logo
4 Indian Cricketers Who Are Playing In MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand, Agni Chopra And...

4 Indian Cricketers Who Are Playing In MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand, Agni Chopra And...

India.com5 days ago

3 / 8
Agni Chopra, who holds the record of being the first cricketer to hit four tons in his first four Ranji Trophy matches while playing for Mizoram, is currently representing MI New York (MINY) in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season.
Agni, son of Bollywood director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who played domestic cricket in India as recently as January 2025, was allowed to participate in MLC 2025 for MI New York due to a special reason.
Interestingly, Agni is not an Indian passport holder despite being Indian. Chopra holds a USA citizenship due to his birth in Detroit. His dream to play in America came true as the BCCI recently amended their policy which stated that players with Indian passports would only be allowed to compete in the domestic tournaments.
Earlier, overseas cricketers (even entire teams, such as those in the Duleep Trophy) had played domestic cricket in India, but they will no longer be allowed to do so.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

DYK This Salman Khan's Co-Star Almost Left Bollywood?
DYK This Salman Khan's Co-Star Almost Left Bollywood?

News18

time28 minutes ago

  • News18

DYK This Salman Khan's Co-Star Almost Left Bollywood?

Last Updated: Born in Jodhpur, Chitrangda Singh did her schooling in Meerut and completed her graduation from Delhi. The Bollywood industry is considered highly competitive as actors often face intense pressure to secure roles, get visibility, navigate the numbers game of the box office and gain critical acclaim. For many, it is seen as cut-throat with newcomers required to prove themselves immediately and maybe encountering difficulties in gaining a second chance. Despite these challenges, an outsider, who made her Bollywood debut in 2005, almost left the industry, said no to intimate scenes and still managed to make a mark for herself in the Hindi film industry. We are talking about Chitrangda Singh. Born in Jodhpur, Chitrangda did her schooling in Meerut and completed her graduation from Delhi. Her journey in showbiz started with modelling and later on, she transitioned into films. Chitrangda made her acting debut in 2005 with the film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, co-starring Kay Kay Menon and Shiney Ahuja. In the same year, she appeared in another thriller film, Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow. After that, there was no looking back for her and she starred in a number of big-budget projects like Desi Boyz, with Akshay Kumar and John Abraham, I Me Aur Main, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3, Bazaar, Khel Khel Mein and others. But did you know there was a time when Chitrangda almost left the film industry after she felt betrayed and cheated? Speaking about stepping away from Kushan Nandy's Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, in one of her interviews, she said that the director compelled her to do intimate scenes. She also mentioned that despite being present on the set, Nawazuddin Siddiqui remained quiet. However, Nandy did not agree. Denying the charges, he stated that Chitrangda had problems with the script. She recently grabbed the audience's attention with her performance in the killer-comedy Housefull 5. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film is a hit and has collected more than Rs 170 crore at the domestic box office. Chitrangda will now be sharing screen space with superstar Salman Khan in the upcoming untitled project, reportedly based on the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020. This marks the actress' first on-screen collaboration with Salman. In the film, Salman will reportedly portray Colonel B. Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, who led Indian troops during the Galwan conflict. First Published:

Fading Echoes: Why Hindi cinema struggles to honour its musical legends on-screen
Fading Echoes: Why Hindi cinema struggles to honour its musical legends on-screen

India Today

time29 minutes ago

  • India Today

Fading Echoes: Why Hindi cinema struggles to honour its musical legends on-screen

