shares his experience as a U.S. diplomat to India and recal...

Prem Chopra was born into a Hindu Punjabi family in Lahore in 1935. Following the partition of India, his family relocated to Shimla, where he was raised. Despite his father's aspirations for him to become a doctor or an IAS officer, he embarked on a journey to become an actor. He was a trailblazer in introducing the concept of handsome villains, deviating from the stereotype of venom-spewing char...

Richard R. Verma is the first American of Indian descent to serve as the US Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017. He currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management & Resources. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served on active duty as a Judge Advocate. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. In the latest ep...

Samir Saran is the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India’s premier think tank headquartered in New Delhi. Saran is a well-known figure in the field of diplomacy and serves as the curator of the Raisina Dialogue. He has authored four books, focusing his research on global governance, climate and energy policy, technology policy, and India’s foreign relations. In the latest epis...

Smita Thackeray is a social activist and film producer. As the daughter-in-law of Bal Thackeray, she wielded significant influence, often regarded as his confidante and advisor. She never officially joined Shiv Sena. Smita is also the chairperson and founder of Rahul Productions and Mukkti Foundation. She has produced several Hindi and Marathi films like ‘Sandwich’ and ‘Haseena Maan Jaayegi.’ In t...

Prakash Jha’s knack in editing, storytelling, and dialogue writing has consistently earned him various awards and accolades, including 8 National awards. As a master of direction, Jha’s work in renowned films like 'Damul,'Gangajal,' 'Apaharan,' 'Raajneeti,' and 'Mrityudand' speaks volumes about his strength. In the latest edition of the ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Jha discusses his journey fro...

He was considered the 'most powerful bureaucrat' in the state of Odisha, often referred as the right hand of CM Naveen Patnaik. Kartik Pandian served as the private secretary to the Odisha CM for 12 years before joining his party, Biju Janata Dal in 2023. After taking voluntary retirement, which was approved in less than 3 days, one of the fastest ever, Pandian was appointed the Chairman of 5T (Tr...

Lt. Gen Dr. S.L. Narasimhan (R) was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1977. Holding a Ph. D. in India-China relations, he has received four awards from the President of India for his contributions to the Indian Army. A specialist in the Chinese language, he studied China and its history for eighteen years. Additionally, he served as the Defense Attaché at the Indian Embassy in China and held...

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are honouring the dynamic musical partnership of Subramaniam Lakshminarayana and Kavita Krishnamurti, a couple who have elevated Indian Classical music to unprecedented heights. Subramaniam Lakshminarayana, an accomplished Indian violinist, composer, and conductor, has been steeped in the traditions of classical Carnatic music and Western c...

Renowned filmmaker Subhash Ghai, a maestro in the world of Indian cinema, has left an indelible mark with his exceptional contributions as an actor, scriptwriter, and director. In a captivating episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ghai takes us on a riveting journey through his transformative career. He shares intriguing anecdotes, revealing how he orchestrated the collaboration between...

Lobsang Sangay served as the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile from 2011 to 2021. He is the first person without a monastic background to hold this position. He was born in 1968 in a refugee community in Darjeeling, India. Sangay earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Delhi. Later, he studied international law and democracy at Harvard University, eventually becoming an American citi...

The films 'Golmaal,' 'Singham,' 'Chennai Express,' and 'Dilwale' have established Rohit Shetty as the undisputed king of action and comedy in the Hindi film industry. The director of 'Dilwale' has now made his OTT debut with 'Indian Police Force,' an action thriller currently streaming on an OTT platform. In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rohit reveals the influence of h...