Poonam Dhillon, a timeless icon of Indian cinema, began her journey as a model and rose to fame after being crowned second runner-up at Miss India 1977. She debuted at 16 with the blockbuster Trishul, and later went on to act in popular movies like Noorie, Red Rose, and Teri Kasam, she shared the screen with legends such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, and Rishi Kapoor, becoming a beloved figure in Bollywood’s golden era.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Poonam Dhillon takes us through her remarkable career, from her accidental entry into films to navigating the industry’s challenges as a young actress. She shares nostalgic anecdotes about shooting 'Trishul' with Amitabh Bachchan, her bond with co-stars like Farooq Sheikh. She also started the idea of vanity vans with her company, Vanity. Poonam opens up about her personal life, including her early marriage, raising her kids, and balancing work and family.

She also discusses her role as president of CINTAA, where she fights for better pay for small-time actors, and her time with the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. Poonam shares her brief stint in politics with the BJP in 2004 and her work with NGOs for causes like organ donation. With warmth, she talks about her love for theatre and her hope to support new artists.

00:00 – Introduction

03:16 – Working in film Trishul

05:56 – Debut scene with Amitabh Bachchan

07:37 – Why Yash Chopra chose Poonam?

09:18 – Working with Rajesh Khanna

13:31 – Fan crowd for Rajesh Khanna

14:05 – Shooting with Kumar Gaurav

16:03 – Costume designers in the 1980s

20:55 – Working with Rishi Kapoor

23:31 – Do directors go strict on their own kids?

27:30 – Kamal Haasan’s lesson on punctuality

30:28 – Working in television

34:03 – Robbery at home

35:38 – Working for street children

38:25 – Why was Poonam upset with her marriage?

40:48 – Life after divorce

42:00 – Friends’ reaction after divorce

43:35 – Bollywood’s 80s dating & marriage stories

47:53 – Off-screen moments with co-stars

49:29 – Introducing vanity vans

51:52 – Dining at Rishi Kapoor’s home

55:18 – How Yeh Vaada Raha film was pitched

59:36 – 80s heroines avoided abuse

01:01:07 – Handling emotions after shooting

01:04:61 (or 01:05:01) – Managing finances & investment

01:12:58 – Lessons for children

01:15:16 – Working with FCAT & CINTAA

01:23:08 – Joining BJP & social work

01:25:16 – Offered Rajya Sabha seat

In this power-packed episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, filmed in Patna, Bihar, we dive into the heart of Bihar’s political landscape with two key figures:

Samrat Choudhary, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, who kicks off with a defense of Nitish Kumar’s NDA government, crediting it for transforming Bihar with better roads, electricity, and women’s self-help groups generating ₹60,000 crore in business. He tears into Tejashwi Yadav and RJD’s “jungle raj”, calling Lalu Yadav “Gabbar Singh” for fostering fear and corruption, and dismisses Tejashwi as a “representative” of his father’s legacy with no real leadership. Samrat also addresses alliance dynamics, insisting the NDA’s five-party unity under Nitish will crush the opposition in 2025.

Shambhavi Choudhary is one of India’s youngest parliamentarians of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) from Samastipur. She brings youthful energy, fiercely countering Prashant Kishor’s claim that her father “bought” her LJP ticket, calling it a patriarchal attack on her as a Dalit woman MP. She emphasises Bihar’s progress, while praising NDA schemes like Didi Ki Rasoi for empowering rural women. Alltogether, they paint a picture of a resurgent Bihar under NDA, ready to take on Lalu’s dynasty in 2025. Don’t miss this candid and fiery discussion!

*Audio Timestamps:*

00:00 - Segment-I: Samrat Choudhary

00:33 - Do Bihar Trust NDA?

03:09 - NDA to Beat Last Bihar Tally?

04:32 - NDA Seat Sharing: Can BJP Balance All?

06:52 - Samrat's Ideology

10:54 - Samrat on Govt’s Performance

13:40 - Is Bihar Safe Under NDA?

15:15 - Rahul Alleges Match-Fixing in Bihar Polls

16:22 - Nitish’s Health & BJP’s CM Face?

18:57 - Paper leak issue in Bihar

21:05 - Rahul's 'Narendra Surrender' Jibe

23:21 - Govt Performance vs Public Trust

28:30 - Segment-II: Shambhavi Choudhary

29:08 - Prashant Kishor vs Shambhavi Choudhary

35:16 - Chirag’s Seat Remark Sparks Rift?

37:04 - Dalit Quota in Judiciary & Pvt Sector?

39:29 - Rahul's 'Narendra Surrender' Jibe

41:02 - Women’s Safety in Bihar?

45:28 - Advice to Aspiring Girls

50:25 - Empowering Women in Bihar Politics

54:13 - NDA CM Face: Nitish or Chirag?

