Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan
| Photo Credit: PTI and @balanvidya/Instagram

Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Akshay Kumar. Photo credits: Special arrangement

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest initiative – under ‘Create in India’ – to take Indian cinema and content global at a faster pace and greater scale – has earned praise from industry stalwarts Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. In his last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address to the nation on December 29, PM Modi announced that India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit or WAVES for the first time in February.

Speaking about it in detail, the prime minister said the initiative will be a global platform for Indian creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country’s potential as a hub for world-class content creation.

Talking about the vision for the global entertainment summit, PM Modi explained that it will comparable to global events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Leaders from the media and entertainment industry worldwide will gather for the summit,” he said, adding that content creators, social media influencers, and creative minds from across the globe will be part of the global event too.

“This Summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation,” the prime minister said in his radio address.

The summit will also showcase India’s advancements in the fields of animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and regional as well as mainstream cinema. “Whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming, or an innovator in entertainment technology, I encourage you to be a part of the WAVES Summit,” PM Modi said, opening up the registration for the summit.

This initiative by the prime minister has earned big praise from several industry leaders, including global superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Sharing a video of the event posted on X by PM Modi, Shah Rukh Khan called it “an occasion that champions and fosters creativity.” The actor-producer also said that he looks forward to being a part of it. “It is with great anticipation that I look forward to WAVES – a film and entertainment world summit – to be held in our country itself.”

Mr Khan also wrote that it will be “an occasion that celebrates our industry and acknowledges the role it plays in the Indian economy as well as its strength as a soft power.”

It is with great anticipation that I look forward to WAVES – a film and entertainment world summit – to be held in our country itself. An occasion that celebrates our industry and acknowledges the role it plays in the Indian economy as well as its strength as a soft power… and… https://t.co/QE52Rs11NZ

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 30, 2024

Akshay Kumar also lauded the prime minister for his vision for such a global summit, saying “Now this is Narendra Modi-ji’s vision towards promoting the media and entertainment sector. Quite a wonderful idea. Waves 2025 summit will hopefully be a fabulous global forum to have the entire entertainment industry come and grow together.”

Now this is PM @narendramodi ji’s vision towards promoting the Media & Entertainment sector. Quite a wonderful idea. Waves 2025 summit will hopefully be a fabulous global forum to have the entire entertainment industry come and grow together. https://t.co/IBtadmxjpZ

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 29, 2024

Several other celebrities including Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Ektaa Kapoor also welcomed the initiative.

The 5-day World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 5-9, 2025.
 

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest initiative – under ‘Create in India’ – to take Indian cinema and content global at a faster pace and greater scale – has earned praise from industry stalwarts Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. In 2024’s last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address to the nation on December 29, PM Modi announced that India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit or WAVES for the first time in February.

Speaking about it in detail, the prime minister said the initiative will be a global platform for Indian creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country’s potential as a hub for world-class content creation.

Talking about the vision for the global entertainment summit, PM Modi explained that it will comparable to global events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Leaders from the media and entertainment industry worldwide will gather for the summit,” he said, adding that content creators, social media influencers, and creative minds from across the globe will be part of the global event too.

“This Summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation,” the prime minister said in his radio address.

The summit will also showcase India’s advancements in the fields of animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and regional as well as mainstream cinema. “Whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming, or an innovator in entertainment technology, I encourage you to be a part of the WAVES Summit,” PM Modi said, opening up the registration for the summit.

This initiative by the prime minister has earned big praise from several industry leaders, including global superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Sharing a video of the event posted on X by PM Modi, Shah Rukh Khan called it “an occasion that champions and fosters creativity.” The actor-producer also said that he looks forward to being a part of it. “It is with great anticipation that I look forward to WAVES – a film and entertainment world summit – to be held in our country itself.”

Mr Khan also wrote that it will be “an occasion that celebrates our industry and acknowledges the role it plays in the Indian economy as well as its strength as a soft power.”

It is with great anticipation that I look forward to WAVES – a film and entertainment world summit – to be held in our country itself. An occasion that celebrates our industry and acknowledges the role it plays in the Indian economy as well as its strength as a soft power… and… https://t.co/QE52Rs11NZ

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 30, 2024

Akshay Kumar also lauded the prime minister for his vision for such a global summit, saying “Now this is Narendra Modi-ji’s vision towards promoting the media and entertainment sector. Quite a wonderful idea. Waves 2025 summit will hopefully be a fabulous global forum to have the entire entertainment industry come and grow together.”

Now this is PM @narendramodi ji’s vision towards promoting the Media & Entertainment sector. Quite a wonderful idea. Waves 2025 summit will hopefully be a fabulous global forum to have the entire entertainment industry come and grow together. https://t.co/IBtadmxjpZ

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 29, 2024

Several other celebrities including Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Ektaa Kapoor also welcomed the initiative.

The 5-day World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 5-9, 2025.
 

