The United States mourned the 1st anniversary of the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots on Thursday.&nbsp;

Videos from January 6, 2021, show the violence committed in the former president's name. There are videos showing attackers beating security officers with iron bars and clubs, and a policeman is crushed and howling in pain in a doorway.

A crowd of protesters clad in assault gear call for the vice president Mike Pence to be hanged, while Democratic and Republican legislators flee. During the riot, a woman was also shot in the Capitol hall and killed.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-retaliates-against-bidens-capitol-riot-anniversary-speech-calls-it-political-theatre-442812">Trump retaliates against Biden's Capitol riot anniversary speech, calls it 'political theatre'</a>

America was stunned by the hours-long assault, and so was much of the world that was used to seeing the United States as a model of stable democracy.

However, there was one man who had predicted this "insurrection" weeks in advance. A&nbsp;political analyst from Jerusalem had predicted the riots two weeks before they happened. Extremism analyst, Arieh Kovler had predicted that armed militias would try to storm the Capitol in January.&nbsp;

Kovler had made this prediction on Twitter.&nbsp;

In his tweet, he wrote "On January 6, armed Trumpist militias will be rallying in DC, at Trump's orders. It's highly likely that they'll try to storm the Capitol after it certifies Joe Biden's win. I don't think this has sunk in yet."

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On January 6, armed Trumpist militias will be rallying in DC, at Trump's orders. It's highly likely that they'll try to storm the Capitol after it certifies Joe Biden's win. I don't think this has sunk in yet.
— Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) <a href="https://twitter.com/ariehkovler/status/1341016471795843080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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WION's correspondent Jodie Cohen&nbsp;had an exclusive conversation with the author of this tweet. We asked Kovler to explain how he foresaw the Capitol insurrection.&nbsp;

According to him, the prediction was based on his observation of events from before December 2020. He said that there was a huge number of Trump supporters, Republicans who thought there was zero chance they could lose.&nbsp;

"Whenever they saw any evidence that Joe Biden was in the lead, a poll...any kind of research they just didn't believe it. They said it was all fake and of course, they were supported in this by Trump, who's telling them the whole country is on their side, and that they're going to win 40 states. As elections came closer and closer they became more sure and so on the day of the election when it became within a day or two pretty clear that Joe Biden had won and had won a decent number of electoral seats, they didn't change that view."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-his-speech-on-the-anniversary-of-capitol-riots-biden-deems-trump-as-a-defeated-former-president-442730" hreflang="en">In his speech on the anniversary of Capitol riots, Biden deems Trump as a 'defeated former President'</a>

Interestingly, Donald Trump echoed the same sentiment, telling his most devoted supporters that he was still going to win, and he would prove it any day now. His followers believed he had a plan and that he would return to the office any day now, proving the election was a fraud.&nbsp;

"And as time went on the last possible day they could carry on believing that was the day Congress would confirm Joe Biden was the winner, January 6th. Then when Trump himself took to Twitter about three weeks before Jan 6 and said come to Washington DC for a big rally, it was pretty clear to me that it's only gonna go one way," explains Kovler.

&nbsp;"All of these people...thousands...tens of thousands..you could see them beginning to organise...carpool...take time off of work...were gonna come to Washington DC, thinking they're gonna see Trump's victory. And when they realised that's not gonna happen, they were gonna be really angry," he concluded.

Watch |&nbsp;Political analysts from Jerusalem had predicted the Capitol riots two weeks before they happened

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During his speech on the "insurrection's" anniversary, President Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump for his "lies" and attempt to discredit the results of the 2020 election, and vowed not to let anyone put a "dagger at the throat of democracy."&nbsp;

In a ceremony commemorating the tragedy, members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, paid tribute to police officers and officials who defended the US Capitol during a deadly attack by supporters of the former president.

The United States mourned the 1st anniversary of the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots on Thursday. Videos from January 6, 2021, show the violence committed in the former president's name.

The United States mourned the 1st anniversary of the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots on Thursday. Videos from January 6, 2021, show the violence committed in the former president's name. There are videos showing attackers beating security officers with iron bars and clubs, and a policeman is crushed and howling in pain in a doorway. A crowd of protesters clad in assault gear call for the vice president Mike Pence to be hanged, while Democratic and Republican legislators flee. During the riot, a woman was also shot in the Capitol hall and killed. Also read | Trump retaliates against Biden's Capitol riot anniversary speech, calls it 'political theatre' America was stunned by the hours-long assault, and so was much of the world that was used to seeing the United States as a model of stable democracy. However, there was one man who had predicted this "insurrection" weeks in advance. A political analyst from Jerusalem had predicted the riots two weeks before they happened. Extremism analyst, Arieh Kovler had predicted that armed militias would try to storm the Capitol in January. Kovler had made this prediction on Twitter. In his tweet, he wrote "On January 6, armed Trumpist militias will be rallying in DC, at Trump's orders. It's highly likely that they'll try to storm the Capitol after it certifies Joe Biden's win. I don't think this has sunk in yet." On January 6, armed Trumpist militias will be rallying in DC, at Trump's orders. It's highly likely that they'll try to storm the Capitol after it certifies Joe Biden's win. I don't think this has sunk in yet. — Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) December 21, 2020 × WION's correspondent Jodie Cohen had an exclusive conversation with the author of this tweet. We asked Kovler to explain how he foresaw the Capitol insurrection. According to him, the prediction was based on his observation of events from before December 2020. He said that there was a huge number of Trump supporters, Republicans who thought there was zero chance they could lose. "Whenever they saw any evidence that Joe Biden was in the lead, a poll...any kind of research they just didn't believe it. They said it was all fake and of course, they were supported in this by Trump, who's telling them the whole country is on their side, and that they're going to win 40 states. As elections came closer and closer they became more sure and so on the day of the election when it became within a day or two pretty clear that Joe Biden had won and had won a decent number of electoral seats, they didn't change that view." Also read | In his speech on the anniversary of Capitol riots, Biden deems Trump as a 'defeated former President' Interestingly, Donald Trump echoed the same sentiment, telling his most devoted supporters that he was still going to win, and he would prove it any day now. His followers believed he had a plan and that he would return to the office any day now, proving the election was a fraud. "And as time went on the last possible day they could carry on believing that was the day Congress would confirm Joe Biden was the winner, January 6th. Then when Trump himself took to Twitter about three weeks before Jan 6 and said come to Washington DC for a big rally, it was pretty clear to me that it's only gonna go one way," explains Kovler. "All of these people...thousands...tens of thousands..you could see them beginning to organise...carpool...take time off of work...were gonna come to Washington DC, thinking they're gonna see Trump's victory. And when they realised that's not gonna happen, they were gonna be really angry," he concluded. Watch | Political analysts from Jerusalem had predicted the Capitol riots two weeks before they happened During his speech on the "insurrection's" anniversary, President Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump for his "lies" and attempt to discredit the results of the 2020 election, and vowed not to let anyone put a "dagger at the throat of democracy." In a ceremony commemorating the tragedy, members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, paid tribute to police officers and officials who defended the US Capitol during a deadly attack by supporters of the former president.

Exclusive: Jerusalem extremism analyst who predicted Jan 6 riots talks to WION

Belarus envoy to India Andrei Rzheussky has dismissed allegations of his country pushing migrants to Poland, Lithuania saying "we did not provoke this crisis". The migrant crisis at the border between Belarus on one side and Poland and 3 Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia on the other side has seen influx of thousands of migrants, most from countries like Iraq. The development has further worsened the already tensed ties between Minsk and its western Neighbours.

Belarus envoy Rzheussky dismisses his country pushing migrants into EU

British spy thriller series ‘Alex Rider’ is back with the second season as it takes forward the story of a teenage spy recruited by a subdivision of MI6 to infiltrate places that they are unable to in order to subvert damage to the security of the nation.

British spy thriller series ‘Alex Rider’ is back with the second season as it takes forward the story of a teenage spy recruited by a subdivision of MI6 to infiltrate places that they are unable to in order to subvert damage to the security of the nation. Based on the novel series of the same name by Anthony Horowitz, the new season of Alex Rider has been receiving an outpour of love, much like when it debuted in 2020. WION exclusively got talking to British-Indian actor Charithra Chandran who plays the role of Sabina Pleasance, an addition to the cast of Alex Rider in season 2. Her Sabina is a confident teen on the show who plays an important part in Alex’s life. In addition to this, Charithra will also be seen in Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ season 2 as Edwina. Tracking her journey from 'Alex Rider' to 'Bridgerton', British-Indian actress Charithra Chandran spoke about brown skin representation in the world cinema, getting to do what she loves and being raised in a house full of doctors. Here are the excerpts from the conversation: WION: So, I happen to have seen a snippet of season 2 of Alex Rider and I must say it looks amazing. What can you tell me about this exciting journey of yours into the spy world? Charithra Chandran: I play Sabina, who's a notable character in the book series and she is on a holiday with her dad when she meets Alex and she kind of gets caught up in that world. I think what Sabina represents to Alex is his normal life, his non-spy life. As we know, kind of the crux, internally for Alex is the push and pull of the spy life and his normal life. Sabina very much represents the normal side of his life. WION: So, you're not becoming a spy anytime soon. Is it? Charithra Chandran: Oh, maybe you know, that's what happens later on…but right now, yeah, she's kind of like your girl next door. She's very sort of grounded and practical. WION: Not many would be aware but you recently graduated from Oxford and then took up a corporate job. From there to showbiz, how would you like to sum up this eventful one year or so ever since you passed out of college, got a job and then made a switch for an acting career? Charithra Chandran: It’s a really good question. It has both been a whirlwind, but it's also felt very natural. So, you know, there’ll be moments where I sort of catch myself and go, ‘Oh my God, I'm living my dream. I'm having the best time of my life’. But most of the time, it just feels natural. It's like, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing…what I've always meant to be doing. So just very, very natural. WION: Can you say that you love the camera? Charithra Chandran: I love acting and I love performing in general. I'm very lucky to have been able to do two amazing projects so early on in my career. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alex Rider (@alexridertv) × WION: And we're very excited to see you on both the shows. In fact, I would like to understand since both the shows – Bridgerton and Alex Rider are worlds apart and your characters on both are starkly in contrast to one another, how did you manage to tune in and out of one character for another? Charithra Chandran: The first thing is, and this is regardless of how many things you're doing, I think preparation is key. You've got to be prepared. You need to know your lines. You need to know the content of all the scripts and if you start from a place where you're fully prepared, then it's very easy to transition from one to the other. Secondly, for me, how I get into character is through the costume, hair, and makeup. I find things that I identify with the character. So, on Alex Rider, it was Sabina’s jewellery. On Bridgeton, it was Edwina’s hair. And as soon as that is kind of in place, I can get lost in the character. WION: Very early on in your acting career, you’ve got a chance to work with some of the most prolific actors, names that have a long list of films/shows to their credit. Was there anything on set that you learned or picked up from them? Charithra Chandran: I feel I’m very lucky that in both the shows that I'm in, a lot of the actors have strong theater backgrounds. That training is quite notable when people have that kind of background and it reflects in the way that they operate and approach a script. But ultimately, what I learned from all the amazing actors that I've worked with is that you just need to be prepared. If you know your lines, then you can forget about them in a way and just have a play and be fully reactive and that's where the magic and the spark happens. Also read: Exclusive: Deepak Reddy to WION on his film qualifying for Oscars 2022 WION: What have been your biggest learnings in the last past one year since you joined showbiz? Charithra Chandran: Generally what this has taught me is sometimes you need to bet on yourself, and you need to take a risk. Abandoning a very prestigious and more stable career path in pursuit of my dreams is a big risk, especially with two traditionally academic Indian parents. But it has been the most rewarding experience in my life. I've never been happier. Like, sometimes I have pinch me moments where I can't believe that this is what I get to do every day. So yeah, what I would say is that sometimes you just have to take the risk, because you regret the things you don't do way more than the things that you do. WION: Since you mentioned having been raised by Indian parents and a traditional Indian setup, how do they react to all the fame? Charithra Chandran: They don't care. They're very proud of me. They're excited and happy to see what's happening but they are doctors and their job is significantly more high pressure and important than mine. It's more important to save lives. So, they're proud but they're not affected by it (fame) in any way. WION: We cannot not talk about your Bridgerton role. What can you tell us about Edwina? Charithra Chandran: Edwina Sharma is full of surprises. She epitomises the saying ‘don't judge a book by its cover’. I would say that she's full of surprises and she goes on a huge journey throughout the season. WION: You play younger sister to Simone Ashley's character in Bridgerton season 2, who is the romantic lead on the show. How does it feel to share the screen with someone from a similar origin since you both are of South Asian descent. How does it feel for South Asian origin actors to lead UK/US shows and what does it do for brown representation? Charithra Chandran: I think it's an immense privilege to be able to act with other South Asian actors. I have never taken it for granted. And I am so excited for all the little brown girls and young women to see the both of us on screen. I hope that I can serve as sort of a role model and inspire other South Asian girls to pursue their dreams. WION: Was there something that you and Simone really connected on the set apart from the show? Charithra Chandran: What we connected on was coming into the second season (of Bridgerton), this big hit show, which ended up being so well established. We were both newbies on set, and that's a lot like how our characters feel in the season. So, it kind of was an easy way for us to also connect with our characters. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix) × WION: Do you watch Indian cinema? Do you watch Bollywood? If yes, can you mention anything you’ve seen recently and really liked? Charithra Chandran: I love Bollywood films and music. To be fair, I have not seen anything recently but my favorite male actors are probably Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan and out of the female actors, it has to be Vidya Ballan, Kajol, and Rani Mukherjee. Also read: Top 5 Most Viral Food Trends of 2021: The Year That Was Yearender 2021: Clutter-breaking Indian films/shows that dominated OTT space Alex Rider is currently streaming on SonyLIV. Bridgerton season 2 will release on Netflix in 2022.

Exclusive! From Alex Rider to Bridgerton, Charithra Chandran on doing what she loves, acting

The morning after Diwali—same day his hybrid-release movie ‘Red Notice’ released in theatres in some parts of the world—a very handsome Ryan Reynolds sat down for an exclusive, invite-only press conference with the Asian media--which WION was a part of--where he talked about movies and money, humour and heists, and, of course, his co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot from their latest heist offering, 'Red Notice'.

