6 Facts You Didn’t Know About Pune’s Legendary Dagdusheth Ganpati

The Enchanting Tale Of Pune's Kasba Peth Ganpati: History, Significance & Facts

The Story Of Lalbaug’s Wish-fulfilling And Laddu-Loving Ganesha

<p>Much like 2020, Lord Ganesha will give darshan via online platforms to his devotees in Pune and across India during the Ganeshotsav 2021. This year, the 11-day Ganpati festival begins on September 10, 2021, and ends on September 21, 2021.</p><p>We’ve compiled the links to the idols of the five most revered and popular (<i>manache)</i> Ganpati idols in Pune – Kasbapeth, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug, and Kesariwada – so you don’t miss your annual visit to these pandals.</p><h2>Shri Kasba Ganpati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal</h2><p>The ‘<i>grama-devata</i>’ (a deity believed to protect locals from evil forces) of Pune, Kasba Ganpati, was declared the first (<i>manacha) </i>Ganpati of Pune by Lokmanya Tilak, the father of Indian Renaissance, and the founder of <i>Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav</i>. This mandal’s story goes back to the 17th century when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s mother Rajmata Jijabai Bhosle, along with seven other families of their clan, arrived in Pune’s Kasba Peth and found an idol of Lord Ganesha there. The Rajmata took this discovery as an auspicious omen, since Lord Ganesha is synonymous with new beginnings, and instructed her men to build their colony around the area and to build a temple for the idol too.  </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>Shree Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganeshotsav Mandal</h2><p>Second, in line is the idol at Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, located in Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune. This Ganpati pandal holds significance because the idol is established every year in the Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, which is a place of worship dedicated to Goddess Durga, the <i>gram</i>-<i>devi </i>(a deity believed to protect locals from evil forces) of Pune. This temple was built in 1545 A.D. by Trimbrak Bendre.</p><p>When Tilak started community celebrations for Ganpati, this was the place where he established a Ganesha idol and made it the second most revered (manacha) Ganpati in the city. Ever since the idol is funded by the temple trust and is being designed by the Gulunjkar family of Pune. In the pre-pandemic time, the idol used to be carried on a silver bandwagon for immersion.  </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BabPJqZO46U"></oembed></figure><h2>Guruji Talim Mandal</h2><p>Located on Laxmi Road in Pune, Guruji Talim Mandal is the third <i>manacha </i>Ganpati and is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity and communal harmony in the city. The idol was first established by Bhiku Pandurang Shinde, Nanasaheb Khasgiwale and Sheikh Lalabhai in 1887, long before Tilak started community celebrations. Over the years, the mandal has become a must-visit among the people of Pune and beyond for its appealing themed decorations, which are based on current affairs and trends. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_MG-WS-Guruji-Talim_1631193274852.jpg"></figure><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>Sri Tulshibaug Maha Ganpati Mandal Trust</h2><p>Tulshibaug Maha Ganpati is the fourth <i>manacha</i> Ganpati. It was established in 1901 by Aba Khatavkar, Sadashiv Pawar and Boloba Walke in the heart of one of Pune’s oldest commercial localities – Budhwar Peth – and has got its name from the Tulshibaug Wada. Local traders and shopkeepers believe that the Tulshibaug Ganpati is the real reason why their businesses continue to flourish. </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCSVEqmor1E"></oembed></figure><h2>Kesari Wada Ganpati</h2><p>The fifth and final<i> manacha </i>Ganpati of Pune is the one at Kesariwada in Narayan Peth. It was established in 1894 by Tilak and this is where the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav started not only in Pune but all over Maharashtra. For the Pune of people, the Kesariwada Ganpati represents the freedom struggle that the city witnessed during the British era, and hence, it is a significant part of the most revered and <i>manache</i> Ganpati of Pune. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_MG-WS-kesari_1631193319815.jpg"></figure><blockquote><p>Disclaimer: The details mentioned throughout this blog are sourced from publicly accessible platforms. At Zeezest, we intend to share factual and verified information. Should there be any inconsistencies or variances in the information provided, please understand that these are entirely unintentional and not meant to mislead. </p></blockquote>

From Kasbapeth to Kesariwada Ganpati, we’ve put together links for online darshan of all these pandals in one place. 

From Kasbapeth to Dagduseth Ganpati, we’ve put together links for online darshan of all these pandals in one place. Watch on ZeeZest.com. 