57:09 - Shambhavi on Nepotism Allegations

Prashant Kishor is a well-known political strategist who has worked with many top leaders, including Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee, and MK Stalin, and with parties across India. He was born in Bihar and is now trying to make a mark in his home state through his own political party, Jan Suraaj. Can Prashant Kishor challenge or end the long-standing political dominance of Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar in Bihar?

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he shares his vision for Bihar and talks about how he plans to bring jobs and stop migration from the state. He also speaks about nepotism in politics and how caste still plays a role in Bihar's politics. He claims that government officers are not listening to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

He also shares his views on Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and the BJP in Bihar.

00:00 - Introduction

00:47 - Political Strategist to Political Leader

03:21 - Dynasty politics

06:47 - Aam Admi Party vs Jan Suraaj

09:03 - Dynastic leaders in PK’s party

09:47 - Caste Based Politics in Bihar

13:01 - PK's caste factor in Bihar Polls

16:26 - Tejashwi's Role in Bihar Politics

17:14 - How is Jan Suraaj different from other parties?

21:49 - People from Bihar in Corporate, Media, Bureaucracy

23:41 - Jan Suraaj's promises to Bihar

33:32 - Bihar's Credit Deposit Ratio

37:13 - Bihar Assembly Polls

40:06 - PM Modi's Madhubani visit

43:31 - Migration & Development in Bihar

46:44 - Digital Media & AI in Politics

48:54 - Rahul Gandhi's ambition in Bihar

49:30 - Revanth Reddy's 'Bihar DNA' remark

51:51 - Is Congress relevant in Bihar?

52:29 - RJD-Congress Alliance

54:23 - Operation Sindoor

Rahul Bose is an actor, director, and writer who has worked in more than 55 films in different languages. He is famous for picking meaningful roles. Movies like Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, The Japanese Wife, and Chameli show how he prefers strong and thoughtful characters.

Rahul is more than just a film personality. He was also a national-level rugby player and is currently the President of Rugby India. He is working hard to grow the sport. For him, rugby is not just a game; it’s a way to teach kids teamwork, discipline, and confidence.

In this episode of The ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rahul talks about his 32 years in the film industry. He clears up some common myths, like the idea that Bollywood is only about glamour and big money.

More about the process behind choosing a film, the debate between theatres and OTT platforms, and whether Bollywood is lacking in content.

Timestamps

00:00 – Coming Up

01:53 – Introduction

03:10 – Story Behind Carrying His Own Chair on Sets

10:45 – Left's Influence in Bollywood

12:21 – Working with Female Directors

16:35 – Experience in South Indian Film Industry

22:35 – Process Behind Choosing a Film

26:45 – Script Improvisation

28:45 – Journey into Rugby

36:50 – Advice on Overcoming Fear

40:50 – Role of Discipline in Sports

43:43 – Rugby: A Costly Sport?

50:10 – Benefits of Playing Rugby

54:30 – Nutrition for Rugby Players

01:02:35 – Rugby vs. Films

01:04:30 – Theatres vs. Films vs. OTT

01:07:58 – Impact of OTT on Storytelling

01:13:32 – Lack of Quality in Bollywood Content?

01:17:30 – Lessons from His Parents

01:25:25 – Rahul Ever Regretted Doing a Film?

01:30:12 – Laapataa Ladies & Thappad

01:39:24 – Upcoming Projects

Tejashwi Yadav is a former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and the de facto chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal. He currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the state. Before entering politics, Tejashwi was a professional cricketer. Today, he is seen as the political heir to Lalu Prasad Yadav's legacy and a key figure in shaping Bihar’s politics.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tejashwi Yadav responds to the 'Jungle Raj' jibe made by opposition leaders, referring to the years when his father and family governed Bihar.

He says nothing has been done in Bihar under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar. He calls the Chief Minister "tired" and claims that corrupt officers are running the government. He also speaks about the caste census, the controversy over his son's name, Prashant Kishor, Chirag Paswan, and the Mahagathbandhan.

*Timestamps*

01:58 – Introduction

02:32 – Welcoming a Second Child

05:30 – BJP vs JDU in Bihar

09:44 – Development in Bihar

12:11 – Criticism of the Media

17:30 – Is Nitish Kumar Unwell?

20:08 – Who’s Really Running the Bihar Sarkar?

24:35 – Can Nitish Return as CM Again?

27:20 – INDIA Bloc’s Bihar Plan

28:50 – Chirag Paswan vs Tejashwi Yadav

30:29 – Tejashwi’s Plan for Bihar Polls

32:00 – Tejashwi’s Son’s Name Row

35:45 – RJD & Congress in Bihar Polls

37:11 – Tej Pratap’s Love Controversy

38:10 – Newcomers in RJD & Bihar Polls

41:51 – Caste Factor in Politics

42:25 – Caste Census

46:20 – Media Colleges in Patna

49:25 – Can Youth Trust Tejashwi?