The morning after Diwali—same day his hybrid-release movie ‘Red Notice’ released in theatres in some parts of the world—a very handsome Ryan Reynolds sat down for an exclusive, invite-only press conference with the Asian media--which WION was a part of--where he talked about movies and money, humour and heists, and, of course, his co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot from their latest heist offering, 'Red Notice'. In the film, Ryan Reynolds plays a thief; a conman. When a Korean journalist asked him as to how one prepares for a role like that? He simply answered, "When you work in show business in Hollywood, most of what you're doing or most of the people you're around is some kind of con job." “What the platform really wanted to put together here was they wanted Dwayne, Gal and I to have a kind of off screen friendship and camaraderie that is, you know, the exact same thing you're seeing on screen. They want, that's what they were paying for. They wanted that on the big screen and they wanted that to transfer over to 'Red Notice' and be a part of the DNA and fabric of the storytelling. And that's what we were excited to give them. So you know, when if you come to dinner with Dwayne and I, you will see we quite literally talk to each other the way, the way we talk to each other in Red Notice. And it's pretty funny to be around, and it's just kind of the way it's always been for us. So putting up that on the screen was a real pleasure,” Ryan Reynolds told WION exclusively when asked about what prompted him to take up this globe-trotting heist movie. Also read: ‘Red Notice’ review: All for the star power of Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot & Ryan Reynolds “I was most interested in working with my friends, with my pals. I love the fact that I got to just show. I didn't have a lot of.. A lot of the movies I do, I produce and I'm writing on, and there's a lot more responsibility. This one, I got to just kind of jump in the sandbox with some friends. I've known for a long time and have fun. And it's not every day that you get to do that. And sometimes you forget this job is fun, and I never forgot it for a second on the set of 'Red Notice', it was really special,” he added further. When an Indian outlet asked about that one movie of his that he would like to make in Bollywood, Reynolds had this to say, “Oh, boy, I don't know, I don't know if I would pick any one Bollywood film, but I do think that there's something that Bollywood films have that, you know, Hollywood could certainly use more of. And I think that Bollywood is really adept at infusing joy. I mean, real joy into the work. And that's something that, you know, I meant it when, I mentioned it when 'Free Guy' came out that, you know, there are elements that 'Free Guy' was borrowing from Bollywood. And really, that was joy. And, you know, the last several years, certainly over here in North America, have been really challenging for so many people, for so many different reasons. And I wanted to make Free Guy. I produced it. I wrote on it. I started and I nurtured it. I love it. I wanted to make it an antidote to those feelings. I wanted it to feel like joy. And so much of what Bollywood puts up on the screen is infused with that in a very organic and very natural way.” “Free Guy would be a very good one to adapt for Bollywood! I would say 'Deadpool', though, would be a little bit more, a little bit more fun. I think it'd be easier, easier for 'Deadpool' to embrace the Bollywood culture. You know, Guy in Free Guy is an NPC, he's a non playable character. He exists only in the digital world. But 'Deadpool', you know, real flesh and blood. So that would be I think it would be 'Deadpool',” he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot) × As humour was integral to ‘Red Notice’, an entertainment website asked whether he had improvised his own jokes. To which, Reynolds said, “I improvised a lot of the jokes, yeah. I mean, that's kind of my job. You know, I think it's a little bit of a stretch to say improv or improvise because I write a lot of the jokes, you know, I write eight or nine options for each joke and I leave it to the editor and the director just to decide which ones they feel are suitable for the movie. So I like to give them a whole bunch of options. So yeah, a lot of those little things are just throwaway. You know, you don't even think about them in the moment. Even right now, I don't even know what joke you're talking about. I can imagine I made a hair joke or two about Dwayne's beautiful “baldy-locks”. But yeah, I don't know.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot) × 'Red Notice' streams on Netflix from November 12.

Exclusive: Ryan Reynolds- 'Red Notice' wanted Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and my friendship to be seen on screen

He is, in the true sense of the word, a self-made superstar. What started purely by&nbsp;fluke ended up being a mammoth digital revolution in India:&nbsp;Bhuvan Bam's much loved 'BB Ki Vines'. No, he doesn't want to wait for a comedy special to land on his lap or an OTT executive to take notice of his talent. "We can't wait for any platform to give us an opportunity to create something, we can do it on our own," Bhuvan&nbsp;tells WION in an exclusive interview from his Mumbai den.&nbsp;

Now off to a stupendous start--Bhuvan Bam is the first Indian digital content creator to launch his independent web series, 'Dhindora'--the young content-creating&nbsp;star shares how he has worked 16 hours a day to get each of his 10 characters right, why he would have never taken his firstborn (series) to an OTT platform, and explains that although life has been tough the last few months, yet, he firmly believes in the saying that the show must go on: for the people involved with&nbsp;his work, and for his own sake.&nbsp;

Edited and condensed excerpts from our conversation with the digital star:&nbsp;

WION: First of all, congrats on ‘Dhindora’. I have watched the first four episodes and it is hilarious. So, you are the first content creator to come up with his own web series where you are the heart and soul of it. Tell us what prompted you to take up this project? What was the thought behind this? Tell us everything about ‘Dhindora’.

 
BB: It came from a thought that what if I take these characters out of the room (referring to his YouTube skit, ‘BB Ki Vines’) that I've been shooting for the past five years. What if I show people that now they can see those characters from head-to-toe, and you can see them move, see their legs and you can see them like you see actors in any other movie or a series. So, that's where ‘Dhindora’ idea popped in. There was a story we had in mind and then we started writing it. ‘Dhindora’ was a movie earlier. But then we decided to make it episodic because that's what OTT platforms are doing right now. Eventually, we decided to keep it on YouTube for people to watch. And, that’s the back story of ‘Dhindora’ in a nutshell (chuckles!)

<img alt="Bhuvan Bam plays 10 roles in 'Dhindora'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9fc71265-e0e2-4711-928b-293a49d83fa1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2%20dhindora.jpg" /> 
WION: So you mentioned OTT platforms, and that’s my follow up question. You have no backing from say a Netflix or an Amazon Prime and you are all on your own. How easy or difficult was it for you to create ‘Dhindora’ all by yourself? What are the challenges you&nbsp;faced along the way? Or, how do you think you are at an advantage by doing this on your own without the backing of any OTT giant?

 
BB: I mean, really, we knew that we had to do this on YouTube. We could have have taken this to any other OTT platform. But, it would have been really unfair to the people who watch my content because this is the first series that we are doing on ‘YouTube’, which involves my universe. So, it would have been, frankly, very unfair to the people you made it for, people who have been watching you for five years on YouTube for free. And then suddenly, you take this big step of taking those characters out from YouTube to some other OTT platform: that would have been pretty unfair for them. So it was a conscious decision to keep the show on YouTube—and for free. We can't wait for any other platform to give us an opportunity to create something, we can do it on our own. And we can do it on YouTube. That was the main idea behind it.

 
WION: From what I understand—based on what I have watched so far—‘Dhindora’ is essentially a satire, a commentary on society, right? Please talk about the underlying themes that you have tried to project in the series, through humour, of course.&nbsp;

 
BB: The theme is, see there's a story that is going on throughout the show. But, apart from that, what this series really stands for is the importance of family, the importance of relationships, and how, when we are 18-19—when we are too young—how we take these relationships for granted. It also is a reflection on how the society’s treatment of you can change with time.

 
WION: I know you have been asked this a lot&nbsp;in the past, but, I still wanted to know now that your skit has taken the form of&nbsp;a full-blown series. How do you manage to&nbsp;get into one character, snap out of it and then take on a completely new role? How do you play so many people all at once?

 
BB: I mean, practically, back to practice (of juggling roles). I've been doing this for five years now. So, I know how to switch between different personalities. But now that we were shooting full length characters—we were showing them move around—we were technically shooting a movie. So I think (there was discomfort) in the initial few days. Gradually, I got a hold of it because they were people who were working on the costume aspect of it, and so on and so forth. The idea was that no characters should look similar to one another. And that's what we tried to do the entire show. See acting is something that I knew I could pull off. But how do we make them look different? How do we make them look convincing? And you keep showing them without losing their originality. How do we make them look different from each other? And that's where I will give to the entire credit to the make-up and costume team. As far as switching between characters is concerned? I don't know. It wasn't tough. But, yes, I was stuck in a loop. Because we had shot for 41 days straight and every day, we used to shoot for 16 hours without fail because&nbsp;I was the only actor on set (laughs!) So in these 41 days, I may have slept two hours or an hour-and-a-half a day. I think we just wanted to do this without thinking of (the end product).

<img alt="jxnlkdmb lghnfdsxzxbn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1f5cd4c-81cd-4466-8a69-91eb7909a420" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1%20dhindora.jpg" /> 
WION: Is ‘Dhindora’ going to be a proper series with maybe a season 2, 3 and 4. What’s the future?

 
BB: Frankly, I don't know what the future is. But, I internally know that there has to be something that should follow up with this (the series). We are working on it. But right now, the main aim is to concentrate on the first season and the upcoming episodes. But, yeah, it is definitely on our mind.

 
WION: The past few months have been extremely difficult for all of us, especially you. I wanted to know from you since you have done so much work—like you mentioned, clocking 16 hours a day, two hours of sleep for 41 days straight. And your personal life had hit all-time low, too. Where do you&nbsp;derive the strength from to keep going, to keep at it: your energy in the face of adversity is truly remarkable.

 
BB: I mean, see the things that affect you personally, you can't let them interfere with your professional life. There are days when you don't feel like working, there are days when you just feel like sleeping. But then, you realize that, ‘okay, there are other people who are attached to the project’. And you can't you can't just stop and lock yourself up (in a room). Aap ke personal life main jo bhi chal rahaan ho, woh&nbsp;aapka problem hai...&nbsp;It's your problem at the end of the day. So keeping professionalism in mind, you need to work for the people who are related to the project, and I'm working alone on this. There are so many people who are earning through this or there are people who will eventually earn money from it. You can't let these things come in the way of your career.

<img alt="Bhuvan Bam has found solace in 'Dhindora'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f430078b-47e5-456a-83ac-4e3632a43d4b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3%20dhindora.jpg" /> 
WION: Considering you toiled so hard for&nbsp;this project, was there a sense of solace for you from everything that's been happening in your life: maybe while filming it or by just being on set? Was it some kind of 'comfort zone'?&nbsp;

 
BB: It was (my) comfort zone because I knew what I had to shoot. But, in terms of production, it was a new experience—including me—and for everyone else. Because we haven't shot something like this and probably not many people have done this: to play 10 characters! I was the only actor and it was a learning experience for everyone. And till the 30th day of the shoot, people on the set and our entirecrew was clueless as to what we were shooting. And then when the trailer arrived, everyone realized, ‘Oh, this is what we were shooting’. It was a very tedious shoot. If you think there was only one actor, so I had to act for the character and then I had to go and change for the other actors, which was very tedious and I'm glad (I did that).

 
WION: A lot of digital content creators are going The Netflix-Amazon Prime or Bollywood way. Are you toying with the idea or is something already in the pipeline? What are your thoughts on mainstream acting gigs?

 
BB: I think there’s an idea we have, but it's a far-fetched idea and it will eventually happen. But for now, we need to concentrate on the things that we have and let's finish what we have right now. And then we'll think of something that involves Bollywood or some other OTT platforms.

&nbsp;

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He is, in the true sense of the word, a self-made superstar. What started purely by fluke ended up being a mammoth digital revolution in India: Bhuvan Bam's much loved 'BB Ki Vines'.

He is, in the true sense of the word, a self-made superstar. What started purely by fluke ended up being a mammoth digital revolution in India: Bhuvan Bam's much loved 'BB Ki Vines'. No, he doesn't want to wait for a comedy special to land on his lap or an OTT executive to take notice of his talent. "We can't wait for any platform to give us an opportunity to create something, we can do it on our own," Bhuvan tells WION in an exclusive interview from his Mumbai den. Now off to a stupendous start--Bhuvan Bam is the first Indian digital content creator to launch his independent web series, 'Dhindora'--the young content-creating star shares how he has worked 16 hours a day to get each of his 10 characters right, why he would have never taken his firstborn (series) to an OTT platform, and explains that although life has been tough the last few months, yet, he firmly believes in the saying that the show must go on: for the people involved with his work, and for his own sake. Edited and condensed excerpts from our conversation with the digital star: WION: First of all, congrats on ‘Dhindora’. I have watched the first four episodes and it is hilarious. So, you are the first content creator to come up with his own web series where you are the heart and soul of it. Tell us what prompted you to take up this project? What was the thought behind this? Tell us everything about ‘Dhindora’. BB: It came from a thought that what if I take these characters out of the room (referring to his YouTube skit, ‘BB Ki Vines’) that I've been shooting for the past five years. What if I show people that now they can see those characters from head-to-toe, and you can see them move, see their legs and you can see them like you see actors in any other movie or a series. So, that's where ‘Dhindora’ idea popped in. There was a story we had in mind and then we started writing it. ‘Dhindora’ was a movie earlier. But then we decided to make it episodic because that's what OTT platforms are doing right now. Eventually, we decided to keep it on YouTube for people to watch. And, that’s the back story of ‘Dhindora’ in a nutshell (chuckles!) WION: So you mentioned OTT platforms, and that’s my follow up question. You have no backing from say a Netflix or an Amazon Prime and you are all on your own. How easy or difficult was it for you to create ‘Dhindora’ all by yourself? What are the challenges you faced along the way? Or, how do you think you are at an advantage by doing this on your own without the backing of any OTT giant? BB: I mean, really, we knew that we had to do this on YouTube. We could have have taken this to any other OTT platform. But, it would have been really unfair to the people who watch my content because this is the first series that we are doing on ‘YouTube’, which involves my universe. So, it would have been, frankly, very unfair to the people you made it for, people who have been watching you for five years on YouTube for free. And then suddenly, you take this big step of taking those characters out from YouTube to some other OTT platform: that would have been pretty unfair for them. So it was a conscious decision to keep the show on YouTube—and for free. We can't wait for any other platform to give us an opportunity to create something, we can do it on our own. And we can do it on YouTube. That was the main idea behind it. WION: From what I understand—based on what I have watched so far—‘Dhindora’ is essentially a satire, a commentary on society, right? Please talk about the underlying themes that you have tried to project in the series, through humour, of course. BB: The theme is, see there's a story that is going on throughout the show. But, apart from that, what this series really stands for is the importance of family, the importance of relationships, and how, when we are 18-19—when we are too young—how we take these relationships for granted. It also is a reflection on how the society’s treatment of you can change with time. WION: I know you have been asked this a lot in the past, but, I still wanted to know now that your skit has taken the form of a full-blown series. How do you manage to get into one character, snap out of it and then take on a completely new role? How do you play so many people all at once? BB: I mean, practically, back to practice (of juggling roles). I've been doing this for five years now. So, I know how to switch between different personalities. But now that we were shooting full length characters—we were showing them move around—we were technically shooting a movie. So I think (there was discomfort) in the initial few days. Gradually, I got a hold of it because they were people who were working on the costume aspect of it, and so on and so forth. The idea was that no characters should look similar to one another. And that's what we tried to do the entire show. See acting is something that I knew I could pull off. But how do we make them look different? How do we make them look convincing? And you keep showing them without losing their originality. How do we make them look different from each other? And that's where I will give to the entire credit to the make-up and costume team. As far as switching between characters is concerned? I don't know. It wasn't tough. But, yes, I was stuck in a loop. Because we had shot for 41 days straight and every day, we used to shoot for 16 hours without fail because I was the only actor on set (laughs!) So in these 41 days, I may have slept two hours or an hour-and-a-half a day. I think we just wanted to do this without thinking of (the end product). WION: Is ‘Dhindora’ going to be a proper series with maybe a season 2, 3 and 4. What’s the future? BB: Frankly, I don't know what the future is. But, I internally know that there has to be something that should follow up with this (the series). We are working on it. But right now, the main aim is to concentrate on the first season and the upcoming episodes. But, yeah, it is definitely on our mind. WION: The past few months have been extremely difficult for all of us, especially you. I wanted to know from you since you have done so much work—like you mentioned, clocking 16 hours a day, two hours of sleep for 41 days straight. And your personal life had hit all-time low, too. Where do you derive the strength from to keep going, to keep at it: your energy in the face of adversity is truly remarkable. BB: I mean, see the things that affect you personally, you can't let them interfere with your professional life. There are days when you don't feel like working, there are days when you just feel like sleeping. But then, you realize that, ‘okay, there are other people who are attached to the project’. And you can't you can't just stop and lock yourself up (in a room). Aap ke personal life main jo bhi chal rahaan ho, woh aapka problem hai... It's your problem at the end of the day. So keeping professionalism in mind, you need to work for the people who are related to the project, and I'm working alone on this. There are so many people who are earning through this or there are people who will eventually earn money from it. You can't let these things come in the way of your career. WION: Considering you toiled so hard for this project, was there a sense of solace for you from everything that's been happening in your life: maybe while filming it or by just being on set? Was it some kind of 'comfort zone'? BB: It was (my) comfort zone because I knew what I had to shoot. But, in terms of production, it was a new experience—including me—and for everyone else. Because we haven't shot something like this and probably not many people have done this: to play 10 characters! I was the only actor and it was a learning experience for everyone. And till the 30th day of the shoot, people on the set and our entirecrew was clueless as to what we were shooting. And then when the trailer arrived, everyone realized, ‘Oh, this is what we were shooting’. It was a very tedious shoot. If you think there was only one actor, so I had to act for the character and then I had to go and change for the other actors, which was very tedious and I'm glad (I did that). WION: A lot of digital content creators are going The Netflix-Amazon Prime or Bollywood way. Are you toying with the idea or is something already in the pipeline? What are your thoughts on mainstream acting gigs? BB: I think there’s an idea we have, but it's a far-fetched idea and it will eventually happen. But for now, we need to concentrate on the things that we have and let's finish what we have right now. And then we'll think of something that involves Bollywood or some other OTT platforms.

