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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Neeraj Pandey's spy universe expands with Special Ops Season 2: ‘The unsung hero is the reason…'
Neeraj Panday has made a career out of spy thrillers, whether it's his films Baby (2015), Naam Shabana (2017), and Aiyaary (2018) or his Jio Hotstar show Special Ops, whose second season premieres on July 11. 'There are such unheard stories in the domain that it naturally becomes a magnet for any storyteller,' said Panday at the trailer launch of Special Ops season 2 in Mumbai on Monday. 'The unsung hero also becomes the primary reason because the missions are covert and under plausible denial. Not many in the audience are aware of these adventures,' he added. 'I didn't think it would become so big when I did season 1. Nobody is so narcissistic to think so. Once season 1 came out, we realised it has a longer life,' said Kay Kay Menon, who plays Himmat Singh, a senior R&AW officer in Special Ops. A post shared by SCREEN (@ieentertainment) In season 2, the show assumes an additional layer of thematic resonance in the form of a cyber threat. Kay Kay admitted, unlike his character, he's far from a tech geek. 'I'm not even in the KG class of anything to do with cyber. I don't know anything about it. To play Himmat Singh, who knows all about it, is quite a task. I'm so bad at tech that if I want to post on social media, I've to ask my team how to do that,' admitted Kay Kay. Tahir Raj Bhasin enters the franchise as the chief antagonist in season 2. 'Joining a franchise is like coming into the hostel as a new entrant. Everyone knows each other. The first few days are tough, but you have to gel and get into the part very quickly,' said Tahir. On his role of a 'business tycoon who runs a tech mafia,' Tahir added, 'I was blown away by how unpredictable, layered, and contemporary he is. He doesn't need muscle. He just has control over data. It opens up several questions about what is intelligence and national security today.' While Tahir is the new entrant, favourites from season 1 return too. Vinay Pathak said he's lucky to have made it to season 2 as Delhi Police officer Abbas, given co-director Shivam Nair had plans to kill his character in season 1 itself. 'Shivam Nair called me before season 1 and asked, 'Abbas ko maar de?' But he's given me a new lease of life. I'm still in the same costume, haven't gotten promoted, and am still riding the same bike across Delhi. I don't mind not getting promoted as long as they keep fuelling my bike and I keep doing Special Ops,' quipped Pathak. Karan Tacker also returns as spy Farooq Ali, who was seen getting abducted in Nepal at the end of Special Ops 1.5. 'Neeraj sir has a typical way of writing the screenplay. There are 3-4 lines and then 'action' written in all caps and with exclamation marks. You feel, 'Achha itna hi hai.' Cut to: You're rehearsing for eight days and shooting for two days for one action piece. That is Neeraj Panday for you,' said Tacker. Watch | Special Ops 2 trailer: India faces UPI data theft threat and Kay Kay Menon is the only one who can save us now Both Tacker and Saiyami Kher said they have a gripe with the makers: they want to share screen space with Kay Kay Menon. 'Unfortunately, wo India mein baith ke boring kaam karte hain aur hum duniya ghoomte hain while he gives instructions on phone. Hopefully, Kay Kay sir comes with us in the next season and we get to work with him on field,' said Kher. She'll return as agent Juhi in season 2, and is glad that she gets to do a lot of action as a female spy. 'For women, there are certain roles which people don't write and you wonder why. But even before Special Ops, what Neeraj sir did with Taapsee Pannu in Baby stood out for me. I hadn't seen anything like that in Indian cinema before. I love doing action. I love beating up guys. That's what women feel like on the inside when guys tease them on the streets. I'm just happy he gave me that opportunity,' said Kher. She claimed that Special Ops season 1 set the tone for her filmography in the last five years. 'After the little action I did in the first season, I've played a cop (Jaat), a firefighter (Agni), a cricketer (Ghoomer). Only a pilot and someone from the Navy is left. I've got to play such fiery women in the last five years, which are rarely written for women. I'm very grateful he had two women agents in season 1,' added Kher.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Time of India