53:37 – Who’s the BJP’s CM Face in Bihar?

Rajesh Kumar Singh took over as Defence Secretary in the Ministry of Defence in November 2024. He is a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre and has held several key positions in the Government of India.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the Defence Secretary clears the air around the India-Pakistan ceasefire, laying out the full sequence of events and stating that it was Islamabad that begged for a ceasefire. He also talks about Made-in-India weapons and how they turned out to be a game-changer.

Defence Secretary speaks about China’s involvement in backing Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, and highlights the gaps in India’s drone production. He also underlines the importance of reducing the defence procurement timeline from six years to two.

He shares updates on the timeline for AMCA, India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, and addresses the speculation around whether India is planning to buy the American F-35A or the Russian Su-57E.

Introduction – 00:00

Defence Secretary Job Explained – 00:40

India’s Defence Capabilities After Op Sindoor – 02:23

Planning Behind Op Sindoor – 03:50

New Normal After Op Sindoor – 05:50

International Reaction to Op Sindoor – 07:32

Pak’s Support to Terror Groups – 08:42

Impact of Op Sindoor – 10:05

How Pakistan Pleaded for a Ceasefire – 12:30

India’s Drone Strategy – 13:46

Made-in-India Weapons During Op Sindoor – 17:20

India’s Defence Budget & Push for Transparency – 18:47

Solving Delays in Defence Procurement – 23:54

Future of India’s Defence Exports – 26:23

India Buying the F-35A or Su-57E? – 31:20

India’s 5th-Gen Fighter Jet Plans & HAL’s Role – 32:52

Russia as India’s Biggest Defence Supplier – 35:47

MRCA Procurement Process – 37:30

What “Op Sindoor is On” Really Means – 40:25

Pak’s Support from China During Op Sindoor – 43:47

Asim Munir’s Meeting with Donald Trump – 46:07

What Happens in CCS Meetings? – 49:23

Working Relationship with the Three Service Chiefs – 51:09

Chandan Roy was born and brought up in Bihar. He studied mass communication in Patna and Delhi before moving to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. He rose to fame with his role as Vikas in the popular web series Panchayat.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast, Chandan Roy shares what audiences can expect from Panchayat Season 4 and how it will be different from previous seasons. He also talks about his journey into acting and what inspired him to become an actor. Plus, he reveals an untold story about why he changed his name from Chandan Rai to Chandan Roy.

Introduction – 00:00

Panchayat Season 4 – 00:33

What Makes Panchayat Special – 01:55

Story Behind 'Vikas' Accent – 03:23

Actors from Rural India – 05:52

Creative Freedom on Set – 09:41

From Bihar to Delhi to Mumbai – 11:02

Inspiration Behind Name Change – 13:46

Family Reaction to Panchayat – 14:42

Working with Big Stars – 15:39

Local Accent – 17:14

Why He Left Journalism – 18:10

Khan Sir is a well-known teacher from Bihar, famous for his unique and engaging style of teaching, especially on topics related to current affairs. In 2020, he started his YouTube channel, Khan GS Research Centre. His honest and straightforward approach quickly gained popularity, and today, the channel has over 2.5 crore subscribers.

He is admired for providing an affordable and comprehensive learning experience to students preparing for various competitive exams.

In this podcast with Smita Prakash, Khan Sir speaks openly about many important issues. He discusses the Pahalgam attack and India’s Operation Sindoor. He also shares his thoughts on entering politics and gives his views on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Khan Sir talks about the current education system, the unemployment situation in Bihar, and the reasons behind the state’s lack of infrastructure and development. He also speaks about mental health, the rising issue of depression, and how parenting has changed in today’s world.

In a rare personal moment, he opens up about his marriage and addresses the controversy surrounding his wife wearing a ghunghat during the wedding reception.

This is the most honest podcast Khan Sir has ever done.

Timestamps

00:00 – Coming Up

01:22 – Introduction

02:36 – Khan Sir’s Marriage

10:01 – Khan Sir’s Classes

20:40 – Indian Engineers' Motivation

28:38 – Corporate Social Responsibility

37:34 – Love for Bihar

46:59 – AI’s Impact on Education

51:58 – Pahalgam Attack

56:21 – India–Pakistan Ceasefire

1:02:30 – How to get Students’ Attention

1:16:45 – Coaching Trend in Kota

1:24:59 – Language Inferiority Complex

1:26:44 – Snap Reaction Segment

1:57:54 – Bihar’s Challenges

2:06:00 – BPSC Paper Leak

2:09:30 – Agniveer Recruitment

2:16:02 – Views on Nitish Kumar

2:25:28 – Caste Census and NRC