WION exclusive: Bhuvan Bam: ‘Dhindora’ could have been on any OTT platform, but that's unfair to my viewers

Straight shooters. High achievers. No-holds-barred interviewees. The Merchant brothers—popularly known as Salim-Sulaiman in Indian music industry—have no qualms about sharing space with other musicians. “(One) should get scared of the fame withering away only when you’re chasing it,” explains Sulaiman, matter-of-factly. They make music out of sheer passion for the art form and not the fame that comes along with the territory, they insist.

 
In an exclusive interview with WION, the award-winning music composer duo—one of the few musician brothers to be working in Bollywood—discuss working with 25 other artists on their upcoming indie album ‘Bhoomi 2021’, the ‘insecurities’ they never had, the sibling rivalry that never brewed and the tragedy that is Afghanistan.&nbsp;

 
Excerpts from WION’s conversation with the celebrated music composers. Read on:

 
WION: To be a successful music-composing duo in Bollywood and releasing all-inclusive albums year after year. How do you both manage to do that?

 
Salim: Music is our only passion and we feel like we can do so much more with music. We have done so many movies and released a lot of singles. It's a very interesting time in music to grow as a business. That only happens when you continually consistently make music and excel in what you do. It is only because of this commitment to ourselves that we launched our own Music Label "Merchant Records". We feel very proud to be able to create something that will change the rules and keep music alive.We want budding artists to be fearless with their compositions and create music from the heart for the soul. We don’t want them to worry about pressures or costs involved in creating and delivering a hit.&nbsp;

 
Sulaiman: Music for us is not a profession it is a passion And therefore it never feels like you’re working. Whether we are making music for Films or advertising or non-film albums like Bhoomi, it’s the passion that drives both Salim and me to keep making music and entertaining people.We don’t just want to make great music but want to go about it the right way. Our Music label Merchant Records is not only for Salim-Sulaiman and our objective and long-term vision is to invite the creative community of established, new, and emerging talent to co-create quality music.

 
WION: Talking about inclusion, your independent album ‘Bhoomi 2021’ has other contemporary musicians’ joining forces with you. Don’t you both experience what we call an ‘artist’s insecurity’?

 
Salim: First of all Bhoomi 2021 follows the successful grand chapter of Bhoomi 2020 in the ongoing musical movement that Salim-Sulaiman started 20 years ago. Bhoomi is getting bigger and bigger each year as we have participation from so many incredible artists from India. Last year we did Bhoomi 2020 very successfully. This time we have had the vision to not just keep the languages of North India but also go South. We've gone East and West as well. Bhoomi is not just a project which expresses musically and it's not just about our culture but also about our tradition, history, our environment and also our faith.

 
Sulaiman: There is absolutely no insecurity between composers. At some stage of our lives, all of us cooperate, collaborate , work together, produce music together, sing for each other and there's great camaraderie between us. Insecurity kicks in only when you feel unequal to someone and we have never had that vibe. As far as Bhoomi 2021 is concerned, as the name suggests, it is about the musical influences in terms of styles, melodies, and lyrics across our own “Bhoomi”. So, working with different musicians from the length and breadth of our country brings another layer of authenticity to the concept. That is why in our album we have included three beautiful composers namely Anurag Saikia, Ricky Kej , and Shor Police. Going forward we intend to do more. We want more artists to participate in Bhoomi so that way the movement becomes bigger and we get more diversity in the style of music. There's no question of insecurity as we are all happily creating music without any agenda or competition.

 
WION: One of the songs you have produced (with Harshdeep Kaur in vocals) is about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Since you talk about human tragedies in your music, what are your thoughts on the plight of Afghan artists fighting for life and artistic freedom?

 
Salim: I feel terrible about what Afghanistan as a country is going through. It is such a beautiful country with so much culture, tradition, artists and music but because of the current situation everyone is suffering. It's all gone back to hundreds of years behind. Art is one aspect but humanity has completely gone out of the window and that is something that is of a bigger concern.&nbsp;

 
Sulaiman: What’s unfolding in Afghanistan is tragic.Years of incremental progress appear to have been eroded in the blink of an eye. For a country with such a rich heritage and culture, this comes as a major setback. But, they’ve always been a resilient populace and I hope that they continue to dig deep and strive towards living as normal a life as possible. As part of the global community, we must do what we can to support them.

 
WION: You are to Bollywood what Russo brothers are to Hollywood—different genres, of course. But, have you ever felt sibling rivalry brewing between the two of you at any point in your career?

 
Salim: Sulaiman and I studied music together, we are always listening to music together, we were in bands together so it's only more powerful to have two instead of one. We don't have any sibling rivalry but when we make music, we have disagreements and arguments but ultimately music wins and that's the key to make good music and continue your relationship with your sibling and partner.&nbsp;

 
Sulaiman: Salim and I have been making music for the last 30 years. When you are brothers and partners especially when you’re doing something as creative as making music or performing together I don’t think rivalry even comes into the picture. We both have our strengths that we bring to the table. And we leave the insecurities and negative energies for other people.

<img alt="Salim-Sulaiman have made music for Chak De India, Fashion, Band Bajaa Baraat, Fashion, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi , Krrish 3, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl and many more" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1361e3de-67a9-404e-bb6b-9f1ffab4be94" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-10-17T162635.129.jpg" /> 
WION: A day will come when&nbsp;there will be fewer phone calls, lesser interview requests to attend. Does the inevitable withering away of fame leave you worried sick? What is fame to you, anyway?

 
Salim: Fame was never a criterion for us when we started to pursue music. I think we have a lot to yet achieve what we wanted to in music. Fame, Awards, Accolades was never our goal. We always want to make a good song and not a hit song. A hit song will come and go but a good song will be heard forever. We don't make music for fame or glory but we make music for happiness. Also remember that Love is bigger than anything else and is unquantifiable. It’s what keeps us grounded and motivated to do more. We are also deeply grateful to our gurus, mentors, and parents who have given us the knowledge, values, and humility - that gives us the strength, passion, and purpose to spread happiness, love, and peace through our music.&nbsp;

 
Sulaiman: You should get scared of the fame withering away only when you’re chasing it. We have never chased fame and in fact it came to us when we were busy enjoying our work. If you keep that in mind right at the onset, you will never feel any insecurity. I would rather have my music famous and popular because that will stay on forever. In today's times, the biggest blessing is the fact that we are safe and that God had been kind to us.

 
WION: Chak De India has been a National Sports anthem for a very long time now. How do you handle the pressure of creating another sports anthem 'Haq Se India' that has a similar kind of expectations from people given the mood is pretty much the same? For this latest number, how do you plan on outdoing yourself?

 
Salim: When creating music, we always strive to maintain balance between retaining musicality and bringing out powerful emotions at the same time. Haq Se India was a huge challenge because it was encompassing the World Cup which India won in 2007 which was a miraculous victory. Chak De was a huge celebration as the Indian team returned and the movie released in 2007. The film "Haq se India" captures the spirit of that victory 14 years later and now it's releasing just before the World Cup. It was a big high for us and a huge challenge so we wanted to go higher and capture that spirit that Chak De had.Chants of “Indiaaaa” in the backdrop, and the eventual hookline recreate a stadium-like vibe that only add to the adrenaline.&nbsp;

 
Sulaiman: We wanted to bring back the joyous spirit once again. We hope "Haq Se India” will evoke strong feelings of patriotism and inspire supporters to get behind the current squad; in the run-up to the upcoming tournament. We have tried to create a motivational track that captures elements of team spirit, passion, hard work, celebration, and joy. Amitabh Bhattacharya’s passionate lyrics leave one with goosebumps as Raj Pandit’s high notes bring the track to life.

Straight shooters. High achievers. No-holds-barred interviewees. The Merchant brothers—popularly known as Salim-Sulaiman in Indian music industry—have no qualms about sharing space with other musicians.

Straight shooters. High achievers. No-holds-barred interviewees. The Merchant brothers—popularly known as Salim-Sulaiman in Indian music industry—have no qualms about sharing space with other musicians. “(One) should get scared of the fame withering away only when you’re chasing it,” explains Sulaiman, matter-of-factly. They make music out of sheer passion for the art form and not the fame that comes along with the territory, they insist. In an exclusive interview with WION, the award-winning music composer duo—one of the few musician brothers to be working in Bollywood—discuss working with 25 other artists on their upcoming indie album ‘Bhoomi 2021’, the ‘insecurities’ they never had, the sibling rivalry that never brewed and the tragedy that is Afghanistan. Excerpts from WION’s conversation with the celebrated music composers. Read on: WION: To be a successful music-composing duo in Bollywood and releasing all-inclusive albums year after year. How do you both manage to do that? Salim: Music is our only passion and we feel like we can do so much more with music. We have done so many movies and released a lot of singles. It's a very interesting time in music to grow as a business. That only happens when you continually consistently make music and excel in what you do. It is only because of this commitment to ourselves that we launched our own Music Label "Merchant Records". We feel very proud to be able to create something that will change the rules and keep music alive.We want budding artists to be fearless with their compositions and create music from the heart for the soul. We don’t want them to worry about pressures or costs involved in creating and delivering a hit. Sulaiman: Music for us is not a profession it is a passion And therefore it never feels like you’re working. Whether we are making music for Films or advertising or non-film albums like Bhoomi, it’s the passion that drives both Salim and me to keep making music and entertaining people.We don’t just want to make great music but want to go about it the right way. Our Music label Merchant Records is not only for Salim-Sulaiman and our objective and long-term vision is to invite the creative community of established, new, and emerging talent to co-create quality music. WION: Talking about inclusion, your independent album ‘Bhoomi 2021’ has other contemporary musicians’ joining forces with you. Don’t you both experience what we call an ‘artist’s insecurity’? Salim: First of all Bhoomi 2021 follows the successful grand chapter of Bhoomi 2020 in the ongoing musical movement that Salim-Sulaiman started 20 years ago. Bhoomi is getting bigger and bigger each year as we have participation from so many incredible artists from India. Last year we did Bhoomi 2020 very successfully. This time we have had the vision to not just keep the languages of North India but also go South. We've gone East and West as well. Bhoomi is not just a project which expresses musically and it's not just about our culture but also about our tradition, history, our environment and also our faith. Sulaiman: There is absolutely no insecurity between composers. At some stage of our lives, all of us cooperate, collaborate , work together, produce music together, sing for each other and there's great camaraderie between us. Insecurity kicks in only when you feel unequal to someone and we have never had that vibe. As far as Bhoomi 2021 is concerned, as the name suggests, it is about the musical influences in terms of styles, melodies, and lyrics across our own “Bhoomi”. So, working with different musicians from the length and breadth of our country brings another layer of authenticity to the concept. That is why in our album we have included three beautiful composers namely Anurag Saikia, Ricky Kej , and Shor Police. Going forward we intend to do more. We want more artists to participate in Bhoomi so that way the movement becomes bigger and we get more diversity in the style of music. There's no question of insecurity as we are all happily creating music without any agenda or competition. WION: One of the songs you have produced (with Harshdeep Kaur in vocals) is about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Since you talk about human tragedies in your music, what are your thoughts on the plight of Afghan artists fighting for life and artistic freedom? Salim: I feel terrible about what Afghanistan as a country is going through. It is such a beautiful country with so much culture, tradition, artists and music but because of the current situation everyone is suffering. It's all gone back to hundreds of years behind. Art is one aspect but humanity has completely gone out of the window and that is something that is of a bigger concern. Sulaiman: What’s unfolding in Afghanistan is tragic.Years of incremental progress appear to have been eroded in the blink of an eye. For a country with such a rich heritage and culture, this comes as a major setback. But, they’ve always been a resilient populace and I hope that they continue to dig deep and strive towards living as normal a life as possible. As part of the global community, we must do what we can to support them. WION: You are to Bollywood what Russo brothers are to Hollywood—different genres, of course. But, have you ever felt sibling rivalry brewing between the two of you at any point in your career? Salim: Sulaiman and I studied music together, we are always listening to music together, we were in bands together so it's only more powerful to have two instead of one. We don't have any sibling rivalry but when we make music, we have disagreements and arguments but ultimately music wins and that's the key to make good music and continue your relationship with your sibling and partner. Sulaiman: Salim and I have been making music for the last 30 years. When you are brothers and partners especially when you’re doing something as creative as making music or performing together I don’t think rivalry even comes into the picture. We both have our strengths that we bring to the table. And we leave the insecurities and negative energies for other people. WION: A day will come when there will be fewer phone calls, lesser interview requests to attend. Does the inevitable withering away of fame leave you worried sick? What is fame to you, anyway? Salim: Fame was never a criterion for us when we started to pursue music. I think we have a lot to yet achieve what we wanted to in music. Fame, Awards, Accolades was never our goal. We always want to make a good song and not a hit song. A hit song will come and go but a good song will be heard forever. We don't make music for fame or glory but we make music for happiness. Also remember that Love is bigger than anything else and is unquantifiable. It’s what keeps us grounded and motivated to do more. We are also deeply grateful to our gurus, mentors, and parents who have given us the knowledge, values, and humility - that gives us the strength, passion, and purpose to spread happiness, love, and peace through our music. Sulaiman: You should get scared of the fame withering away only when you’re chasing it. We have never chased fame and in fact it came to us when we were busy enjoying our work. If you keep that in mind right at the onset, you will never feel any insecurity. I would rather have my music famous and popular because that will stay on forever. In today's times, the biggest blessing is the fact that we are safe and that God had been kind to us. WION: Chak De India has been a National Sports anthem for a very long time now. How do you handle the pressure of creating another sports anthem 'Haq Se India' that has a similar kind of expectations from people given the mood is pretty much the same? For this latest number, how do you plan on outdoing yourself? Salim: When creating music, we always strive to maintain balance between retaining musicality and bringing out powerful emotions at the same time. Haq Se India was a huge challenge because it was encompassing the World Cup which India won in 2007 which was a miraculous victory. Chak De was a huge celebration as the Indian team returned and the movie released in 2007. The film "Haq se India" captures the spirit of that victory 14 years later and now it's releasing just before the World Cup. It was a big high for us and a huge challenge so we wanted to go higher and capture that spirit that Chak De had.Chants of “Indiaaaa” in the backdrop, and the eventual hookline recreate a stadium-like vibe that only add to the adrenaline. Sulaiman: We wanted to bring back the joyous spirit once again. We hope "Haq Se India” will evoke strong feelings of patriotism and inspire supporters to get behind the current squad; in the run-up to the upcoming tournament. We have tried to create a motivational track that captures elements of team spirit, passion, hard work, celebration, and joy. Amitabh Bhattacharya’s passionate lyrics leave one with goosebumps as Raj Pandit’s high notes bring the track to life.

WION exclusive: Salim-Sulaiman- Art is one aspect, humanity has gone out the window in Afghanistan

She burst onto mainstream Bollywood with Salman Khan's production 'Loveyatri' (2018) but Warina Hussain has, all along, lived under the shadows of Taliban's atrocity. "People in India say I come from the land of bombs," she had said in one of her earlier interviews. After Kabul fell in the hands of Taliban, Warina was too distraught to talk. "A family member and her husband managed to get on the evacuation plane to the US, but their toddler is still in Afghanistan. I am crying for hours, and so is my mother... These are not the stories you watch on TV; this is my family," Warina shares with WION from London, where she is currently shooting for a film.

 
In this exclusive interview with WION, the model-turned-actress, who has been living and working in Mumbai for a while now, says she will return to Afghanistan 'only and only' when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/afghani-women-call-for-help-as-taliban-takes-over-the-country-406946">Taliban starts respecting women</a>, shares her hopes for the nation that has always been judged based on the wrongdoings of the terrorist outfit and why she sympathizes with women who have picked up arms back home.

 
Excerpts from the conversation:

 
WION: With everything that’s been happening in your home country, how are your loved ones holding up? What preventative measures have they taken to ensure safety?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: Young girls (in my family) are currently in hiding--and some are in safe houses--fearing that they will be forced to marry Taliban fighters. It hit me even harder last week, when we celebrated Raksha Bandhan, when a male swears to protect a female family member, and it made me think about all of our girls who are in danger.