Get Online Darshan of Manache Ganpati in Pune Here | Zee Zest

Get Live Darshan For Pune’s Five Manache Ganpati Here

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<p>Devotees of the Vighnaharta need no introduction to Pune's legendary <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://zeezest.com/culture/how-death-and-devotion-created-pune-s-iconic-dagdusheth-halwai-ganpati-4247">Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir</a>. For over 127 years and counting, it has played a significant role in maintaining the tradition of Sarvajanik Ganpati or large-scale public celebrations of the ten-day festival.</p><p>Unlike any other Ganpati idol, Dagdusheth Ganpati casts a spell with its distinctive features, intricate ornaments and all its divine glory.</p><h2>1. Named after a famous trader</h2><figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Id-1821-Pune-ganpati-dagdusheth-inside-image_1616947125854.jpg"></figure><p>The Shreemanth Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple is named after a famous trader and sweet maker, Dagdusheth Halwai, who had moved to Pune from Karnataka and built the temple in Pune after losing his son to the plague.</p><p>The temple idol is currently insured for $1,60,000 (approximately Rs 1 crore). The Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Temple Trust, which is a part of the Mandal carries out various activities of social welfare.</p><h2>2. From personal to public expense</h2><p>The Sarvajanik Ganpati was freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s idea to unite and mobilise Indians against British rule. A meeting of several respected citizens of Pune, including Tilak’s good friend Dagdusheth Halwai, pondered over celebrating the festival amidst the conservative Puneri society.</p><p>To prepare the ground for a bigger celebration, Lokmanya Tilak first installed Ganpati idols at five neighbourhoods in Pune at his own expense. He also appealed to Pune’s citizenry to support the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav through his newspaper <i>Kesari</i>. The celebrations gained currency and began to attract monetary contributions from 1896 onwards.</p><h2>3. Richness to goodness</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Dagdusheth-3_1631186743276.jpg"><figcaption>©Unsplash/Mohnish Landge</figcaption></figure><p>One of the most celebrated and star-studded Ganapati idols, the Dagdusheth Ganpati is bedecked with gold ornaments studded with precious stones. According to the trust’s 2017-18 audit report, the total property is valued at Rs. 66.91 crore. As part of its 125th-year celebrations in 2017, Pune jewellers, PN Gadgil and Sons, designed a 40-kg jewellery collection for the lord valued at INR 15 crores.</p><p>Over 40 craftsmen slogged around the clock for around five months, spending over 60,000 hours to prepare the gold jewellery studded with more than 60,000 precious stones such as rubies and emeralds. </p><p>From a 9.5 kg crown, seven changeable crowns for every day of the week to ornament for the trunk (Shunda Bhushan), Angarkha and much more, the ornaments feature traditional motifs like the lotus, <i>kalash</i>, elephant, <i>kirtimukh</i>, peacock and trident.</p><p>The Shreemanth Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust is one of the richest trusts in Maharashtra and uses its donations for charitable and social welfare work.</p><h2>4. There are not one but three idols</h2><p>The first idol was built in 1893 by Baburao Naik with paper and sticky jaggery glue (<i>randha</i>) at an expense of Rs 22 and was formally installed by Lokmanya Tilak. This historic idol is now in the Akara Maruti Mandir of Shukrawar Peth.</p><p>The second idol was built by noted sweet merchant Dagdusheth Halwai in 1896, the year Pune was struck by the plague that claimed his son. The grieving parents, Dagdusheth and his wife Lakshmi, were advised by their guru to build idols of Datta and Ganesha.</p><p>The third idol was commissioned on Dagdusheth’s 75th anniversary in 1967 and is built of Plaster of Paris by an acclaimed sculptor from Karnataka, Nagesh Shilpi at a cost of Rs 1,125. In 2006, the trust commissioned the beautiful silver idol that is permanently on display at the temple throughout the year.</p><h2>5. Decorations with a difference</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Dagdusheth-1_1631186756787.jpg"><figcaption>©Unsplash/Abhishek Sontakke</figcaption></figure><p>The decorations during the Ganesha festival vary every year. Different aspects of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage are brought to life—especially the replicas of ancient temples and palaces such as the legendary Madhura-Meenakshi temple, Surya Temple of Orissa, Shree Mahalaxmi temple of Kolhapur, the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://zeezest.com/travel/7-mysore-temple-you-must-visit-to-embark-on-a-spiritual-odyssey-4755"> Mysore Palace</a>, the Angola Palace of Rajasthan. So fabulous are the decorations that people throng to Pune from all over the country for a dekko.</p><h2>6.  Ganesha celebrations</h2><p>There are five maha <i>artis </i>organised on a daily basis at set timings. The idol of Ganesha, heavily bedecked with jewellery, is an awe-inspiring sight. The manner in which the temple is built makes it possible for everyone to see the proceedings from outside.</p><p>A prominent feature during <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://zeezest.com/food/elevate-your-ganesh-chaturthi-celebrations-with-milkmaid-s-delightful-twist-on-modaks-4205">Ganesh Chaturthi</a> celebrations is the participation of students from different schools in the recitation of the Ganpati Atharvashirsha at dawn. </p><p> </p><p><i><strong>Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article reflects the author(s) opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher and editor.</strong></i></p>

For starters, the gold and jewel-studded idol is insured for Rs 1 crore.

Discover fascinating facts about Dagdusheth Ganpati. Learn about the history, significance, and cultural impact of this iconic deity.

