From the Editors: Acting responsibly is a must for celebrities

ACTING RESPONSIBLY IS A MUST FOR CELEBRITIES: The UAE is a second home to millions from all over the world. The quality of life that this country has showered on us is akin to the best on the planet. Thus it is equally important that we act responsibly, allowing the society to blossom. The new age social media celebrities often fail to understand this. One such person was jailed in Abu Dhabi for pulling off driving stunts. We need to realise that life is not all about a flashy lifestyle, but behaving responsibly in the interest of the greater good. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

ZARIF APOLOGY DOESN’T ALTER REALITY IN IRAN: Iran’s foreign minister has apologised for comments he made after a recording was leaked to the public last week. In that recording, Zarif was heard making strong statements against powerful Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by America in 2020. The leaked comments have created a furore in Tehran ahead of the presidential elections. But, nothing Zarif says can change the reality in Iran, which is that the powerful Revolutionary Guard ultimately calls the shots in the country. It is this influence of the Guard that has led to the militarised outlook Iran has adopted in its regional policies. The one good thing that could emerge from the Zarif controversy is increased awareness amongst Iranians about the extent to which the Revolutionary Guard has come to dominate foreign policy-making in Iran. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

NO TOTAL IS BIG ENOUGH FOR KIERON POLLARD: Cometh the hour, cometh Kieron Pollard. The giant West Indian, who has not had the best of IPL seasons so far, decided to reserve it for a day when Mumbai Indians needed the most – helping them climb mountain of a total against Chennai Super Kings with a blazing 87 off 34 balls, studded with eight sixes and six fours. This could well be the springboard the five-time champions needed to put their campaign back on the rails. There are still chinks in their armour, but captain Rohit Sharma would certainly take this one. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

WHY SATYAJIT RAY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME: There are a hundred reasons why the world continues to sit in awe of the mastery and craftsmanship shown by Satyajit Ray in his award-winning dramas. The legendary filmmaker, who would have turned 100 on May 2, leaves behind a legacy so rich that few could ever match up. What perhaps set Ray apart from the ordinary was his ability to immerse himself into the characters as he storyboarded his scripts, living each and every painstaking detail with such finesse that the end viewer would almost feel raw from the emotions unravel with each scene. As he leaves behind a roster of cinematic masterpieces such as ‘Devi’, ‘Apur Sansar’ and ‘Pather Panchali’, actress Shabhana Azmi perhaps describes him best in a personal essay for the Mint Lounge, where she says: “There was nothing plebeian about him. Not for nothing is he often referred to as a Renaissance man.” And it is that grandiose aura that continues to inspire generations even today. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]