<img alt="Warina Hussain's immediate family has migrated to the US, while her extended family members and friends have stayed behind" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ceef42e0-45ad-45ac-a8b6-e814002360a0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-09-01T111953.749.jpg" /> 
WION: You were shooting in London when the government collapsed, and heartbreakingly horrific visuals started surfacing from Afghanistan. How did you deal with the shock of it, and what was your initial reaction like?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: This humanitarian disaster, which involves loved ones, was heartbreaking. As I decided to speak up for the people, I had several emotional breakdowns and found it difficult to concentrate on work, but as they say, the show must go on, and I haven't given up on our country.

 
WION: In an earlier interview you had said, and I quote, “People in India say I come from the land of bombs.” Do you think the latest events in Afghanistan will make the world kinder towards you, and all of Afghanistan?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: People all over the world have a preconceived notion about Afghanistan. Unfortunately, its peace and progress have always been hampered by twisted ideologies, and it is not fair to identify its people only with the country's situation. They have always had a rich culture with hardworking people, as seen by the last 20 years of progress.

<img alt="Warina Hussain with Afghanistan's first woman Consul General to Mumbai, Zakia Wardak, at an event a few years back" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2694424-9786-4a6a-a41a-f101cc369355" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-09-01T112121.789.jpg" /> 
WION: What, in your opinion, is the way forward for your country?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: Peace is the way forward! A government made up of both men and women, as well as a leader who is true to his land.&nbsp;

 
WION: Based on several reports that have been coming out of Afghanistan—on treatment of women in the hands of Taliban—I think it is safe to say that women will be stripped off all their basic human rights. Your thoughts on the uncertainty that lies ahead for women and young girls out there?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-watch--wion-exclusive-afghan-pop-star-aryana-sayeed-im-grateful-to-be-alive-i-was-talibans-target-408549">Violence against women should not be tolerated</a> again. Women are now educated, and they will fight for it this time. I don't blame the women who have taken up arms; it's far too early to give up hope.

 
WION: Under what circumstances will you go back home, if at all?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: Only and only if respect for women is restored!&nbsp;

<img alt="In happier times: Warina with her father" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ebe521aa-3110-4981-9896-2738bb0b4a05" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-09-01T112041.228.jpg" /> 
WION: Recently, ‘bring peace back in Afghanistan’ has been that one topic everyone’s talking about. What is your idea of a peaceful Afghanistan?&nbsp;

 
WARINA HUSSAIN: I wish to see the citizens have equal rights and freedom of choice, with no fear of being slaughtered every day. So that once again it’s doors of tourism would be open for the rest of the world to see Afghanistan's beauty.

<img alt="Warina dressed in a traditional attire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="688e944e-84be-4667-b890-63f749ed23d5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-09-01T112156.358.jpg" />

She burst onto mainstream Bollywood with Salman Khan's production 'Loveyatri' (2018) but Warina Hussain has, all along, lived under the shadows of Taliban's atrocity.

She burst onto mainstream Bollywood with Salman Khan's production 'Loveyatri' (2018) but Warina Hussain has, all along, lived under the shadows of Taliban's atrocity. "People in India say I come from the land of bombs," she had said in one of her earlier interviews. After Kabul fell in the hands of Taliban, Warina was too distraught to talk. "A family member and her husband managed to get on the evacuation plane to the US, but their toddler is still in Afghanistan. I am crying for hours, and so is my mother... These are not the stories you watch on TV; this is my family," Warina shares with WION from London, where she is currently shooting for a film. In this exclusive interview with WION, the model-turned-actress, who has been living and working in Mumbai for a while now, says she will return to Afghanistan 'only and only' when Taliban starts respecting women, shares her hopes for the nation that has always been judged based on the wrongdoings of the terrorist outfit and why she sympathizes with women who have picked up arms back home. Excerpts from the conversation: WION: With everything that’s been happening in your home country, how are your loved ones holding up? What preventative measures have they taken to ensure safety? WARINA HUSSAIN: Young girls (in my family) are currently in hiding--and some are in safe houses--fearing that they will be forced to marry Taliban fighters. It hit me even harder last week, when we celebrated Raksha Bandhan, when a male swears to protect a female family member, and it made me think about all of our girls who are in danger. WION: You were shooting in London when the government collapsed, and heartbreakingly horrific visuals started surfacing from Afghanistan. How did you deal with the shock of it, and what was your initial reaction like? WARINA HUSSAIN: This humanitarian disaster, which involves loved ones, was heartbreaking. As I decided to speak up for the people, I had several emotional breakdowns and found it difficult to concentrate on work, but as they say, the show must go on, and I haven't given up on our country. WION: In an earlier interview you had said, and I quote, “People in India say I come from the land of bombs.” Do you think the latest events in Afghanistan will make the world kinder towards you, and all of Afghanistan? WARINA HUSSAIN: People all over the world have a preconceived notion about Afghanistan. Unfortunately, its peace and progress have always been hampered by twisted ideologies, and it is not fair to identify its people only with the country's situation. They have always had a rich culture with hardworking people, as seen by the last 20 years of progress. WION: What, in your opinion, is the way forward for your country? WARINA HUSSAIN: Peace is the way forward! A government made up of both men and women, as well as a leader who is true to his land. WION: Based on several reports that have been coming out of Afghanistan—on treatment of women in the hands of Taliban—I think it is safe to say that women will be stripped off all their basic human rights. Your thoughts on the uncertainty that lies ahead for women and young girls out there? WARINA HUSSAIN: Violence against women should not be tolerated again. Women are now educated, and they will fight for it this time. I don't blame the women who have taken up arms; it's far too early to give up hope. WION: Under what circumstances will you go back home, if at all? WARINA HUSSAIN: Only and only if respect for women is restored! WION: Recently, ‘bring peace back in Afghanistan’ has been that one topic everyone’s talking about. What is your idea of a peaceful Afghanistan? WARINA HUSSAIN: I wish to see the citizens have equal rights and freedom of choice, with no fear of being slaughtered every day. So that once again it’s doors of tourism would be open for the rest of the world to see Afghanistan's beauty.

WION exclusive | Afghan actor Warina Hussain: I don't blame women who have taken up arms in Afghanistan

Sarita Catherine Louise Choudhury worked with Denzel Washington in director Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’—a filmmaker she now calls her ‘family’. The actress, born to an English mother and an Indian-Bengali father—now in her 50s, has touched the zenith of her career with movies like the ‘Mockingjay’ franchise and has, self-admittedly, gone through relatively gloomy phases in her career, too.&nbsp;

 
But, boy... is she back with a bang! In 2021 alone, the actress has featured in David Lowery’s mutli-starrer ‘The Green Knight’ and has also joined the cast of ‘Sex And The City’ reboot, ‘And Just Like That...’. So has she, along with an army of other Indian-origin actors, led the way for other Asian actors to follow? “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!” she tells us.

 
In an exclusive interview with WION, Sarita Choudhury shares her experience with working with Dev Patel, why she admires Priyanka Chopra Jonas—the producer—and what it means to truly be a global star.&nbsp;

 
Excerpts from our conversation with her:

<img alt="Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury share a scene together " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="31bc6871-86f7-4314-bba2-cc0f031b1ed7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T093032.842.jpg" />

 
‘I talked to a friend of mine, who studied witchcraft for the role’

 
In order to render complete justice to the role of Morgan le Fay—an enchantress and King Arthur’s half-sister—in ‘The Green Knight’, the actor sought help from friends who practise witchcraft and the helmer himself. “The script was so well written, I felt I understood the character immediately. A mother who loves her son but wants him to find his independence and a woman who is a believer in the spiritual magical world of nature and spells,” Sarita tells us. 
“I talked to a friend of mine, Livia , who studied witchcraft from the point of view of ritual, nature and almost a pragmatic essential part of us. Also, David Lowery the director is very knowledgeable and specific. He was so helpful,” she goes on to add.

<img alt="Sarita in an intense poster from her period drama 'The Green Knight'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fad559-ffeb-4e57-a31d-6f4f5e9a734f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T092207.872.jpg" /> 
‘The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself’

 
Sarita opines that Dev Patel, who shoulders the central role of Sir Gawain in ‘The Green Knight’, was tailor-made for his part and that he was ‘grateful’ just to be able to shoot with human co-stars. “I think Dev was perfect casting for this role. He is talented, funny, a young man becoming a man, an “everyman” type… Dev and I had so much fun on set. He had spent days shooting alone in the forest before I met him to do our scenes, and I think he was just grateful to have scenes with other actors and not just a horse and the Green Knight!”&nbsp;

<img alt="Dev Patel and Sarita had a blast on the set of the movie" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70b67409-79ff-4886-b45f-051def411ed5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T092732.559.jpg" />

 
Given her repertoire both in India and international waters, it is safe to say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the flag bearer of the Indian Diaspora in Hollywood—among others, of course—and she and a handful others, Dev Patel included, have (considerably) paved the path for others to tread on. Well, Sarita agrees partially. “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!... The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself anyway.”

 
‘Priyanka Chopra Jonas does everything for us to be seen’

 
Whether there’s an insatiable hunger among the Indian school of artists to be labeled as ‘global’ stars is moot, says Sarita. “As an actor you have dreams of the kind of films you want to be in, the good scripts, the talented directors. Whether it’s a brilliant Indian director like Mira Nair or Zoya Akhtar shooting in India or wherever, or a great American director here, you hope to be part of it…. In terms of “Global,” as actors we don’t really have any intent to be perceived globally in a certain way. But if that is the result of following your dream no matter what the obstacles that is amazing. My dad had seen Satyajit Ray’s films in India when he was young, my mum had seen the same films in England, I saw them in Canada when I was at university. That’s global! And (that) makes me proud,” she says.&nbsp; 
As for her ‘Evil eye’ producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sarita says she is in awe of her. “(From) Priyanka, I learnt is (that she is) a really good producer and did everything to promote us and help our film get seen. A job I have never done but admire!” concluded the actor.

<img alt="Priyanka Chopra, as a producer, makes us seen, says Sarita" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e54da9d4-2507-4cd9-9943-bc999e268a15" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T092108.045.jpg" /> 
‘The Green Knight’ is releasing in theatres in India on August 27.&nbsp;

Sarita Catherine Louise Choudhury worked with Denzel Washington in director Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’—a filmmaker she now calls her ‘family’. The actress, born to an English mother and an Indian-Bengali father—now in her 50s, has touched the zenith of her career with movies like the ‘Mockingjay’ franchise and has, self-admittedly, gone through relatively gloomy phases in her career, too.

Sarita Catherine Louise Choudhury worked with Denzel Washington in director Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’—a filmmaker she now calls her ‘family’. The actress, born to an English mother and an Indian-Bengali father—now in her 50s, has touched the zenith of her career with movies like the ‘Mockingjay’ franchise and has, self-admittedly, gone through relatively gloomy phases in her career, too. But, boy... is she back with a bang! In 2021 alone, the actress has featured in David Lowery’s mutli-starrer ‘The Green Knight’ and has also joined the cast of ‘Sex And The City’ reboot, ‘And Just Like That...’. So has she, along with an army of other Indian-origin actors, led the way for other Asian actors to follow? “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!” she tells us. In an exclusive interview with WION, Sarita Choudhury shares her experience with working with Dev Patel, why she admires Priyanka Chopra Jonas—the producer—and what it means to truly be a global star. Excerpts from our conversation with her: ‘I talked to a friend of mine, who studied witchcraft for the role’ In order to render complete justice to the role of Morgan le Fay—an enchantress and King Arthur’s half-sister—in ‘The Green Knight’, the actor sought help from friends who practise witchcraft and the helmer himself. “The script was so well written, I felt I understood the character immediately. A mother who loves her son but wants him to find his independence and a woman who is a believer in the spiritual magical world of nature and spells,” Sarita tells us. “I talked to a friend of mine, Livia , who studied witchcraft from the point of view of ritual, nature and almost a pragmatic essential part of us. Also, David Lowery the director is very knowledgeable and specific. He was so helpful,” she goes on to add. ‘The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself’ Sarita opines that Dev Patel, who shoulders the central role of Sir Gawain in ‘The Green Knight’, was tailor-made for his part and that he was ‘grateful’ just to be able to shoot with human co-stars. “I think Dev was perfect casting for this role. He is talented, funny, a young man becoming a man, an “everyman” type… Dev and I had so much fun on set. He had spent days shooting alone in the forest before I met him to do our scenes, and I think he was just grateful to have scenes with other actors and not just a horse and the Green Knight!” Given her repertoire both in India and international waters, it is safe to say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the flag bearer of the Indian Diaspora in Hollywood—among others, of course—and she and a handful others, Dev Patel included, have (considerably) paved the path for others to tread on. Well, Sarita agrees partially. “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!... The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself anyway.” ‘Priyanka Chopra Jonas does everything for us to be seen’ Whether there’s an insatiable hunger among the Indian school of artists to be labeled as ‘global’ stars is moot, says Sarita. “As an actor you have dreams of the kind of films you want to be in, the good scripts, the talented directors. Whether it’s a brilliant Indian director like Mira Nair or Zoya Akhtar shooting in India or wherever, or a great American director here, you hope to be part of it…. In terms of “Global,” as actors we don’t really have any intent to be perceived globally in a certain way. But if that is the result of following your dream no matter what the obstacles that is amazing. My dad had seen Satyajit Ray’s films in India when he was young, my mum had seen the same films in England, I saw them in Canada when I was at university. That’s global! And (that) makes me proud,” she says. As for her ‘Evil eye’ producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sarita says she is in awe of her. “(From) Priyanka, I learnt is (that she is) a really good producer and did everything to promote us and help our film get seen. A job I have never done but admire!” concluded the actor. ‘The Green Knight’ is releasing in theatres in India on August 27.

Exclusive! ‘The Green Knight’, ‘Sex And The City’ reboot star Sarita Choudhury: The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up

“There were all these lists of who's the favourite character on the show or who was the best-looking character, and I was always the ugliest, the least attractive,” Dev Patel, BAFTA-winning actor (for ‘Lion’) said in a recent interview.