Facts about Pune’s Dagdusheth Ganpati | Zee Zest

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The good news is that Indian filmmakers are no longer directly copying or ‘seeking inspiration’ – as they would in earlier days – but taking the official route to reimagining the international shows and films for the Indian scenario.</p><p>In the pipeline are quite a few Indian remakes of popular international productions. </p><h2>Call My Agent</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Call-My-Agent-inside-image_1632496972616.jpg"></figure><p>The French workplace comedy-drama revolves around the personal and professional lives of four agents of a Paris-based talent firm and became a global sensation when it dropped on Netflix. One of the show’s biggest draws are the cameos by some of French cinema’s most popular names who play fictionalised versions of themselves. 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The series will be produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India.  </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>Forrest Gump</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_forest-gump-inside-image_1632496993875.jpg"></figure><p>The bits and glimpses we have seen of Aamir Khan-Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer <i>Laal Singh Chaddha</i> has fuelled our curiosity about the official Hindi adaptation of <i>Forrest Gump</i> set to release this December. Similar to the 1994 original starring Tom Hanks, Khan’s film will showcase India’s history unfold through events seen from the perspective of the protagonist. This will be the superstar’s first release after the debacle called Thugs of Hindostan.    </p><h2>The Intern</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_The-intern-inside-image_1632497002351.jpg"></figure><p>Watching Rishi Kapoor play a fashion intern at his age would have made for an interesting watch but the actor’s untimely death changed a few things for the Hindi adaptation of the Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway comedy-drama film. Now, Piku co-stars Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone will re-unite in the remake of the 2015 Hollywood movie. In the original, Ben Whittaker (De Niro) plays a 70-year-old widower who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Jules Ostin (Hathaway) when he joins the fashion website’s CEO’s company as a senior intern.</p><h2>The Night Manager</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_The-Night-Manager-inside-image_1632497009995.jpg"></figure><p>British mini-series <i>The Night Manager</i> is the recipient of several Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Primetime Emmys, and it was only a matter of time that an Indian adaptation would be announced. While there were no formal announcements, Hrithik Roshan was rumoured to make his debut on the OTT platform with the adaptation which had Tom Hiddleston as the protagonist in the original. Manoj Bajpayee’s name was also circulated as the antagonist. However, it seems that both opted out citing date issues. Reportedly, the makers are on the lookout for the main cast before they make any announcements for the adaptation of the spy drama. </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>Fauda</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Fauda-inside-image_1632497018292.jpg"></figure><p>The critically-acclaimed Israeli series that highlighted the conflict between Israel and Palestine is all set to be remade in Hindi with the focus shifting to the complicated relationship between India and Pakistan. Fauda, meaning chaos in Arabic, is the commandos’ codeword for when an operation goes awry. It has been reported that filmmaker Sudhir Mishra will helm the Indian adaptation with actor Manav Vij (of <i>Andhadhun</i>fame) playing the lead. Although the remake was announced in 2019, the shoot has been delayed because of the pandemic.       </p><h2>Run Lola Run</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Run-lola-run-inside-image_1632497027441.jpg"></figure><p>Earlier this year, Taapsee Pannu shared the first look from her upcoming movie <i>Looop Lapeta</i> on her social media with the caption ‘welcome on board a crazy ride’. The Aakash Bhatia-directorial is a remake of the German comedy-thriller <i>Run Lola Run</i> starring Franka Potente and Moritz Bleibtreu and follows a woman who needs to arrange 100,000 Deutsche Mark in 20 minutes in order to save her boyfriend. In an interview with a newspaper, Pannu had said, “Frankly, it is an experiment. We need to see if the audience will accept it. I personally feel that the concept is still untouched. It is not something that’s very regular or people have seen before. Having said that, it is still an experiment. 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The rest is history and the team is surely poised for bigger feats now. </p><h2>2. What did Modi ji say in his call to you and the coach after the tournament? </h2><p>It was really great to get a call from the Prime Minister. He has constantly encouraged us and on the day he actually consoled us because all of us were in tears and upset after losing the bronze medal. But to hear him say how proud the entire nation is of our performance was great. </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSqJ99MhdNe/?utm_medium=copy_link"></oembed></figure><h2>3. Take us through moments in the dressing room that led to the wins against South Africa, Ireland and Australia.</h2><p>We were pooled in a tough group and played top teams like Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain in the first three matches. Not getting off to a good start did affect our morale a bit, but our coach, Sjoerd Marijne, showed us an inspiring movie before the match against Ireland; he repeatedly reminded us of what we had been through to get here and that automatically pepped us up. We never stopped believing that we were capable and definitely wanted to shed the underdog title. </p><p>AlsoRead0 </p><h2>4. How does it feel to receive so much love from all over the country? </h2><p>It really feels fantastic, and it hasn't sunk in yet, to be honest. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Rani-rampal-inside-image-2_1630586672399.jpg"></figure><h2>5. What's the journey for Indian women's hockey from here? </h2><p>We are eager to return to the camp now and strategise for the upcoming season in 2022. It is a very important year with Commonwealth Games and Asian Games being held in the same year. The target will be to win a gold in Asian Games and qualify directly for the Paris Olympics. </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGHdk-zBjYh/"></oembed></figure><h2>6. Your post on your childhood struggles went viral. What have you derived from the struggles? </h2><p>I have always believed that every challenge you face makes you a better and stronger person. Hopefully, my journey would inspire young girls who come from difficult backgrounds and help them dream to achieve their goals. </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>7. You played for the national team in the 2010 World Cup at the age of 15. Take us through key milestones in the past 11 years. </h2><p>In the last 11 years, there have been many stand-out moments but something that was really special to me was winning the bronze medal in the FIH Women's Junior World Cup in 2013. Most of us in the national team are from that batch and it was truly the beginning of our journey. Winning a silver at the Asian Games and gold at Asia Cup and qualifying for the World Cup were some key milestones of my career. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Rani-rampal-inside-image-3_1630586678744.jpg"></figure><h2>8. You had an emotional send-off for coach Sjoerd Marijne. How did he contribute to making this a winning team?</h2><p>He really changed the way we think, he brought about a lot of self-belief, and we will always hold him in the highest regard. He will surely be missed but we wish him the very best for the future. </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.instagram.com/p/COpFxrPBT6W/"></oembed></figure><h2>9. If you have to thank five people at this stage, who would they be? </h2><p>There are definitely more than five people but I surely thank my parents for believing in me and allowing me to continue to play hockey despite societal pressures, my teammates for all the support, the coaches who have been part of the journey, Hockey India, SAI and the fans. </p><h2>10. Describe Rani in one line....</h2><p>Simple, committed and mentally strong. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Rani-rampal-inside-image-4_1630586687180.jpg"></figure><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>What makes Rani...</h2><ul><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);"><strong>Happy?</strong> When we win</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);"><strong>Sad?</strong>  When I don't perform my best</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);"><strong>Angry?</strong> When we don't give our 100 percent</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);"><strong>Feel motivated?</strong> Getting on to the pitch</span></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Rani-rampal-inside-image-5_1630586817513.jpg"></figure><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>Rapid-fire with Rani Rampal</h2><ul><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Favourite city - Delhi</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Favourite food - Pizza</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Favourite singer - Diljit Dosanjh</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Favourite hockey player - Dhanraj Pillay</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Favourite sportsperson (not from hockey) - Sachin Tendulkar</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Favourite win of yours (of India hockey) - beating Australia in the quarter-finals in Tokyo</span></li><li><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,0%);">Best friend in the team - Savita (Punia)</span></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

