ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Biswajit Chatterjee, the veteran actor, singer and filmmaker whose career spans seven decades, revisits Bollywood’s golden era. He shares colorful memories of Guru Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Raj Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, Rekha and Dharmendra. The conversation explores iconic songs, romantic heroes, changing filmmaking, Bengali cinema, his son Prosenjit, and his passion project Agni Yug.

Vikram Sampath, author and historian known for biographies of Savarkar, Tipu Sultan and Gauhar Jaan, challenges Delhi-centric textbooks and ideological versions of India’s past. He discusses Gandhi, Savarkar, Tipu Sultan, Kashmir, Buddhism and forgotten regional histories. The conversation explores language barriers, AI-powered translation, historical memory, cinema and preserving India’s musical heritage.

Mandakini, the acclaimed actress who played Ganga in Ram Teri Ganga Maili, revisits her rise from Meerut and work with Raj Kapoor. She shares the story behind her screen name, the meaning of the film’s controversial scenes, and memories of Bollywood’s old-world camaraderie. She also addresses Dawood Ibrahim rumours, a fabricated gunshot story, overseas live shows, and why she left films.

Manu Joseph, the provocative Indian journalist, novelist and creator of Netflix’s Decoupled, explores why India’s cities feel broken despite gleaming airports. He compares Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Kerala and Goa, examines civic sense, class and everyday respect, and unpacks Gen Z’s jobs crisis, educated women’s unemployment and exam protests. He also discusses Vijay’s political rise, free expression, media independence and his move from journalism to fiction.

Samrat Choudhary is the first BJP leader to serve as the Chief Minister of Bihar. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the Bankipur election result, Prashant Kishor, migration and jobs in the state. He also discusses the alcohol ban, reservation, infrastructure, the revival of sugar mills, and what his government plans to do next.00:00 – Introduction00:36 – Bihar Floods4:08 – Water Treaty with Bangladesh11:05 – Women’s Employment Scheme17:23 – Jobs in Bihar23:31 – Bihar’s Education System27:29 – Skill Development31:48 – Migration35:50 – Alcohol Ban36:50 – NDA Alliance43:00 – BJP’s Bankipur Defeat50:15 – Reservation53:40 – Road and Bridge Collapses

Rasika Dugal is known for her performances in films and streaming series such as Mirzapur, Delhi Crime, Manto, Qissa and Out of Love. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, she is best known for playing Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur, a role that brought her widespread recognition. In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dugal discusses why she initially feared she was not right for Mirzapur and shares her experience of working with Pankaj Tripathi and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. She also remembers Irrfan Khan and explains what he taught her about being a good co-actor. Dugal speaks about how streaming platforms have transformed her career, the challenges women-led stories face, and the patriarchal expectations placed on women in the entertainment industry.*Timestamps*0:00 – Introduction0:34 – Acting Style3:05 – Family's Reaction to Acting4:12 – Moving to Mumbai6:58 – Studying at FTII9:49 – Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur15:07 – Intimate Scenes in Mirzapur22:17 – Working With Kulbhushan Kharbanda26:28 – Role in Delhi Crime29:03 – Long-Form Storytelling31:51 – Working With Irrfan Khan34:15 – Working in Manto37:25 – Scrutiny on Women Actors42:17 – Importance of Small Details44:11 – Violence in Mirzapur and Delhi Crime46:09 – Creative Freedom on Sets52:29 – Beena Tripathi’s Revenge in Mirzapur54:49 – Working With Saif Ali Khan59:07 – Being an Outsider1:03:07 – Women’s Stories in Indian Cinema1:04:13 – Working With Male and Female Directors1:09:07 – How AI Can Help Filmmakers1:12:43 – Conclusion

Lobsang Sangay served as the democratically elected Sikyong, or President of the Central Tibetan Administration, from 2011 to 2021. He became its top political leader after the Dalai Lama gave up his political authority. Born in 1968, Sangay grew up in a Tibetan refugee settlement near Darjeeling, India. He studied at Delhi University and Harvard Law School before becoming an American citizen.In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sangay discusses the Nepal–Tibet floods and questions why China failed to issue a timely warning that could have saved hundreds of lives. He also alleges that Beijing censored videos and controlled the information coming out of Tibet. Sangay also speaks about Xi Jinping’s health, the purges within the PLA, China’s plans for Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s succession and the risk of China weaponising water.0:00 – Introduction1:34 – Tibet–Nepal Flash Floods2:24 – Internet Shutdown in Tibet4:17 – Could China Have Warned Nepal?6:51 – Why China Is Hiding the Truth9:02 – The Real Death Toll in Tibet10:58 – China Blocks Journalists and Scientists12:18 – Melting Glaciers and 2030 Warning15:06 – Dams, Earthquakes and AI Data Centres23:51 – Nepal’s Rescue Efforts28:12 – China’s Information-Control Playbook30:16 – International Water-Sharing Laws34:38 – China’s Mega-Dam on Brahmaputra36:52 – India–China Ties and Tibet39:17 – China’s Claims Over Arunachal43:15 – Purge of PLA Generals46:00 – Xi Jinping’s Health48:23 – Xi Jinping’s Succession Problem52:12 – China’s Ethnic Unity Law56:12 – Chinese Police Station58:31 – Dalai Lama’s Succession1:02:32 – Will There Be Two Dalai Lamas?1:12:17 – Chinese Pressure on Nepal1:14:59 – Tibet’s Future1:22:29 – Nepal Rejects Foreign Rescue Teams1:25:27 – The Human and Economic Cost1:27:05 – Conclusion