Delay in sending sample to forensic lab, lapses in probe lead to drug peddlers' acquittal in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: Five years after being jailed, two drug peddlers were acquitted on the basis of the benefit of the doubt, with the court observing the investigation officer conducted "a shoddy probe" and failed in handling evidence. Delay in sending the sample of seized narcotics to the forensic lab, non-compliance with procedural requirements and "documentation errors" led to the acquittal of the drug peddlers — Tahir and Mubin — lodged in Bhondsi jail since 2020 for possession and transportation of marijuana. "The arrested individuals were absolved of charges due to doubts cast on the integrity of the procedural adherence during the police operation," the court said. In March 2020, Tahir and Mubin were heading towards Gurgaon in a Maruti Dezire when their car was intercepted by police near Sohna bus stand and police recovered around 28kg of marijuana from the car. A case was registered under the NDPS Act and the duo was sent to jail. Additional session judge Virender Malik, in his order on Monday (June 2), highlighted violations in the compliance of the NDPS Act, which are integral to ensuring legitimate searches and safeguarding personal rights. Counsel for the accused Puneet Sharma argued that the "accused were falsely implicated". Sharma argued that mandatory legal provisions, particularly those relating to search and arrest, were not followed. The notice for search did not properly inform the accused of their right to a magistrate's presence during the search. Pointing to the legal procedural lapses, Sharma said under Section 42 of the NDPS Act, the investigation officer was required to send a report to their superior within 72 hours of taking down information about a drug-related offence. In this case, information was not shared within the stipulated time. He said the notice issued to the accused lacked mention of the right to be searched in the presence of a magistrate, raising questions on compliance. The court observed that discrepancies in recordkeeping, the delay in processing evidence and procedural oversights were substantial enough for the court to consider them non-trivial flaws in the prosecution's claim. The investigating officer's failure to involve independent witnesses during the public operation added to the defence's argument for unreliable evidence. Given the procedural inadequacies and failure of the investigating team to align with statutory obligations under the NDPS Act, the case's outcome leaned unfavourably for the prosecution. The court said, "The delay in sending samples to the laboratory and the lack of an immediate sample seal post-recovery further weakened the prosecution's case." The prosecution presented evidence, including testimony from police officers, the recovered contraband (ganja) and procedural documentation. They argued that due process was followed during the arrest and recovery. The primary prosecution argument was the lawful apprehension of Tahir and Mubin based on credible secret information.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
MD drugs valued at Rs 70L seized, major trafficker arrested
Indore: In a significant crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, Indore police on Monday revealed they arrested a major drug trafficker and seized 76 grams of MD (Mephedrone) drugs with an estimated market value of Rs 70 lakh under 'Operation Eagle Claw'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The accused, identified as Tahir alias Sandy Bala Shah (28), a resident of Aman Nagar in Musakhedi, has a history of MD drug-related offences registered against him at various police stations. Senior police officials said that while patrolling near Ralamandal Road in Tejaji Nagar area, the police team spotted a man walking, who appeared restless upon seeing the police and attempted to flee. With the help of the accompanying force, the suspect was caught. During questioning, he identified himself as Tahir alias Sandy Bala Shah. A subsequent search revealed the 76 grams of MD drugs in his possession. The accused was arrested under Section 8/22 of the NDPS Act, and a case was registered against him at Tejaji Nagar police station. Further interrogation is underway regarding the purchase, sale and transportation of the illegal MD drugs. BOX: Man arrested for trafficking of brown sugar Indore: The Indore Crime Branch team on Monday said that acting on confidential intelligence, they arrested a person involved in the sale and distribution of brown sugar. The Crime Branch team, while checking for suspicious persons near the railway tracks under the MR10 bridge, noticed a person acting suspiciously. Upon seeing the police, the man tried to flee but he was promptly stopped. The accused identified himself as Vishal Pasaya, 30, a resident of North Musakhedi. During preliminary questioning, Pasaya confessed to being a drug addict, who purchased illegal drugs at cheap prices to satisfy his drug needs and then sold them at higher prices to other addicts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police seized 20 grams of illegal brown sugar and one mobile phone from his possession. A case was registered against him under Section 8/21 of the NDPS Act at the Crime Branch Police Station and further legal action is being pursued based on the ongoing investigation.