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Corrin won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Prior to this, the 25-year-old actor won the ‘Best Actress In Drama Series’ at Critics' Choice Television Awards 2021 and <a href="https://zeezest.com/style-beauty/10-celebrity-looks-at-golden-globes-2021-zee-zest-191">Golden Globe Awards 2021</a>.</p><p>As the Princess of Wales, Corrin stunned viewers and critics with her nuanced performance as she convincingly portrayed the dreamy-eyed princess and her trials and tribulations. She overshadowed even veteran actors in the show such as Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth II) and Helena Bonham Carter (Princess Margaret). Corrin will be handing over the baton to the Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki for Season 5, who will play the older years of the Princess of Wales in the final two seasons of <i>The Crown</i>.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Emma-corrin-2%20%281%29_1630939375573.jpg"></figure><p>But before she was Princess Diana on the television screen, Emma Corrin was Esme Winikus in another TV series, <i>Pennyworth</i>—a DC Comics spinoff on Alfred Pennyworth, better known as Bruce Wayne/Batman’s loyal butler. It is famously reported that Corrin got the casting call for this role while she was working at a fashion retail start-up, which she left in a huff to grab the opportunity of a lifetime.</p><p>Corrin fell in love with the world of stage and acting during her school years in a boarding school. She pursued this passion even at Cambridge University during her graduation years. In her three years at the British university, Corrin performed in 19 plays. </p><p>In an exclusive conversation with Zee Zest, Emma Corrin shares her experience of becoming Princess Di on the silver screen and her thoughts on the British royal family. <i>Edited excerpts:</i></p><h2>1. What kind of research did you do to help you slip into the shoes of Princess Diana?</h2><p>I had a really interesting relationship with the research process because I was incredibly daunted and quite overwhelmed in the beginning. But because I sat down and felt I had to do a lot of research, I read a lot of biographies and watched a lot of documentaries. But, I was very frustrated with the iconology of it all. I feel like when someone becomes an icon, it immediately means you cannot know them because they become a representative of themselves. So, I really struggled to get any kind of sense of who she was, which is really all I needed to know. There is a lot of noise, a lot of tabloid noise around Princess Diana, and I just felt like it didn't really help me. And then it all changed when I got the script. This is our interpretation, this is my interpretation of Princess Diana, and it gave me such freedom as an actor to suddenly start exploring it in a way that would be helpful to me and I had the story as well, the arc over which I was going to play her, which was so brilliant. I started to have fun because I was working with Polly Bennett who's amazing. She helped Rami (Malek) in <i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i> and we were at this studio in London, where we spent endless days just mucking around, trying to get to grips with her mannerisms and her behaviour. We wanted to really know why we were going to do it if we were going to do it. Getting into the psychological reasons for things was fun.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Emma-corrin-4%20%281%29_1630939394825.jpg"></figure><h2>2. Given your extensive research on Diana, how do you think she would react to Prince Harry’s situation today?</h2><p>I think from what I've learned, she would have been very proud of him. The royal family is a very interesting institution. It's quite antiquated, while society has modernised inevitably. It was natural what was going to happen. I think Diana may have headed that change and so I think people really would have understood and been sympathetic to what Harry experienced.</p><h2>3. What was the most fascinating part of playing Diana?</h2><p>One of the scenes I loved playing so much was when she goes to Balmoral Castle. There,  you really get the sense of her charm and shyness.  You can tell that they were both quite self-aware and that she knew she was being shy and charming, but not in an obnoxious way. It wasn't conceited. She had this authentic way of drawing people in, but she knew how to use it, and when she's on that walk with Prince Philip and she's charming him, and flirting with him, it's so impressive. You know she is not this meek, naive little girl, who accidentally fell into the royal family. I don't necessarily think that she wanted the fame and everything that came after because I think the rug was completely pulled from under her in that respect. I don't think she really knew what to expect. Did she want to be a princess? She probably didn’t. But who doesn't want to be a princess? </p><h2>4. What was it like when you wore Lady Diana’s wedding gown to film that sequence?</h2><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CF5IFMEhK6Y/"></oembed></figure><p>It was strange and surreal, there were moments when I was filming that scene, where everybody went quiet. There was a strange reverence around that moment and it really did feel like wow this is her. She was such an icon. It made me understand more about her than I think I have and appreciate and understand what she went through.</p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>5. Was there one particular day or moment when you said to yourself, "Now I understand and feel like Diana?”</h2><p>Yes, it was the wig shopping day; the wigs came to us and they were very long and had to be cut into the right shape. I sat in the chair for three to four hours. It is the dullest thing you can possibly do. There were pictures of Lady Diana on the wall behind me, And I think I had pictures on my phone and when my hair was being shaped, I suddenly said to myself “Oh my God, This is Diana” and everybody seemed to grasp. That was the moment that I felt like Diana. That was a moment of transformation.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Emma-corrin-1_1630939530256.jpg"></figure><h2>6. What do you think Diana would think about her son, Prince Harry, putting love and marriage before duty?</h2><p>From what I’ve learned, I think that she would be very happy and proud of him. Diana was ahead of her time and she would have fully approved of Harry's decision and be proud of him. </p>

Emma Corrin talks about playing Princess Diana in Season 4 of 'The Crown'. 

British Actor Emma Corrin talks about her preparation and research for her portrayal as Lady Diana Spencer in the Netflix series,  The Crown. For full interview, check ZeeZest.com

Interview with actor Emma Corrin, Princess Diana on The Crown

Emma Corrin: My Interpretation Of Diana Gave Me Freedom As An Actor

Hollywood

Celebrity Interview

The multi-faceted actor gives a peek into the immersive world of preparing for the character of Aziz Ali in his film, 'Toofaan'.

Actor Farhan Akhtar shares how he prepared for the role of a boxer for his film Toofaan. For more, read ZeeZest.com

Interview with Farhan Akhtar on playing Aziz Ali in Toofaan

It Is Imperative For An Artiste To Keep Pushing The Envelope: Farhan Akhtar

The actor and director of Netflix's 'Haseen Dillruba' talk about how the emergence of OTT has introduced an ocean of opportunities for artists.

Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey and director Vinil Mathew talk about their new film Haseen Dillruba that released on Netflix. Read the full story on ZeeZest.com.