“There were all these lists of who's the favourite character on the show or who was the best-looking character, and I was always the ugliest, the least attractive,” Dev Patel, BAFTA-winning actor (for ‘Lion’) said in a recent interview. However—now basking in the glory of his critically acclaimed film ‘The Green Knight’, set to release in India on August 27—those days of judgement over his looks seem to be a thing of the past. And he agrees, hopefully. In an exclusive interview with WION, the British actor talks about losing himself in the process of getting the nuances of Sir Gawain—his character in ‘The Green Knight’—right, how director David Lowery’s vision was of paramount importance to the script and he ‘trusted’ it completely, and why there’s a little bit of him in this modern retelling of Sir Gawain’s story. Excerpts from the interview: ‘I could draw a lot of parallels with my journey in this industry; being ambitious and trying to balance my life’ For Patel, preparing for the role meant letting David Lowery (‘The Old Man & the Gun’, ‘A Ghost Story’) take charge of how he would portray Sir Gawain on screen, and he went with it with utmost faith. “For me in a way, that was really David's process you mine was a process of real submission and trust in him as a as the visionary that he is. But you could see what the way he was approaching the sets and the costumes that kind of like was cranked ever so slightly differently, you know, so there was a familiarity to the world, but also, it kind of had a kind of slightly more modern composition to the way he was capturing this stuff, and how we were able to move and talk and there was a looseness to it, that I was like, Wow, this is awesome!” Dev Patel tells us. “You know, I split it, particularly for me in the way I was kind of talking, I was kind of throwing it away, like I would in a very modern piece I wasn't, you know, putting as much weight on the words. And I asked what I spoke to him about, it's like, how should we do this? How do I do and he's like, no, we're just kind of trying to exist and bring as much truth as possible. And it's a testament to him, he's kind of managed to strike this balance, I think a lot of story and tales around this era, they focus on the clashing of swords, or whatever that is, you know, but this is focusing on the more psychological journey aspects of the story. In a way, it's, it's far more complex in it, and it really does more justice to the complexities of this poem, and kind of the questioning of fate and ambition and the chivalry code of the time. You know, particularly for me, as a young actor, you know, I could draw a lot of parallels with my, you know, my journey in this industry, and, you know, being ambitious and trying to balance my life and, and, you know, the ego and masculinity, all of that stuff, you know, I could see all the threads in,” says the actor about his part in getting the nuances of his character right. With a 7.5 IMDb rating and 88 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, Dev Patel seems to have gotten it right. ‘I was trembling on my horse, I was cold and wet and damp; it was a physical process’ Dev Patel’s penchant for perfection is palpable, and, ‘The Green Knight’ would give us a glimpse of that, again. When asked if the horses, weaponry and the overall feel on the set contributed to his performance, Patel was quick to add, “Completely! I mean, they extends we went to, you know, David, you know, we have the entire crew trudging in valleys, through streams and rivers, and when making provides police systems to get camera equipment up, and like, you know, just to get the shot, but it really, I said, every frame is a painting in this film, you look at it, and it's just like, there was never a moment where I was, I didn't even have a great scene partner and you know, Joel (Edgerton), and all the rest of the team or you're just in this costume, and it makes you sit differently stand differently.” But, the British actor—all of 31 now—sees certain facets of his persona, his own journey as a young man in Hollywood, in David Lowery’s ‘The Green Knight’. He shares with WION, before wrapping up. “A lot of this is about a young man romanticizing this knightly quest, and then all of a sudden, very quickly realizing how brutal nature can be and how humbling he gets humbled by it, his ego at the start of the film is totally bashed from him very quickly. And I felt that I was trembling you know, on my horse, I was cold and wet and damp and it was a physical process and you know, David's films really explored time in a beautiful way. And as a performer you know, you rarely get to feel time you know, in scenes because it you know, there's a exposition and there's an editor's hands that really comes in but and this was the way we shot this that David kind of sits and lets the scene really play out sometimes, you know, really just puts you in a spot and like, Is that okay? Now you try and get out of the situation. Your hands and legs are tight.”

Exclusive! Dev Patel: ‘The Green Knight’ embodies my own journey in Hollywood

“If I'm scared of that (being lost in the crowd),&nbsp;I cannot be a rapper," comes the sharp response from D/Evil, formally known as Dhaval Parab, whose humble beginnings—from a chawl in Mumbai’s Dadar area—did not deter him into dropping the mike and settle for what’s labeled conventional.&nbsp;

 
At the tender age of 16, he took pen to paper and has since been churning out rap songs in Mumbai’s beaming underground scene—“I was a battle rapper,” he informs—and was content with it, with the exception of working on ‘Gully Boy’ smash hit ‘Apna Time Aayega’. That was before an impressed Farhan Akhtar texted him to hop on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-james-bond-daniel-craig-auditioned-for-rang-de-basanti-401475">‘Toofaan’ </a>train. Rest is, as they say, history.&nbsp;

 
In an exclusive chat with WION, the rapper discusses how an adult magazine had inspired his former moniker, when Farhan Akhtar showed up wearing the lyrics of his song to meet him, and why he feels there’s still hope for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-toofan-review-farhan-akhtar%E2%80%99s-our-million-dollar-baby%E2%80%A6-not-398340">Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s latest offering</a>.

 
Excerpts from that conversation:

 
WION: To create the title track for ‘Toofaan’, an Amazon Prime Video film, made by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and featuring Frahan Akhtar—that must have been huge for you. How did all that come along?

 
D’Evil: An unexpected text came from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-toofan-review-farhan-akhtar%E2%80%99s-our-million-dollar-baby%E2%80%A6-not-398340">Farhan Akhtar</a>. When I called him he said that Ankur Tiwari is a singer/songwriter and music supervisor for the movie <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gully-boy-review-ranveer-singh-alia-bhatts-film-has-multiple-heroes-197285">'Gully Boy'</a>. Had suggested my name for this project. I was very excited. I'm a huge fan of Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar. I grew up watching their films. This was a dream project for me. I immediately said 'yes'. &nbsp;

 
WION: Your journey has been a fascinating one—from a chawl in Dadar to sharing the writing credits for ‘Apna Time Ayega’—how did you know that lyric poetry was your true calling in life?

 
D’Evil: I wanted to make music after being inspired by various artists globally and in my own country. Coming from a chawl in Mumbai, I was exposed to all types of music in different languages. This made me feel like I have something I like . So I tried writing some rhymes and some poem as a teenager. Later, when I was introduced to hip-hop. I saw that rapping is for someone like me. I enjoyed my discovery of rap and hip-hop.

<img alt="safrjjhdsdASSA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6830d0c3-b69d-4a74-9cf2-c6912a64e9c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2860%29_0.jpg" />

 
WION: Before being called D’Evil, you had another moniker: Hustler. What’s the story behind that?

 
D’Evil: Hustler was something I was known as during the initial phase of my career as a rapper. I was a battle rapper. And would go by Hustler is also an adult magazine and I didn't wanna share my name with them. So my friend's suggested me to go with D'Evil.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 
WION: You are signed with DIVINE’s independent record and have worked with him a few times. What is the biggest lesson—both as a person and rapper—that you have been handed down by him?

 
D’Evil: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/armaan-malik-divine-kaam-bhari-nominated-at-europe-music-awards-2020-333277">Vivian aka DIVINE</a> is an extraordinary personality. I have taken many lessons from him and his experiences. However my favourite one is that , you should always give back something from what you received. He taught me to share.

<img alt="cfhgnfdvsafd" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86baf702-fb2c-45dc-9d2c-8d1e16b4e0c4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2859%29.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;

WION: You are a scriptwriter, too. What are you working on? What have you written so far? Tell us more.

 
D’Evil: I had a job as a script writer. I used to write scripts for TV &nbsp;commercials and small radio ad spots. Also I have written jingles and dialogues for small projects. It was a job where I used to get a salary. There is tons of content I wrote to make ends meet. &nbsp;

 
WION: A number of people have made the transition from Mumbai’s underground scene to mainstream Bollywood. Does that ever scare you that your talent may get lost in the crowd?

 
D’Evil: If I'm scared of that, I cannot be a rapper. This fear and pressure is what makes me perform my best. And I want more competition because I love to prove myself again and again. People forget.

 
WION: Although your track was fabulous, ‘Toofan’ didn’t do well in terms of reception. What do you say to that?

 
D’Evil: The pandemic has changed the way people consume cinema. But I'm sure <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-james-bond-daniel-craig-auditioned-for-rang-de-basanti-401475">this film will grow on people</a> slowly. After they realise what this film is trying to say.

<img alt="fehthsACD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a851ee1b-c70e-4a22-87e3-9f9741907ef4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2858%29.jpg" />

 
WION: Any fun/candid moments you had shared with Farhan that you would like to share with us?

 
D’Evil: I have met him only a couple of times. But I do remember him singing my lyrics out loud when he saw me in the studio. It was a great sight. He was also wearing a hoodie with ‘Todun Taak’ on it.

 
WION: You like Eminem and Snoop Dogg… what is it about them that prompted you to take up the notepad? You started at 16, right?

 
D’Evil: Yes. At 16, we didn't have a voice or a platform to say what we needed to say. Getting inspired from Eminem and snoop , watching them do shows or rap in videos made me think that I should even use this medium to say what I want to. &nbsp;

“If I'm scared of that (being lost in the crowd), I cannot be a rapper," comes the sharp response from D/Evil, formally known as Dhaval Parab, whose humble beginnings—from a chawl in Mumbai’s Dadar area—did not deter him into dropping the mike and settle for what’s labeled conventional.

“If I'm scared of that (being lost in the crowd), I cannot be a rapper," comes the sharp response from D/Evil, formally known as Dhaval Parab, whose humble beginnings—from a chawl in Mumbai’s Dadar area—did not deter him into dropping the mike and settle for what’s labeled conventional. At the tender age of 16, he took pen to paper and has since been churning out rap songs in Mumbai’s beaming underground scene—“I was a battle rapper,” he informs—and was content with it, with the exception of working on ‘Gully Boy’ smash hit ‘Apna Time Aayega’. That was before an impressed Farhan Akhtar texted him to hop on the ‘Toofaan’ train. Rest is, as they say, history. In an exclusive chat with WION, the rapper discusses how an adult magazine had inspired his former moniker, when Farhan Akhtar showed up wearing the lyrics of his song to meet him, and why he feels there’s still hope for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s latest offering. Excerpts from that conversation: WION: To create the title track for ‘Toofaan’, an Amazon Prime Video film, made by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and featuring Frahan Akhtar—that must have been huge for you. How did all that come along? D’Evil: An unexpected text came from Farhan Akhtar. When I called him he said that Ankur Tiwari is a singer/songwriter and music supervisor for the movie 'Gully Boy'. Had suggested my name for this project. I was very excited. I'm a huge fan of Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar. I grew up watching their films. This was a dream project for me. I immediately said 'yes'. WION: Your journey has been a fascinating one—from a chawl in Dadar to sharing the writing credits for ‘Apna Time Ayega’—how did you know that lyric poetry was your true calling in life? D’Evil: I wanted to make music after being inspired by various artists globally and in my own country. Coming from a chawl in Mumbai, I was exposed to all types of music in different languages. This made me feel like I have something I like . So I tried writing some rhymes and some poem as a teenager. Later, when I was introduced to hip-hop. I saw that rapping is for someone like me. I enjoyed my discovery of rap and hip-hop. WION: Before being called D’Evil, you had another moniker: Hustler. What’s the story behind that? D’Evil: Hustler was something I was known as during the initial phase of my career as a rapper. I was a battle rapper. And would go by Hustler is also an adult magazine and I didn't wanna share my name with them. So my friend's suggested me to go with D'Evil. WION: You are signed with DIVINE’s independent record and have worked with him a few times. What is the biggest lesson—both as a person and rapper—that you have been handed down by him? D’Evil: Vivian aka DIVINE is an extraordinary personality. I have taken many lessons from him and his experiences. However my favourite one is that , you should always give back something from what you received. He taught me to share. WION: You are a scriptwriter, too. What are you working on? What have you written so far? Tell us more. D’Evil: I had a job as a script writer. I used to write scripts for TV commercials and small radio ad spots. Also I have written jingles and dialogues for small projects. It was a job where I used to get a salary. There is tons of content I wrote to make ends meet. WION: A number of people have made the transition from Mumbai’s underground scene to mainstream Bollywood. Does that ever scare you that your talent may get lost in the crowd? D’Evil: If I'm scared of that, I cannot be a rapper. This fear and pressure is what makes me perform my best. And I want more competition because I love to prove myself again and again. People forget. WION: Although your track was fabulous, ‘Toofan’ didn’t do well in terms of reception. What do you say to that? D’Evil: The pandemic has changed the way people consume cinema. But I'm sure this film will grow on people slowly. After they realise what this film is trying to say. WION: Any fun/candid moments you had shared with Farhan that you would like to share with us? D’Evil: I have met him only a couple of times. But I do remember him singing my lyrics out loud when he saw me in the studio. It was a great sight. He was also wearing a hoodie with ‘Todun Taak’ on it. WION: You like Eminem and Snoop Dogg… what is it about them that prompted you to take up the notepad? You started at 16, right? D’Evil: Yes. At 16, we didn't have a voice or a platform to say what we needed to say. Getting inspired from Eminem and snoop , watching them do shows or rap in videos made me think that I should even use this medium to say what I want to.

Chawl to Cinema: Indian rapper D'Evil talks about his struggles, Farhan Akhtar and an extraordinary DIVINE

Watch exclusive interview of Retired LT. COL. Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir with WION. He is a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation war.

Retired LT. COL. Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir exclusive interview with WION

Afghan FM speaks to WION's Sidhant Sibal on ties with India, Chabahar, US proposal, Ghani proposal for election, Pakistan and terror.

Afghan FM Mohammad Hanif Atmar speaks to WION

Indian Army's Col Ashok Tara in 1971 was just 29 years old, and along with 2 Jawan went to save the life of the family of Bangladesh's father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During a daring rescue from the clutches of the Pakistani Army, Tara saved the life of Sheikh Hasina and her newborn child. Hasina is the current PM of Bangladesh.

Meet India Army's Col Ashok Tara, who save the life of Sheikh Hasina

EU envoy to India, Ugo Astuto has spoken exclusively to WION after the 2-day visit to J&K. He said the EU has taken note of the recent steps that have been taken by the Indian government, such as election at the district level and resumption of 4G internet services

Jammu & Kashmir: We have taken note of recent steps taken, says EU envoy

Watch the exclusive interview with Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan.

Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan speaks to WION's Palki Sharma Upadhyay

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admitted in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma that the relations between Malaysia and India deteriorated because of his comments on Kashmir.&nbsp;

"Well, it did because of my remarks on Kashmir. But, other than that the relationship was very good, even under my leadership," Mahathir said when asked whether the relations between both countries were hit.&nbsp;

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"It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir...": Former Malaysian PM <a href="https://twitter.com/chedetofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chedetofficial</a> talks to <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> on his controversial remarks on Jammu and Kashmir<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahathirMohamadOnWION?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahathirMohamadOnWION</a> <a href="https://t.co/juoGkmyyu2">pic.twitter.com/juoGkmyyu2</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1291746418198065153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-making-claims-in-south-china-sea-but-we-cannot-go-to-war-says-mahathir-mohamad-to-wion-318909">China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION</a>

The former&nbsp; Malaysian prime minister added&nbsp;that traditionally the relations with India have "been very good".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/would-like-to-send-zakir-naik-to-some-country-where-he-will-be-safe-says-mahathir-mohamad-to-wion-318916">Would like to send Zakir Naik to some country where he will be safe, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION</a>

"As you know we have a lot of people of Indian origin here in Malaysia and they still have connections in India."

However, the ex-PM said "some minor glitches" affected the relations, but, "very quickly we overcome such strains in our relationship".

He also hinted towards&nbsp;good relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his former counterpart was one of the earlier PMs who called him up when he won his second term.&nbsp;

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"In many ways he has done well internationally but then of course we need to understand India better under Modi because he is different from previous prime ministers," says <a href="https://twitter.com/chedetofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chedetofficial</a> on India's role at the world stage under PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahathirMohamadOnWION?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahathirMohamadOnWION</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> <a href="https://t.co/xsNGVGee7y">pic.twitter.com/xsNGVGee7y</a>
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"Apparently, we had met a long time ago, although I had forgotten and he was able to show a picture of us together from a long time ago, before he became the prime minister," Mahathir said.

"Well, we always want to maintain good relations, whoever may be the prime minister of India, it’s not something that we should take into consideration. Whoever is the prime minister we will develop good relations with the prime minister."

On his comments on Kashmir, he said he was speaking on events all over the world where some wrongs have been committed.&nbsp;

"It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir," he added.&nbsp;

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admitted in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma that the relations between Malaysia and India deteriorated because of his comments on Kashmir.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admitted in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma that the relations between Malaysia and India deteriorated because of his comments on Kashmir. "Well, it did because of my remarks on Kashmir. But, other than that the relationship was very good, even under my leadership," Mahathir said when asked whether the relations between both countries were hit. "It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir...": Former Malaysian PM @chedetofficial talks to @palkisu on his controversial remarks on Jammu and Kashmir#MahathirMohamadOnWION pic.twitter.com/juoGkmyyu2 — WION (@WIONews) August 7, 2020 × Also read | China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION The former Malaysian prime minister added that traditionally the relations with India have "been very good". Also read | Would like to send Zakir Naik to some country where he will be safe, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION "As you know we have a lot of people of Indian origin here in Malaysia and they still have connections in India." However, the ex-PM said "some minor glitches" affected the relations, but, "very quickly we overcome such strains in our relationship". He also hinted towards good relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his former counterpart was one of the earlier PMs who called him up when he won his second term. "In many ways he has done well internationally but then of course we need to understand India better under Modi because he is different from previous prime ministers," says @chedetofficial on India's role at the world stage under PM @narendramodi#MahathirMohamadOnWION @palkisu pic.twitter.com/xsNGVGee7y — WION (@WIONews) August 7, 2020 × "Apparently, we had met a long time ago, although I had forgotten and he was able to show a picture of us together from a long time ago, before he became the prime minister," Mahathir said. "Well, we always want to maintain good relations, whoever may be the prime minister of India, it’s not something that we should take into consideration. Whoever is the prime minister we will develop good relations with the prime minister." On his comments on Kashmir, he said he was speaking on events all over the world where some wrongs have been committed. "It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir," he added.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-PM Mahathir admits his comments on Kashmir strained India-Malaysia ties

In an exclusive interview with WION, Chris Millard and Adam Canning from the highly popular fan group The Barmy Army opened up about the lack of fans in cricket matches, future for fans amid COVID-19 pandemic, new norms, handing The Barmy Army 'Best overseas player award' to Virat Kohli and more.

