ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Rani Mukerji is one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed and versatile actors, renowned for her powerful performances in films such as Black, Mardaani, and Hichki. With a career spanning nearly three decades, she has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and continues to remain a beloved star among audiences. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rani speaks candidly, on her very first podcast, about her journey in cinema, winning a National Award for the first time, and her long-standing friendship with Shah Rukh Khan. She also shares her views on the recent debate around 8-hour work shifts in the film industry and explains why she prefers to stay away from the media and paparazzi. Beyond her on-screen life, Rani opens up about balancing family and career, and what continues to inspire her as an actor today. 00:00 – Introduction 01:20 – Winning the National Film Award 05:15 – Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway Story 07:31 – Challenges Faced by Immigrants 09:08 – Preparing for a Character 10:26 – Rani & Karan’s Kids Watched the Ceremony 11:43 – Wedding Pictures & Privacy 15:49 – Actresses and Their Private Lives 18:40 – First Screen Test & Mom’s Reaction 20:20 – Role in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 21:36 – Backlash over Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna 26:50 – Handling Setbacks After Success 28:54 – Reinventing Herself 32:14 – Creative Process During Hichki 36:00 – Pausing Career for Her Daughter 38:33 – Durga Puja Celebrations 41:26 – Competition With Kajol? 45:15 – Bringing Indian Women to the Forefront 48:37 – Husband’s Support for Hichki 51:29 – Deepika’s 8-Hour Shift Demand 54:19 – Films Better Planned Today? 55:57 – Who Shah Rukh Khan Gels With Better 56:41 – Winning National Award After 30 Years 58:06 – Directors Who Bring Out the Best in Her 1:04:04 – Will Rani Mukerji Direct a Film? 1:05:42 – Upcoming Projects 1:07:38 – A Message for All Women

Dr. Ramakanta Panda is a renowned cardiac surgeon and Chairman of the Asian Heart Institute, a leading cardiac care hospital in Mumbai. He has performed over 30,000 successful cardiac surgeries. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010, Dr. Panda has operated on several top Indian leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tarun Gogoi. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr Panda discusses the rising cases of heart attacks among young people. He addresses whether the COVID-19 vaccine is linked to heart attacks. Dr. Panda also highlights how lifestyle changes are driving the rise of heart disease in India. He emphasises that diet, exercise and daily habits play a crucial role in preventing heart problems. Dr Panda also shares how he stays calm and focused while performing high-risk surgeries. 00:00 – Introduction 00:46 – Lifestyle Factor Behind Heart Attacks 11:29 – COVID Vaccine and Heart Attack Link 14:49 – Late-Night Habits & Heart Health 21:46 – VIP Patients & High-Risk Surgeries 25:39 – Health Insurance & Financial Security 30:54 – Sugar & Processed Food 36:22 – Heart Risk from Smoking & Alcohol 40:41 – Veg Diet vs Non-Veg Diet 52:04 – Akshay Kumar Fitness Routine 59:53 – Surgery of Dr. Manmohan Singh 1:01:56 – Emotional Stress & Heart Attack Awareness 1:07:52 – Misconceptions About Heart Health 1:13:16 – Heart Attack Symptoms 1:17:02 – Self-Medication and AI Tools

Sardar Tarlochan Singh is a former Rajya Sabha member and ex-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities. He has spent his life fighting for Sikh causes, human rights, and keeping the Punjabi language alive, while promoting Sikhism around the world. At 92, Tarlochan Singh has seen it all, from India’s Partition to the rise of India as a major power in South Asia. In Part 2 of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tarlochan Singh talks about Rajiv Gandhi’s Cold War with President Giani Zail Singh and the Bofors scandal. He also shares how Operation Blue Star changed India, and speaks on Hindu-Sikh unity, the farmers’ protest, Punjab’s drug crisis, and the role of the Sikh diaspora in shaping politics today. 00:00 - Coming Up 01:55 - Introduction 03:13 - Bofors Scandal Stories 17:57 - Sikh Diaspora After Rajiv’s Assassination 19:14 - Sikh-Hindu Unity 19:56 - Attempts to Break Sikh-Hindu Unity 24:06 - BJP & Akali Alliance 27:24 - Farmers’ Protest 36:42 - Punjab Unemployment Fuels Drug Crisis 38:00 - How Vajpayee Valued Punjab & Sikhs 42:21 - Dr. Manmohan Singh Beyond Sikh Identity 49:01 - Parkash Singh Badal’s Political Legacy and Life 54:53 - Partap Singh Kairon and Indira Gandhi 59:00 - Role of Sikhs in Modern Delhi 1:04:06 - Khushwant Singh’s Contribution to Sikhs 1:29:10 - Message to Young Sikhs in India & Abroad

Cyrus Broacha is a comedian, political satirist, podcaster, and author. He is best known for MTV India’s Bakra and his popular satirical show The Week That Wasn’t, which ran on television for over 17 years. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Cyrus shares behind-the-scenes stories from The Week That Wasn’t and MTV Bakra, along with his experience on Bigg Boss. He also talks about sitcoms and reality shows, the Parsis of Bombay, and opens up about crushes, colleagues, marriage, food, and Mumbai’s lifestyle. 00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Bombay Hindi vs. Delhi Hindi 05:29 – Animal Love Paradox in India 08:57 – Bigg Boss Experience 15:16 – The Secret of Lean Celebrities 18:21 – BTS of ‘The Week That Wasn't’ & ‘MTV Bakra’ 24:51 – Gen Z & Tech Distractions 28:52 – Indian Politics & Freebies Culture 34:46 – Friendship with Kunal Vijayakar 42:06 – Arnab Goswami & Pak Cricketers 51:03 – Sitcoms & Indian Reality Shows 55:40 – Parsis of Bombay 1:02:20 – Crushes, Colleagues & Marriage 1:10:26 – Food & Mumbai’s Lifestyle 1:21:49 – Parenting & Podcasting

Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma is the titular King of Tripura and the founder of the Tipra Motha Party. His party runs the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and is also an ally of the BJP at the state level, making him one of the key voices from the Northeast. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pradyot talks about infiltration from Bangladesh, his demand for a separate state called Greater Tipraland, and why he feels the Northeast is facing a crisis of identity. He also explains why he wants a “Bihar-style SIR” in Tripura, slams vote bank politics, and raises concerns about the rights of indigenous people. Pradyot looks back at Tripura’s merger with India, the legacy of his royal family, and his own journey from student politics to leading a regional party. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:23 – Delay in the Tiprasa Accord 06:10 – Demand for SIR in the Northeast 13:52 – The Untold Story of Tripura’s Merger after Partition 18:28 – Refugee Influx in Tripura 32:43 – Local Identity vs. National Identity 38:31 – NRC and the Demand for Greater Tipraland 46:45 – Tribal Identity & Youth Aspirations in Tripura 54:20 – Tripura Royal Family & Entering Politics 1:00:24 – Snap Reaction Segment 1:24:35 – Movies, Mimicry & Languages 1:30:08 – Message to the Youth