Interview: Vikrant Massey and Vinil Mathew on Haseen Dillruba Film

OTT And Theatres Can Co-Exist: Vikrant Massey And Vinil Mathew

vikrant massey interview

<p>“I couldn’t do mediocre roles, but mediocre roles were all that I was offered. And that can be very mentally taxing,” says Morea when asked about his hiatus from mainstream Bollywood projects.  </p><p>In many ways, Morea defined the early 2000s with films such as <i>Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi </i>(1999)<i> </i>and <i>Raaz </i>(2002)<i> </i>that were influential, and far ahead of their times. And he brought a refreshingly restrained edge to a range of roles from the passionate to the romantic – but <i>The Empire</i> upturns everything we knew or had assumed about Morea. </p><p>In <i>The Empire</i>, based on the first in the historical fiction series, <i>Empire of the Moghul, </i>authored by<i> </i>Alex Rutherford (pseudonym for writers Diana and Michael Preston), Dino plays Mohammad Shaybani Khan, the primary adversary of Babur, played by Kunal Kapoor. The show is created by Nikkhil Advani, directed by Mitakshara Kumar, and is airing on Disney Plus Hotstar Premium.</p><p>However, if the creators genuinely wanted to avoid the inevitable <i>Game of Thrones</i> comparisons, they should’ve also steered clear from sometimes quite literally lifting entire scenes and set details from the HBO show. In some cases, even the camera angles used in battle scenes are subpar carbon copies.</p><p>Apart from the battle sequences which the creators have tried their best to stage on as grand a scale as possible, <i>The Empire</i> is refreshing in the sense that it lays bare the pathos of Mughal Emperor Babur’s own family — a role Kunal Kapoor essays with both a subdued elegance and conflicted demeanour. We see a family almost always on the verge of crumbling entirely, particularly through the lenses of Babur’s sister Khanzada Begum, given life by Drashti Dhami, the winner of <i>Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6</i>. </p><p>In an exclusive interview, we quizzed Dino Morea on his portrayal of Mohammad Shaybani Khan in <i>The Empire</i>, his comeback to Bollywood and future projects.</p><p><i>Edited excerpts:</i></p><h2>1. What went through your mind when <i>The Empire</i> was offered to you?</h2><p>The script was so entertaining. When I understood the scale of the project and the intensity with which I had to play an out-and-out evil antagonist who was so brutal, it was something straight out of a dream. The first proper role I would do after the long hiatus would have to be unique. I knew I could shine in something new. The scale was immense and I knew it would get the eyeballs I was looking for. And choosing Mohammad Shaybani Khan paid off in this regard. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Dino-Morea-in-The-Empire-inside_1630415453304.jpg"></figure><h2>2. What was your process to prepare for a character who is evil with almost no redeeming features? Did it affect you personally?</h2><p>I switch on and switch off. When the shoot for the day is over, I want nothing more than to go home and rest. In the case of Mohammad Shaybani Khan’s character, even though, I switched off, the nuanced body habits of the character stayed with me. It was a 120-day schedule, it becomes intertwined with your personality. You’re always judging and bettering yourself, and that adds to the fluidity between the personal and the professional. Besides, I was always working on myself, my language, and my acting during the hiatus. In a unique process, I was learning the movement of the character by watching videos of the black panther, the animal. I started associating various other animals for specific moods and even created a separate playlist for every scene. All this was done to channelise the right energy and it helped. Even standing still has a thought behind it. </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>3. What has changed in the industry in the last two decades? </h2><p>Our directors and producers are finally paying more attention to the script. During my initial days, there were filmmakers who were heavily influenced by the West. But you cannot fool the audience now. And now public feedback is as instant as it is brutally honest, you don’t even need critics anymore. Your Instagram gives all the feedback you could hope for and more. The audience will not accept subpar films, particularly on OTT platforms. They recognise and have a taste for good action, drama, and overall well-made movies. They are globally literate in cinema. India is a gold mine of stories, legends, and folktales. We have to tap into that bank. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Dino-Morea-inside1_1630415479138.jpg"></figure><h3>4. What does the future hold for you? Any directors on your wishlist? </h3><p>I don’t want to rush into doing films. If I’ve been patient for so many years, it makes no sense to be impulsive now. People had written me off, so by that logic, I have nowhere else to go but up. But there are definitely directors I’d love to work with such as Sriram Raghavan, Amit Sharma, Raju Hirani, Anurag Kashyap to name a few. I’d like to keep experimenting too, for example, <i>Helmet </i>(a comedy film starring Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee, and Sharib Hashmi in lead roles) which I’ve co-produced will premiere on September 3, 2021, on Zee5. </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>5. Did your mental health take a beating during your acting hiatus? How did you deal with it? </h2><p>After doing 15 movies and making a conscious decision to not do films is never a happy choice. You think you’re doing everything right, but suddenly the offers coming your way are so mediocre. But it’s a trap in itself because if you don’t do those roles, there’s the fear you might be out of sight and out of mind. What does one do? Go for those mediocre roles? I certainly couldn’t. It was mentally taxing, but one needs to keep at it. I knew I had to say no to rubbish but I was still knocking on the doors of producers and directors telling them I’m still here, give me proper roles. There is no shame in that, it’s part of my job. More importantly, I never lost hope. But I had to do odd jobs, make appearances, invest in businesses – I couldn’t survive on love and fresh air after all. But all this while, my love for acting never went away. That was all the hope I needed. </p>

For the role of Shaybani Khan in 'The Empire', the actor reveals how he prepped with playlists, panthers, and more.  

In an interview with Zee Zest, actor Dino Morea talks about preparing for his role in The Empire based on Mughal era in India and his hiatus from films.

Interview With Actor Dino Morea from The Empire show | Zee Zest

Dino Morea: My Love For Acting Never Went Away 

Bollywood

New Release

India has so far managed to secure three medals at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics and for the three women, the journey to these medals was not an easy one

Here's what you need to know about the three Indian women who have secured medals at Tokyo Olympics so far, read zeezest.com 