WION Exclusive: England's Barmy Army opens up on matches behind closed doors, future for cricket fans and more

PGA Tour card holder and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about variety of things ranging from resumption of practice, life in lockdown, PGA Tour restart, players' form, Ryder Cup and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Anirban when I messaged you this morning you were set to tee off for a round, so how relieved are you to get back to playing again?

Anirban Lahiri: It's great to be back playing again. It was a huge relief when I got the clubs out. This lockdown period has been very tough for us athletes because our lives are centred around sport and it was suddenly taken away from us. So it was great to get back to what I love doing.

DSD: Was it an unfamiliar feeling when you hit that golf balls for the first time and did you hit it straight down the fairway?

Anirban Lahiri: It felt extremely strange, I don't think I have ever had so much time away from golf since I was in school. It almost felt like I was returning from my summer vacations in school because I didn't have any golf clubs back then. I was just happy to be back playing. Obviously it will take some time to return to my peak skill level.

DSD: Now usually such a long period without any action happens only when one is seriously injured, so how did you cope through this lockdown phase?

Anirban Lahiri: I don't believe the lockdown has been a terrible period for me as I got to spend some quality time with my 15-month old daughter. I also used this time to read and just get some much-needed rest. It has been a very hectic last five years for me on the PGA Tour, I have constantly been travelling. So it was great to be able to relax for a while, but that too got frustrating after about 30 days. I have been trying to stay fit by doing yoga, working out and eating healthy.

DSD: For you personally, a chance to introspect and plot a course to get back to your best form and also a way up the rankings. Also with the Olympics now a year away there is enough time to get back into the mix.

Anirban Lahiri: Before the scheduled Indian Open in March, my coach and I had drawn up a phase-wise plan to improve certain areas of my game that needed attention, which would help me get back to my best. My performances over the last two years have been extremely disappointing. We were in phase one of that plan when the lockdown began. Now that I have started playing a bit of golf again, I'm in touch with my coach. My participation in PGA Tour events depends on when international travel will resume. I would also like to spend 15 days with my coach in Ahmedabad, where he's based so that I can work on certain aspects of my game before I return to competitive golf. The Olympic postponement is actually a blessing for me because it gives me more time to secure qualification. This lockdown period has brought a lot of positives in my life and I will try to build on them.&nbsp;

<img alt="Anirban Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbe03d74-4306-40fb-9fa3-89db1d895ef9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Hkg10218701.jpg" />

DSD: You were in India when the PGA Tour abruptly shut down during the Players'&nbsp;Championships, at that time it was just a temporary break but perhaps no one had an idea of what they were dealing with.

Anirban Lahiri: The coronavirus crisis has affected all industries in the world, including sport. But hats off to the PGA Tour for being so proactive and putting a proper schedule out for the players. The PGA is one of the few major sporting organisations which has released a detailed plan to get the sport up and running. I have been involved in some form in the decision-making process and it has been a very difficult period for the PGA Tour. There are a lot of stakeholders in the game and their safety must be the priority. No one could have predicted the extent to which sport and life in general, would be affected by the crisis .it is good to see that there are signs of a return to some sort of normalcy, at least in golf. When the tour resumes, it will probably be a 'new normal' and it'll be interesting to see how the sport adapts. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and the PGA Tour could also be a model for other sports to follow amid the coronavirus pandemic. I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be part of the tour right from the get-go, but I'm delighted that I'll get to see some live golf again.

DSD: Is it safe to resume the PGA Tour in the USA, given the massive health crisis the country is in.

Anirban Lahiri: I have been part of the players' advisory council for the last three years and i must say that the pga tour has left no stone unturned in trying to set up an environment where everyone involved in the tour can stay as safe as possible in the current climate. There are extremely strict health protocols in place at every step. Players and caddies will be tested for the coronavirus before travelling to the event, upon arrival and also just before the tournament begins. They are going to stay in designated hotels and no family members are allowed to travel with them. Only one coach can accompany the player to the events. Chartered flights have been organised for travel between events, which will only carry essential personnel. These protocols are going to be followed for the first four events after the hiatus. There have been hours of work and a lot of deliberation after which the PGA Tour has come up with these safety measures. I feel that this is the safest possible environment that can be created for players, given the current situation. Obviously it is impossible to guarantee 100% safety of all individuals, there are still chances of people contracting the virus. In fact, there are protocols in place in case an individual on the tour contracts the virus during the event. All contingencies have been covered by the PGA Tour. The players obviously want to get back to action and earn their living, but the last thing they want is to contract the virus and get it home. I think most of the players' concerns have been addressed by the tour and now it is just a case of executing the measures and hoping everything goes well. If I were in America and able to travel to the events, I would definitely play.

DSD: Now the PGA Tour is primarily an American Tour but obviously the biggest and most prestigious professional tour in the world. Now unlike tennis, they do not need everyone to be available before resuming. But it is players like you who are from abroad that will have a problem getting into the US, it's not really fair on the non-American players.

Anirban Lahiri: That's the reality of the situation, it is certainly unfair for certain players but these are unprecedented times and certain compromises have to made. Although to tackle that situation, the PGA Tour has guaranteed that those players who were eligible to play on the tour in 2020, will retain their rights for the 2021 season. The European tour is also having six events in the UK at the start of its season and most countries are going to have mandatory quarantine protocols in place even for athletes, in order to protect the greater population. I don't think any athletes will be exempted from those quarantine periods. The massive advantage that the PGA Tour has is that it can hold the entire season in the USA.

<img alt="Anirban Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1940497c-7ab1-4444-be35-cfa2e4584503" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_HC7XX.jpg" />

It might not be fair on players living outside the US, but this is the best we can do at the moment. I can't participate in the first few events of the tour but I'm not complaining because I realise that the sport needs to resume in some form, it is about survival and getting through this tough phase. That is the primary concern. There are still some players who are uncomfortable playing in these circumstances, and it is their right to choose not to play. The ultimate choice to compete for lies with the player and no one has the right to judge that decision. It's a completely personal choice. Also, the other tours are looking at the PGA Tour to set the standard in terms of how to resume golf amid the pandemic. I know that the Asian Tour is definitely employing that strategy. In a sense, the PGA Tour is going to be the industry leader in setting a template for the sport to resume. There are always going to be different opinions, but personally I want to see the sport restart sooner rather than later.

DSD: At some point, you have to get back so then are you looking at a long stint in America till the end of the year because of these quarantine regulations.

Anirban Lahiri: I'm definitely going to have to be in the US for a while, whenever I go there. At some point, I will have to return to America because I live there. I love it here in India and this has almost been like a holiday to me because I'm not working. The problem I have right now is that I have no goal to work towards in a certain time frame, I don't know when flights will resume and when I'll be able to get back to playing competitive golf. As soon as I get a definite timeline, I will start mental and physical preparation for my return to action. Any athlete has to be in the right frame of mind to be able to prepare for an event, it is difficult to do so without a fixed deadline. I am patiently waiting for some decision to be made on international travel.

DSD: The action resume at the Charles Schwab Challenge and there's the stellar lineup on the cards. Does that just show the desperation of everyone to get back to playing again?

Anirban Lahiri: I spoke to some of the golfers who were part of the players' advisory council, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, and all of them just wanted to get back to the course again. It is how us golfers earn our living and not playing for 3-4 months is very hard on us as competitive athletes. It gets frustrating after a certain point of time and that's why we're seeing such a star-studded entry list at the first tournament after the break. We might see very strong fields heading into the other tournaments as well because so many events have been lost and players are desperate to pick up their ranking points in order to qualify for the fed-ex cup.

DSD: Most of the American golfers stay on golf courses and have been probably playing more regularly than say the likes of you. But there also has been a lack of competition. So are we going to see some strange names up the leaderboard?

Anirban Lahiri: Players will certainly be a bit rusty in the first few rounds, but I don't think it will last very long. Most of my friends in the US have continued to play golf because the lockdown measures there were nowhere near as strict as the restrictions in India. The situation in India would have been exponentially worse if such stringent measures would not have been adopted. I don't feel that we will see a lower standard of golf, we might get to see the depth in the PGA Tour with some of the lesser-known players coming to the fore and doing well, or it might be normal service for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka. It is hard to say but I don't think the overall standard of golf will drop substantially. As far as I know, no golf course in the US was shut for more than two weeks. Despite the situation being so grave in America, golf courses were still open. A lot of the pros must have practised together which also might be a big help to them.

<img alt="Anirban Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2a0ee7c3-0505-4c20-882c-ac715d69604c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9H4B3.jpg" />

DSD: Actually more than us it is professionals like you who would be able to pick up on minute details. Did you get a chance to watch some of the charity matches which featured the likes Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson?

Anirban Lahiri: I didn't watch any of the exhibition games. At the end of the day, they are just charity matches and they have got absolutely no correlation with what you'll see in competitive tournaments. Some of the golfers might hit great shots, but that isn't a reflection on how they will perform at the proper tour events, it's a completely different ball game.

DSD: Ryder Cup remains a huge talking point, you have played in team competitions before and you know how significant the atmosphere is, some like Ian Poulter thrive off it.so do you see it being held without fans or pushed back?

Anirban Lahiri: Team Europe would certainly prefer the Ryder Cup to be played without fans because it is happening in America. The golf course at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, is one of my favourites and it is ideal for match-play. I would personally not want to be in a team competition without fans. Team events are the only ones which come closest to golf becoming a stadium sport. There are fans at regular events as well but there is a special atmosphere that is created by fans during team competitions.

PGA Tour card holder and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about variety of things ranging from resumption of practice, life in lockdown, PGA Tour restart, players' form, Ryder Cup and much more.

PGA Tour card holder and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about variety of things ranging from resumption of practice, life in lockdown, PGA Tour restart, players' form, Ryder Cup and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Anirban when I messaged you this morning you were set to tee off for a round, so how relieved are you to get back to playing again? Anirban Lahiri: It's great to be back playing again. It was a huge relief when I got the clubs out. This lockdown period has been very tough for us athletes because our lives are centred around sport and it was suddenly taken away from us. So it was great to get back to what I love doing. DSD: Was it an unfamiliar feeling when you hit that golf balls for the first time and did you hit it straight down the fairway? Anirban Lahiri: It felt extremely strange, I don't think I have ever had so much time away from golf since I was in school. It almost felt like I was returning from my summer vacations in school because I didn't have any golf clubs back then. I was just happy to be back playing. Obviously it will take some time to return to my peak skill level. DSD: Now usually such a long period without any action happens only when one is seriously injured, so how did you cope through this lockdown phase? Anirban Lahiri: I don't believe the lockdown has been a terrible period for me as I got to spend some quality time with my 15-month old daughter. I also used this time to read and just get some much-needed rest. It has been a very hectic last five years for me on the PGA Tour, I have constantly been travelling. So it was great to be able to relax for a while, but that too got frustrating after about 30 days. I have been trying to stay fit by doing yoga, working out and eating healthy. DSD: For you personally, a chance to introspect and plot a course to get back to your best form and also a way up the rankings. Also with the Olympics now a year away there is enough time to get back into the mix. Anirban Lahiri: Before the scheduled Indian Open in March, my coach and I had drawn up a phase-wise plan to improve certain areas of my game that needed attention, which would help me get back to my best. My performances over the last two years have been extremely disappointing. We were in phase one of that plan when the lockdown began. Now that I have started playing a bit of golf again, I'm in touch with my coach. My participation in PGA Tour events depends on when international travel will resume. I would also like to spend 15 days with my coach in Ahmedabad, where he's based so that I can work on certain aspects of my game before I return to competitive golf. The Olympic postponement is actually a blessing for me because it gives me more time to secure qualification. This lockdown period has brought a lot of positives in my life and I will try to build on them. DSD: You were in India when the PGA Tour abruptly shut down during the Players' Championships, at that time it was just a temporary break but perhaps no one had an idea of what they were dealing with. Anirban Lahiri: The coronavirus crisis has affected all industries in the world, including sport. But hats off to the PGA Tour for being so proactive and putting a proper schedule out for the players. The PGA is one of the few major sporting organisations which has released a detailed plan to get the sport up and running. I have been involved in some form in the decision-making process and it has been a very difficult period for the PGA Tour. There are a lot of stakeholders in the game and their safety must be the priority. No one could have predicted the extent to which sport and life in general, would be affected by the crisis .it is good to see that there are signs of a return to some sort of normalcy, at least in golf. When the tour resumes, it will probably be a 'new normal' and it'll be interesting to see how the sport adapts. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and the PGA Tour could also be a model for other sports to follow amid the coronavirus pandemic. I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be part of the tour right from the get-go, but I'm delighted that I'll get to see some live golf again. DSD: Is it safe to resume the PGA Tour in the USA, given the massive health crisis the country is in. Anirban Lahiri: I have been part of the players' advisory council for the last three years and i must say that the pga tour has left no stone unturned in trying to set up an environment where everyone involved in the tour can stay as safe as possible in the current climate. There are extremely strict health protocols in place at every step. Players and caddies will be tested for the coronavirus before travelling to the event, upon arrival and also just before the tournament begins. They are going to stay in designated hotels and no family members are allowed to travel with them. Only one coach can accompany the player to the events. Chartered flights have been organised for travel between events, which will only carry essential personnel. These protocols are going to be followed for the first four events after the hiatus. There have been hours of work and a lot of deliberation after which the PGA Tour has come up with these safety measures. I feel that this is the safest possible environment that can be created for players, given the current situation. Obviously it is impossible to guarantee 100% safety of all individuals, there are still chances of people contracting the virus. In fact, there are protocols in place in case an individual on the tour contracts the virus during the event. All contingencies have been covered by the PGA Tour. The players obviously want to get back to action and earn their living, but the last thing they want is to contract the virus and get it home. I think most of the players' concerns have been addressed by the tour and now it is just a case of executing the measures and hoping everything goes well. If I were in America and able to travel to the events, I would definitely play. DSD: Now the PGA Tour is primarily an American Tour but obviously the biggest and most prestigious professional tour in the world. Now unlike tennis, they do not need everyone to be available before resuming. But it is players like you who are from abroad that will have a problem getting into the US, it's not really fair on the non-American players. Anirban Lahiri: That's the reality of the situation, it is certainly unfair for certain players but these are unprecedented times and certain compromises have to made. Although to tackle that situation, the PGA Tour has guaranteed that those players who were eligible to play on the tour in 2020, will retain their rights for the 2021 season. The European tour is also having six events in the UK at the start of its season and most countries are going to have mandatory quarantine protocols in place even for athletes, in order to protect the greater population. I don't think any athletes will be exempted from those quarantine periods. The massive advantage that the PGA Tour has is that it can hold the entire season in the USA. It might not be fair on players living outside the US, but this is the best we can do at the moment. I can't participate in the first few events of the tour but I'm not complaining because I realise that the sport needs to resume in some form, it is about survival and getting through this tough phase. That is the primary concern. There are still some players who are uncomfortable playing in these circumstances, and it is their right to choose not to play. The ultimate choice to compete for lies with the player and no one has the right to judge that decision. It's a completely personal choice. Also, the other tours are looking at the PGA Tour to set the standard in terms of how to resume golf amid the pandemic. I know that the Asian Tour is definitely employing that strategy. In a sense, the PGA Tour is going to be the industry leader in setting a template for the sport to resume. There are always going to be different opinions, but personally I want to see the sport restart sooner rather than later. DSD: At some point, you have to get back so then are you looking at a long stint in America till the end of the year because of these quarantine regulations. Anirban Lahiri: I'm definitely going to have to be in the US for a while, whenever I go there. At some point, I will have to return to America because I live there. I love it here in India and this has almost been like a holiday to me because I'm not working. The problem I have right now is that I have no goal to work towards in a certain time frame, I don't know when flights will resume and when I'll be able to get back to playing competitive golf. As soon as I get a definite timeline, I will start mental and physical preparation for my return to action. Any athlete has to be in the right frame of mind to be able to prepare for an event, it is difficult to do so without a fixed deadline. I am patiently waiting for some decision to be made on international travel. DSD: The action resume at the Charles Schwab Challenge and there's the stellar lineup on the cards. Does that just show the desperation of everyone to get back to playing again? Anirban Lahiri: I spoke to some of the golfers who were part of the players' advisory council, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, and all of them just wanted to get back to the course again. It is how us golfers earn our living and not playing for 3-4 months is very hard on us as competitive athletes. It gets frustrating after a certain point of time and that's why we're seeing such a star-studded entry list at the first tournament after the break. We might see very strong fields heading into the other tournaments as well because so many events have been lost and players are desperate to pick up their ranking points in order to qualify for the fed-ex cup. DSD: Most of the American golfers stay on golf courses and have been probably playing more regularly than say the likes of you. But there also has been a lack of competition. So are we going to see some strange names up the leaderboard? Anirban Lahiri: Players will certainly be a bit rusty in the first few rounds, but I don't think it will last very long. Most of my friends in the US have continued to play golf because the lockdown measures there were nowhere near as strict as the restrictions in India. The situation in India would have been exponentially worse if such stringent measures would not have been adopted. I don't feel that we will see a lower standard of golf, we might get to see the depth in the PGA Tour with some of the lesser-known players coming to the fore and doing well, or it might be normal service for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka. It is hard to say but I don't think the overall standard of golf will drop substantially. As far as I know, no golf course in the US was shut for more than two weeks. Despite the situation being so grave in America, golf courses were still open. A lot of the pros must have practised together which also might be a big help to them. DSD: Actually more than us it is professionals like you who would be able to pick up on minute details. Did you get a chance to watch some of the charity matches which featured the likes Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson? Anirban Lahiri: I didn't watch any of the exhibition games. At the end of the day, they are just charity matches and they have got absolutely no correlation with what you'll see in competitive tournaments. Some of the golfers might hit great shots, but that isn't a reflection on how they will perform at the proper tour events, it's a completely different ball game. DSD: Ryder Cup remains a huge talking point, you have played in team competitions before and you know how significant the atmosphere is, some like Ian Poulter thrive off it.so do you see it being held without fans or pushed back? Anirban Lahiri: Team Europe would certainly prefer the Ryder Cup to be played without fans because it is happening in America. The golf course at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, is one of my favourites and it is ideal for match-play. I would personally not want to be in a team competition without fans. Team events are the only ones which come closest to golf becoming a stadium sport. There are fans at regular events as well but there is a special atmosphere that is created by fans during team competitions.