Baba Ramdev is a yoga guru turned businessman, known for taking yoga into millions of homes in India and around the world. He runs Patanjali, an Indian consumer goods company that competes with major FMCG giants. Baba Ramdev also frequently makes headlines for his views on Hinduism, politics and national issues.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Baba Ramdev explains his idea of a Hindu Rashtra, responds to criticism over becoming a businessman, shares his views on the performance of the Modi government, and talks about how he sees Gen Z and protests in India.0:00 – Introduction1:55 – Hindu Rashtra7:30 – Religion and Conversion18:19 – Youth Protests and Unemployment25:00 – India Against Corruption and CJP28:29 – Gen Z and a Changing India33:57 – Black Money and Corruption36:00 – Modi Government’s Report Card44:39 – Youth’s Expectations from Modi49:36 – Yoga Guru Turned Businessman53:06 – Daily Routine54:22 – Patanjali Products and Legal Battles1:00:14 – Ayurveda vs Allopathy1:04:28 – Rahul Gandhi1:05:36 – Business Advice1:09:31 – A Caste-Free India1:13:48 – Gurukuls, Youth and Addiction1:19:13 – Free Speech and Godi Media1:22:38 – Deep State1:27:46 – Succession Plan1:29:46 – Ramdev’s Legacy1:32:29 – Sings a Song1:34:34 – Conclusion

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is a former fighter pilot who served in the Indian Air Force for more than 39 years. In January 2025, he took charge of the Western Air Command, one of the IAF’s most important operational commands. Just months later, he led the command during Operation Sindoor.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Air Marshal Mishra explains how India blinded Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and achieved air superiority, gaining the ability to strike anywhere inside Pakistan.He also speaks about the operational freedom given to the Indian Air Force and the role of women pilots in striking terror hubs in Pakistan. The conversation also covers drones, indigenous weapons and whether India is ready for Operation Sindoor 2.0.00:00 – Introduction01:36 – IAF’s Planning for Op Sindoor06:16 – IAF’s Precision Strikes11:37 – Op Sindoor’s Target Selection17:21 – Women Pilots in Op Sindoor21:25 – Mental Makeup of IAF Pilots28:09 – Decision-Making Behind Op Sindoor32:44 – Psyche of Pakistan’s Military39:00 – IAF’s 314-km S-400 Strike45:42 – Blinding Pakistan’s Air Defences54:30 – PM Modi’s Adampur Visit58:27 – IAF’s Core Team for Op Sindoor1:03:48 – BrahMos1:08:06 – Drone Warfare1:18:37 – Operation Safed Sagar1:29:58 – Pakistan’s Attempts to Find S-4001:29:58 – Narrative Warfare1:42:26 – Track 2 Diplomacy

IAS Rajit Punhani is the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the organisation responsible for setting food-safety standards and regulating the country’s food industry.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Punhani explains what the FSSAI mark on a product actually means and why it does not mean that every product has been tested or certified by the regulator.He addresses concerns surrounding fake paneer, misleading food labels, excessive sugar in packaged drinks and baby food, palm oil, synthetic colours, protein supplements and ultra-processed food.Timestamps0:00 – Introduction1:29 – What FSSAI Logo Means8:31 – Misleading Food Labels14:14 – Drinks in Europe vs India20:57 – Palm Oil Reality25:27 – Sugar in Baby Food30:04 – Indian Thali32:54 – Nutrition Labels37:05 – ‘Zero Sugar’ Meaning39:36 – Food Industry Lobbying42:54 – Fake Paneer and Food Adulteration50:08 – Quick-Commerce Apps53:58 – Dark Stores and Cloud Kitchens58:17 – Street Food and Reused Cooking Oil1:00:27 – Shortage of Food Safety Officers1:04:16 – Food Recalls and Unsafe Products1:08:10 – Protein Supplements1:10:43 – Ultra-Processed Food1:14:06 – Synthetic Colours in Food1:16:53 – How Consumers Can File a Complaint1:21:10 – Conclusion