Indian Women Win Medals At Tokyo Olympics | Zee Zest      

Mirabai, Lovlina, Sindhu; Indian Women Shine At The Tokyo Olympics 

<p>The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics is seeing India’s largest-ever contingent participate and compete across nine sports including javelin throw, rifle shooting, para-table tennis, para-badminton, and high jump. So far, our para-athletes have won as many as 10 medals as of day 6 of this year’s Paralympics and assured Indians our best-ever medal tally at the showpiece event.</p><p>The latest medal being, athlete Sharad Kumar’s bronze, which he won after a double podium finish in the men’s high jump T42 event. Not only did he win this accolade but also marked this season’s best performance with a whopping 1.83 meters jump. And, defending champion Mariyappan Thangavelu’s silver in the men’s high jump T63 event.</p><p>Each of these monumental victories is contributing to the rich history of India and making us all beam with pride. These wins have also shattered our nation’s best performance record, which was seven medals at the Stoke Mandeville/New York 1984 aka 1984 Summer Paralympics. In honour of this, we’ve compiled a list of all the medal winners from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and everything you must know about them. Plus, a chance to relive their glorious moments.</p><h2>Bhavina Patel – Para-Table Tennis</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_bhavina_patel_paralympics_1630675603863.jpg"><figcaption>Instagram/Paralympics</figcaption></figure><p>The 34-year-old table tennis player, Bhavina Patel, became the first Indian para-paddler to win a silver medal at the showpiece event. She lost to China’s Ying Zhou, a two-time gold medallist, in the women’s singles finals, and bagged a silver medal.</p><p>Coming from a middle-class family of five, from Sundhiya Village in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, Bhavina got infected by poliomyelitis when she was a year old. She has been confined to a wheelchair since a young age. But that hasn’t stopped her from dreaming big. The turning point of her life was when her father enrolled her for a computer course in Ahmedabad at the Blind People’s Association. She was introduced to coach Lalah Doshi, according to Zee News, who transformed her into an award-winning table tennis player. Initially, she took up table tennis to keep fit but her passion and her coach’s dedication turned it into a profession.</p><p>Bhavina made her international debut in 2009 in Jordan, and won her first-ever medal in 2011. It was a silver at the Para Table Tennis at the Thailand Open. Since then, she has participated in and won several national and international tournaments in various countries like China, South Korea, Germany, Indonesia, Spain, Netherlands, and Egypt.</p><h2>Nishad Kumar – High Jump</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-5_1630658899104.jpg"></figure><p>The son of a daily wage worker from Una, Himachal Pradesh, Nishad Kumar bagged a silver medal in the men’s high jump t47 in his maiden Paralympic Games and set a new Asian record of 2.06 metres.</p><p>The young para-athlete lost his right hand during a tragic accident at the age of eight, and his journey hasn’t been easy. But Nishad, with the help of his coach Satyanarayana and his parents, kept learning and practising with all his heart. This silver medal is not his prize alone but one that he shares with his parents and coach. During an interview with NDTV, post his victory, he said that it was his parents who motivated him to become a para-athlete. “I had lost my hand somewhere between 2007 and 2008. I started playing in 2009 but my parents never made me feel that I wouldn't be able to play because I had one hand, or that I shouldn't play and focus on studies instead. They always supported me, motivated me to play. That is why I have been able to reach here,” he said.</p><p>The first-ever medal Nishad won was a bronze at the men’s T47 category at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championship. His performance there helped him qualify to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>Avani Lekhara - Shooting</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-3_1630658924457.jpg"></figure><p>Adding the first gold to India’s tally at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was teenage shooting sensation Avani Lekhara. She won in the women’s 10-meter air rifle standing SH1 category final. The Jaipur-based shooter secured first place in the match and became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic or an Olympic gold medal at the age of 19. Avani also set a new Paralympic record by finishing with a world record total of 249.6.</p><p>Back in 2012, Avani sustained spinal cord injuries in a car accident, paralysing her from the waist down. Post the accident, her father encouraged her to take up a sport, and after trying her hand at a variety of competitive games, including archery, she found herself inclining towards rifle shooting. According to First Post, what inspired Avani to take up shooting as a sport was Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography, <i>A Shot At History</i>. She began learning to shoot at the Jagatpura Sports Complex in Jaipur in 2015. Her international debut was in 2017 at the Para Shooting World Cup in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where she clinched a silver medal for our country. Ever since, she has won a silver at the 2019 Para Shooting World Cup and a gold at the National Para-shooting Championship, earlier this March.</p><h2>Yogesh Kathuniya – Discus Throw</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-10_1630659006768.jpg"></figure><p>A discus thrower from Delhi, Yogesh Kathuniya bagged his first Paralympic medal, a silver, in the men’s discus throw class F56 final. He was bested by Claudiney Batistia dos Santos of Brazil.</p><p>When he was merely eight years old, Yogesh suffered a major paralytic attack in 2006, which left him with coordination impairment or uncoordinated movement in his limbs. However, his fighting spirit and his mother’s support helped him regain his muscle strength back to an extent, and this led to Yogesh walking without any help.</p><p>In 2018, he set a world record in the F36 category discus throwing by achieving a 45.18 throw at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin.</p><h2>Sundar Singh Gurjar – Javelin Throw</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-2_1630659337005.jpg"></figure><p>The 25-year-old javelin thrower from Karauli, Rajasthan, finally let go off the disconcerting weight he was carrying in his heart and mind after bagging a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Sundar Singh Gurjar was part of the Indian contingent at the Rio 2016 Paralympics; however, he got disqualified at the last minute since he missed out on his roll call. He had to wait five long years to make a comeback at this showpiece event and recover that heartbreak, but his 64.01-metre throw made it all worth it.</p><p>Sundar used to compete in the general category of javelin throw until 2015. But after a tin shade accidentally fell on his hand, it led to the amputation of his left-hand wrist, and since then, he started competing in the F46 category javelin throw. The para-athlete battled depression after the accident, and the disqualification from Rio 2016 only made things worse. His coach Mahavir Saini’s determination helped him train harder and gain his confidence back from 2009 to date. Today, Gurjar is the world no 3 men’s javelin thrower in the F46 category. </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>Devendra Jhajharia – Javelin Thrower</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-4_1630659123634.jpg"></figure><p>The 40-year-old javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia, was one of the top medal contenders in the Indian contingent at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, and we can happily say, he didn’t let his nation down. Devendra, who won a gold medal at the ongoing Paralympics, was already a two-time gold medallist at the Paralympics in the F46 category. He had won his first gold at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, and his second was at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. He is the only para-athlete to win two gold medals (now, three) in athletics.</p><p>Born and brought up in the Churu district of Rajasthan, this para-athlete had to get his left arm amputated after he touched a live electric cable at the age of eight. Growing up, Devendra didn’t let this faze him. Despite having only one arm, he took up javelin throw as a sport around the age of 15. His first javelin was bamboo, and his continuous practice and dedication soon made him a district champion in the open category. Post that, there was no looking back for him.  </p><h2>Sumit Antil – Javelin Throw</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-6_1630659170848.jpg"></figure><p>Sumit Antil, who holds the current world record, having thrown 68.55 metres in the Paralympics 2020 final, made India proud by winning gold. What many don’t know is that although he has been an athlete for years now, javelin throw wasn’t his first love. Sumit was training to be a wrestler. But after losing half of his leg to an unfortunate accident in 2015, at the age of 17, he took up para-sports and began training in Delhi.</p><p>His international sports career began in 2019 when he participated in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Italy. Sumit scripted history at the event when he broke the world record in the F64 category and won a silver medal there. His last win was at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, where he clinched another silver.</p><h2>Singhraj Adhana – Air Pistol Shooting</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-8_1630659202188.jpg"></figure><p>At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Unchagon, Haryana’s Singhraj Adhana won a bronze medal in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event. According to his interview with Scroll, he designed and built himself a shooting range at home during the pandemic to train for this international competition – such is the determination of this champion.</p><p>Singhraj was infected by polio at the age of one due to the unavailability of polio drops in his village. As a child, he would walk with a stick, but his mother had faith that things will change with age. The para-athlete left the stick and starting walking on his own when he was about 14-15 years old. <br>Singhraj got into air pistol shooting at the age of 35, he is 39 now. He got inspired by his nephew who used to practice the sport at a training academy in their district. </p><p>AlsoRead2</p><h2>Mariyappan Thangavelu – High Jump</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-9_1630659269959.jpg"></figure><p>Taking India’s medal tally at the Paralympics 2020 to nine, Mariyappan Thangavelu, our flagbearer at the event, won a silver medal in the men’s high jump T42 category. This wasn’t Mariyappan’s first Paralympics though. He debuted at the event in 2016, where he had won his first gold medal in high jump. It was a historic win for the country since India won a gold in this sport after 14 years in 2016.</p><p>Mariyappan, who hails from Tamil Nadu, had a difficult childhood. Early in his childhood, a drunk bus driver ran him over and this left him with a stunted leg. Soon after, his father abandoned his mother and siblings. The son of a vegetable vendor, Mariyappan didn’t let his shortcomings come in the way of his dreams. He pursued para-athletics in school and decided to take up high jump.</p><p>During an interview with a regional daily, Mariyappan had mentioned that he considers his stunted leg as his lucky charm and that’s what helps him jump better.</p><h2>Sharad Kumar</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Paralympics-inside-images-7_1630659304595.jpg"></figure><p>Motipur, Muzaffarpur’s (Bihar) Sharad Kumar scripted history early this week after he won a bronze medal in the F42 category of men’s high jump at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. With this win, he became Bihar’s first-ever Paralympic medallist.</p><p>When he was just two years old, Sharad’s left leg got paralysed after taking polio medicine at a local centre. He took up high jump as a sport when he was studying at St Paul’s School in Darjeeling, West Bengal, in 2005. His quote on the Paralympic website says, “My brother motivated me to be a high jumper. I broke all his records at school, and it gave me the confidence to take the sport seriously. After St. Paul's [school] I started training myself to be part of the national Paralympic team in Delhi.”</p><p>Sharad debuted on the international platform in 2010. He represented India at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou. In 2012, following a jump of 1.75 at the Malaysia Open Para Athletics Championship, he became world no.1 at the age of 19. Before heading to Tokyo, he has been training since 2017 in Ukraine under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme by the Government of India. </p>