Lahiri: PGA Tour restart will set the template for resumption of golf

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire sporting world to an unusual halt. The biggest sporting tournaments have gotten either cancelled or postponed including chess tournaments. Five-time world champion and India's first-ever grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, is currently on self-isolation in Frankfurt, Germany. The 50-year-old, Padma Vibhushan awardee, was scheduled to return to India, from Germany, on Monday (March 16) but the COVID-19 pandemic has left him with no other substitute than to stay in the foreign land.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chess-grandmaster-viswanathan-anand-stuck-in-germany-due-to-covid-19-scare-286601" hreflang="en">Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand stuck in Germany due to COVID-19 scare</a>

"Yes, it is strange staying in a self-isolation but this is the best possible way to curb the spread, right? Staying all locked alone is not something that we do on a daily purpose but with things escalating to such an adverse situation, I am left with no choice," Anand told WION in an exclusive chat.

Anand, who was in Frankfurt to play for SC Baden OOO in Bundesliga Chess, is staying in touch with his family and friends during his free time. While it is natural that his family is worried about his extended stay in Germany, Anand reckons not travelling from the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e, Europe is the best possible option right now.

<h2>"Constant touch with my family and friends"</h2>

"Yes, I am in constant touch with my family and friends. But to be honest, life is pretty normal, I am not doing anything extra apart from staying home. Whatever happening in the entire world is not something I ever imagined but staying behind closed doors is the best way to stay safe."

The multiple-time World Chess Champion, however, will continue with his maiden commentary assignment from his apartment in Frankfurt. He is set to take up the commentator's role for the FIDE Candidates tournament that is set to take place at Yekaterinburg in Russia from Tuesday. However, all he needs is the internet to start his stint as a commentator. "Being a chess player, all I need is the internet. It is going to be a pretty exciting tournament and I am looking forward to the commentary stint, albeit from here in Germany."

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic, there has been a bit of scare relating to the novel COVID-19. While Europe has been announced as the 'epicenter' of the coronavirus pandemic, Anand urges everyone to follow the precautionary measures. "Staying isolated is the best thing to do with the situation getting worse with each day. Even though I want to return home, travelling in Europe is not the best of ideas. Even the World Health Organization has now declared Europe as the epicenter of coronavirus, so I hope everyone stays at their place and remains safe, here and also in India," Anand concluded.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire sporting world to an unusual halt. The biggest sporting tournaments have gotten either cancelled or postponed including chess tournaments.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire sporting world to an unusual halt. The biggest sporting tournaments have gotten either cancelled or postponed including chess tournaments. Five-time world champion and India's first-ever grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, is currently on self-isolation in Frankfurt, Germany. The 50-year-old, Padma Vibhushan awardee, was scheduled to return to India, from Germany, on Monday (March 16) but the COVID-19 pandemic has left him with no other substitute than to stay in the foreign land. Also read: Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand stuck in Germany due to COVID-19 scare "Yes, it is strange staying in a self-isolation but this is the best possible way to curb the spread, right? Staying all locked alone is not something that we do on a daily purpose but with things escalating to such an adverse situation, I am left with no choice," Anand told WION in an exclusive chat. Anand, who was in Frankfurt to play for SC Baden OOO in Bundesliga Chess, is staying in touch with his family and friends during his free time. While it is natural that his family is worried about his extended stay in Germany, Anand reckons not travelling from the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e, Europe is the best possible option right now. "Constant touch with my family and friends" "Yes, I am in constant touch with my family and friends. But to be honest, life is pretty normal, I am not doing anything extra apart from staying home. Whatever happening in the entire world is not something I ever imagined but staying behind closed doors is the best way to stay safe." The multiple-time World Chess Champion, however, will continue with his maiden commentary assignment from his apartment in Frankfurt. He is set to take up the commentator's role for the FIDE Candidates tournament that is set to take place at Yekaterinburg in Russia from Tuesday. However, all he needs is the internet to start his stint as a commentator. "Being a chess player, all I need is the internet. It is going to be a pretty exciting tournament and I am looking forward to the commentary stint, albeit from here in Germany." With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic, there has been a bit of scare relating to the novel COVID-19. While Europe has been announced as the 'epicenter' of the coronavirus pandemic, Anand urges everyone to follow the precautionary measures. "Staying isolated is the best thing to do with the situation getting worse with each day. Even though I want to return home, travelling in Europe is not the best of ideas. Even the World Health Organization has now declared Europe as the epicenter of coronavirus, so I hope everyone stays at their place and remains safe, here and also in India," Anand concluded.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Left with no choice,' Viswanathan Anand stuck in Germany amid coronavirus pandemic

Speaking world leaders on how climate change needs immediate attention.

WION's exclusive conversation with world leaders on climate change

Seychelles President Danny Faure is coming on a state visit to India. Before the visit begins later this month, he speaks to WION's Amitabh Pashupati Revi as part of our Global Leadership Series on the history of ties between India and the island nation, the strategic position of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and how the ties between the two nations will move forward.

Here is the full transcript of the interview:

WION: Seychellois President Danny Faure was sworn in in October 2016. He also holds the Defence, Public Administration and Legal Affairs portfolios. He’s been a minister since 1998, oversaw IMF reforms, served as Vice President and is now warmly hosting us in Victoria, Mahe - at the state house in Seychelles.

President Faure: Thank you.

WION: The ties between India and Seychelles go way back to time when the immigrants had come in. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. In Indira Gandhi’s time, Rajiv Gandhi’s time two coups were probably foiled and now we are still moving forward. Prime Minister Modi and you will be meeting for the third time this year.

President Faure: Yes, and it’s a sign of the relationship that we have an excellent relationship - the ties between our two people, two governments. So this is it is in this context.

WION: PM Modi, when he also started out on Indian Ocean region travels, Seychelles was one of the places where he came in 2015 and there were various agreements that were signed. You are going now on a historic your first state visit to New Delhi and we are looking forward to being a gracious host with you as well. Cooperation between India and Seychelles is so multifaceted. Trade, cultural, military, security, economy - it’s a very multifaceted relationship.

President Faure: Because it’s a partnership. The partnership is not only in one sphere of development and we have always had this, as I said, this excellent relationship with and friendship with India and the partnership that we have with India is one which is of mutual respect. It’s one based on trust and we share common aspirations in the world that we belong to. We both as nations stand for peace, we stand for development we also stand for the sustainable development of our people.

WION: The prime minister’s initiative was also called Sagar which in Hindi means sea but it’s again reflecting the same aspirations that you just mentioned - of partnership. It’s not of inequality, it’s of give and take, of realising each other's potential and working towards something better for the entire region while you are doing that individually and as countries as well.

President Faure: India, your population is over 1 billion, ours is less than 100,000.

WION: Just about reaching there soon.

President Faure: So basically it is no longer about the size of the country. It is fundamentally human development and human dignity and the aspirations of our people. So this is what the relationship is all about.

WION: Being a 153-island archipelago stretched over such vast areas of sea and your economic interest, anti-piracy, anti-drugs, that’s one area where India has been and can continue to really help Seychelles.

President Faure: Over the last 40 years since our independence, we realised that we have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar. We also realised that it was not possible for us to build the capacity or have the necessary assets. So India, as our neighbour, good friend and the partnership we have, has been helping Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in the defence and in the security and because of the support that we have received from India, we have been able to build our own defence forces over the years.

WION: When you are talking about the military cooperation, what has been talked about of late this year is the facility at the Assumption Island. Is it still stuck internally, politically?

President Faure: India and its Prime Minister understand the Seychelles position. And what I am happy about is that there hasn’t been any moment where the government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics. India is a democracy, ours we are an evolving democracy and we are building institutions. As President, I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our Parliament, in our National Assembly and the difference between your system and our system is that a ratification has to go through Parliament. Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak there is the agreement that won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain. We will continue to do that on our own as the government of Seychelles - to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters. We will continue to do that on our own.

WION: Again like you are saying the Indian government and the government of Seychelles is in a partnership and there has been nothing thrust on you or you are not trying to influence anything that’s happening here. Have you understood or can you explain to us why there is opposition? Is it only because of environmental concerns? Is it because of concerns that a foreign country is taking over a part of your country?

President Faure: I think basically the concerns are genuine and fundamentally it came out as a wrong communication and I would make a statement internationally, that India was about to set up a base and that was not the intention of the government of India. The intention of the government of India was to have a facility but this facility would have a joint operation. Secondly, there has been real concerns in the area of environment because Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage site so these were the concerns. But, the idea of having a small, I repeat, a small coast guard facility to protect our islands and in the area of security. Maritime security and defence remains part of the strategy of the defence of the Seychelles.

WION: President Faure, if I have understood you have worked in this office, in this state, it has been projected as bipartisan kind of leadership. You gave up the leadership of your own party for those reasons is how we see it. Is that moving forward in terms of getting the opposition especially in this particular project or do you think that the domestic politics, the domestic ambitions of political leaders in the opposition are also partly the reason for say opposition like this on this issue?

President Faure: Well I think they have expressed themselves openly in Parliament and out of Parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly. So I understand the position and I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time as politicians it is a relationship between two people.

WION: You are visualising the facility in the long term. Analysts who looks at this region - the Indian Ocean region - see it also as game between big regional part India China. India looks at China in some senses as trying to encircle it with the string of pearls. Is China involved in any aspect in Seychelles itself because we all know they are all the way up to Djibouti?

President Faure: Yeah, historical contexts you know. We have had Portuguese, Spanish, European who have traveled the oceans. It is only, I would say, the last 15 years that China is developing, trying to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. India is also developing so both nations are catching up, but they are doing the right things for their own people. India is dealing with abject poverty and there is growth, in fact, you have achieved average growth over the last decade of around 4 to 6% so has China and the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean has increased tremendously, and Africa as a continent has also been developing. We leaders in Africa we are no longer stuck into the problems that we had 25 years ago fighting amongst one another, we are now trying to deal with the problems of poverty, diseases, industrialisation so we are looking at the welfare of our countries we want to develop. So as a country the more we develop... we have been able to do that on our own but we have received assistance from all partners. China has been present in Africa and it has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its socio-economic development and India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship, this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.

WION: Or either side. It’s not as if smaller countries try to play off the bigger countries to gain the most for themselves.

President Faure: No no, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.

WION: Again if you look at the ways that India and China have been developing over the years and developing the outreach, well they seem to be a different kind of model in India. It is more a partnership mould, whether its cultural ties that have been there through decades, it seems to many that China imposed some kind of chequebook diplomacy which lands counties into debt. We have seen things happening in Sri Lanka, we have seen the Maldives as well. Is that something you are keenly aware of or is that something that doesn’t worry you at all?

President Faure: No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of India. I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, size of your country, size of the population, but genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles. Our relationship has never been one of being dictated by big country or a small country and I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles' relationship will grow with both India and China.

WION: Again you said that the relationship between the two countries will outlive both leaders and parties that are currently in power indicating, of course, we get what you are indicating that India’s military and security cooperation with Seychelles has been immense. If my figures are right 50% of military and naval assets were given. A Dornier has been given, another one will be. About 70% of your military has been trained so there has been a close interlinkage but it's not as has been portrayed a military base being set up. We have had over the last two years eight Indian naval ships, which do turn around, last year it was 11 so that is continuing.

President Faure: It will continue, more will come so it is a genuine relationship. It is a partnership. The main source of the capacity and capabilities we have is India and here I can also state that we will continue with our Indian military cooperation because it has been one based on mutual respect and trust and our military personnel have benefited a lot over the last 40 years through a lot of training. We have thousands of Seychellois who have received high tech training in India. We don't talk about it but I should be talking about it and I think it is important that we thank the Indian government for that. In a lot of our development, we could not have been in a position where we are today without the Indian skilled labourers who have come to Seychelles. They came many years ago and they keep coming and we respect them. Our trade also in terms of retail sector development has grown - so it is in this context of relationship that I believe that people need to appreciate the warmth that we have between our two people.

WION: And that warmth seems to be increasing also in terms of tourism. If you look at figures again I think it is increasing 20% annually. Indian tourists coming into Seychelles. Would I be right in saying initially to preserve the ecosystem something like Bhutan's model Seychelles encouraged high end and high paying tourist, not tourists in large numbers who could destroy the ecosystem and is that model changing in any manner to get more tourists to come in?

President Faure: There is always going to be a pressure. But our policy has one centre on one sustainable development. Seychelles is a small country, very small and has a fragile ecosystem. We want to tap high-end tourism but we need space for other tourists to come to Seychelles, but at the same time we need to be mindful of the fragility of our country in terms of its ecosystem and the long term development. From the point of view of sustainable development we just need to have this balance between environment and tourism and the amount of tourists at any one time point in the country. Last year we had over 300 and 50 thousand and I think there is a question that we need to manage it, but I as a President I also look at the yield that needs to come from tourism and also to ensure that there is what I called value chain in development that the tourism becomes the main revenue main source of income but what we derive from tourism should also help other sectors of the economy.