The Advertiser
29-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Tears and hope as families mourn Bondi stabbing victims
Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close. Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024. Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms. "I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate. Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk. "I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court. "As it is, she exists in the past only." Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally. She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach. "To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said. The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar. Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen. "By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said. "To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero." He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault. A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff. "It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote. No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote. "The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow." Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother. "A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement. His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard. "May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future." Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published. Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly. Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view. The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones. As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words. "Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said. "I'll never forget what I heard today." The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions. Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close. Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024. Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms. "I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate. Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk. "I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court. "As it is, she exists in the past only." Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally. She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach. "To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said. The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar. Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen. "By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said. "To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero." He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault. A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff. "It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote. No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote. "The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow." Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother. "A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement. His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard. "May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future." Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published. Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly. Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view. The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones. As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words. "Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said. "I'll never forget what I heard today." The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions. Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close. Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024. Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms. "I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate. Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk. "I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court. "As it is, she exists in the past only." Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally. She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach. "To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said. The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar. Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen. "By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said. "To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero." He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault. A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff. "It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote. No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote. "The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow." Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother. "A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement. His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard. "May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future." Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published. Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly. Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view. The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones. As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words. "Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said. "I'll never forget what I heard today." The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions. Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close. Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024. Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms. "I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate. Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk. "I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court. "As it is, she exists in the past only." Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally. She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach. "To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said. The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar. Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen. "By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said. "To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero." He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault. A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff. "It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote. No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote. "The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow." Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother. "A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement. His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard. "May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future." Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published. Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly. Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view. The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones. As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words. "Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said. "I'll never forget what I heard today." The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions. Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Faran Tahir won't fade to beige
Faran Tahir isn't here for watered-down representation. The Pakistani-American actor, best known for playing the menacing Raza in Iron Man, is steadily rewriting the Hollywood script for South Asian and Muslim actors, and doing it on his terms. For Tahir, the goal has never been assimilation. It's about owning your identity, and using it as a strength. "Some people see our colour or our faith as weaknesses," he told Jamal Ouazzani on the Saturday installment of the Jins podcast. "But there's another way to look at it. These are your uniqueness. Find the strength in it rather than be dejected by it." In fact, his primary advice to young South Asian and Muslim actors is to learn to say no when you must, and show up when it matters. "We see doctors, cab drivers, storekeepers, people from our part of the world are part of this reality. We need to show our identity and own our identity." And always have the conversation, even if you don't win. "That idea, that concept, it stays. Maybe next time, it lands." "When I started, there weren't too many good roles we could bring our talents to," he recalled. "And there was not enough choice of talent." Rather than accept the one-dimensional parts often thrown his way, Tahir leaned into theatre, where he could tackle complex roles and grow as an artist. "If I could handle verse, do Shakespeare, there was a place for actors like me." His breakout role in Iron Man was a tightrope walk. Playing a villain while being visibly Muslim required nuance. "I wanted to strip away any real allusions to faith. Raza was a mercenary, a soldier of fortune, not a religious zealot," he explained. By adding linguistic and cultural ambiguity, he worked with the production to avoid lazy tropes. "Worldliness was important to me rather than making the character a savage." Still, the grind isn't easy. "Not all work is good work," he said bluntly. Tahir chooses roles that let him sleep at night. "If I can't look at myself in the mirror when I wake up, I shouldn't be doing it." He's found stability through voice acting, television, and theatre, work that gives him the freedom to say no. Hollywood, in Tahir's world, is a global stage. "These colours we bring to stories? They're not invaluable. They are the story."