After an impressive performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 early this month, India is setting new records at the Summer Paralympics. 

Here is a list of all the medal winners from India at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Read more on Zeezest.com. 

Tokyo 2020 Paralympics | Full List Of Medal Winners | Sports

Meet India’s Medal Winners At Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

Paralympics

Clean water, clean air, clean floor—there is nothing a smart gadget can’t do.

These artificial intelligence-based household tech products will your house one step closer to being a smart home. Read ZeeZest.com

6 AI-based Gadgets For A Smart Home | Zee Zest

6 AI-based Gadgets For A Smarter Home

The Bloni designer speaks about creating hybrid textiles with marine plastic waste and more for athleisure and haute couture. 

Akshat Bansal, the mind behind Bloni brings together art and technology in his eco-friendly collection at LFWxFDCI 2021, read ZeeZest.com

Interview with Akshat Bansal of Bloni | Zee Zest 

Art Meets Technology In Fashion Designer Akshat Bansal's Designs 

<p>In a first, Apple’s new iPhone 13 series will hit Indian retail shelves on the same day as the US and other key global markets. It’s clear evidence that India is now one of Apple’s key global focus markets. Just like last year, Apple unleashed four new iPhones that pick up the baton from the iPhone 12 quartet. Of the four, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max are most likely to be the popular variants.</p><p>So, which new generation iPhone should you go with?iPhone 13 or go Pro? We break it all down for you:</p><h2>1. Life in the fast lane</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_iPhone-13-Pro-speed_1632910781826.jpg"></figure><p>All the four new iPhones are propelled by Apple’s best of breed A15 Bionic chip that has a new 6-core CPU with two new high-performance cores and four new high-efficiency cores. Apple’s claims that the new 16-core Neural Engine is capable of 15.8 trillion operations per second with faster machine learning capabilities. Bottom line—everything from intense gaming to basic camera functions will be lighting quick.</p><h2>2. There’s room for more memories</h2><p>Apple has bumped up the base storage variants from 64GB to 128GB for the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini. About time too! The Pro versions become the first iPhones to boast of a 1TB internal storage variant. That might seem like a lot but not once you start shooting videos with these devices.</p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>3. Ready to make a movie?</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_iPhone-13-Pro-cinematic_1632910790453.jpg"></figure><p>One of our favourite moments during the iPhone launch event was the clever <i>Knives Out</i> (the Daniel Craig starrer) parody. It showed off one of the new camera features (available on all the new iPhones) – Cinematic Mode. It automatically transitions focus while filming in real-time and thereby shifts focus when subjects enter or leave the frame. You can edit the depth-of-field effect in the video even after recording. We’ve tried this out with multiple subjects and scenarios and these videos are likely to flood Instagram pretty soon.</p><h2>4. Long live the night</h2><p>The dual rear camera on the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini gets a leg up with the Sensor-shift that was a feature reserved for last year’s iPhone 12 Pro Max. It stabilises the sensor instead of the lens. Shots are steadier and lowlight photography is sharper. The smartphones also have a new ‘Photographic Styles’ feature that gives you a choice of five styles (like ‘vibrant’ or ‘rich contrast’). You can change the tone of your image even before you capture it, unlike a post-shot filter.</p><h2>5. The smartphone shooter to beat?</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_iPhone-13--photography_1632910805544.jpg"></figure><p>That’s Apple’s pitch for the cameras on the iPhone 13 Pro and the 13 Pro Max. The all-new wide-angle camera has a larger sensor with 1.9 µm pixels, the largest ever on iPhone. The impact: Less noise and faster shutter speeds across various lighting conditions to capture more details. All three rear lenses get night mode that enhances images and videos across scenarios and whether you’re zooming in or going ultra-wide.</p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>6. Get up close and personal</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_iPhone-13--Macro_1632910817565.jpg"></figure><p>The new macro mode (also available for slow-mo and time-lapse videos)opens up a host of new photo and video possibilities when you’re shooting with a minimum focus distance of 2 centimetres. Get ready to zoom into those embellishments on pretty food plates for new storytelling opportunities on the ‘gram.</p><h2>7. Time to ditch those power banks?</h2><p>Memes about iPhone’s poor battery life, soon, might be a thing of the past. The biggest change in the iPhone 13 is its battery life where a combination of a new processor and a formidable battery impacts power management. Apple pegs the improvement in battery life (over last year’s versions) at 2.5 hours for the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 13 (and 1.5 hours for the Mini and 13 Pro).</p><h2>8. Binge mode on</h2><p>The 6.1-inch display Super Retina XDR OLED display on the iPhone 13 (the same size as last year’s iPhone 12) is 28% brighter this year. You will now experience a maximum outdoor brightness of 800 nits, with higher peak brightness for HDR content like photos and videos at 1200 nits. If you’re a serious gamer or use your iPhone as your primary binge-watching screen, then the immersive 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display (1284 x 2778 pixels) on the Pro Max might be what you need. Apple has tweaked the display to offer an adaptive refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz. This delivers fast frame rates when you need it and conserves battery life when you don’t.</p><h2>9. Will you go Pink or Sierra Blue?</h2><p>We dig the ‘hero’ colours on the iPhone 13 and the Pro versions. The new pink colour option on the iPhone 13 (and Mini) is bound to elicit those second looks even though it’s subtle. This year’s new Sierra Blue (reserved for the Pro siblings) is probably the coolest blue we’ve seen on an iPhone yet. You’re unlikely to notice any major design changes over last year’s iPhone 12 series. We approve of the flat-edge design, that make the current generation of iPhones easier to hold. The one noticeable change (in the 13 and 13 Mini) is the realignment of the rear camera lens in a diagonal pattern. All the devices are a touch heavier to make room for the robust batteries.</p><h2>Which iPhone 13 should you get? </h2><p>If you already own one of last year’s iPhone 12 devices, then the new camera features or the 120Hz display on the Pro Max versions might be your only compelling reasons to switch. You will notice a change from design to battery life to the camera and display if you’re an iPhone 11 or earlier.</p><p>If you’re looking at the iPhone experience with the buttery smooth iOS 15 OS, then the iPhone 13 might be the popular choice. The camera is versatile, the battery is solid. The iPhone 13 Pro and the Pro Max are designed for serious camera buffs and equally for those of us who like to dig deep and explore the best of Apple’s hardware and ecosystem prowess. </p>