Hindi cinema has been a hub for many musical legends since the beginning of motion pictures in India. From KL Saigal, Kanan Devi, Mukesh, to Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi, the Hindi film music scene has witnessed timeless cinema successfully ventured into musical biopics with films such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (2018), 'Rocketman' (2019), 'A Complete Unknown' (2024) and 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' (2025). However, despite celebrating musical icons of the Hindi film industry, Indian filmmakers have not made any official announcements regarding the same so from Bollywood have often expressed interest in exploring the lives of iconic singers and composers. Nevertheless, Hindi film audiences are yet to experience the cinematic depiction of legendary musicians. Why are Indian storytellers not seizing the untapped potential of biopics on Indian music icons? Can Bollywood biopics on Indian musicians and singers resonate with Gen Z in the digital age? delves into the possibilities for musical biopics in Hindi cinema's rich musical legacyThe songs of Kishore Kumar, Rafi, Asha Bhosle have been timeless masterpieces which haven't lost their relevance even after decades. From family functions to college fests, yesteryear's music has aged like fine wine. Be it the remixes or the reels by Gen Z influencers, everyone has raved about the golden musical era of Hindi Bollywood music having a great impact on pop-culture and being a crucial element of India's soft-power, not much has been done to celebrate the legacy of the musicians and singers. Raj Kapoor's classic 'Awaara' remains iconic in Russia. The title track of the film is known to everyone, from the public to the Russian diplomats, indicating the foundation of Indo-Russian ties. Yet we see very less focus on documenting the journeys of Shankar Jaikishan, Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri and have been many reports about the biopic on Kishore Kumar's life, with the names of Ranbir Kapoor and Aamir Khan doing the rounds. However, there has not been any official confirmation regarding the cinematic Ayushmann Khurrana who has also sung for his own films, had also shown his interest in a musical biopic in an interview with India Today. He had said, "I would love to do a biopic on Kishore Kumar. I am a huge fan of his. He was quirky, he was crazy, supremely talented, full of life. It will be very exciting for me to do that. I have been manifesting this for three years. So, let's see if that happens."Actor Akshay Kumar and Producer Bhushan Kumar also came up with the idea of a biopic on the life of the legendary Gulshan Kumar in 2018. However, the film about the late Indian film and music producer also went on a backburner due to alleged creative differences,advertisementIt is understandable that research work on biopics and getting the consent of family and close ones associated with the artists could be a long process. Yet it is imperative to highlight the reasons behind the inability to materialise movie adaptations on music films and shows about revolutionaries, scientists, sports icons, actors and even gangsters could be made, why could stories about music composers and singers not be transcended on the silver-screen?Biopics, an ode to musical legaciesMusical biopics aren't just meant for aesthetic storytelling. Their influence has been felt even though there aren't any official adaptations on musicians so Netflix documentary series 'The Roshans' (2025), based on the three generations of a Bollywood family legacy, is a testament to the charisma of iconic composers. While audiences were overjoyed to see the filmmaking and acting journeys of Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan respectively, they also appreciated the documentation of Rajesh Roshan and Roshan Lal Nagrath's careers in Hindi film being a much-revered name in the Hindi music scene, the late Roshan's contributions weren't much known to the current generation (Gen Z). There was a lack of enough documentation or promotion on his life and career. It took a mainstream actor-director father-son duo to back a show on their family's cinematic the docu-series 'Angry Young Men' (2024) based on the screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar was instrumental in unpacking their life story. Had Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, not taken the intiative to back the project, today's youth would not have known the struggles of an iconic partnership that created classics of Hindi it is also worth noting that not many artists have the privilege or the resources to document or adapt their life on celluloid. In such a scenario, what happens to the musical legacy of these mavericks?Musicians and singers not given importanceWhy have Indian filmmakers not been able to unravel the lives of Hindi film musicians and singers on-screen, despite their rich musical legacy? As Hollywood has paid a musical ode to the artistic contributions of Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Bob Dylan and Elton John, Hindi cinema still awaits biopics on Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, and KL Kumar Sanu, who is credited with recording over 18,000 songs in his musical career spanning four decades, in an exclusive interview with India Today, emphasised how the contributions of playback singers are often overlooked in the Hindi film feels that in the Indian entertainment industry, singers are not given as much importance as they are given in Hollywood. He said, "In Hollywood, singers and actors are given the same amount of respect and importance. In Bollywood, however, singers are not considered as important as actors, even though they truly are.""Every singer listed has helped build the careers of many, but because the audience only sees the actor on screen, they often overlook the contributions of singers," the singer went also mentioned the possible perception regarding biopics on music legends not being profitable to producers. He further said, "Maybe Bollywood thinks it wouldn't be profitable to make biopics about these legends, but people would, and definitely should, watch them."Music has also been regarded as the USP of Hindi cinema. Yet not much has been documented about yesteryear composers and singers. Sanu, while reflecting on the lack of awareness about Hindi music legends, said, "The music industry used to be very underrated. Back then, they didn't have social media platforms, so all the fame and admiration artists received was natural and purely talent-based."advertisement"Today's generation mostly talks about what they see on their phones. There should be more awareness, but that has to be initiated by the industry and, unfortunately, they don't prioritise that," he no films were made about Indian music icons at par with Hollywood, how would the country's youth resonate with them? How can a cinematic depiction of Bollywood's musical legacy influence the present generation?Sanu, known for his reigning aura and fame in 90's Bollywood, reflected on how the struggles of yesteryear's composers and singers could be an inspiring success story for the 'Aashiqui' (1990) singer, whose father Pashupati Bhattacharya was a music teacher, highlighted how today's generation could connect with artists from humble beginnings, creating exceptional said, "The most powerful thing that any generation can connect with in the stories of music icons is their struggle and passion. Not everyone is privileged.""Seeing how someone like RD Burman made music out of everyday objects, or how composers created songs anywhere, anytime, even without instruments, can be deeply inspiring. Just because someone doesn't have the tools doesn't mean they're not good enough," the singer Bagchi, who dons many hats of a composer, singer, lyricist and music producer, in an exclusive interaction with India Today, linked the relevance of musical biopics in influencing born to musician parents Nand Kumar Bagchi and Sharmistha Dash, said, "As someone who lives and breathes music, I believe musical biopics on legends like Kishore da, Rafi sahab, or Lata ji aren't just nostalgia, they're masterclasses in emotion, resilience, and timeless artistry. For aspiring musicians, they show that it's not just about talent, but truth in every note."Potential of musical biopics as soft-powerThe music maestros of Bollywood have not just brought creative innovations to the music scene but also celebrated India's cultural legacy. Songs based on ancient ragas and collaboration with classical instruments like Sitar, Sarod, Veena, Shehnai, Tabla, etc. add up to the novelty of the golden period of Hindi film devotional prayers, to folk music and jazz, hip-hop as well as songs about family bonds, multiculturalism, humanity and art, Indian musicians and singers have time and again proved their artistic finesse. Why can't India's iconic music be used as its soft-power, especially when every country pushes its artistic legacy in the digitally global age? Do we lack zeal and ability to promote our artists at par with K-Pop?Musical biopics are not mere cinematic adaptations to create sensation or add commercial value. It's also about honouring the musicians and singers who struggled through adversities to create world-class music. To honour the composers, singers and lyricists, aspiring filmmakers also need a better understanding of their such as 'A Complete Unknown' (2024) or the upcoming Springsteen biopic resonate with the youth due to their depiction of the real-life challenges of musicians. The humane side of Dylan or Springsteen universally connects with audiences across language and cultural barriers. Hindi film music that has touched billions with its magic, can also amicably strike a chord with global audiences through musical there is a lot of awareness related to filmmaking, the importance of music often gets neglected. Audiences and the entertainment industry will give more prominence to musical legends after a deeper understanding of the collaborative efforts. With inquisitive audiences who seek digital technology not just for entertainment but seeking knowledge and wisdom, there couldn't be a better time to explore the lives of Bollywood composers and effective use of modern-day storytelling can definitely pave the way for promising musical biopics in the Reel