Former Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Akshay Kumar and Rajkummar Rao are among the early voters in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. The Bollywood celebrities stepped out of their homes early in the day to exercise their fundamental right to vote.

Sachin Tendulkar along with his wife Anjali and daughter Sara cast their vote at a polling booth in Mumbai. The trio showed their inked fingers to the media.

“I have been an icon of the ECI (Election Commission of India) for quite some time now. The message I am giving is to turn up and vote. It is our responsibility. I hope people will take that effort and come and vote. I urge everyone to come and vote.”

#WATCH | Mumbai: After casting his vote, Former Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar says, “I have been an icon of the ECI (Election Commission of India) for quite some time now. The message I am giving is to vote. It is our responsibility. I urge everyone to come out and vote.”… pic.twitter.com/5FPTjA4SSx

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024

Actor Akshay Kumar showed his inked finger after casting his vote for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

While speaking to the media, Akshay Kumar made a clarion call to vote. Lauding the arrangements made at the polling booth, Mr Kumar said, “The arrangements for senior citizens are great. Cleanliness has been maintained. I want everyone to come out and cast their votes.”

#WATCH | Mumbai: Actor Akshay Kumar shows his inked finger after casting his vote for #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024

He says “The arrangements here are very good as I can see that arrangements for senior citizens are very good and cleanliness has been maintained. I want… pic.twitter.com/QXpmDuBKJ7

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024

Rajkummar Rao cast his vote at a polling booth in Gyan Kendra Secondary School, Mumbai. He urged citizens to do the “important” task – vote.

“It is our right in a democracy, so it’s important that we step outside and vote. I have performed my duty. It is your turn now. Please vote,” actor Rajkummar Rao said, while speaking to news agency Press Trust of India.

Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt appealed to her fans to make their votes count. She wrote, “Go vote Mumbai. Go vote Bandra. Your vote matters.” 

Film directors Kabir Khan and Zoya Akhtar, actor Ali Fazal, and filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar too came out early to cast votes and fulfill their duty.

Voting for the single-phase Maharashtra assembly elections began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.

A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents.

New Delhi:

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has joined the initiative to feed monkey population in Ayodhya, the place associated with Lord Ram.

As per the information shared by Akshay’s team, Akshay not only donated Rs 1 crore to feed the monkeys in Ayodhya, the land of Lord Ram, ahead of Diwali but also paid tribute to his parents and his father-in-law, late veteran star Rajesh Khanna by having their names written on the feeding van.

This initiative is spearheaded by the Anjaneya Sewa Trust under the guidance of Jagatguru Swami Raghavacharya Ji Maharaj.

Founder-trustee of Anjaneya Sewa Trust, Priya Gupta, said they will ensure that people are not inconvenienced.

“I have always known Akshay Kumar to be an extremely kind and generous man be it his staff, his crew or co-actors that work with him or each of his family members. He not only donated instantly and generously, but also he dedicated this great sewa in the name of both his parents Hari Om and Aruna Bhatia and his father-in-law Rajesh Khanna. Akshay is not just a generous donor but also an equally socially conscious citizen of India. He was equally concerned about the citizens and city of Ayodhya and thus we will ensure that no citizen gets inconvenienced while we feed the monkeys and there is no littering on the streets of Ayodhya as a result of feeding the monkeys.”

Meanwhile, on the acting front, Akshay will be seen sharing screen space with Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan in ‘Singham Again’, which will hit the theatres this Diwali. The cop drama is directed by Rohit Shetty and also stars Arjun Kapoor and Jackie Shroff.

He also has ‘Housefull 5’, ‘Welcome To the Jungle’ and ‘Bhooth Bangla’ in his kitty.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Actor Akshay Kumar had a ‘non-political’ interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 and says that he will have such a candid talk again if he gets an opportunity.

Akshay Kumar told ANI in an interview that he seeks to make films that make a difference to the society.

“Who wouldn’t want to interview or meet the Prime Minister? I think anybody would want to. If I get a chance, I will also do it,” the actor said when asked if he would get another chance to interview PM Modi.

Answering a query about entering politics, Mr Kumar said he is “not getting into politics at all”.

“Because I am meant to make films at the moment. I don’t know what’s next in life but at the moment, I am just made to make films that make a difference to society, that’s my role of being an Indian.”

Asked about his religious views, Akshay Kumar said, “I’m a Hindu, that’s what my mother and my father taught me and I follow it. I don’t want to impose it on anyone. I played Lord Krishna in ‘OMG Part 1’ as simply as I could imagine my God to be…my lord will be as I see. My grandmother used to do puja, so she used to tell me about Ramayana and Mahabharata. Whatever you see in me is what my grandmother has portrayed to me.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actor will also be seen in the Hindi remake of the Tamil drama ‘Soorarai Pottru’ which is all set to hit the theatres on February 16, 2024.

He also has an action thriller film ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ alongside Tiger Shroff and a comedy film ‘Housefull 5’ in his kitty.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)