From better battery output to cinematic mode, find out why Apple has knocked it out of the park with iPhone 13.

Zee Zest breaks down what makes the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max by Apple so special and should you invest in it or not.

iPhone 13 iPhone 13 Pro Max Review | Zee Zest

9 Reasons Why iPhone 13 Series Has Everyone Excited

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Get Online Darshan of Manache Ganpati in Pune Here | Ganeshotsav 2021

How Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja became what it is today and a look at the deity’s favourite boondi laddus

Preparations behind Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. Take a look at the making of the idol and prasad, boondi laddus. Read Zeezest.com

History of Mumbai’s famous Lalbaugcha Raja | Zee Zest

The Story of Lalbaug’s Wish-fulfilling and Laddu-Loving Ganesha

Did you know this pandal sources one lakh seventy thousand coconuts from Coimbatore every year for the festival?

Take a look at what is made and served during the 11-day Ganpati festival in Mumbai’s wealthiest Ganpati pandals. Read Zeezest.com

Ganeshotsav 2021: Inside the GSB Seva Mandal’s Ganpati celebrations

Inside the Kitchen of Mumbai's Wealthiest Ganpati Pandal

<p>With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, only 1,389 mandals in Mumbai have got permission to set up community pandals in the city by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The authorities have asked mandals to allow not more than five people inside pandals and appealed to organise online darshan for devotees. In line with this, some of the most famous Ganpati mandals in Mumbai, including Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, have been spreading the word on social media platforms about Lord Ganesha’s darshan online.  </p><p>Here, you can get live darshan of some of the most famous Ganpati pandals in Mumbai.  </p><h2>1. Lalbaugcha Raja, Parel </h2><p>Arguably the king of Ganeshotsav in Mumbai, the Lalbaugcha Raja is known as a wish-fulfilling and laddu-loving Ganesha. In the pre-pandemic time, the pandal would see long serpentine queues of people waiting to catch a glimpse of their beloved Bappa. However, due to COVID-19 outbreak, the pandal has gone online for public. This year, the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has distributed only 3,500 passes for darshan to members of the mandal and those who donate to the mandal. Pre-pandemic, the mandal would establish a 15-feet-tall idol of Lord Ganesha, but this year, they have a four-feet-tall one.  </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_n5mRz41M"></oembed></figure><h2>2. GSB Seva Mandal Ganpati, King Circle </h2><p>This is one of the wealthiest Ganpati mandals of Mumbai. The highlight of the GSB Seva Mandal Ganpati idol is that it eco-friendly and decorated with more than 60 kgs of gold. The idol is placed on a silver stage and throne. This Ganpati idol remains only for five days of the festival and is immersed in water on either the sixth day morning or the night of the fifth day. </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LK9hsnZzqg"></oembed></figure><p>AlsoRead0 </p><h2>3. Ganesh Galli, Parel </h2><p>If you visit Lalbaugcha Raja, a tour of Ganesh Galli Ganpati is a must. Located a few lanes away from the Raja, this mandal would earlier pull great crowds, thanks to its out-of-the-box decoration themes. The mandal was set up for the benefit of the mill workers in the vicinity in 1928, and hence, it is the oldest idol in all of Parel, Mumbai.  </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vus2EGympWs"></oembed></figure><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>4. Girgaoncha Raja, Girgaum </h2><p>Established by the Nikadvari Lane Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal in the city’s Girgaon area, Girgaoncha Raja idol’s major highlight is that, regardless of the size of the idol (which was earlier over 20 feet and now four), the Lord Ganesha idol is eco-friendly and carved in <i>shadu maati </i>(clay).  </p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-CTD6ae8Mg"></oembed></figure><h2>5. Andhericha Raja </h2><p>The Ganpati idol is to the Mumbai western suburbs what the Lalbaugcha Raja is to the people of South Mumbai. Established in 1966 by the workers of a tobacco company, Tata Special Steel and Excel Industries Ltd, Andhericha Raja, much like the Lalbaugcha Raja, is known for fulfilling wishes of his devotees. This Ganesha idol stays throughout the Ganpati Festival and is taken for immersion on the day of Anant Chaturdashi, which is the last of the festival.</p>

Skip long queues and get live darshan of Ganpati bappa at different pandals in Mumbai here. 

Skip long queues and get live darshan of Ganpati bappa at different pandals in Mumbai, here. Watch all videos on Zeezest.com. 