ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Sonal Man Singh is a former Rajya Sabha MP, an Indian classical dancer and a Guru in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance styles. She received the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonal Man Singh shares untold stories about Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and the challenges artists faced during the 1975 Emergency. She also discuss...

Tigmanshu Dhulia is a filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and casting director, best known for Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011). His films, often critically acclaimed and explore human relationships, social issues, and the nuances of Indian culture. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tigmanshu takes a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his childhood...

Raza Murad comes from a family of actors and is known for his astounding voice. He started his career with the film 'Ek Nazar' in 1972 and became famous for his versatility, especially in villain roles. He has worked in over 200 films and has been featured in several popular Bollywood films, including Prem Rog, Henna, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, and Ram Lakhan. He continues to leave his mark with roles...

Yogi Adityanath's government has completed eight years in Uttar Pradesh, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister in the state's history and the only one to serve two consecutive terms. In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Yogi Adityanath discusses his government's achievements over the past 8 years and shares his vision for making Uttar Pradesh a one-trillion-dollar economy. He also defen...

The recent train hijacking and the Noshki convoy attack have raised serious questions about Pakistan losing control of Balochistan. Is the Baloch insurgency entering a new phase? Can Pakistan’s army crush the rebellion? Is China pressuring Pakistan to act harshly to protect CPEC? Is India secretly involved, as Pakistan claims? What exactly do the Balochs want? To answer all these questions, the AN...

Rakesh Roshan began his career as an assistant director on the film Anjaana (1969) and later went on to direct the action drama Khudgarz (1987). With films like ‘Karan Arjun,’ ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai,’ ‘Koi... Mil Gaya,’ and the Krrish franchise, Rakesh Roshan has earned his place as a seasoned filmmaker across multiple genres in the Hindi film industry. In the latest edition of the ANI Podcast wit...

Get ready for the much-awaited episode of the 'Real' Samosa Caucus! Edition 5.0 is here and it's all about raw, uncensored, no-holds-barred discussions. Joining the chat are: Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies This episo...

Komal Nahta is a film trade analyst, the Editor-in-Chief of 'Film Information', and a well-known television show host. With decades of experience in the film industry, he is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in box office analysis. Bharathi Pradhan is a columnist, film critic, and author. She hosts podcasts and Lehren TV and writes a Sunday column for The Telegraph. She has been reviewing...

Kiran Rao began her career as an assistant director on the iconic film Lagaan and later went on to direct Dhobi Ghat (2010) and the critically acclaimed box office success Laapataa Ladies (2024). She graduated with a degree in Economics from Sophia College for Women, Mumbai, in 1995, and later pursued her Master’s at AJK Mass Communication Research Center, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. In this...

Ruchi Ghanashyam joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1982. Over her 38-year career, she served at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and as High Commissioner to Ghana, South Africa, and the UK, where she retired in 2020. She was also a Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan. Shaina NC is a fashion designer, politician, and social worker. She is the dau...

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we take a deep dive into Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy and how it continues to shape Indian politics. Joining the conversation are Dr. Guru Prakash Paswan, National Spokesperson of the BJP with a deep understanding of Dalit issues, and Kushal Mehra, a podcaster and author known for his sharp takes on politics and society. They discuss the role of Da...

Pullela Gopichand is the second Indian to win the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championship (2001). A former Olympian, he coached Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu to Olympic success. Honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1999, Gopichand is often called the ‘Dronacharya of Indian Badminton.’ Since 2004, he has been running an academy in Hyderabad, where players like Srikanth Kidambi, Parupalli Kash...

Born in Srinagar, Kunal Kemmu comes from a family of actors. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in films like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Raja Hindustani (1996), and Zakhm (1998). Kunal made his debut as a lead actor in Kalyug (2005) and went on to star in several films, including the Golmaal franchise, Go Goa Gone (2013), and intense dramas like Traffic Signal (2007) and Blood Mone...

General Upendra Dwivedi is currently serving as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. He previously served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command. Before that, he was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff for Information Systems and Coordination and the General Officer Commanding of the IX Corps. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the Army Ch...

Jaya Kishori started her spiritual journey at the age of seven. Raised in a spiritual environment, she developed a deep love for spiritualism, leading her to become a motivational and spiritual speaker. Her mission is to instill faith, positivity, and the importance of family, emphasizing that good parenting shapes successful and virtuous individuals. She ensures her teachings are simple and relat...

Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as 'Gabbar' by his fans, has had a remarkable cricket career. He won the Golden Bat twice at the ICC Champions Trophy, and holds the record for the fastest Test century by a debutant, In August 2024, he announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket. In this podcast with Smita Prakash, Dhawan talks about the pressure social media creates in team selec...

Big Bang Boom Solutions (BBBS) is one of the youngest startups in India's defence sector, focusing on developing homegrown technology and intellectual property. The company is working on cutting-edge defence solutions, including the Next-Generation Hybrid Personal Combat Armour, a non-lethal system to stop vessels at sea, the 360 Advanced Battle Interface (ABI), and an Anti-Drone Defense System. T...

Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi, CEO and MD of IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd), is a pioneer in the fertiliser industry and has been honoured with the title “Fertiliser Man of India.” In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Awasthi talks about the major challenges Indian farmers face and what can be done to address them. He discusses whether India can become self-suff...

Pawan Khera is currently serving as the Chairman of Media and Publicity for the Congress. He previously worked as the political secretary to former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit from 1998 to 2013. Since 2015, Khera has been representing the party in debates and discussions on television channels. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pawan Khera discusses Congress' prospects in...

Sanjay Kumar Jha is a member of the Rajya Sabha and serves as the National Working President of Janata Dal-United. He is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Jha discusses the challenges Bihar is facing, such as unemployment, poverty, literacy rates, migration, and GDP growth. He also r...

Jaideep Ahlawat is a talented Indian actor known for his powerful performances. Born and raised in Rohtak, Haryana, he studied acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He gained early recognition with films like Aakrosh (2010) and Khatta Meetha (2010), but it was Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) that helped him establish a foothold in the Hindi film industry. His big breakthrough came...

Shambhavi Choudhary is the youngest Member of Parliament in the 18th Lok Sabha. At 26 years old, she represents the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) from Samastipur. Her father, Ashok Choudhary, is a JDU leader and a key minister in Nitish Kumar's cabinet. She holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics and graduated from Lady Shri Ram College. She is pursuing a PhD on t...

Dr. Shamika Ravi is a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and a Secretary to the Government of India. Her research focuses on the economics of development, including Finance, Healthcare, Urbanization, Gender Equality, Welfare and Poverty. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Shamika Ravi talks about India’s economic outlook for 2025 and whether the w...

Will the BJP end the schemes run by the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi? What will happen to Mohalla Clinics and free bus rides for women? Will free education for all continue? Is the BJP offering freebies to win power in Delhi? In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Baijayant Jay Panda, BJP National Vice President and MP from Kendrapara, joins us. He has been appointed as the Delhi BJP e...

The ANI Podcast is launching a new format with live audience interaction! In this version of the show, ANI employees and reporters will be part of the audience, asking questions and sharing their thoughts. Hardeep Singh Puri, a seasoned diplomat and the current Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, joins the discussion. He criticizes former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not tackl...