Neeraj Chopra beats Germany's Weber to win Paris Diamond League title
Neeraj Chopra beats Germany's Weber to win Paris Diamond League title

Business Standard

time36 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Neeraj Chopra beats Germany's Weber to win Paris Diamond League title

Indian javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra won his first Diamond League title in two years as he upstaged Julian Weber of Germany after back-to-back second place finishes here on Friday. The 27-year-old Chopra won the title with his first round throw of 88.16m in a star-studded field having five competitors in the 90m club. His second throw measured 85.10m and he then fouled his next three attempts before recording 82.89m in his sixth and final effort. Weber was second with his opening throw of 87.88m, while Luiz Mauricio Da Silva of Brazil was third with his third round attempt of 86.62m. Chopra had breached the 90m mark in the Doha leg of the Diamond League on May 16 with a throw of 90.23m for a second place finish. Weber had won the title in Doha with his last round throw of 91.06m. The 31-year-old Weber had also beaten Chopra at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on May 23 in Poland where both performed below their best under chilly and overcast conditions. Weber had produced 86.12m while Chopra could only come up 84.14m to finish second. Chopra had won his last DL title in Lausanne in June 2023 with a throw of 87.66m. Since then till Friday, he has finished second in six DL meetings. This was Chopra's first win in the Paris leg of the prestigious DL series. He last competed in the Paris DL in 2017 as a junior world champion and finished fifth with a throw of 84.67m. The two-time Olympic medallist Indian began the 2025 season with a title in an invitational meet at Potchefstroom, South Africa, which was a minor -- category F -- event with a throw of 84.52m. On June 24, Chopra will compete at the Golden Spike athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic. After that, the reigning world champion will feature in the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5 in Bengaluru, a World Athletics category A event which he is hosting.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store