ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash Asian News International (ANI)

With the US and India going for elections in 2024 this topic is very pertinent as there is a general consensus in both capitals and a bipartisan consensus in Washington that, despite significant differences, bilateral cooperation is beneficial to both countries. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash at the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, March 2023, the panel discussed the India-US relationship- from national security to trade, the perspective of Democrats and Republicans towards India, the Ukraine conflict, the misinformation campaign and the role of Indian diaspora in American politics. The expert panel, comprising of senior fellow and Director, Technology and National Security Program of Centre for a New American Society, USA Martijn Rasser; Director, US and the Americas Programme and Dean Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs, Chatham House, UK Leslie Vinjamuri; and Distinguished fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, USA and former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster came together with Smita Prakash and discussed various aspects of US-India relations in the view of a Democrat or Republican President in The White House in November 2024.

A Punjabi by birth, Sonu Sood’s career in films began in the Tamil and Telugu film industry, but he gradually moved to the Bombay film industry when interesting offers came his way. In this heart to heart chat with Smita Prakash, the vagaries of the film industry are discussed at length. In 2020 when there was a nationwide lockdown during the pandemic, Sood helped thousands of migrants return home. He speaks about this life altering mission of his in this podcast. Many thought that his social work was a stepping stone into politics, but Sood says he isn’t ready as yet though many offers have come his way. Sood also talks about physical and mental fitness regimes that he follows.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during the 17th edition of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum in Slovakia last year said, "Europe has to get out of the mindset that Europe's problem is the world's problem but the world's problem is not Europe's problem." The remark led to discussions and debates over Europe's perspective of the world. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash at the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, March 2023, the panel discussed Europe's stand on geo-political developments- from migration of refugees to European countries, to the China-Taiwan conflict, to Russia-Ukraine War, to Covid-19 pandemic. The expert panel, comprising of Portugal's Director General for Foreign Policy Rui Vinhas; Founder of Austria-based For A Conscious Experience Velina Tchakarova; and Finland's Tomi Huhtanen, the Executive Director of Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, came together with Smita Prakash and discussed various issues thread by thread.

Young politician Poonam Mahajan, daughter of veteran BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan, has carved a niche for herself in Bharatiya Janata Party. A two-time MP from Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency, she has held many important positions in the BJP. She is known more as her father's daughter, who in a candid conversation with Smita Prakash talks about her life, vision for her party and her state- Maharashtra. She recalls her entry into politics after her father's horrific murder in 2006 and the legal battle that ensued the killing of her father by his brother. She also hits out at the Congress party, the Gandhi family and Bharat Jodo Yatra. Talking about Maharastra politics, she explains the history of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and the changed scenario of alliances in the stat

Alakh Pandey, an entrepreneur also known as Physics Wallah was in the 11th grade when he began teaching younger children to supplement his family income. Later he dropped out of college to pursue his passion of teaching physics. Now his unicorn business is said to have a net worth of Rs 4000 crore. Alakh found a different way of communicating complex physics problems to get through to children. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, Alakh Pandey sheds light on the struggle he faced early in life before he established Physics Wallah. Free physics lessons on YouTube was the stepping stone. He also shares the nuances in education sector & future of ed-tech business.

Manoj Bajpayee, one of the most talented actors today has three national awards and six Filmfare trophies to his name. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to the arts. In a candid conversation in ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Manoj Bajpayee opens up about his family, initial struggles and entry into Bollywood. He recalls how Satya’s success in 1998 helped him to get a foothold in the film industry and established him an actor. He takes us on a journey talking about his filmography and shares his experiences working with different co-stars. The Zubeidaa actor explains his fitness regime and how spiritualism has helped him to keep going in the City of Dreams, Mumbai. He recalls the proudest moment of his life when he saw the joy in his father's eyes when the boy from Bihar’s Belwa village received one of India’s highest civilian honours, the Padma award.