WION: The Seychelles and your policies are known for green economics that the blue economics that the Seychelles follows in terms of sustainable development in global warming. How the world is dealing with it? Where does the Seychelles and where do you stand with how the US is walking out of deals with where financial aid would have been given to smaller countries to bypass the normal root. How worried are you?

President Faure: We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity, not for our country individually, that's the root for humanity. I think that over time those who have questioned that will come back but I think the majority of the citizens of this world will continue to realise that their leaders took the right decision and it is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillitate - not to change positions as we go forward.

WION: President, how worried are you because when you come in from the air and you see beautiful islands you are also acutely aware of how a slight rise in sea levels can wipe out so much of humanity and everything else the species around human habitation.

President Faure: Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress, go back into abject poverty or remain marginalised. I think the question of our time today is climate change and it’s for low-income countries, middle-income countries and high income countries. In the recent Davos meeting the world leaders read a report that the number one threat to development is climate change. And, it’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact, it is reality. We from small countries say that and I am happy that the country like India has embarked upon a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership.

WION: President, in a nutshell, where will you describe Indian and Seychelles currently are and where would you see us going?

President Faure: I would say that we have a bright future together. India is developing, in fact very fast and we are not so far from India. We will benefit from trade, from tourism, from technology, from the research that you are doing. So we will continue to have this partnership. My administration will build on this partnership and as I said it is a partnership that is there to stay and that’s the future of the relationship that we have with India.

WION: President Faure, a partnership to stay. Thank you on that note, but I have a couple of questions with you to show to our viewers all over the world now, a few personal questions about your life outside the state house. You were talking about continuity and change in Seychelles. Continuity in terms of your past, immigrants, colonial past and yet you’re moving into the modern age and this state house perhaps exemplifies that a lot in term of heritage but, you’re trying to move ahead into a modern era.

President Faure: Exactly.

WION: A little bit of history on the state house? Now, of course the Presidents don’t live here anymore.

President Faure: No, No. Our first founding President Mancham, in the colonial times, the Governors did. President Rene, Michel, none of them and I don’t live here.

WION: You have 5 children, 4 grandchildren.

President Faure: Yeah I’ve got 5 children, 4 grandchildren.

WION: After you took over, you made a speech in the Assembly saying the Seychelles, the country is the main focus, priority.

President Faure: Yes. I concentrate all my heart, my time, my passion.

WION: Does your family complain, like other families - that the grandfather doesn’t have time for them?

President Faure: I see them during the weekend. Sundays is when I spend time with them.

WION: Thank You President Faure, for being such a gracious host and we hope we will do the same for you in another month.

President Faure: Thank You.

This is a full transcript of WION's interview with Seychelles President Danny Faure. Faure was interviewed by WION's Amitabh Revi

Seychelles President Danny Faure is coming on a state visit to India. Before the visit begins later this month, he speaks to WION's Amitabh Pashupati Revi as part of our Global Leadership Series on the history of ties between India and the island nation, the strategic position of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and how the ties between the two nations will move forward. Here is the full transcript of the interview: WION: Seychellois President Danny Faure was sworn in in October 2016. He also holds the Defence, Public Administration and Legal Affairs portfolios. He’s been a minister since 1998, oversaw IMF reforms, served as Vice President and is now warmly hosting us in Victoria, Mahe - at the state house in Seychelles. President Faure: Thank you. WION: The ties between India and Seychelles go way back to time when the immigrants had come in. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. In Indira Gandhi’s time, Rajiv Gandhi’s time two coups were probably foiled and now we are still moving forward. Prime Minister Modi and you will be meeting for the third time this year. President Faure: Yes, and it’s a sign of the relationship that we have an excellent relationship - the ties between our two people, two governments. So this is it is in this context. WION: PM Modi, when he also started out on Indian Ocean region travels, Seychelles was one of the places where he came in 2015 and there were various agreements that were signed. You are going now on a historic your first state visit to New Delhi and we are looking forward to being a gracious host with you as well. Cooperation between India and Seychelles is so multifaceted. Trade, cultural, military, security, economy - it’s a very multifaceted relationship. President Faure: Because it’s a partnership. The partnership is not only in one sphere of development and we have always had this, as I said, this excellent relationship with and friendship with India and the partnership that we have with India is one which is of mutual respect. It’s one based on trust and we share common aspirations in the world that we belong to. We both as nations stand for peace, we stand for development we also stand for the sustainable development of our people. WION: The prime minister’s initiative was also called Sagar which in Hindi means sea but it’s again reflecting the same aspirations that you just mentioned - of partnership. It’s not of inequality, it’s of give and take, of realising each other's potential and working towards something better for the entire region while you are doing that individually and as countries as well. President Faure: India, your population is over 1 billion, ours is less than 100,000. WION: Just about reaching there soon. President Faure: So basically it is no longer about the size of the country. It is fundamentally human development and human dignity and the aspirations of our people. So this is what the relationship is all about. WION: Being a 153-island archipelago stretched over such vast areas of sea and your economic interest, anti-piracy, anti-drugs, that’s one area where India has been and can continue to really help Seychelles. President Faure: Over the last 40 years since our independence, we realised that we have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar. We also realised that it was not possible for us to build the capacity or have the necessary assets. So India, as our neighbour, good friend and the partnership we have, has been helping Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in the defence and in the security and because of the support that we have received from India, we have been able to build our own defence forces over the years. WION: When you are talking about the military cooperation, what has been talked about of late this year is the facility at the Assumption Island. Is it still stuck internally, politically? President Faure: India and its Prime Minister understand the Seychelles position. And what I am happy about is that there hasn’t been any moment where the government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics. India is a democracy, ours we are an evolving democracy and we are building institutions. As President, I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our Parliament, in our National Assembly and the difference between your system and our system is that a ratification has to go through Parliament. Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak there is the agreement that won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain. We will continue to do that on our own as the government of Seychelles - to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters. We will continue to do that on our own. WION: Again like you are saying the Indian government and the government of Seychelles is in a partnership and there has been nothing thrust on you or you are not trying to influence anything that’s happening here. Have you understood or can you explain to us why there is opposition? Is it only because of environmental concerns? Is it because of concerns that a foreign country is taking over a part of your country? President Faure: I think basically the concerns are genuine and fundamentally it came out as a wrong communication and I would make a statement internationally, that India was about to set up a base and that was not the intention of the government of India. The intention of the government of India was to have a facility but this facility would have a joint operation. Secondly, there has been real concerns in the area of environment because Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage site so these were the concerns. But, the idea of having a small, I repeat, a small coast guard facility to protect our islands and in the area of security. Maritime security and defence remains part of the strategy of the defence of the Seychelles. WION: President Faure, if I have understood you have worked in this office, in this state, it has been projected as bipartisan kind of leadership. You gave up the leadership of your own party for those reasons is how we see it. Is that moving forward in terms of getting the opposition especially in this particular project or do you think that the domestic politics, the domestic ambitions of political leaders in the opposition are also partly the reason for say opposition like this on this issue? President Faure: Well I think they have expressed themselves openly in Parliament and out of Parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly. So I understand the position and I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time as politicians it is a relationship between two people. WION: You are visualising the facility in the long term. Analysts who looks at this region - the Indian Ocean region - see it also as game between big regional part India China. India looks at China in some senses as trying to encircle it with the string of pearls. Is China involved in any aspect in Seychelles itself because we all know they are all the way up to Djibouti? President Faure: Yeah, historical contexts you know. We have had Portuguese, Spanish, European who have traveled the oceans. It is only, I would say, the last 15 years that China is developing, trying to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. India is also developing so both nations are catching up, but they are doing the right things for their own people. India is dealing with abject poverty and there is growth, in fact, you have achieved average growth over the last decade of around 4 to 6% so has China and the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean has increased tremendously, and Africa as a continent has also been developing. We leaders in Africa we are no longer stuck into the problems that we had 25 years ago fighting amongst one another, we are now trying to deal with the problems of poverty, diseases, industrialisation so we are looking at the welfare of our countries we want to develop. So as a country the more we develop... we have been able to do that on our own but we have received assistance from all partners. China has been present in Africa and it has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its socio-economic development and India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship, this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all. WION: Or either side. It’s not as if smaller countries try to play off the bigger countries to gain the most for themselves. President Faure: No no, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India. WION: Again if you look at the ways that India and China have been developing over the years and developing the outreach, well they seem to be a different kind of model in India. It is more a partnership mould, whether its cultural ties that have been there through decades, it seems to many that China imposed some kind of chequebook diplomacy which lands counties into debt. We have seen things happening in Sri Lanka, we have seen the Maldives as well. Is that something you are keenly aware of or is that something that doesn’t worry you at all? President Faure: No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of India. I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, size of your country, size of the population, but genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles. Our relationship has never been one of being dictated by big country or a small country and I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles' relationship will grow with both India and China. WION: Again you said that the relationship between the two countries will outlive both leaders and parties that are currently in power indicating, of course, we get what you are indicating that India’s military and security cooperation with Seychelles has been immense. If my figures are right 50% of military and naval assets were given. A Dornier has been given, another one will be. About 70% of your military has been trained so there has been a close interlinkage but it's not as has been portrayed a military base being set up. We have had over the last two years eight Indian naval ships, which do turn around, last year it was 11 so that is continuing. President Faure: It will continue, more will come so it is a genuine relationship. It is a partnership. The main source of the capacity and capabilities we have is India and here I can also state that we will continue with our Indian military cooperation because it has been one based on mutual respect and trust and our military personnel have benefited a lot over the last 40 years through a lot of training. We have thousands of Seychellois who have received high tech training in India. We don't talk about it but I should be talking about it and I think it is important that we thank the Indian government for that. In a lot of our development, we could not have been in a position where we are today without the Indian skilled labourers who have come to Seychelles. They came many years ago and they keep coming and we respect them. Our trade also in terms of retail sector development has grown - so it is in this context of relationship that I believe that people need to appreciate the warmth that we have between our two people. WION: And that warmth seems to be increasing also in terms of tourism. If you look at figures again I think it is increasing 20% annually. Indian tourists coming into Seychelles. Would I be right in saying initially to preserve the ecosystem something like Bhutan's model Seychelles encouraged high end and high paying tourist, not tourists in large numbers who could destroy the ecosystem and is that model changing in any manner to get more tourists to come in? President Faure: There is always going to be a pressure. But our policy has one centre on one sustainable development. Seychelles is a small country, very small and has a fragile ecosystem. We want to tap high-end tourism but we need space for other tourists to come to Seychelles, but at the same time we need to be mindful of the fragility of our country in terms of its ecosystem and the long term development. From the point of view of sustainable development we just need to have this balance between environment and tourism and the amount of tourists at any one time point in the country. Last year we had over 300 and 50 thousand and I think there is a question that we need to manage it, but I as a President I also look at the yield that needs to come from tourism and also to ensure that there is what I called value chain in development that the tourism becomes the main revenue main source of income but what we derive from tourism should also help other sectors of the economy. WION: The Seychelles and your policies are known for green economics that the blue economics that the Seychelles follows in terms of sustainable development in global warming. How the world is dealing with it? Where does the Seychelles and where do you stand with how the US is walking out of deals with where financial aid would have been given to smaller countries to bypass the normal root. How worried are you? President Faure: We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity, not for our country individually, that's the root for humanity. I think that over time those who have questioned that will come back but I think the majority of the citizens of this world will continue to realise that their leaders took the right decision and it is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillitate - not to change positions as we go forward. WION: President, how worried are you because when you come in from the air and you see beautiful islands you are also acutely aware of how a slight rise in sea levels can wipe out so much of humanity and everything else the species around human habitation. President Faure: Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress, go back into abject poverty or remain marginalised. I think the question of our time today is climate change and it’s for low-income countries, middle-income countries and high income countries. In the recent Davos meeting the world leaders read a report that the number one threat to development is climate change. And, it’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact, it is reality. We from small countries say that and I am happy that the country like India has embarked upon a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership. WION: President, in a nutshell, where will you describe Indian and Seychelles currently are and where would you see us going? President Faure: I would say that we have a bright future together. India is developing, in fact very fast and we are not so far from India. We will benefit from trade, from tourism, from technology, from the research that you are doing. So we will continue to have this partnership. My administration will build on this partnership and as I said it is a partnership that is there to stay and that’s the future of the relationship that we have with India. WION: President Faure, a partnership to stay. Thank you on that note, but I have a couple of questions with you to show to our viewers all over the world now, a few personal questions about your life outside the state house. You were talking about continuity and change in Seychelles. Continuity in terms of your past, immigrants, colonial past and yet you’re moving into the modern age and this state house perhaps exemplifies that a lot in term of heritage but, you’re trying to move ahead into a modern era. President Faure: Exactly. WION: A little bit of history on the state house? Now, of course the Presidents don’t live here anymore. President Faure: No, No. Our first founding President Mancham, in the colonial times, the Governors did. President Rene, Michel, none of them and I don’t live here. WION: You have 5 children, 4 grandchildren. President Faure: Yeah I’ve got 5 children, 4 grandchildren. WION: After you took over, you made a speech in the Assembly saying the Seychelles, the country is the main focus, priority. President Faure: Yes. I concentrate all my heart, my time, my passion. WION: Does your family complain, like other families - that the grandfather doesn’t have time for them? President Faure: I see them during the weekend. Sundays is when I spend time with them. WION: Thank You President Faure, for being such a gracious host and we hope we will do the same for you in another month. President Faure: Thank You.

India has been with Seychelles in good times and bad: President Danny Faure to WION

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi

Is China behind the opposition to the Seychelles-India island naval facility?&nbsp;

The Seychellois President, in an exclusive interview, told WION: “China has been present in Africa and China has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its social-economic development like India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So, we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship so this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.”

The Seychelles-India deal was initially reached in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Victoria.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/stalled-india-seychelles-naval-facility-deal-will-outlive-any-opposition-president-faure-to-wion-142219">Stalled India-Seychelles naval facility deal will outlive any opposition, says President Faure</a>

The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption Island. The island is strategically located on key Indian Ocean routes and will give — if and when set up — New Delhi a position on vital lanes.&nbsp;

The deal has to be ratified by the Seychellois National Assembly but it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament.

President Faure also went to great lengths to expain to WION that his country was not part of the so-called Great Game in the Indian Ocean between India and China.&nbsp;

He said: “No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of India, and I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, the size of your country, size of your population, but both have genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles and our relationship has never been one of being dictated to by a big country . I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles, our relationship will grow with both India and China.”

The Seychellois President also denied his country is playing off India and China in what analysts say is China’s encirclement of India in a ‘string of pearls theory’&nbsp;

Answering a WION question on whether smaller countries try to play off bigger countries to gain the most for themselves, President Faure said, “No, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.”

An India-Seychelles deal to build a naval facility on an island in the African archipelago is stuck. But that's not because of China, the Seychelles President told WION

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi Is China behind the opposition to the Seychelles-India island naval facility? The Seychellois President, in an exclusive interview, told WION: “China has been present in Africa and China has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its social-economic development like India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So, we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship so this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.” The Seychelles-India deal was initially reached in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Victoria. Also read: Stalled India-Seychelles naval facility deal will outlive any opposition, says President Faure The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption Island. The island is strategically located on key Indian Ocean routes and will give — if and when set up — New Delhi a position on vital lanes. The deal has to be ratified by the Seychellois National Assembly but it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament. President Faure also went to great lengths to expain to WION that his country was not part of the so-called Great Game in the Indian Ocean between India and China. He said: “No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of India, and I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, the size of your country, size of your population, but both have genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles and our relationship has never been one of being dictated to by a big country . I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles, our relationship will grow with both India and China.” The Seychellois President also denied his country is playing off India and China in what analysts say is China’s encirclement of India in a ‘string of pearls theory’ Answering a WION question on whether smaller countries try to play off bigger countries to gain the most for themselves, President Faure said, “No, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.”

No pressure from China against India: Seychelles President Danny Faure tells WION in exclusive interview

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